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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want accurate, semi-open studio sound with a wide soundstage for mixing, tracking or gaming, choose Superlux HD681B; if you need a compact, foldable on-ear pair with a mic and remote for commuting and calls, choose JVC Flats On-Ear.
• Superlux HD681B — biggest strength: 50mm dynamic drivers with a 10 Hz–30 kHz frequency range, semi-open on-ear design and a 32Ω impedance that plays nicely with most gear. Its trade-off: a 2.5 m single-sided cable and open-ish build make it a desk companion, not a pocket one.
• JVC Flats On-Ear — biggest strength: flat foldable stainless-steel frame, 30mm neodymium drivers and a mic/remote for everyday phone and laptop use. Its trade-off: a 20 Hz–24 kHz range and 30mm drivers mean less low-end authority and detail than the Superlux.
• Pick the Superlux HD681B if you monitor, mix, stream or game at a desk and want resolution and soundstage above all.
• Pick the JVC Flats On-Ear if you want something that folds flat, slips into a bag and takes calls on the move.
• Quick rule of thumb: desk and detail → Superlux; bag and battery-free portability → JVC.
The HD681B is built around a 50mm dynamic driver with a rated 10 Hz–30 kHz frequency range, 32Ω impedance and 94.5 dB sensitivity. In plain terms, that's a headphone designed to resolve detail across a very wide span — deep bass, clear highs and a wide soundstage, which is exactly what you want when you're trying to hear what's actually in a mix rather than what a consumer tuning flatters. The semi-open on-ear design lets air move, which is part of why the presentation feels spacious rather than boxed in.
Physically it's a 277 g black metal-and-plastic build with a self-adjusting headband and soft vinyl/leather earpads, so it's meant to sit on your head for long sessions without constant fiddling. The 2.5 m (8.2 ft) straight single-sided cable is the giveaway that this is a studio tool: long enough to reach across a desk or from a couch to a laptop, with a screw-on gold-plated 3.5mm plug and an included 1/4-inch adapter for interfaces and amps. It ships with a protective pouch. The 300 mW maximum power handling and 32Ω load mean it'll run off a phone or laptop but rewards a proper headphone output.
Who should buy it: producers, podcasters, streamers, gamers and anyone who wants an analytical, balanced listen for classical, acoustic or detail-heavy music at a desk. Who should skip it: commuters, gym-goers and anyone who wants a folding travel pair or an inline mic — the long cable, on-ear clamp and semi-open design all work against you there.
The JVC Flats is the opposite philosophy. It uses 30mm neodymium dynamic drivers rated 20 Hz–24 kHz at 32Ω, tuned for dynamic bass and crisp highs rather than studio-flat accuracy. The headline feature is the flat foldable design — it collapses flat enough to slide into a bag, which is the whole point of the product. The frame is stainless steel and adjustable, so it should survive being tossed in a backpack far better than a plastic hinge would.
Comfort comes from soft earpads that also serve as passive sound isolation, which the spec sheet frames as a way to block ambient noise in offices and on commutes. It's an on-ear fit with a rounded/oval earpiece shape, weighs about 5.12 ounces, and ships in violet. The 3.5mm slim plug works with phones, laptops and controllers, and because it's wired there's nothing to charge — the mic and remote on the cable handle calls and media control.
Who should buy it: students, commuters, office workers and casual listeners who want one lightweight pair for a laptop, phone and handheld console, plus anyone who takes calls and wants a mic without fuss. Who should skip it: anyone chasing maximum detail, soundstage or low-end extension for critical listening — the smaller drivers and closed on-ear seal simply can't match what the Superlux is doing.
• Best for detail and soundstage → Superlux HD681B (50mm drivers, 10 Hz–30 kHz, semi-open design).
• Best for portability → JVC Flats On-Ear (flat foldable, lightweight, stainless steel frame).
• Best for calls and media control → JVC Flats On-Ear (inline mic and remote; the Superlux has no mic).
• Best for mixing, tracking and monitoring → Superlux HD681B (32Ω, 300 mW max power, 1/4-inch adapter included).
• Best for noisy commutes and offices → JVC Flats On-Ear (soft earpads designed for passive isolation; the semi-open Superlux leaks and lets sound in).
• Best for long desk sessions → Superlux HD681B (277 g build, self-adjusting headband, soft earpads, 2.5 m cable).
• Best for gaming and streaming at a desk → Superlux HD681B (wide soundstage helps with positional cues).
• Best for grab-and-go everyday listening → JVC Flats On-Ear (folds flat, no battery, slim plug).
If I had to pick one for myself, I'd take the Superlux HD681B. I care about hearing a track's detail and space more than I care about folding it into a pocket, and a 50mm driver with a 10 Hz–30 kHz range and a semi-open build is simply the more revealing tool for mixing, streaming or gaming at a desk. The JVC Flats is a genuinely good everyday companion — foldable, mic-equipped and comfortable — but it's a convenience-first pair, and I'd reach for the Superlux whenever sound quality is the priority. If your life happens on trains, in shared offices and on the move, flip that recommendation: the JVC is the one you'll actually carry.
For critical listening, yes — in my opinion. Its 50mm drivers and 10 Hz–30 kHz range deliver more detail, bass depth and soundstage, while the JVC's 30mm drivers are tuned for punchy everyday sound rather than accuracy.
Yes. The JVC Flats ships as a mic-and-remote model with inline media controls, so you can take calls and control playback. The Superlux HD681B has no mic — it's a pure monitoring headphone.
Both are on-ear designs with soft earpads. The Superlux pairs them with a self-adjusting headband and a 277 g build for desk work, while the JVC's soft pads are aimed at casual wear and passive isolation. Fit is personal, but the Superlux is the more session-oriented setup.
The JVC Flats On-Ear. It folds flat, uses a slim 3.5mm plug and has a stainless steel frame built for being carried around. The Superlux's 2.5 m cable and semi-open design make it a poor travel pick. Check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page before you decide.
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