For music listening, the Sennheiser HD600 is my pick among open back headphones for music listening, thanks to its transparent, reference-focused design.
The Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X is the runner-up if you want large 53 mm drivers and a 38-ohm impedance.
• Sennheiser HD600 — best for analytical home listening; pick this if you want a wired, 300-ohm reference headphone with an open-back design.
• Sennheiser HD 650 — best for extended, engaging listening; pick this if its 42 mm drivers and emphasis on detail suit your listening priorities.
• Audio-Technica ATH-R70x — best for long sessions and reference work; pick this if you value its approximately 210 g weight, breathable earpads, and detachable cable.
• Audio Technica ATH-AD900X — best for spacious vocal and instrumental listening; pick this if you want 53 mm drivers and a stated 38-ohm impedance.
The HD600 is a wired, over-ear open-back headphone intended for hi-fi listening, recording, and studio monitoring. Its design aims for transparent playback: the open earcups let sound waves expand, while a 42 mm dynamic driver and acoustic silk help manage airflow. In practical terms, its appeal is a listening presentation built around clarity and scrutiny rather than convenience features.
I’d choose it for a quiet room and a listener who wants to pay close attention to a recording. It may suit someone comparing mixes or listening closely to familiar albums, because the product is specifically positioned for reference playback and analytical listening. Its 300-ohm impedance is worth considering when matching it with your audio source; it is a wired headphone, not a wireless everyday commute option.
The velour padding is designed for extended listening, and the package information lists a 3.5 mm jack and an adapter. That gives it a straightforward role in a home setup, though it does not make the open design private: sound can pass between the headphones and the room. I would not choose it for a shared office, a noisy commute, or a situation where you need to keep your music to yourself.
My reason for putting the HD600 first is its clear reference-listening purpose and transparent open-back construction. The trade-off is that this focused, wired design asks you to listen in a suitable space and pay attention to the 300-ohm specification when choosing equipment. If you want a more explicitly musical, long-session alternative, the HD 650 is the next one I’d consider.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-10 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
The HD 650 is another wired, open-back Sennheiser built around a 42 mm dynamic transducer. Its maker describes the sound as detailed but non-fatiguing, with a composed midrange and attention to both treble and low-frequency presence. That profile makes it a natural option for listeners who want to settle into an album rather than treat every session as a technical inspection.
The acoustic design includes a 38 mm diaphragm, an aluminum voice coil, matched driver elements, and acoustic silk intended to control damping. The practical takeaway is that the product is designed to balance detail and sustained listening, rather than relying on wireless features or noise control. The listed frequency range extends from 10 Hz to 41,000 Hz, though that specification alone does not tell you how a headphone will sound with every recording or source.
The HD 650 package information lists a detachable cable, a 3.5 mm jack, and a 1/4-inch connector. Those details make it more adaptable to different wired listening setups than a fixed-cable design. Its open earcups still make it a poor fit when you need isolation or want to avoid disturbing people nearby. The product information is also inconsistent about wireless technology, but the listed headphone connection and package contents describe a wired headphone; I would treat it as a wired listening option, not a Bluetooth pick.
I’d put the HD 650 ahead of the HD600 only for a listener whose priority is relaxed, engaging sessions with detail still in view. For this guide, I prefer the HD600’s more directly stated reference purpose. Choose the HD 650 instead if its description of musical, non-fatiguing listening aligns better with how you plan to use it.
The ATH-R70x is a professional open-back reference headphone designed around accuracy, natural sound, and long-wearing comfort. Its aluminum honeycomb-mesh housings are described as acoustically transparent, while a carbon composite resin structure is intended to improve rigidity and transient detail. This points to a headphone aimed at careful listening and professional use, rather than portable convenience.
Comfort and cable design are two practical strengths. The R70x weighs approximately 210 g without its cable, and its breathable fabric earpads and wing support are intended to help during prolonged sessions. The dual-sided cable detaches and locks into place; its design maintains the correct left-right orientation regardless of how it is attached. That is useful if you want a replaceable connection or regularly handle your headphones at a desk.
The main qualification is its 470-ohm impedance. That is a substantial figure to account for when pairing it with a listening source, so I would check whether your setup is suitable rather than assume every device will drive it equally well. It is wired, open-back, and has no listed noise control. Those choices fit a quiet studio or dedicated listening room, but not a trip where blocking outside sound matters.
I’d recommend the ATH-R70x to someone who values light weight, a detachable cable, and professional reference design. Its strongest case is comfort and practical construction during long sessions. Its trade-off is that the high listed impedance makes source matching a more prominent consideration than it is with the ATH-AD900X.
The ATH-AD900X is a wired, open-back headphone designed for spacious listening, with clear vocals and instruments as a stated focus. It uses 53 mm dynamic drivers with rare-earth magnets and copper-clad aluminum-wire voice coils. Compared with the 42 mm drivers in the Sennheiser models here, its larger stated driver size is a concrete point of difference, not a guarantee that it will suit every listener better.
Its 38-ohm impedance makes it the lowest-impedance option among these four products, a potentially useful specification to note when comparing wired headphones for different sources. The stated frequency range is 5 Hz to 35,000 Hz. It also has cushioned ear pads and a 3D Wing Support Housing intended to support comfort over longer listening sessions.
I’d consider it for music listening that centers on vocals, instruments, and a spacious presentation. The open construction is still a clear limitation: it offers no listed noise control, so it is not the right substitute for isolating headphones in a busy space. It is also wired, so it does not solve the needs of someone shopping for wireless convenience.
This model is the runner-up because its large drivers and lower listed impedance make it an appealing alternative for someone who wants a different fit and source-matching profile from the HD600. Its trade-off is that the product’s open-air design makes private, noise-blocking use a poor match. It also is not a substitute for the best earphones for exercise, fast charging gaming headphones for travel, or the best bluetooth earbuds for meetings: those are different needs, and none is a reason to expect this wired headphone to provide wireless or exercise-specific features.
I compared the published design, connection, driver, impedance, and comfort details for each model.
The order reflects my independent editorial opinion about how well each fits music listening, not a brand-paid placement.
They are generally better suited to quiet spaces. Their open construction does not provide the noise control you might want on transit, and sound may be heard by people nearby.
The ATH-AD900X is listed at 38 ohms, compared with 300 ohms for the HD600 and 470 ohms for the ATH-R70x. The provided HD 650 information does not specify an impedance.
The product descriptions and connection details identify these as wired listening options. For a wireless headset or earbuds, look for a product whose features explicitly support that use.
The HD 650 is described as designed for extended, non-fatiguing listening. The ATH-R70x and ATH-AD900X also include comfort-focused features, such as breathable earpads or cushioned pads and wing support; fit preference will matter.
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