Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro. It ranks #153 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.2/5, at $89.99; the Shure SRH440A ranks #169, rated 3.0/5, and costs $109, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro does well: Sub-bass is about 4 dB above target while mid and upper bass are right on it, so low notes gain depth without muddiness. Watch for: A 8 dB dip near 4.2 kHz and presence about 5 dB low push vocals and snare attack back, and treble above 6 kHz also runs 4 dB low.
What the Shure SRH440A does well: Bass is lifted about 3 dB below 60 Hz and 5.6 dB from 60 to 200 Hz, which gives kick drums and bass lines a strong punch. The tradeoff: The low end is heavy enough to add warmth and some boom to the lower mids on bass-heavy music.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Shure SRH440A and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 280 Pro | Shure SRH440A | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.99 | $109.00 |
| Ranked | #153 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #169 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 60 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.55 dB standard deviation | 2.73 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.16 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.32 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 64 ohms | 44 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB SPL | 105 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (285 g) | 0.7 lbs (311 g) |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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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 280 Pro: $89.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Sub-bass is about 4 dB above target while mid and upper bass are right on it, so low notes gain depth without muddiness. The closed back isolates well for monitoring and tracking, and 113 dB sensitivity makes the 64 ohm driver easy to power from a phone. It weighs 285 g.
Cons: A 8 dB dip near 4.2 kHz and presence about 5 dB low push vocals and snare attack back, and treble above 6 kHz also runs 4 dB low. The result is dark and a little veiled, with less air and sparkle than the target. It is wired only and has no built-in microphone listed.
Full Sennheiser HD 280 Pro review and specifications →
| Released | 2003 (23 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.55 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 64 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB SPL |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.16 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (285 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 | -4.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 475 Hz | -2.1 dB | 0.42 |
| Peak | 3,946 Hz | +5.9 dB | 1.82 |
| Peak | 77 Hz | +4.7 dB | 2.17 |
| Peak | 41 Hz | -3.0 dB | 1.35 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +3.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 126 Hz | -3.7 dB | 3.71 |
| Peak | 178 Hz | +2.3 dB | 3.81 |
| Peak | 101 Hz | +2.7 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 7,834 Hz | +1.1 dB | 3.95 |
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Shure SRH440A: $109.00 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Shure SRH440 (ranked higher, rated 4.6/5). See every Shure SRH440 generation.
Pros: Bass is lifted about 3 dB below 60 Hz and 5.6 dB from 60 to 200 Hz, which gives kick drums and bass lines a strong punch. The midrange is close to target, within about 1.3 dB, and the response is fairly smooth with a standard deviation under 3 dB in oratory1990’s measurement. At 44 ohms and 105 dB/mW it runs fine from a phone, and the closed back isolates from outside noise.
Cons: The low end is heavy enough to add warmth and some boom to the lower mids on bass-heavy music. A 3.9 dB dip near 4.1 kHz recesses vocal presence, while treble above 10 kHz sits about 3.5 dB over target. It is wired only with no microphone listed, and the Anker Soundcore Space One has a higher rating with wireless and noise cancelling.
Full Shure SRH440A review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.73 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 60 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 44 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.32 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (311 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.3 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 | -0.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 160 Hz | -5.5 dB | 0.47 |
| Peak | 4,109 Hz | +5.0 dB | 3.87 |
| Peak | 1,427 Hz | +2.5 dB | 0.85 |
| Peak | 310 Hz | +5.5 dB | 2.14 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 51 Hz | -0.6 dB | 1.71 |
| Peak | 88 Hz | +0.7 dB | 2.65 |
| Peak | 189 Hz | -0.5 dB | 3.16 |
| Peak | 5,300 Hz | -0.7 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons