Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, if you are buying new. The Sony WH-CH510 measures as well as it (#98 vs #97 of 134 over-ear headphones, 3.2/5 vs 3.2/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro is still sold new at $89.98.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro: 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.
Why pick the Sony WH-CH510: This is a wireless closed-back headphone with Bluetooth 5.0, SBC and AAC codecs, and a rated 35 hours of battery life, at only 0.3 lbs (132 g). The tradeoff: Presence is about 4 dB low with a 7.3 dB dip near 5.4 kHz, so vocal and guitar bite recede and detail sounds muted.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro if you want one new; the Sony WH-CH510 is discontinued, so only look for it used.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 280 Pro | Sony WH-CH510 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.98 | $64.19 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #97 of 134 in Over-Ear Headphones | #98 of 134 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 64 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.55 dB standard deviation | 2.49 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.16 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.21 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 64 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB SPL | - |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (285 g) | 0.3 lbs (132 g) |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 30mm dynamic |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | No |
| Battery Life | - | 35 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
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- Sennheiser HD 280 Pro vs Anker Soundcore Space One
- Sony WH-CH510 vs HyperX Cloud II
- HyperX Cloud Alpha vs Sony WH-CH510
Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 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: $89.98 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 |
| 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 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony WH-CH510: $64.19 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: This is a wireless closed-back headphone with Bluetooth 5.0, SBC and AAC codecs, and a rated 35 hours of battery life, at only 132 g. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz sits about 2.7 dB above target, giving a warm, easygoing sound for casual listening, with a fairly smooth 2.49 dB deviation.
Cons: Presence is about 4 dB low with a 7.3 dB dip near 5.4 kHz, so vocal and guitar bite recede and detail sounds muted. There is no active noise cancelling, and the codec list stops at SBC and AAC, so there is no higher-bitrate option. Discontinued.
Full Sony WH-CH510 review and specifications →
| Active Noise Cancelling | No |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 35 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Connection | Wireless |
| Deviation From Target | 2.49 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 30mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.21 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.3 lbs (132 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.4 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 | +5.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 68 Hz | -9.8 dB | 0.83 |
| Peak | 5,368 Hz | +6.4 dB | 2.11 |
| Peak | 1,401 Hz | -2.1 dB | 2.20 |
| Peak | 2,257 Hz | +0.9 dB | 2.59 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 239 Hz | +1.2 dB | 1.05 |
| Peak | 120 Hz | -1.1 dB | 1.75 |
| Peak | 576 Hz | -0.7 dB | 2.91 |
| Peak | 68 Hz | +0.4 dB | 2.76 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons