Short answer: the Superlux HD 660 Pro 150 Ohm. It ranks #57 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $34; the Superlux HD 681 ranks #165, rated 3.1/5, at $33.29. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.
The Superlux HD 660 Pro 150 Ohm is the better-sounding choice. A preference score of 83 in oratory1990’s measurement is remarkable for a budget headphone, with sub-bass and bass about 1 dB above target down to 20 Hz for a full, punchy low end. Watch for: A 6.1 dB peak near 6.4 kHz can make sibilance and cymbals splashy, and a 7.2 dB dip near 9.4 kHz follows it, so the treble sounds uneven.
Why pick the Superlux HD 681: A very low price and a 32 ohm, 98 dB/mW load make it an easy pick for use straight from a phone or laptop. The catch: Sub-bass sits 9.7 dB below target in oratory1990’s measurement and falls 6 dB short by 42 Hz, so bass sounds thin and lacks impact.
Buy the Superlux HD 660 Pro 150 Ohm. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $0.71 with the Superlux HD 681 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Superlux HD 660 Pro 150 Ohm | Superlux HD 681 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $34 | $33.29 |
| Ranked | #57 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #165 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 83 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 61 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.24 dB standard deviation | 2.58 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +1.34 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.2 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 42 Hz (-9.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Semi-open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 150 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (323 g) | 0.5 lbs (230 g) |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Sensitivity | - | 98 dB/mW |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Superlux HD 660 Pro 150 Ohm compares with other leading options:
- Superlux HD 660 Pro 150 Ohm vs FiiO EH11
- Superlux HD 660 Pro 150 Ohm vs Koss KPH30i
- FiiO EH11 vs Superlux HD 681
- Koss KPH30i vs Superlux HD 681
- Superlux HD 681 vs Koss KPH40
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
Superlux HD 660 Pro 150 Ohm: $34 Thomann eBay
Pros: A preference score of 83 in oratory1990’s measurement is remarkable for a budget headphone, with sub-bass and bass about 1 dB above target down to 20 Hz for a full, punchy low end. It rates well above the Koss KPH30i and the AKG K240 Studio. The closed back isolates outside noise, suiting tracking and commuting.
Cons: A 6.1 dB peak near 6.4 kHz can make sibilance and cymbals splashy, and a 7.2 dB dip near 9.4 kHz follows it, so the treble sounds uneven. The 150 ohm impedance means some phones will run out of volume, and at 323 g it is not light.
Full Superlux HD 660 Pro 150 Ohm review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.24 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 83 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 150 ohms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (323 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.7 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 | +2.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,024 Hz | -3.9 dB | 3.50 |
| Peak | 52 Hz | -5.2 dB | 1.11 |
| Peak | 144 Hz | -4.3 dB | 4.46 |
| Peak | 104 Hz | +2.9 dB | 3.92 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,206 Hz | -8.9 dB | 5.22 |
| Peak | 5,370 Hz | +3.7 dB | 1.39 |
| Peak | 532 Hz | +3.7 dB | 4.78 |
| Peak | 224 Hz | +2.4 dB | 4.96 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Superlux HD 681: $33.29 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A very low price and a 32 ohm, 98 dB/mW load make it an easy pick for use straight from a phone or laptop. From the upper midrange through the air band its response stays within 2 dB of target on average, which suits listeners who like a bright or studio-flat balance. It rates higher than the Koss KPH40 at a similar price.
Cons: Sub-bass sits 9.7 dB below target in oratory1990’s measurement and falls 6 dB short by 42 Hz, so bass sounds thin and lacks impact. A 5.7 dB peak at 4.8 kHz right next to a 5.1 dB dip at 4.1 kHz can make vocals and guitars edgy, and the semi-open back lets some sound escape. The AKG K240 Studio and HyperX Cloud Alpha rate higher for a little more money.
Full Superlux HD 681 review and specifications →
| Back | Semi-open |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.58 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 61 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 42 Hz (-9.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +1.34 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.8 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 | 496 Hz | +2.4 dB | 1.05 |
| Peak | 1,105 Hz | -1.8 dB | 0.57 |
| Peak | 5,194 Hz | -6.1 dB | 4.12 |
| Peak | 174 Hz | +1.0 dB | 1.11 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,758 Hz | -2.3 dB | 3.68 |
| Peak | 3,826 Hz | +3.2 dB | 5.94 |
| Peak | 2,458 Hz | -1.4 dB | 3.46 |
| Peak | 65 Hz | -0.5 dB | 2.20 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons