Short answer: the Audio-Technica ATH-E70, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #1188 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 1.7/5, at $439. The Sennheiser IE 400 Pro ranks #1212, rated 1.5/5, at $399, $40 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 1291 in-ear headphones, so if sound quality matters, consider the Truthear Nova instead, ranked #2 at $169.99.
What the Audio-Technica ATH-E70 does well: Three balanced armature drivers per side with 109 dB/mW sensitivity and a 39 ohm impedance let a phone drive it to loud levels without an amp. The tradeoff: A preference score of 46 in crinacle’s measurement places it far from the response most listeners prefer, so expect a strongly colored sound.
Why pick the Sennheiser IE 400 Pro: Bass is lifted about 3.1 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight. Watch for: Presence sits about 7.3 dB low with a 9.1 dB dip near 3.2 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Buy the Audio-Technica ATH-E70. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $40 saving on the Sennheiser IE 400 Pro is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Three balanced armature drivers per side with 109 dB/mW sensitivity and a 39 ohm impedance let a phone drive it to loud levels without an amp.
Amazon $439.00 eBay
Bass is lifted about 3.1 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight.
Amazon $399.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Audio-Technica ATH-E70 | Sennheiser IE 400 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $439.00 | $399.00 |
| Ranked | #1188 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #1212 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | - |
| Harman Preference Score | 46 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 43 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.20 dB standard deviation | 4.11 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.70 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.37 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 3 x balanced armature | 1 x 7mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 39 ohms | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 109 dB/mW | 123 dB/Vrms |
| Weight | 0 lbs (9 g) per earpiece | - |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 6Hz - 19kHz |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
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