Short answer: the Audio-Technica ATH-M70x. It ranks #28 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $329; the Sennheiser HD 650 ranks #49, rated 4.1/5, at $328.90. With prices this close, go by the sound-quality ranking rather than the cost.
Why pick the Audio-Technica ATH-M70x: A preference score of 87 and a fairly smooth 1.6 dB deviation make it one of the closer closed-back models to the Harman target. The tradeoff: Presence is lifted by about 3 dB with a peak of 4.6 dB near 4.5 kHz, which adds bite to vocals, snares and guitars and can become fatiguing at higher volumes.
What the Sennheiser HD 650 does well: A preference score of 84 and a warm tilt of minus 0.27 give a relaxed, smooth sound, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz, mids and presence all within about 0.6 dB of target. Watch for: Sub-bass is about 7 dB under target and the 6 to 10 kHz treble is nearly 5 dB low, with a 9 dB dip near 9.3 kHz, so cymbals and air sound dull and rumble is missing.
Buy the Audio-Technica ATH-M70x. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $0.10 saving on the Sennheiser HD 650 is not enough to make up the difference.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audio-Technica ATH-M70x | Sennheiser HD 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329.00 | $328.90 |
| Ranked | #28 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #49 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 87 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 84 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.60 dB standard deviation | 2.10 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.48 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.27 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 40 Hz (-7.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 45mm dynamic | 1 x 42mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 35 ohms | 300 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 97 dB | 103 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (280 g) | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 41kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Audio-Technica ATH-M70x compares with other leading options:
- Audio-Technica ATH-M70x vs Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa
- Audio-Technica ATH-M70x vs HarmonicDyne Romantic
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs HarmonicDyne Romantic
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs Logitech G Astro A50 X
- Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa vs Sennheiser HD 650
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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-M70x: $329.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 87 and a fairly smooth 1.6 dB deviation make it one of the closer closed-back models to the Harman target. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz lands within 1 dB of target, and sub-bass is only about 2 dB light, so low end is tidy without being thin. At 35 ohms and 97 dB sensitivity it is easy to drive from a laptop or interface, and the closed design isolates and does not leak into a room.
Cons: Presence is lifted by about 3 dB with a peak of 4.6 dB near 4.5 kHz, which adds bite to vocals, snares and guitars and can become fatiguing at higher volumes. Treble above 6 kHz also runs slightly hot, so bright recordings sound sharper than neutral. At 280 g it is heavier than many open-back rivals in its class.
Full Audio-Technica ATH-M70x review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.60 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 45mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 87 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 35 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 97 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.48 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (280 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.6 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 | +3.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 681 Hz | +3.6 dB | 2.12 |
| Peak | 4,327 Hz | -3.0 dB | 2.54 |
| Peak | 110 Hz | -2.1 dB | 0.82 |
| Peak | 69 Hz | +1.3 dB | 1.64 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,406 Hz | +2.0 dB | 4.92 |
| Peak | 3,133 Hz | -0.9 dB | 5.06 |
| Peak | 2,230 Hz | -0.9 dB | 3.09 |
| Peak | 1,352 Hz | +0.4 dB | 2.01 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sennheiser HD 650: $328.90 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 84 and a warm tilt of minus 0.27 give a relaxed, smooth sound, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz, mids and presence all within about 0.6 dB of target. The largest peak in the upper range is just 1.1 dB, so it avoids harshness on vocals and guitars. At 260 g it is fairly light, and it is a good match for listeners who like a warm tonality.
Cons: Sub-bass is about 7 dB under target and the 6 to 10 kHz treble is nearly 5 dB low, with a 9 dB dip near 9.3 kHz, so cymbals and air sound dull and rumble is missing. At 300 ohms it wants a dedicated headphone amp to reach its potential, and the open back leaks sound. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full Sennheiser HD 650 review and specifications →
| Released | 2003 (23 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.10 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 42mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 41kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 84 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 300 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 40 Hz (-7.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.27 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.1 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 | +6.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,800 Hz | +5.1 dB | 1.42 |
| Peak | 118 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.50 |
| Peak | 37 Hz | +0.7 dB | 3.96 |
| Peak | 3,169 Hz | -1.7 dB | 3.89 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,227 Hz | -1.2 dB | 2.53 |
| Peak | 2,055 Hz | +1.2 dB | 3.23 |
| Peak | 587 Hz | +0.4 dB | 1.19 |
| Peak | 5,332 Hz | -1.1 dB | 5.75 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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