Short answer: the Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa. It ranks #34 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $379. The Sennheiser HD 650 ranks #49, rated 4.1/5, at $328.90, $50.10 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
Why pick the Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa: A preference score of 86 comes from a well balanced midrange, with upper mids within 0.1 dB of target and low mids only 0.8 dB under. The tradeoff: Sub-bass below 60 Hz is about 6.5 dB under target, so bass is clean but lacks rumble.
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-R70xa. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $50.10 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-R70xa | Sennheiser HD 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $379.00 | $328.90 |
| Ranked | #34 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #49 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 86 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 84 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.11 dB standard deviation | 2.10 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.12 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.27 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 30 Hz (-6.1 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 40 Hz (-7.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 45mm dynamic | 1 x 42mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 470 ohms | 300 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 97 dB/mW | 103 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (199 g) | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 41kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa:
- Stax SR-L300 vs Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa
- Audio-Technica ATH-M70x vs Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa
- Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa vs Logitech G Astro A50 X
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs Logitech G Astro A50 X
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs HarmonicDyne Romantic
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Headphones In Full
Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa: $379.00 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Audio-Technica ATH-R70x (ranked lower, rated 4/5). See every Audio-Technica ATH-R70x generation.
Pros: A preference score of 86 comes from a well balanced midrange, with upper mids within 0.1 dB of target and low mids only 0.8 dB under. At 199 g it is a very light open-back design. The warm tilt and slightly relaxed top suit listeners who find bright headphones tiring.
Cons: Sub-bass below 60 Hz is about 6.5 dB under target, so bass is clean but lacks rumble. An 8.8 dB dip near 4.2 kHz and presence about 3.4 dB low pull some clarity out of vocals and instrument attack, making it sound recessed. The 470 ohm impedance means it needs a dedicated headphone amp, and the open back leaks sound. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.11 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 45mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 86 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 470 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 97 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 30 Hz (-6.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.12 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (199 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.4 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 | +7.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 90 Hz | -4.2 dB | 0.50 |
| Peak | 4,752 Hz | +4.6 dB | 3.09 |
| Peak | 1,292 Hz | -1.7 dB | 1.42 |
| Peak | 365 Hz | +2.3 dB | 1.73 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,469 Hz | -1.8 dB | 5.37 |
| Peak | 5,813 Hz | +1.6 dB | 5.98 |
| Peak | 6,423 Hz | -1.2 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 4,177 Hz | +1.1 dB | 6.00 |
- 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
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs AKG K701
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs AKG K702
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs HarmonicDyne Romantic
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M70x
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs Sennheiser HD 505
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs Logitech G Astro A50 X
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs Sennheiser HD 600
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs Sennheiser HD 550
- See all 11 comparisons