Short answer: the Superlux HD 681. It ranks #165 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.1/5, at $33.29; the HyperX Cloud II ranks #174, rated 2.9/5, and costs $47.48, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Superlux HD 681 does well: 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.
What the HyperX Cloud II does well: A built-in microphone and a closed-back design make it a ready-made gaming headset, and the 60 ohm impedance with 98 dB sensitivity means it runs easily from a PC or console. Watch for: A deep dip of roughly 15 dB near 4.2 kHz hollows out presence, so voices and the attack of instruments sound recessed, while a peak of about 9 dB near 8.6 kHz adds a sharp, sizzly edge to cymbals and sibilance.
Buy the Superlux HD 681. It is rated higher for sound quality than the HyperX Cloud II and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Superlux HD 681 | HyperX Cloud II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $33.29 | $47.48 |
| Ranked | #165 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #174 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 61 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.58 dB standard deviation | 3.60 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +1.34 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.74 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 42 Hz (-9.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Semi-open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 60 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB/mW | 98 dB SPL/mW |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 15Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) | - |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Superlux HD 681 compares with other leading options:
- Superlux HD 660 Pro 150 Ohm vs Superlux HD 681
- FiiO EH11 vs Superlux HD 681
- Koss KPH30i vs Superlux HD 681
- Superlux HD 681 vs Koss KPH40
- Superlux HD 681 vs Koss KSC75
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 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 |
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HyperX Cloud II: $47.48 Amazon eBay
Pros: A built-in microphone and a closed-back design make it a ready-made gaming headset, and the 60 ohm impedance with 98 dB sensitivity means it runs easily from a PC or console. The large 53mm driver delivers bass about 4 dB above the Harman target, which suits listeners who want punchy explosions and a warm, bass-forward presentation. Sub-bass and the lower midrange sit close to target, so the low end is fuller without being muddy.
Cons: A deep dip of roughly 15 dB near 4.2 kHz hollows out presence, so voices and the attack of instruments sound recessed, while a peak of about 9 dB near 8.6 kHz adds a sharp, sizzly edge to cymbals and sibilance. Treble above 6 kHz runs about 4 to 5 dB hot, which can become fatiguing at higher volumes. The HyperX Cloud Alpha has a higher rating at a lower price.
Full HyperX Cloud II review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2015 (11 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.60 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 60 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.74 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.4 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 | +4.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 170 Hz | -7.0 dB | 1.06 |
| Peak | 271 Hz | +3.7 dB | 0.58 |
| Peak | 3,828 Hz | +5.4 dB | 3.60 |
| Peak | 57 Hz | -4.8 dB | 0.58 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -7.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,085 Hz | -3.0 dB | 3.98 |
| Peak | 2,378 Hz | -1.9 dB | 2.78 |
| Peak | 3,700 Hz | +1.3 dB | 2.71 |
| Peak | 1,123 Hz | +1.1 dB | 3.29 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons