Our Verdict
The Superlux HD 681 EVO are budget critical listening headphones that won't be versatile enough for all use cases. They sound surprisingly good for their price, and they're comfortable enough to wear for extended listening sessions without any fatigue. Unfortunately, they're bulky, cumbersome headphones that are not portable or stable enough for sports. They also barely isolate so they won't be ideal for commuting or to use in loud environments.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Lightweight design.
- Plasticky build quality.
- Sensitive to noisy environments, by design.
The Superlux HD 681 EVO like the HD 681 are a good and budget option for neutral listening. They deliver a slightly more powerful bass than the HD 681. They also do well reproducing instruments and vocals that aren't overshadowed by the stronger bass. However, although semi-open they do not have the most spacious soundstage and their bass varies a bit due to positioning. This makes them slightly inconsistent but overall their sound quality is good enough even for more neutral listeners.
Poor for commuting. They're not made for this use case. They have a semi-open design that doesn't block a lot of ambient noise and they're a bit of hassle to carry around on your person without a bag.
Not made for sports. They're bulky and impractical to use outdoors. They're a bit more comfortable than the HD 668B but they're less stable and won't be ideal to use while doing physical activities. They also they don't have any controls, which makes controlling your music source while exercising a bit more of a hassle.
Subpar for office use. They let a lot of noise seep into your audio and also leak a lot which might be distracting to your colleagues.
Below average for gaming. They have a good sound an comfortable design. they also wired so they have no latency. However, they also have no mic so they won't be ideal for gaming especially for multiplayer games online.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Oct 24, 2017: Review published.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
While the Superlux HD 681 and the Superlux HD 681 EVO are similarly performing headphones, the HD 681 are better for neutral sound. They have a more balanced sound and a more natural passive soundstage. However, the HD 681 EVO have slightly better build quality and are a bit more stable on your head.
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.
The Superlux HD 681 EVO and the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless are two headphones at very different price points with different uses. The Superlux are entry-level audiophile headphones that have a fairly neutral sound profile and a semi-open back design to create a wider and more spacious passive soundstage. However, the Sony are more versatile. They're comfortable, their sound profile is also fairly balanced, and they have an integrated microphone, and they have a superb active noise cancelling feature. They're also wireless and their 27-hour battery should be more than enough to get you through a work day or commute.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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