Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
- Table of Contents
- Top
- Main Differences
- Design
- Sound
- Isolation
- Microphone
- Active Features
- Connectivity
- Comments
Superlux HD 681 EVO vs Samson SR850
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Superlux HD 681 EVO
Samson SR850
Tested using Methodology v1.3.1
Updated Jun 23, 2023 07:58 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.5
Updated Jan 15, 2024 02:47 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
TypeOver-ear
EnclosureSemi-Open
WirelessNo
TransducerDynamic
Noise CancellingNo
MicNo
TypeOver-ear
EnclosureSemi-Open
WirelessNo
TransducerDynamic
Noise CancellingNo
MicNo
Variants
- HD 681 EVO (Black)
- HD 681 EVO (White)
- SR850 (Black)
- SR850 (Blue)
Our Verdict
Superlux HD 681 EVO
Samson SR850
The Superlux HD 681 EVO are better for neutral sound than the Samson SR850. The Superlux are much more comfortable, more breathable, and have a more neutral sound profile that some may prefer. On the other hand, the Samson have a significantly better passive soundstage performance. Some may also prefer their brighter sound profile.
Check Price
Notice: Two or more of the products selected have been tested with different test methodologies, so some of the results below aren't directly comparable. Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our headphones test methodology.
Main Differences for
Threshold
Mixed Usage
5.7
Full Comparison
Design
Style
Design Picture 2
Type
Over-ear
Over-ear
Enclosure
Semi-Open
Semi-Open
Wireless
No
No
Transducer
Dynamic
Dynamic
Comfort
7.5
6.5
Comfort Picture
Weight
0.61 lbs
0.52 lbs
Clamping Force
1.2 lbs
1.1 lbs
Controls
0.0
0.0
Controls Picture
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
No Controls
Ease Of Use
N/A
No Controls
Feedback
N/A
No Controls
Call/Music Control
No
No
Volume Control
No
No
Microphone Control
N/A
No
Channel Mixing
N/A
No
Noise Cancelling Control
N/A
No
Talk-Through
N/A
No
Additional Controls
N/A
No
Breathability
6.7
5.4
Breathability After Picture
Avg.Temp.Difference
5.2 °C
8.3 °C
Portability
5.5
5.2
Portability Picture
L
7.5"
8.2" (20.8 cm)
W
7.2"
7.2" (18.3 cm)
H
3.5"
4.1" (10.5 cm)
Volume
189 in³
243.91 in³ (3,997.00 cm³)
Transmitter Required
N/A
No
Case
5.5
0.0
Case Picture
Type
Pouch
No case
L
N/A
N/A
W
N/A
N/A
H
N/A
N/A
Volume
N/A
N/A
Build Quality
6.0
6.0
Build Quality Picture
Stability
6.5
6.5
Stability Picture
Headshots 1
Angled Picture
Side Picture
Headshots 2
Front Picture
Rear Picture
Top
Top Picture
In The Box
In The Box Picture
Sound
Sound Profile
Frequency Response
Frequency Response
Bass Amount
1.64 dB
-2.69 dB
Treble Amount
0.42 dB
2.41 dB
Frequency Response Consistency
7.3
7.8
Consistency L
Consistency R
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.54 dB
0.43 dB
Raw Frequency Response
Raw FR L
Raw FR L
Raw FR R
Raw FR R
Bass Accuracy
8.5
7.7
Std. Err.
2.2 dB
3.36 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
10 Hz
33.15 Hz
Low-Bass
2.94 dB
-2.6 dB
Mid-Bass
2.55 dB
3.6 dB
High-Bass
0.35 dB
3.94 dB
Mid Accuracy
8.4
8.5
Std. Err.
2.19 dB
1.95 dB
Low-Mid
-1.76 dB
1.61 dB
Mid-Mid
-2.3 dB
0.36 dB
High-Mid
-1.33 dB
2.42 dB
Treble Accuracy
7.8
5.4
Treble
Treble
Std. Err.
