The Superlux HD 681 ranks #120 out of 165 total Over-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
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#120 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.
| 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) |
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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