Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 599. It ranks #114 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $239.95. The Fairphone Fairbuds XL ranks #136, rated 3.4/5, at $229.99, $9.96 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
Why pick the Sennheiser HD 599: A preference score of 73 and a modest 2.74 dB deviation from the Harman target in oratory1990’s measurement make this a fairly smooth open back. Watch for: Sub-bass falls about 6 dB under target below 60 Hz, so the extra warmth sits higher up and the deepest rumble is missing.
The case for the Fairphone Fairbuds XL: Wireless with active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.1 and aptX HD, plus a 30 hour battery (26 hours with ANC on), so it covers travel and desk use. The tradeoff: The presence region from 3 to 6 kHz sits about 5.3 dB under target, with a 10.2 dB dip near 3.4 kHz, which pushes vocals and instrument attack back and makes music sound recessed.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 599. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $9.96 saving on the Fairphone Fairbuds XL is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 599 | Fairphone Fairbuds XL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $239.95 | $229.99 |
| Ranked | #114 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #136 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 69 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.74 dB standard deviation | 2.74 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.42 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.70 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 45 Hz (-9.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 50 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB SPL (1 kHz, 1 Vrms) | 99 dB at 1kHz |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (250 g) | 0.7 lbs (330 g) |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 38.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 30 hours (26 with ANC on, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, aptX HD |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| IP Rating | - | IP54 |
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How Sennheiser HD 599 compares with other leading options:
- Sennheiser HD 550 vs Sennheiser HD 599
- Sennheiser HD 600 vs Sennheiser HD 599
- Sennheiser HD 505 vs Sennheiser HD 599
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs Sennheiser HD 599
- Audio-Technica ATH-M60x vs Sennheiser HD 599
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 599: $239.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 73 and a modest 2.74 dB deviation from the Harman target in oratory1990’s measurement make this a fairly smooth open back. Bass runs about 2 dB above target and the lows through the low mids are about 2.7 dB up, which gives vocals and guitars a full, warm body. At 50 ohms and 106 dB sensitivity it is easy to drive, and at 250 g it is light.
Cons: Sub-bass falls about 6 dB under target below 60 Hz, so the extra warmth sits higher up and the deepest rumble is missing. A 9.6 dB dip near 9.8 kHz and about 3.5 dB less air above 10 kHz take the sparkle off cymbals, while a 3.7 dB peak near 5.7 kHz can add some edge to vocals. The open back leaks sound and offers no isolation.
Full Sennheiser HD 599 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2016 (10 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.74 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 38.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 50 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB SPL (1 kHz, 1 Vrms) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 45 Hz (-9.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.42 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (250 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 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 | +6.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 152 Hz | -4.3 dB | 0.59 |
| Peak | 1,751 Hz | +4.4 dB | 1.45 |
| Peak | 4,485 Hz | -1.9 dB | 2.72 |
| Peak | 40 Hz | +1.0 dB | 3.06 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,629 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.71 |
| Peak | 5,771 Hz | -2.8 dB | 5.56 |
| Peak | 3,175 Hz | -2.0 dB | 4.70 |
| Peak | 3,690 Hz | +0.7 dB | 4.38 |
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Fairphone Fairbuds XL: $229.99 Wireless Amazon eBay
Pros: Wireless with active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.1 and aptX HD, plus a 30 hour battery (26 hours with ANC on), so it covers travel and desk use. An IP54 rating adds splash and dust resistance, which is uncommon among over-ears, and a wired connection at 32 ohms and 99 dB is available too. Mids and low bass track the target closely, within about 0.3 dB from 60 Hz to 1 kHz.
Cons: The presence region from 3 to 6 kHz sits about 5.3 dB under target, with a 10.2 dB dip near 3.4 kHz, which pushes vocals and instrument attack back and makes music sound recessed. A 2.8 dB peak near 6.4 kHz adds some sharpness on top of that. Sub-bass is lifted about 2.9 dB, and at 330 g it is heavier than most wireless rivals such as the Bose QuietComfort 35 II.
Full Fairphone Fairbuds XL review and specifications →
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (26 with ANC on, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX HD |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.74 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| IP Rating | IP54 |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB at 1kHz |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.70 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (330 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -7.2 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 | -7.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,409 Hz | +7.2 dB | 2.60 |
| Peak | 60 Hz | +7.1 dB | 1.03 |
| Peak | 979 Hz | -2.0 dB | 1.35 |
| Peak | 242 Hz | -1.8 dB | 1.04 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,413 Hz | -4.2 dB | 5.06 |
| Peak | 2,037 Hz | -2.5 dB | 4.81 |
| Peak | 1,598 Hz | +1.3 dB | 4.26 |
| Peak | 2,813 Hz | +1.6 dB | 5.68 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons