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.
We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.
For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.
We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!
Test Results
The HD 681 EVO are decent-looking but plasticky headphones. They have a completely different ear cup design to the HD 681 and 668. They're still semi-open ear cups, but the vents are slightly hidden giving these headphones a more closed-back look. The headband strap is also a bit different but has the same fit and comfort level as the original HD 681. However, unlike the other Superlux headphones these come in two color schemes. An understated and glossy black finish and a more flashy white that will stand out but may not be for everyone. They're also a bit bulky and cumbersome to wear and use outdoors.
The Superlux HD 681 EVO have the same strap design as the HD 681 which makes them more comfortable than the HD 668B. They're a bit tighter on the head than the original 681, but the large ear cups and self-adjusting headband fits comfortably for most. They may get a little tiring during long listening sessions, but they're lightweight and come with additional softer pads that feel better on the skin thanks to the microfiber coating.
The HD 681 EVO are bulky, cumbersome headphones that do not fold into a more compact format. The ear cups do not lay flat either which makes them difficult to carry around on your person without a bag.
Comes with a somewhat, rugged pouch that will shield the headphones from scratches and minor water exposure. However, it will not protect your headphones against drops and impacts.
The HD 681 EVO like the HD 681 and HD 668B feel cheaply made and plasticky. They're budget headphones which show in their build quality. They're almost entirely made out of plastic that doesn't feel dense or durable. They won't break if you accidentally drop them once or twice, and they have a detachable cable that you can replace, but their overall build quality isn't particularly sturdy.
The HD 681 EVO are as tight on the head as the HD 668 but also have a detachable cable. This makes them moderately stable, especially under casual conditions. However, they're not designed or meant for sports. They will quickly fall if you use them while doing any physical activities and won't be good headphones to work out with or to take to the gym.
- Superlux HD681 EVO Headphones
- 1/8" to 1/4" Adapter
- Carrying pouch
- Audio Cables (x2)
- Manual
Decent consistency. The HD HD 681 EVO shows good consistency in its treble range, with the maximum deviation of +/-3dB below 10KHz. In the bass range however, the 681 EVO is less consistent in its bass delivery across different humans, and could even be affected by wearing glasses..
Great bass range performance. Low-bass, which is responsible for rumble and thump is extended down to 10Hz. Additionally, both low-bass and bass are overemphasized by about 2.5dB, making these headphones slightly bass-heavy.
Very good mid range performance. The response is mostly flat, but underemphasized by an average of 2dB. This results in an even but recessed mid range which could be slightly overpowered by the bass range.
Good treble range performance. The narrow 5dB dip centered around 4KHz will have a small negative effect on detail and presence of vocals/leads. The peak around 10KHz could make S and T sounds a bit sharp and piercing on overly bright tracks.
Poor isolation. These headphones don't have active noise cancellation, and are also semi-open. Therefore, they don't isolate below 1KHz. Above that, they achieve about 24dB of isolation, which is about average.
Poor leakage performance. The significant portion of the leakage sits between 400Hz and 20KHz which is quite a broad range. The overall level of leakage is also loud.
No compatible app.
Wired connection negligible latency.
