Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

ATH-R70xa vs Sennheiser HD 620S: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 63% of 27 ATH-R70xa owners recommend it, vs 58% of 93 for the Sennheiser HD 620S.

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 620S

58%of 93 owners recommend
58% recommend · 24% neutral · 18% don't
Owners praise
  • Surprisingly wide, spacious soundstage for a closed-back design, with several owners saying it rivals or beats open-back headphones in this regard
  • Excellent comfort and passive isolation, with soft, deep ear cups and padding many describe as some of the best they've worn
  • Outperforms other closed-backs owners have compared it to, including the DT770, FT1, HDB630, and Noire X
Owners complain about
  • Treble can be harsh, bright, or metallic-sounding, especially in the upper registers and vocals
  • Getting a proper seal and comfortable fit is finicky for some, including a protruding headband anchor piece pressing into the ear cup area
  • Bass can feel weak, anemic, or lacking low-end extension, particularly noticeable for movies and sub-bass-heavy content
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 620S if
  • ✓Gamers wanting a closed-back with wide soundstage for competitive FPS
  • ✓Office/WFH users needing strong passive isolation from surrounding noise
  • ✓Sennheiser 6XX/650 fans wanting similar tonality in a closed-back
  • ✓Listeners willing to apply EQ to unlock the headphone's full detail
Skip it if
  • People with fit issues who can't get a proper seal for bass
  • Bass-heads or movie watchers wanting deep sub-bass rumble

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 620S owners say

“Just got my 620s yesterday, I like it, which is saying a lot for a closed back. I think it’s easily one of the best closed back headphones not only in the price range, just in general.”
— MoonWun_ on Reddit
“Crazy enough, the HD800s and the HD620s share the top spot in my endgame headphones. And the price difference is over €1,000. I just can’t believe what the HD620s deliver for €279.”
— No-Desk-1808 on Reddit
“I think technically the 620s but the design of the ear cups means they have this bit that protrudes into the ear cups (I think the anchor for the headband) and it’s quite uncomfortable (at least for me).”
— gussic on Reddit

ATH-R70xa vs Sennheiser HD 620S: frequently asked questions

Is the ATH-R70xa or the Sennheiser HD 620S better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 63% of 27 ATH-R70xa owners recommend it, vs 58% of 93 for the Sennheiser HD 620S.

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 620S?

Owners point the Sennheiser HD 620S at gamers wanting a closed-back with wide soundstage for competitive FPS, and office/WFH users needing strong passive isolation from surrounding noise.

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 620S, it's treble can be harsh, bright, or metallic-sounding, especially in the upper registers and vocals.