Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 550. It ranks #6 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $199.95; the HIFIMAN Edition XS ranks #14, rated 4.4/5, and costs $209, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Sennheiser HD 550 does well: A preference score of 94 in oratory1990’s measurement, with only 1.63 dB of deviation and an almost perfectly neutral tilt, means voices, instruments and mixes sound natural and accurate. The catch: Sub-bass averages 6 dB below target and falls 6 dB under by 34 Hz, so deep electronic bass and organ notes lack rumble.
Why pick the HIFIMAN Edition XS: A preference score of 90 with a nearly flat tilt shows a well balanced tuning, and bass from 60 to 200 Hz is only about 1 dB above target. Watch for: A 6 dB dip near 9.4 kHz sits next to a roughly 9 dB peak at 11.9 kHz, and the air band runs about 5.5 dB above target, so the top end can sound uneven and sharp on bright recordings.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 550. It is rated higher for sound quality than the HIFIMAN Edition XS and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 550 | HIFIMAN Edition XS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $209.00 |
| Ranked | #6 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #14 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 94 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 90 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.63 dB standard deviation | 1.83 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 34 Hz (-6.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic | - |
| Impedance | 150 ohms | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106.7 dB/mW | 92 dB |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (237 g) | 0.9 lbs (405 g) |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 39.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 8Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
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The Two Headphones In Full
Sennheiser HD 550: $199.95 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A preference score of 94 in oratory1990’s measurement, with only 1.63 dB of deviation and an almost perfectly neutral tilt, means voices, instruments and mixes sound natural and accurate. Midrange and presence stay within about 1 dB of target, so vocals are clear without any harshness. At 237 g it is light, and 106.7 dB/mW sensitivity lets it reach normal levels from most sources despite its 150 ohm impedance.
Cons: Sub-bass averages 6 dB below target and falls 6 dB under by 34 Hz, so deep electronic bass and organ notes lack rumble. A 5.9 dB dip near 9.5 kHz slightly softens cymbal shimmer, and the open back leaks sound and offers no isolation. The Philips Fidelio X2HR earns the same rating for less money.
Full Sennheiser HD 550 review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.63 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 39.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 94 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 150 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106.7 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 34 Hz (-6.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (237 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 | +8.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 67 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.34 |
| Peak | 9,968 Hz | +3.2 dB | 1.23 |
| Peak | 1,280 Hz | -2.1 dB | 1.99 |
| Peak | 2,040 Hz | +2.2 dB | 1.90 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,135 Hz | +2.3 dB | 5.98 |
| Peak | 5,001 Hz | -1.7 dB | 5.47 |
| Peak | 56 Hz | -0.7 dB | 2.46 |
| Peak | 83 Hz | +0.6 dB | 3.02 |
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HIFIMAN Edition XS: $209.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 90 with a nearly flat tilt shows a well balanced tuning, and bass from 60 to 200 Hz is only about 1 dB above target. Presence and treble stay within about 1 dB of target, which keeps vocals and guitars clear. The planar drivers are 18 ohms and 92 dB, so it works with most amplifiers, and its rating matches the Sennheiser HD 600 and Austrian Audio Hi-X60.
Cons: A 6 dB dip near 9.4 kHz sits next to a roughly 9 dB peak at 11.9 kHz, and the air band runs about 5.5 dB above target, so the top end can sound uneven and sharp on bright recordings. Sub-bass is about 3 dB light under 60 Hz, which trims deep rumble. The open back leaks sound and gives no isolation, and at 405 g it is not especially light.
Full HIFIMAN Edition XS review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.83 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 90 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 92 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (405 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.8 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 | +5.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 87 Hz | -2.8 dB | 0.33 |
| Peak | 1,896 Hz | +4.0 dB | 1.92 |
| Peak | 2,896 Hz | -3.7 dB | 3.11 |
| Peak | 1,420 Hz | +1.3 dB | 3.89 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -5.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,585 Hz | +1.7 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 70 Hz | -0.4 dB | 2.12 |
| Peak | 111 Hz | +0.4 dB | 1.64 |
| Peak | 927 Hz | -0.9 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons