Short answer: the Shure SRH840A. It ranks #127 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $169; the FiiO FT1 ranks #152, rated 3.2/5, at $164.99. With prices this close, go by the sound-quality ranking rather than the cost.
Why pick the Shure SRH840A: Bass is big, with sub-bass about 3.9 dB and bass about 5.3 dB above target, which suits hip hop, EDM and pop where weight matters. The tradeoff: The bass boost of 5.3 dB can bleed into the low mids and cloud vocals and bass guitar.
What the FiiO FT1 does well: Sub-bass and bass both sit about 2.6 dB above target, so kick drums and bass lines have noticeable punch and rumble without bloating the midrange, which stays within a third of a dB of target. The tradeoff: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 5 dB low with a 8.7 dB dip near 9.5 kHz, which dulls cymbals and takes the edge off sibilance.
Buy the Shure SRH840A. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $4.01 you would save on the FiiO FT1 does not close the gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Shure SRH840A | FiiO FT1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $169.00 | $164.99 |
| Ranked | #127 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #152 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 71 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 64 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.25 dB standard deviation | 2.56 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.99 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.20 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | 1 x 60mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 44 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW | 98 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (273 g) | 0.7 lbs (340 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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- 1MORE Triple Driver Over Ear vs FiiO FT1
- FiiO FT1 vs Yamaha HPH-200
- Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X vs FiiO FT1
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
Shure SRH840A: $169.00 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Shure SRH840 (ranked higher, rated 4.3/5). See every Shure SRH840 generation.
Pros: Bass is big, with sub-bass about 3.9 dB and bass about 5.3 dB above target, which suits hip hop, EDM and pop where weight matters. Treble and air are lifted too, about 2 dB and 4.5 dB over target, adding sparkle and a sense of detail. At 44 ohms and 102 dB/mW sensitivity it runs well from a phone, and the closed 273 g design isolates.
Cons: The bass boost of 5.3 dB can bleed into the low mids and cloud vocals and bass guitar. A 4 dB peak near 11.9 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance a little splashy. Overall tilt is warm, so listeners who want an accurate, neutral balance will find it colored.
Full Shure SRH840A review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.25 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 71 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 44 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.99 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (273 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.3 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 | -1.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,254 Hz | +2.3 dB | 0.60 |
| Peak | 121 Hz | -3.6 dB | 0.71 |
| Peak | 5,403 Hz | -3.1 dB | 2.76 |
| Peak | 4,270 Hz | +3.9 dB | 4.65 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 46 Hz | -0.4 dB | 1.73 |
| Peak | 251 Hz | +1.2 dB | 3.63 |
| Peak | 170 Hz | -0.7 dB | 3.14 |
| Peak | 418 Hz | -0.6 dB | 2.84 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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FiiO FT1: $164.99 Amazon AliExpress eBay
Pros: Sub-bass and bass both sit about 2.6 dB above target, so kick drums and bass lines have noticeable punch and rumble without bloating the midrange, which stays within a third of a dB of target. The 32 ohm, 98 dB/mW closed-back design runs directly from a phone or laptop, with a smoother response than most at 2.56 dB deviation.
Cons: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 5 dB low with a 8.7 dB dip near 9.5 kHz, which dulls cymbals and takes the edge off sibilance. A 3.7 dB peak near 5.2 kHz and air about 3 dB high make the top end uneven. At 340 g it is on the heavier side.
Full FiiO FT1 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.56 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 60mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.20 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (340 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.3 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 | -2.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 155 Hz | -3.4 dB | 1.47 |
| Peak | 7,882 Hz | +4.5 dB | 1.99 |
| Peak | 3,835 Hz | +4.6 dB | 3.54 |
| Peak | 5,303 Hz | -5.6 dB | 4.56 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,735 Hz | -1.9 dB | 3.24 |
| Peak | 61 Hz | +0.9 dB | 2.22 |
| Peak | 579 Hz | +0.8 dB | 1.78 |
| Peak | 239 Hz | -0.5 dB | 2.59 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons