The ThieAudio Cypher ranks #189 out of 459 total Over-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
Brand: Thieaudio
Prices on this page were last checked October 15, 2026 at 5:41 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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#189 ThieAudio Cypher: $429.00 Amazon $429.00 eBay
Pros: An open-back with a 50mm dynamic driver. Measurements show treble right on the Harman target (score 75 across four measurements).
Cons: Bass sits about 2.1 dB below target, so it sounds lean. Sub-bass falls about 5.0 dB short at 30 Hz. A 2.59 dB spread from the target shows peaks and dips that better tuned sets avoid.
Is the ThieAudio Cypher right for you?
Buy it if
- you want the tuning most listeners prefer in blind tests out of the box (Harman score 75).
- your taste runs warm: it scores 81 for that sound.
Skip it if
- you need isolation or will use it in public: open-back headphones leak sound both ways.
- you want the best value: the higher-rated Sennheiser HD 550 costs about $229 less.
| Released | 2026 (this year) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.59 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 75 (median of 4 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 96 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.36 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ Presets
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 Speaker Ranking from the median of 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Harman match with this EQ: 89 out of 100, up from 75.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +3.3 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 230 Hz | -3.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,730 Hz | +2.6 dB | 2.87 |
| Peak | 3,021 Hz | -1.8 dB | 4.57 |
| Peak | 5,462 Hz | -4.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 7,440 Hz | +2.0 dB | 4.81 |
Neutral target
Set a preamp of -2.4 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Neutral match with this EQ: 89 out of 100, up from 64.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -2.4 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 223 Hz | -3.6 dB | 0.66 |
| Peak | 1,727 Hz | +2.6 dB | 2.83 |
| Peak | 3,021 Hz | -1.8 dB | 4.58 |
| Peak | 5,462 Hz | -4.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 7,440 Hz | +2.0 dB | 4.81 |
Studio flat target
Set a preamp of -4.8 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Studio flat match with this EQ: 80 out of 100, up from 30.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -4.3 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 57 Hz | +1.1 dB | 3.39 |
| Peak | 114 Hz | -0.8 dB | 4.07 |
| Peak | 229 Hz | -5.6 dB | 0.66 |
| Peak | 501 Hz | -0.9 dB | 1.82 |
| Peak | 1,983 Hz | +5.0 dB | 2.03 |
| Peak | 3,977 Hz | +1.4 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,477 Hz | -4.9 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 7,407 Hz | +2.0 dB | 5.05 |
Warm target
Set a preamp of -3.5 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Warm match with this EQ: 98 out of 100, up from 81.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +3.5 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 228 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.73 |
| Peak | 1,708 Hz | +2.0 dB | 2.66 |
| Peak | 3,054 Hz | -2.8 dB | 4.56 |
| Peak | 5,421 Hz | -6.6 dB | 3.33 |
| Peak | 8,000 Hz | +2.0 dB | 3.52 |
Bass target
Set a preamp of -6.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bass match with this EQ: 90 out of 100, up from 72.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +5.9 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 64 Hz | +1.4 dB | 2.49 |
| Peak | 248 Hz | -3.7 dB | 0.82 |
| Peak | 1,737 Hz | +2.5 dB | 2.95 |
| Peak | 3,021 Hz | -1.8 dB | 4.56 |
| Peak | 5,462 Hz | -4.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 7,440 Hz | +2.0 dB | 4.81 |
Bright target
Set a preamp of -3.0 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bright match with this EQ: 77 out of 100, up from 43.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -2.5 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 224 Hz | -3.7 dB | 0.67 |
| Peak | 703 Hz | -0.6 dB | 1.37 |
| Peak | 1,784 Hz | +1.8 dB | 3.66 |
| Peak | 2,892 Hz | -1.9 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 3,654 Hz | +1.2 dB | 0.40 |
| Peak | 4,188 Hz | +2.0 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,444 Hz | -1.9 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 7,005 Hz | +1.3 dB | 4.93 |
V-shaped target
Set a preamp of -6.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted V-shaped match with this EQ: 72 out of 100, up from 61.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 250 Hz | -2.3 dB | 0.83 |
| Peak | 4,268 Hz | +1.6 dB | 0.51 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Frequency Response
How the ThieAudio Cypher measures across the audible range, against the Harman over-ear target that most listeners prefer in blind tests. Where the line sits above the target that range sounds louder (more bass, brighter treble), below it quieter. The curve is the median of 4 independent measurements, so one odd sample or rig cannot skew it, and both lines are shifted so their 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB.
Measurement data: median of 4 measurements from the squig.link databases of aden, audioamigo, dl and superreview. Thanks to each of them for publishing their work.