Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 25 Plus. It ranks #55 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $199.95; the AKG K612 Pro ranks #68, rated 4.0/5, and costs $209.95, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 25 Plus: A preference score of 83 in crinacle’s measurement is excellent for a closed-back headphone, and a slightly warm tilt of minus 0.28 suits listeners who like a smooth, full sound. The tradeoff: It is a wired design with no wireless or ANC features.
The case for the AKG K612 Pro: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a preference score of 81, and across hobbyist measurements on squig.link every band from 60 Hz to 10 kHz sits within about 2 dB of the Harman target, so voices, guitars and pianos come through with a natural balance. The tradeoff: Sub-bass averages 4.4 dB below target under 60 Hz and falls 6 dB short by 28 Hz, so synth bass and kick drums lose some deep rumble.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 25 Plus. It is rated higher for sound quality than the AKG K612 Pro and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 25 Plus | AKG K612 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $209.95 |
| Ranked | #55 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #68 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 83 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 81 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.15 dB standard deviation | 2.27 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.28 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.33 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 70 ohms | 120 ohms |
| Weight | 0.3 lbs (140 g) | 0.5 lbs (238 g) |
| Frequency Response | 16Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 12Hz - 39.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Sensitivity | - | 101 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Falls 6 dB below target at 28 Hz (-5.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sennheiser HD 25 Plus:
- AKG K371 vs Sennheiser HD 25 Plus
- FiiO FT3 vs Sennheiser HD 25 Plus
- Sennheiser HD 25 Plus vs HIFIMAN Deva Pro
- AKG K612 Pro vs HIFIMAN Deva Pro
- FiiO FT3 vs AKG K612 Pro
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Sennheiser HD 25 Plus: $199.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 83 in crinacle’s measurement is excellent for a closed-back headphone, and a slightly warm tilt of minus 0.28 suits listeners who like a smooth, full sound. At 140 g it is very light, and 70 ohms is manageable for most sources. Its closed back keeps sound in and offers some isolation.
Cons: It is a wired design with no wireless or ANC features. It costs more than the Audio-Technica ATH-R50x at the same rating.
Full Sennheiser HD 25 Plus review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.15 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 16Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 83 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 70 ohms |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.28 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.3 lbs (140 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.8 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 89 Hz | -6.3 dB | 0.65 |
| Peak | 5,384 Hz | +4.8 dB | 1.87 |
| Peak | 347 Hz | +2.2 dB | 0.84 |
| Peak | 2,055 Hz | -1.5 dB | 0.79 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +5.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,635 Hz | -2.2 dB | 1.35 |
| Peak | 37 Hz | -0.9 dB | 3.57 |
| Peak | 51 Hz | +1.1 dB | 5.00 |
| Peak | 6,437 Hz | +1.4 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
AKG K612 Pro: $209.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a preference score of 81, and across hobbyist measurements on squig.link every band from 60 Hz to 10 kHz sits within about 2 dB of the Harman target, so voices, guitars and pianos come through with a natural balance. The open back gives a spacious, speaker-like presentation, and at 238 g it is a light headphone for long sessions at a desk. It suits listeners who want a neutral or mildly V-shaped sound.
Cons: Sub-bass averages 4.4 dB below target under 60 Hz and falls 6 dB short by 28 Hz, so synth bass and kick drums lose some deep rumble. A 6.9 dB peak near 11.5 kHz in the squig.link measurements can make cymbals sound splashy, and at 120 ohms and 101 dB/V it gets louder and fuller from a headphone amp or strong dongle than from a phone. The open back leaks sound and blocks no outside noise. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full AKG K612 Pro review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.27 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 39.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 81 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 120 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 28 Hz (-5.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.33 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (238 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.9 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 175 Hz | -1.9 dB | 0.45 |
| Peak | 744 Hz | +2.9 dB | 1.70 |
| Peak | 2,519 Hz | -2.4 dB | 3.07 |
| Peak | 5,923 Hz | -2.8 dB | 6.00 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 67 Hz | -1.2 dB | 2.17 |
| Peak | 85 Hz | +2.2 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 1,518 Hz | +0.7 dB | 4.54 |
| Peak | 4,342 Hz | +0.9 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons