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 HIFIMAN Deva Pro ranks #70, rated 4.0/5, at $199. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.
What the Sennheiser HD 25 Plus does well: 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.
What the HIFIMAN Deva Pro does well: A preference score of 81 with a deviation of 2.2 dB in oratory1990’s measurement shows a smooth, slightly warm response with the midrange close to target. The tradeoff: Sub-bass is about 7.5 dB under target, so deep bass lacks rumble.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 25 Plus. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $0.95 you would save on the HIFIMAN Deva Pro does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 25 Plus | HIFIMAN Deva Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $199.00 |
| Ranked | #55 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #70 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 83 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 81 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.15 dB standard deviation | 2.18 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.28 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.38 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Planar magnetic |
| Impedance | 70 ohms | 18 ohms |
| Weight | 0.3 lbs (140 g) | 0.8 lbs (360 g) |
| Frequency Response | 16Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Falls 6 dB below target at 42 Hz (-8.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Sensitivity | - | 93.5 dB |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Sennheiser HD 25 Plus compares with other leading options:
- AKG K371 vs Sennheiser HD 25 Plus
- FiiO FT3 vs Sennheiser HD 25 Plus
- Sennheiser HD 25 Plus vs AKG K612 Pro
- AKG K612 Pro vs HIFIMAN Deva Pro
- HIFIMAN Deva Pro vs HIFIMAN Sundara
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
HIFIMAN Deva Pro: $199.00 Wireless Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 81 with a deviation of 2.2 dB in oratory1990’s measurement shows a smooth, slightly warm response with the midrange close to target. The planar magnetic driver is easy to drive at 18 ohms and 93.5 dB, and it can connect wirelessly or by cable. The open back gives a roomy sound.
Cons: Sub-bass is about 7.5 dB under target, so deep bass lacks rumble. Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 4.1 dB low with a 9.4 dB dip near 9.2 kHz, which dulls cymbals and detail. At 360 g it is heavy, and the open back leaks sound with no isolation.
Full HIFIMAN Deva Pro review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.18 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 81 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 93.5 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 42 Hz (-8.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.38 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (360 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.5 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 | +7.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 87 Hz | -3.8 dB | 0.49 |
| Peak | 7,039 Hz | +3.6 dB | 1.30 |
| Peak | 1,960 Hz | +4.9 dB | 2.77 |
| Peak | 1,160 Hz | -2.6 dB | 0.94 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 308 Hz | -0.8 dB | 1.53 |
| Peak | 140 Hz | +0.6 dB | 2.02 |
| Peak | 439 Hz | +1.0 dB | 4.16 |
| Peak | 5,992 Hz | +1.2 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons