Over-Ear
Audio-Technica A990z
68Good
Price n/a
Full review dataAudio-Technica A990z vs HiFiMAN Shangri-La Jr: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the HiFiMAN Shangri-La Jr comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: HiFiMAN Shangri-La Jr - Outstanding overall at around $4000.
Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Shangri-La Jr
88Outstanding
$4,000
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Audio-Technica A990z
Sound7.0
Value6.0
HiFiMAN Shangri-La Jr
Sound9.5
Value4.0
Specifications
| Spec | Audio-Technica A990z | HiFiMAN Shangri-La Jr |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | - | $4,000 |
| HearWiki score | 68 / 100 · Good | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | - | - |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | Electrostatic |
| Driver size | 53 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 5Hz-42kHz | 7Hz-120kHz |
| Sound signature | - | Bright neutral |
| Impedance | 44 Ω | - |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | No | - |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | - |
| Controls | buttons | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 330 g | 374 g |
| USB-C | No | - |
What reviewers said
Audio-Technica A990z
The Audio-Technica A990Z is a closed-back, over-ear headphone that prioritizes home listening and light mixing over portability, offering a spacious and detailed sound with low fatigue. Its tuning is polarizing, however, with some praising its clarity while others find it too bright and bass-heavy, and it's best suited for stationary use given its wired design and lack of travel-friendly features.
- Pro:Spacious, detailed soundstage for a closed-back design
- Pro:Very comfortable for long listening sessions
- Pro:Strong passive isolation from ambient noise
- Con:Bright and bass-heavy tuning that may not suit all music genres
- Con:Not portable or travel-friendly due to wired-only design
- Con:Imaging can be imprecise in some listening scenarios
HiFiMAN Shangri-La Jr
The HiFiMAN Shangri-La Jr is a premium electrostatic headphone that delivers an exceptionally detailed and transparent sound, leaning towards a bright-neutral tuning that emphasizes precision over warmth. Its lightweight build and high-frequency extension make it a technical powerhouse, though its performance demands a capable amplifier and may not suit listeners sensitive to treble energy.
- Pro:Outstanding technical performance and clarity
- Pro:Very lightweight for an electrostatic design
- Pro:Extensive frequency response with airy highs
- Con:Very expensive price point
- Con:Bright tuning may be fatiguing for some
- Con:Requires dedicated electrostatic amplifier
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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