Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 480 Pro. It ranks #228 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $399; the Focal Azurys ranks #251, rated 3.5/5, and costs $449, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
Why pick the Sennheiser HD 480 Pro: The median of 5 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 72 with a 2.08 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. The catch: Presence sits about 3.8 dB low with a 7 dB dip near 4.1 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
What the Focal Azurys does well: A preference score of 70 with only 2.29 dB of deviation from the Harman target makes this a reasonably smooth closed-back, and the midrange from 200 Hz to 3 kHz sits within about 1 dB of target so vocals and guitars sound natural. Watch for: An 11.9 dB dip near 9.7 kHz takes the edge off cymbals and sibilance, and treble overall sits about 1 dB under target, so the top end is a little dull and closed in.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 480 Pro. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Focal Azurys and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
The median of 5 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 72 with a 2.08 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Amazon $399.00 eBay
A preference score of 70 with only 2.29 dB of deviation from the Harman target makes this a reasonably smooth closed-back, and the midrange from 200 Hz to 3 kHz sits within about 1 dB of target so vocals and guitars sound natural.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 480 Pro | Focal Azurys | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $449.00 |
| Ranked | #228 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #251 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 130 ohms | 26 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 107 dB/Vrms | 100 dB SPL/mW |
| Frequency Response | 3Hz - 28.7kHz | 15Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (272 g) | 0.7 lbs (306 g) |
| Harman Preference Score | 72 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 70 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.08 dB standard deviation | 2.29 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.00 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.00 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.1 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the Sennheiser HD 480 Pro from daemonxar, elrics, listener, sai and superreview; the Focal Azurys from aden, boizoff, daemonxar, elrics, gadgetrytech, kuulokenurkka, listener and superreview, all via squig.link.
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