Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

ATH-R70xa vs Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 65% of 26 ATH-R70xa owners recommend it, vs 68% of 63 for the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

ATH-R70xa

65%of 26 owners recommend
65% recommend · 27% neutral · 8% don't
Owners praise
  • Exceptionally light and comfortable for long listening sessions, staying cool even after hours of wear
  • Standout imaging and detail retrieval that owners call incredible or best-in-class for the price
  • Preferred over Sennheiser rivals like the HD600, HD6XX, and HD660S2, with more bass and dynamism
Owners complain about
  • Stock earpads run thin and can feel tight or press against the head, pushing many owners to swap in aftermarket R70X Refine pads for comfort
  • Treble and vocal timbre can sound artificial, thin, or divisive, especially on spoken content like YouTube videos
  • Mids sound recessed or pulled back, with measurements showing a dip around 300-400 Hz compared to headphones like the HD600
Full owner report →

Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X

68%of 63 owners recommend
68% recommend · 5% neutral · 27% don't
Owners praise
  • Clear, balanced, detailed sound
  • Several owners report pairs still in good shape after two or more years of daily use
  • Most owners who switched from the DT 770 PRO prefer it
Owners complain about
  • Build durability is the most common complaint: headband padding coming unglued within months, and plastic sliders and earcup arms cracking, often within two years
  • For some owners the clamp is tight or the headband presses on the top of the head and starts to hurt
  • The sound does not suit everyone, with some hearing heavy bass and muddy detail and others hearing thin or fizzy highs
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the ATH-R70xa if
  • ✓Long listening sessions where light weight and all-day comfort matter most
  • ✓Gamers and daily drivers wanting sharp imaging and a fun, dynamic sound
  • ✓HD600/6XX owners wanting more treble energy, bass, and less recessed mids
  • ✓Warm-climate or long-session users who need cans that never run hot
Skip it if
  • Listeners wanting a neutral, analytical reference sound over a brighter V-shaped tuning
  • Anyone needing thick, plush stock earpads without buying aftermarket Refine pads
Get the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X if
  • ✓People producing or monitoring music who need a closed back
  • ✓Gamers and everyday listeners who want one pair for music and games
  • ✓Owners of an older DT 770 PRO looking for a cleaner closed back
Skip it if
  • Buyers who want headphones that will not need a headband or slider repair in the first couple of years
  • Listeners sensitive to a tight clamp or pressure on the top of the head

What ATH-R70xa owners say

“I listened to a bunch of highly rated headphones at the last CanJam in NYC and none of them made me want to upgrade from the R70xa.”
— this_is_me_drunk on Reddit
“I got the r70xa as well, but had to get a new amp to give it more juice to make it sing. But man, being so light i hardly reach for my other cans now and using these as daily drivers.”
— Waste_Search2125 on Reddit
“it has this really arfticial, unnatural sound to it that's neither analytic nor is it a smooth, rich entertaining sound”
— Overall-Cupcake7073 on Reddit

What Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X owners say

“Update: I got the headphone and I have been using it for almost 2 months. Best headphones I ever owned in terms of clarity. Perfect for music producers.”
— @HifyTech on YouTube
“To anyone here thinking of buyint the 700 Pro X: Do it. I've owned a pair since the very first day they were available in the market, use they daily, and they still look fresh out of the box. The sound is amazing, still on the same pads and the comfort is unmatched.”
— @bananawarlock3981 on YouTube
“I'm not kidding, this thing feels like a vice on your head. Add to that the extra weight and the excessive bass, and you have a headphone that quickly fatigues both your head and your ears.”
— @Nayah9 on YouTube

ATH-R70xa vs Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X: frequently asked questions

Is the ATH-R70xa or the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 65% of 26 ATH-R70xa owners recommend it, vs 68% of 63 for the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X.

Who should get the ATH-R70xa?

Owners point the ATH-R70xa at long listening sessions where light weight and all-day comfort matter most, and gamers and daily drivers wanting sharp imaging and a fun, dynamic sound.

Who should get the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X?

Owners point the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X at people producing or monitoring music who need a closed back, and gamers and everyday listeners who want one pair for music and games.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the ATH-R70xa is stock earpads run thin and can feel tight or press against the head, pushing many owners to swap in aftermarket R70X Refine pads for comfort. For the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X, it's build durability is the most common complaint: headband padding coming unglued within months, and plastic sliders and earcup arms cracking, often within two years.