Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro. Both are rated 3.2/5 for sound quality (#97 and #101 of 134 over-ear headphones), and the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro costs $89.98 against $149.99 for the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
What the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X does well: The open-back 53mm driver gives a wide, airy sound, and the air region above 10 kHz is nearly on target. Watch for: Sub-bass sits about 11 dB below target and bass from 60 to 200 Hz is roughly 3 dB low, so kick drums and bass lines sound thin.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro: Sub-bass is about 4 dB above target while mid and upper bass are right on it, so low notes gain depth without muddiness. The tradeoff: A 8 dB dip near 4.2 kHz and presence about 5 dB low push vocals and snare attack back, and treble above 6 kHz also runs 4 dB low.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $60.01 less than the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X | Sennheiser HD 280 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.99 | $89.98 |
| Ranked | #101 of 134 in Over-Ear Headphones | #97 of 134 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 63 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 64 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.47 dB standard deviation | 2.55 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.48 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.16 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic | - |
| Impedance | 38 ohms | 64 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW | 113 dB SPL |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (265 g) | 0.6 lbs (285 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 8Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sennheiser HD 280 Pro:
- Audio-Technica ATH-M20x vs Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
- Sennheiser HD 280 Pro vs Sony WH-CH510
- Sennheiser HD 280 Pro vs Anker Soundcore Space One
- 1MORE Triple Driver Over Ear vs Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X
- Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X vs FiiO FT1
Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X: $149.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: The open-back 53mm driver gives a wide, airy sound, and the air region above 10 kHz is nearly on target. At 38 ohms and 100 dB/mW it runs directly from a phone, and it weighs only 265 g.
Cons: Sub-bass sits about 11 dB below target and bass from 60 to 200 Hz is roughly 3 dB low, so kick drums and bass lines sound thin. A 11.8 dB dip near 7.2 kHz, with presence about 6 dB low, dulls vocals and cymbals, and a 3.47 dB deviation makes it less even than most. The open back leaks sound and offers no isolation.
Full Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X review and specifications →
| Released | 2012 (14 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.47 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 63 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 38 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.48 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (265 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.5 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,422 Hz | -4.8 dB | 0.87 |
| Peak | 2,626 Hz | +6.9 dB | 1.24 |
| Peak | 157 Hz | -3.2 dB | 0.48 |
| Peak | 6,954 Hz | +5.0 dB | 3.00 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,990 Hz | +3.5 dB | 5.55 |
| Peak | 4,063 Hz | -2.6 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 51 Hz | +0.9 dB | 3.36 |
| Peak | 77 Hz | -0.6 dB | 2.81 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro: $89.98 Amazon eBay
Pros: Sub-bass is about 4 dB above target while mid and upper bass are right on it, so low notes gain depth without muddiness. The closed back isolates well for monitoring and tracking, and 113 dB sensitivity makes the 64 ohm driver easy to power from a phone. It weighs 285 g.
Cons: A 8 dB dip near 4.2 kHz and presence about 5 dB low push vocals and snare attack back, and treble above 6 kHz also runs 4 dB low. The result is dark and a little veiled, with less air and sparkle than the target. It is wired only and has no built-in microphone listed.
Full Sennheiser HD 280 Pro review and specifications →
| Released | 2003 (23 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.55 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 64 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB SPL |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.16 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (285 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.8 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -4.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 475 Hz | -2.1 dB | 0.42 |
| Peak | 3,946 Hz | +5.9 dB | 1.82 |
| Peak | 77 Hz | +4.7 dB | 2.17 |
| Peak | 41 Hz | -3.0 dB | 1.35 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +3.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 126 Hz | -3.7 dB | 3.71 |
| Peak | 178 Hz | +2.3 dB | 3.81 |
| Peak | 101 Hz | +2.7 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 7,834 Hz | +1.1 dB | 3.95 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons