Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

ATH-R70xa vs Sennheiser HD 660S2: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 63% of 27 ATH-R70xa owners recommend it, vs 61% of 231 for the Sennheiser HD 660S2.

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 660S2

61%of 231 owners recommend

61% recommend · 20% neutral · 19% don't

Owners praise

Lush, natural mids and vocals with classic Sennheiser timbre
Deeper, richer bass with much better sub-bass extension than the older 6x0
Excellent imaging and soundstage for gaming and movies

Owners complain about

Dark, veiled or muffled-sounding presentation
Loses the forward midrange magic of the cheaper 600/650

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 660S2 if

✓HD6x0 owners wanting more bass extension and treble sparkle
✓All-day listeners who want a warm, fatigue-free sound
✓Gaming, movie, and music all-rounder seekers
✓Metal, rock, and EDM fans wanting fuller low end

Skip it if

Those wanting a wide, expansive soundstage over intimate presentation
Purists chasing the classic 600/650 midrange, which feels recessed

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 660S2 owners say

“I've had it for 5 years now and I still consider it the best of the 600 series”
— @o.f.ftrack3444 on YouTube

“They are my go-to primary headphones.”
— @scottlowell493 on YouTube

“At $250-$350 I would consider giving these a go at $600 they are a pass.”
— @mindhead1 on YouTube

ATH-R70xa vs Sennheiser HD 660S2: frequently asked questions

Is the ATH-R70xa or the Sennheiser HD 660S2 better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 63% of 27 ATH-R70xa owners recommend it, vs 61% of 231 for the Sennheiser HD 660S2.

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 660S2?

Owners point the Sennheiser HD 660S2 at hD6x0 owners wanting more bass extension and treble sparkle, and all-day listeners who want a warm, fatigue-free sound.

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 660S2, it's dark, veiled or muffled-sounding presentation.