Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 650. It ranks #49 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $328.90; the HarmonicDyne Romantic ranks #60, rated 4.0/5, and costs $346.86, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 650: 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 catch: 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 Sennheiser HD 650. It is rated higher for sound quality than the HarmonicDyne Romantic and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 650 | HarmonicDyne Romantic | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $328.90 | $346.86 |
| Ranked | #49 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #60 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 84 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 83 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.10 dB standard deviation | 2.09 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.27 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.25 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 40 Hz (-7.9 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 42mm dynamic | 1 x 60mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 300 ohms | 64 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB SPL/V | 107 dB SPL/mW |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (260 g) | - |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 41kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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- 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
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 |
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HarmonicDyne Romantic: $346.86 Amazon eBay
Full HarmonicDyne Romantic review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.09 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 60mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 83 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 64 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 107 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.25 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons