Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 400 S. It ranks #142 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $69.95. The HyperX Cloud Alpha ranks #148, rated 3.3/5, at $59.99, $9.96 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
What the Sennheiser HD 400 S does well: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a solid preference score of 68, a respectable result for a budget closed headphone. The tradeoff: A 3.2 dB spread around the target means the response is not especially smooth.
The case for the HyperX Cloud Alpha: Bass from 60 to 200 Hz sits about 4 dB above the Harman target in oratory1990’s measurement, which gives kick drums and bass guitar extra weight for games and pop. Watch for: Treble is uneven, with a 4.6 dB peak near 8 kHz that can make cymbals and sibilants sharp and a 5.8 dB dip near 4 kHz that pulls vocals slightly back.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 400 S. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $9.96 you would save on the HyperX Cloud Alpha does not close the gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 400 S | HyperX Cloud Alpha | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $69.95 | $59.99 |
| Ranked | #142 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #148 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 68 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 66 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.23 dB standard deviation | 2.80 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.35 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.87 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 18 ohms | 65 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 120 dB SPL/V | 98 dB SPL/mW |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (217 g) | 0.7 lbs (298 g) |
| Frequency Response | 18Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 13Hz - 27kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to Sennheiser HD 400 S:
- AKG K240 Studio vs Sennheiser HD 400 S
- Sennheiser HD 400 S vs Audio-Technica ATH-M20x
- HyperX Cloud Alpha vs Sony WH-CH510
- Audio-Technica ATH-M20x vs HyperX Cloud Alpha
- AKG K240 Studio vs HyperX Cloud Alpha
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 400 S: $69.95 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a solid preference score of 68, a respectable result for a budget closed headphone. With 18 ohm impedance and 120 dB/V sensitivity it gets loud from any phone, and at 217 g it is light, with an inline microphone for calls.
Cons: A 3.2 dB spread around the target means the response is not especially smooth. The AKG K240 Studio earns the same rating for less money.
Full Sennheiser HD 400 S review and specifications →
| Released | 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.23 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 18Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 68 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 120 dB SPL/V |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.35 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (217 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.8 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 | +7.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 195 Hz | -16.4 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 5,708 Hz | +8.8 dB | 0.96 |
| Peak | 223 Hz | +19.5 dB | 0.50 |
| Peak | 5,459 Hz | -10.9 dB | 2.60 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 58 Hz | -0.9 dB | 2.68 |
| Peak | 775 Hz | +1.1 dB | 2.76 |
| Peak | 3,779 Hz | +3.7 dB | 4.57 |
| Peak | 3,093 Hz | -1.5 dB | 0.84 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
HyperX Cloud Alpha: $59.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Bass from 60 to 200 Hz sits about 4 dB above the Harman target in oratory1990’s measurement, which gives kick drums and bass guitar extra weight for games and pop. The closed 50mm driver at 98 dB sensitivity and 65 ohms runs easily from a phone or console controller, and the built-in microphone suits voice chat.
Cons: Treble is uneven, with a 4.6 dB peak near 8 kHz that can make cymbals and sibilants sharp and a 5.8 dB dip near 4 kHz that pulls vocals slightly back. Air above 10 kHz runs about 4 dB hot, adding a hint of fizz on top of the warm tilt.
Full HyperX Cloud Alpha review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.80 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 13Hz - 27kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 66 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 65 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.87 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (298 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.3 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 | +7.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 104 Hz | -5.9 dB | 0.23 |
| Peak | 733 Hz | +4.5 dB | 0.92 |
| Peak | 4,324 Hz | +6.7 dB | 2.87 |
| Peak | 6,110 Hz | -3.0 dB | 3.21 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -5.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 41 Hz | -0.4 dB | 2.00 |
| Peak | 159 Hz | +0.5 dB | 3.01 |
| Peak | 212 Hz | -0.5 dB | 3.66 |
| Peak | 1,964 Hz | +0.5 dB | 4.33 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons