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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Avantone Pro Planar — biggest strength: open-back planar magnetic drivers with a 30Hz–30,000Hz range, which is the flatter, more spacious presentation of the two.
• Avantone Pro Planar — biggest trade-off: open-back means sound leaks both ways and there's no noise control, so it's a quiet-room tool only.
• PHONON SMB-02G — biggest strength: a 40mm Nomex dynamic driver with a Free Edge structure, plus interchangeable ear plates that let you switch between closed and semi-open.
• PHONON SMB-02G — biggest trade-off: a tighter 20Hz–20,000Hz range and dynamic-driver imaging, so it's less "hear into the mix" than the planar.
• Avantone Pro Planar is for engineers, producers and hi-fi listeners who work in a treated or quiet space and want reference-grade transparency.
• PHONON SMB-02G is for studio users who track, edit and travel, and want one pair of headphones that adapts to the room and the task.
The defining spec here is the driver. Planar magnetic drivers move a flat, etched diaphragm rather than a conventional coil-and-cone, and that design is the reason planar headphones get described as fast and detailed. Avantone pairs that with an open-back cup and a stated 30Hz to 30,000Hz frequency range — the widest figure in this comparison. In practice, that combination is what people mean by a flat frequency response headphone: the top end stays extended without getting brittle, and the midrange stays uncoloured enough that you can hear small EQ moves and compression artifacts.
The open-back enclosure matters as much as the driver. Because the cup is open, air moves freely behind the driver, which is what gives these headphones their wide, almost speaker-like sense of space. The trade-off is two-directional: sound escapes outward, and outside noise comes in. There's no noise control on these at all. If you're mixing late at night next to a sleeping partner, or on a plane, that's a real limitation, not a footnote.
Physically, this is a wired 3.5mm headphone with a detachable cable and a carrying bag, in a red finish with metal and plastic construction and over-ear cups. Avantone also lists a volume control and an app-based control method, so there's some app-side functionality layered on top of an otherwise analogue-feeling design. At 3.5 pounds for the package, it's not a featherweight travel kit.
Who should buy it? In my opinion, this is the pick for a mixing or mastering engineer, a producer, or a serious hi-fi listener who has a quiet, controlled space and wants maximum insight into a mix. Who should skip it? Anyone who needs isolation, anyone who tracks loud instruments while wearing headphones, and anyone who wants a single pair for commuting or open-plan offices.
PHONON takes the opposite approach and builds flexibility into the hardware. The headline feature is interchangeable ear plates, sold separately, that let you convert the SMB-02G between a closed-dynamic design and a semi-open one. That's unusual, and it's genuinely useful: closed for tracking and noisy rooms, semi-open when you want a little more air and space. It's the closest thing here to two headphones in one.
The acoustic side is a 40mm Nomex dynamic driver with a Free Edge diaphragm structure. PHONON's claim is that this minimises energy loss as the diaphragm moves, which translates into a broad, high-resolution frequency response and a wide dynamic range. The stated range is 20Hz to 20,000Hz at 32 ohms — an easy load for phones, interfaces and laptop outputs, and a low-frequency reach that extends a full 10Hz below the Avantone on paper. PHONON also points to meticulous tuning for acoustic balance across genres rather than a single reference curve.
Comfort and cabling are clearly considered. The detachable cable is a 4-core LR design with independent ground connections, which is the kind of thing studio users care about for clean signal runs and easy replacement when a cable dies. The ear pads are described as thick and lightweight for long sessions. Construction is black, over-ear, and it's made in Japan — a detail that matters to a lot of buyers in this category. It ships with a protective case and, like the Avantone, uses a wired 3.5mm connection with no noise control, though the control method is listed as remote with touch control.
Who should buy it? A studio user who tracks, edits and mixes in different environments and wants one pair that adapts. Also a good fit for someone who wants a closed-back option for noisy rooms but wants the door left open for a more spacious presentation later. Who should skip it? Someone chasing the last word in midrange transparency and imaging depth — that's planar territory. And anyone who wants the semi-open plates out of the box should note they're sold separately.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for flexibility in one purchase → PHONON SMB-02G. Interchangeable ear plates let you move between closed and semi-open.
• Best for noisy or shared rooms → PHONON SMB-02G. Closed configuration plus no open-back leakage. The Avantone leaks in both directions.
• Best for the widest frequency extension → Avantone Pro Planar Headphones. 30kHz at the top versus 20kHz on the PHONON.
• Best for the deepest bass spec → PHONON SMB-02G. 20Hz at the bottom versus 30Hz on the Avantone.
• Best for easy driving from any source → PHONON SMB-02G. A 32-ohm dynamic load is undemanding; planars generally want more current.
• Best for cable maintenance → PHONON SMB-02G. The 4-core detachable LR cable with independent ground is the more serviceable setup.
• Best for long, quiet listening sessions → Avantone Pro Planar Headphones. Open-back over-ear comfort with a carrying bag for storage between sessions.
• Best for travel and location work → PHONON SMB-02G. Closed option, protective case, and made-in-Japan build.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the PHONON SMB-02G. Not because it's more transparent — it isn't — but because the interchangeable ear plates and 32-ohm dynamic driver make it the headphone that fits more of my actual days: tracking, editing, noisy rooms, and the occasional quiet listen. In my opinion, the Avantone Pro Planar is the better-sounding headphone for pure critical listening and mixing, and if your room is quiet and your job is detail, that's the one I'd point you to. For everyone else, and for anyone who wants one pair to do everything, the PHONON is the smarter single purchase. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since the gap between them is what usually decides these things.
FAQ
does frequency response matter in headphones
Yes, but read the numbers in context. The Avantone Pro Planar covers 30Hz to 30,000Hz; the PHONON SMB-02G covers 20Hz to 20,000Hz. A wider range doesn't automatically mean better sound — it tells you how far up and down the driver is specified to reach. What matters more for a "flat" sound is how evenly the driver behaves across the range you actually hear.
Both are wired 3.5mm headphones with no built-in noise control or amplification. The PHONON's 32-ohm dynamic driver is undemanding and runs fine from a phone, laptop or interface. The Avantone's planar driver typically benefits from a source with more current, so a dedicated amp is the safer bet if you go that route.
You can, but understand the trade-off. The Avantone Pro Planar's open-back design gives a wide, speaker-like stage that's excellent for mixing, but it leaks sound outward and lets room noise in. The PHONON SMB-02G sidesteps this with its closed configuration, which is why it's the more practical pick for tracking sessions.
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