Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Grado SR80x vs Sennheiser HD 660S2: what real owners say

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

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 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 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 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 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 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

Grado SR80x vs Sennheiser HD 660S2: frequently asked questions

Is the Grado SR80x or the Sennheiser HD 660S2 better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 60% of 55 Grado SR80x owners recommend it, vs 61% of 231 for the Sennheiser HD 660S2.

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