Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Grado SR80x vs Sennheiser HD 620S: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 60% of 55 Grado SR80x 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

Grado SR80x

60%of 55 owners recommend
60% recommend · 18% neutral · 22% don't
Owners praise
  • Punchy, dynamic, "fun" sound signature that owners describe as energetic and addictive rather than flat or clinical
  • Excellent entry point into higher-end audio for the price, with many owners keeping their pair for a decade or more
  • Clean, airy sound with surprising clarity and detail retrieval for a budget open-back can
Owners complain about
  • Glued-together build (drivers, gimbals, rodblocks, headband) that owners view as flimsy, breaks over time, and often requires DIY hot-glue or aftermarket-part repairs
  • Bright, treble-forward tuning that a meaningful minority finds fatiguing or outright harsh on longer listening sessions
  • Stiff, thick, unwieldy stock cable that's awkward to manage and a recurring standalone complaint
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 Grado SR80x if
  • ✓First-time audiophiles wanting an affordable, exciting-sounding upgrade from stock earbuds
  • ✓Listeners who love an energetic, forward, treble-tilted sound signature
  • ✓Home/desk listeners who don't need isolation or a lightweight on-the-go cable
  • ✓Tinkerers open to swapping pads or modding to fine-tune comfort and bass
Skip it if
  • Anyone sensitive to bright, fatiguing treble on long listening sessions
  • Buyers wanting a durable build, since the glued drivers and stiff cable feel fragile and cheap
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 Grado SR80x owners say

“SR80x (120€ new) was my first audiophile headphone over two years ago. They were so good that within a week I returned them to upgrade to SR225x”
— Hunter-97-G on Reddit
“Grado SR80s were my first decent pair of headphones too, and I still love them - still have them and listen to them something like 15 years later.”
— srmd22 on Reddit
“Using chinese components. And a lot of glue... You'd think with all that American Engineering, we could not use Glue, and instead use... maybe screws?”
— KaosC57 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

Grado SR80x vs Sennheiser HD 620S: frequently asked questions

Is the Grado SR80x or the Sennheiser HD 620S better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 60% of 55 Grado SR80x owners recommend it, vs 58% of 93 for the Sennheiser HD 620S.

Who should get the Grado SR80x?

Owners point the Grado SR80x at first-time audiophiles wanting an affordable, exciting-sounding upgrade from stock earbuds, and listeners who love an energetic, forward, treble-tilted sound signature.

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 Grado SR80x is glued-together build (drivers, gimbals, rodblocks, headband) that owners view as flimsy, breaks over time, and often requires DIY hot-glue or aftermarket-part repairs. For the Sennheiser HD 620S, it's treble can be harsh, bright, or metallic-sounding, especially in the upper registers and vocals.