Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

ATH-R70xa vs Sennheiser HD 600: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Sennheiser HD 600: 81% of 253 owners recommend it, vs 63% of 27 for the ATH-R70xa.

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

ATH-R70xa

63%of 27 owners recommend

63% recommend · 30% neutral · 7% 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 →

Sennheiser HD 600

81%of 253 owners recommend

81% recommend · 11% neutral · 8% don't

Owners praise

Neutral, balanced, natural reference-grade sound
Owners love them and won't sell
Reveals new detail in familiar music

Owners complain about

Can sound bright, harsh or shouty in the 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 Sennheiser HD 600 if

✓Listeners wanting a neutral, balanced reference sound
✓People who value long, fatigue-free listening sessions
✓Acoustic, jazz, classical, and rock fans
✓Home listeners pairing them with a proper headphone amp

Skip it if

Anyone wanting a wide, expansive soundstage
Commuting or outdoor use given the open-back leakage

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 Sennheiser HD 600 owners say

“Son una total MARAVILLA y yo en lo personal lo recomiendo AMPLIAMENTE para todo aquel que se diga llamar audiofilo”
— @omariscal39 on YouTube

“estos audífonos son excelentes para mezcla en estudio”
— @IGNOTOMX on YouTube

“I have the HD600 and I'm just not a fan because of the total lack of anything lower than upper mid bass and also how narrow the cups are which rub my ears raw”
— keenbeans87 on Reddit

ATH-R70xa vs Sennheiser HD 600: frequently asked questions

Is the ATH-R70xa or the Sennheiser HD 600 better?

Real owners lean toward the Sennheiser HD 600: 81% of 253 owners recommend it, vs 63% of 27 for the ATH-R70xa.

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 Sennheiser HD 600?

Owners point the Sennheiser HD 600 at listeners wanting a neutral, balanced reference sound, and people who value long, fatigue-free listening sessions.

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 Sennheiser HD 600, it's can sound bright, harsh or shouty in the highs.