Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 820, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #189 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.7/5, at $1,999.95; the Fostex TH900 ranks #201, rated 2.5/5, and costs $1,999.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 216 over-ear headphones; for better sound, the Dan Clark Audio E3 ranks #1 at $2,299.
What the Sennheiser HD 820 does well: It is a closed back flagship, so it isolates and keeps sound in, unlike most headphones at this price. The catch: In oratory1990’s measurement presence and treble sit about 3 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz with a 6.6 dB dip near 11.7 kHz, so cymbals and detail sound dull and veiled.
Why pick the Fostex TH900: The closed back isolates well, and at 25 ohms and 100 dB/mW it plays loud from modest sources without a dedicated amp. The catch: A preference score of 48 in crinacle’s measurement places it well away from the Harman target, so most listeners will hear a strongly colored balance unless they apply EQ.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 820. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Fostex TH900 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 820 | Fostex TH900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,999.95 | $1,999.99 |
| Ranked | #189 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #201 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 52 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 48 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.55 dB standard deviation | 3.58 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.15 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.38 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.0 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 56mm dynamic | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 300 ohms | 25 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB SPL/V | 100 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (360 g) | 0.9 lbs (400 g) |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 43.8kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 45kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
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More top alternatives to Sennheiser HD 820:
- Sennheiser HD 550 vs Sennheiser HD 820
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- Sennheiser HD 505 vs Sennheiser HD 820
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs Sennheiser HD 820
- Sennheiser HD 599 vs Sennheiser HD 820
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The Two Headphones In Full
Sennheiser HD 820: $1,999.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: It is a closed back flagship, so it isolates and keeps sound in, unlike most headphones at this price. Bass sits 3 to 4 dB above the Harman target and holds down to 20 Hz, which suits warm and bassy taste profiles. It rates above the AKG K872 Pro and the Fostex TH900 at about the same price.
Cons: In oratory1990’s measurement presence and treble sit about 3 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz with a 6.6 dB dip near 11.7 kHz, so cymbals and detail sound dull and veiled. The 300 ohm impedance needs a dedicated headphone amp to reach proper volume, and the Dan Clark Audio Voce and the Focal Stellia both rate higher. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full Sennheiser HD 820 review and specifications →
| Released | 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.55 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 56mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 43.8kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 52 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 300 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.15 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (360 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 | -2.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 147 Hz | -8.6 dB | 1.79 |
| Peak | 294 Hz | +7.6 dB | 2.24 |
| Peak | 5,732 Hz | +1.8 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 965 Hz | -3.9 dB | 1.74 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 74 Hz | +6.7 dB | 2.74 |
| Peak | 69 Hz | -2.8 dB | 0.80 |
| Peak | 3,823 Hz | +3.6 dB | 5.33 |
| Peak | 5,091 Hz | -4.0 dB | 5.68 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Sennheiser HD 820 vs Sennheiser HD 600
- Sennheiser HD 820 vs Sennheiser HD 550
Fostex TH900: $1,999.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: The closed back isolates well, and at 25 ohms and 100 dB/mW it plays loud from modest sources without a dedicated amp. Its large 50 mm dynamic driver and warm leaning tuning suit listeners who prefer a rich, colored sound, and it matches the rating of the AKG K872 Pro.
Cons: A preference score of 48 in crinacle’s measurement places it well away from the Harman target, so most listeners will hear a strongly colored balance unless they apply EQ. The Sennheiser HD 820 rates higher at about the same price, and the 400 g weight is heavy for an over-ear.
Full Fostex TH900 review and specifications →
| Released | 2012 (14 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.58 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 45kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 48 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 25 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.38 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (400 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.7 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 | -2.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 185 Hz | -5.4 dB | 0.55 |
| Peak | 2,463 Hz | +5.8 dB | 1.46 |
| Peak | 470 Hz | +4.9 dB | 1.33 |
| Peak | 5,406 Hz | -8.1 dB | 4.49 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 982 Hz | -0.9 dB | 3.27 |
| Peak | 6,874 Hz | +1.3 dB | 5.95 |
| Peak | 797 Hz | +1.1 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 1,561 Hz | +0.4 dB | 3.37 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons