Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Edition XS vs Sennheiser HD 650: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Sennheiser HD 650: 75% of 316 owners recommend it, vs 68% of 123 for the Edition XS.

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

Edition XS

68%of 123 owners recommend

68% recommend · 17% neutral · 15% don't

Owners praise

Wide soundstage and strong detail
Strong value, especially at sale or refurbished prices
Responds well to EQ

Owners complain about

Headband and weak clamp make the fit loose for many, and owners often add an aftermarket strap
Build quality worries, with reports of drivers failing, crackling, and warranty replacements
Treble that some owners find too bright, shrill, or fatiguing

Full owner report →

Sennheiser HD 650

75%of 316 owners recommend

75% recommend · 11% neutral · 14% don't

Owners praise

Natural, balanced tonality that just "sounds right"
Lush, lifelike midrange and vocals
Non-fatiguing for hours of relaxed listening

Owners complain about

Rolled-off, light sub-bass that often needs EQ

Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Edition XS if

✓Listeners moving up from a Sennheiser HD560S or HD600-series who want a wider soundstage
✓Buyers comfortable using EQ to tune the sound
✓Gamers who want a wide, detailed presentation
✓Owners with larger heads

Skip it if

Treble-sensitive listeners or anyone wanting a laid-back sound for long sessions
Smaller heads, which some owners say the loose fit does not suit

Get the Sennheiser HD 650 if

✓Listeners wanting warm, non-fatiguing sound for long sessions
✓Vocal, acoustic, jazz, and classical lovers
✓Home producers wanting a mixing reference
✓Buyers wanting durable cans that last decades with an amp

Skip it if

Bassheads wanting deep sub-bass extension
Those needing a wide soundstage and precise imaging

What Edition XS owners say

“You could have a faceoff with any headphone on Earth, regardless of cost and compare it to a $169 Edition XS, and while it would lose, it's MUCH closer than it should be...”
— 1maxwedge426 on Reddit

“Decent headphones but......I'm on my third, 2 failed and were warranty replaced. Also the headband should be classed as a war crime. Other than that I highly recommend them.”
— Emotional_Elk_980 on Reddit

“I hate my edition xs so much because they're amazing, just don't work, they keep losing all audio on the right side and I'm not the only one with that issue”
— Kolorboi on Reddit

What Sennheiser HD 650 owners say

“What an incredible difference they make to everything I had before! You can listen to a track and hear subtle details that you did not even know they existed. Wow!”
— @marco83 on YouTube

“HD650 with a bum driver, but I was able to solider the voice coil back on, so they work normally again. I had a pair 15 years ago and always regreted selling them.”
— kindofbluetrains on Reddit

“I find the HiFiMan Sundara & the Fiio FT1 Pro both more useful for mixing - the Sennheisers have a much more condensed/flat sound with less bass extension than either of those”
— @reallyoldcob on YouTube

Edition XS vs Sennheiser HD 650: frequently asked questions

Is the Edition XS or the Sennheiser HD 650 better?

Real owners lean toward the Sennheiser HD 650: 75% of 316 owners recommend it, vs 68% of 123 for the Edition XS.

Who should get the Edition XS?

Owners point the Edition XS at listeners moving up from a Sennheiser HD560S or HD600-series who want a wider soundstage, and buyers comfortable using EQ to tune the sound.

Who should get the Sennheiser HD 650?

Owners point the Sennheiser HD 650 at listeners wanting warm, non-fatiguing sound for long sessions, and vocal, acoustic, jazz, and classical lovers.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Edition XS is headband and weak clamp make the fit loose for many, and owners often add an aftermarket strap. For the Sennheiser HD 650, it's rolled-off, light sub-bass that often needs EQ.