3.66 dB
6.56 dB
Low-Treble
-1.71 dB
3.84 dB
Mid-Treble
0.5 dB
9.38 dB
High-Treble
-0.45 dB
3.6 dB
Peaks/Dips
7.1
7.2
Peaks/Dips Graph
Peaks/Dips Graph
Peaks
1.91 dB
1.83 dB
Dips
1.5 dB
1.35 dB
Imaging
8.9
8.8
Phase Response
Phase Response Mismatch
Weighted Group Delay
0.27
0.31
Weighted Phase Mismatch
3.58
4.63
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.35
0.49
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.5
1.43
Passive Soundstage
6.7
7.9
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
4.2 dB
2.12 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
4.53 dB
4.83 dB
PRTF Distance
8.46 dB
9.71 dB
Openness
7.0
9.3
Acoustic Space Excitation
7.5
7.4
Virtual Soundstage
0.0
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No App
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
7.6
8.0
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.166
0.123
WHD @ 100
0.198
0.151
Test Settings
Firmware
No Firmware
Power
Passive
Connection
Wired
Codec
PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
EQ
No EQ
ANC
No ANC
Tip/Pad
Default
Microphone
No Microphone
Isolation
Noise Isolation
3.2
2.0
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-8.72 dB
-6.55 dB
Noise Cancelling
No
No
Bass
-0.18 dB
-0.02 dB
Mid
-1.93 dB
-0.32 dB
Treble
-23.91 dB
-19.02 dB
Leakage
3.5
3.6
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
56.05 dB
55.64 dB
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
N/A
No
In-Line
N/A
No
Boom
N/A
No
Detachable Boom
N/A
No
Mic
No
No
Recording Quality
0.0
0.0
Microphone Frequency Response
Recorded Speech
N/A
N/A
LFE
N/A
N/A
FR Std. Dev.
N/A
N/A
HFE
N/A
N/A
Weighted THD
N/A
N/A
Gain
N/A
N/A
Noise Handling
0.0
0.0
SpNR
SpNR
N/A
N/A
Noise Gate
No
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
N/A
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
N/A
N/A
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
N/A
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample
N/A
N/A
Active Features
Battery
0.0
0.0
Battery Type
N/A
No Battery
Continuous Battery Life
N/A
N/A
Additional Charges
N/A
N/A
Total Battery Life
N/A
N/A
Charge Time
N/A
N/A
Power-Saving Feature
N/A
No
Audio While Charging
N/A
No
Passive Playback
N/A
Passive Headphone
Charging Port
N/A
None
App Support
0.0
0.0
App Picture
App Name
N/A
No App
iOS
N/A
No
Android
N/A
No
macOS
N/A
No
Windows
N/A
No
Equalizer
N/A
No
ANC Control
N/A
No
Mic Control
N/A
No
Room Effects
N/A
No
Playback Control
N/A
No
Button Mapping
N/A
No
Surround Sound
N/A
Surround Support
No
Connectivity
Bluetooth
0.0
0.0
Bluetooth Version
N/A
No Bluetooth
Multi-Device Pairing
N/A
No
NFC Pairing
N/A
No
Line Of Sight Range
N/A
N/A
PC Latency (SBC)
N/A
N/A
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
N/A
iOS Latency
N/A
Android Latency
N/A
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
0.0
0.0
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
N/A
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A
N/A
Wired
9.0
9.0
Cable Picture
Analog Audio
Yes
Yes
USB Audio
No
No
Detachable
No
Length
8.4 ft
8.43 ft (2.57 m)
Connection
1/8" TRS
1/8" TRS
Wired Latency
0 ms
Analog/USB Audio Latency
0 ms
PC Compatibility
Analog
Audio Only
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
No
PC / PS4 Compatibility
PC / PS4 Analog
Audio Only
Audio Only
PC / PS4 Wired USB
No
No
PC / PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
No
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
Audio Only
Audio Only
PS4 Wired USB
No
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
No
PS5 Analog
Audio Only
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Audio Only
Audio Only
Xbox One Wired USB
No
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
Audio Only
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No
Base/Dock
0.0
0.0
Type
N/A
No Base/Dock
USB Input
N/A
No
Line In
N/A
No
Line Out
N/A
No
Optical Input
N/A
No
RCA Input
N/A
No
Dock Charging
N/A
No
Power Supply
N/A
No Base/Dock
Superlux HD 681 EVO
Samson SR850
Comments
Superlux HD 681 EVO vs Samson SR850: Main Discussion
What do you think of these products? Let us know below.
Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.