Ultrasone HFI-2200

The Pioneers have slightly better audio quality, are much more comfortable, and have a more modern (albeit very DJ-esque) aesthetic. If you have $300 to spend on a pair of home theater headphones, and are considering both the HFI-2200s and the SE-A1000s, we’d recommend you pick up the SE-A1000s. You’ll even have $100 left over for popcorn and DVDs.

The Grado SR60s have better audio quality, but not by all that much, and are slightly more comfortable. If you just run down the numbers, the two headphones are quite similar. The deal-breaker? The SR60s cost a wallet-friendly $70. Though the HFI-2200 headphones certainly look and feel as though they were made out of better materials, we don’t think the cost of materials makes up for a $230 deficit.

The HD 555 headphones are really just a better, cheaper version of the HFI-2200s. The HD 555s have far better audio quality (with distortion so low audiophiles swoon), are more comfortable, and cost a healthy amount less than the HFI-2200s. The HD 555 headphones win this match-up.

The QC2s are far more portable than the HFI-2200 headphones. They come with a cord and an extension cord, so you’re never stuck with a cumbersome coil in your pocket. They can block out a lot of ambient noise, making them even better at a morning commute. The QC2s have better audio quality, noise cancellation, are more comfortable and portable, and cost the same. The HFI-2200s lose this one.