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Sennheiser HE-1 vs t+a ATH-R70x: which should you buy?

Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Sennheiser HE-1 vs t+a ATH-R70x, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Sennheiser HE-1 leads on 4 of 4 measures.

  • Sennheiser HE-1
  • t+a ATH-R70x
HearWiki score
95
-
Sound
10.0
-
Value
1.0
-
Price (USD)
$50,000
-

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

Same generation

These are the same generation of hardware - nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price.

  • HE-12016
  • ATH-R70xYear unknown

Specifications

HE-1ATH-R70x
Type
Over-Ear
Over-Ear
Price (USD)
$50,000
-
HearWiki score
95
Not scored
Released
2016
-
Driver
2× electrostatic
45 mm dynamic
Driver type
electrostatic
dynamic
Driver size
-
45 mm
Drivers per side
2
-
Frequency response
8 Hz - 80 kHz
5 Hz - 40 kHz
Sound signature
harman
-
Impedance
-
470 Ω
Sensitivity
114 dB/mW
-
Active noise cancelling
No
-
ANC type
none
-
Weight
550 g
210 g
Detachable cable
-
Yes
USB-C
Yes
-

What reviewers said

Sennheiser HE-1

The Sennheiser HE-1 is an ultra-premium electrostatic headphone system that delivers an exceptionally transparent and balanced sound, closely matching the Harman target curve. It combines a featherweight electrostatic driver design with a massive frequency extension, offering a level of detail and airiness that is virtually unmatched in the realm of personal audio. While its astronomical price places it in a category of its own, its technical performance sets a benchmark for neutrality and resolution.

  • Pro:Reference-grade tonal accuracy with near-perfect Harman neutrality
  • Pro:Exceptional transient speed and micro-detail retrieval
  • Pro:Impressively wide frequency response extending beyond human hearing
  • Con:Extremely high cost limits accessibility
  • Con:Requires dedicated amplifier and DAC, adding setup complexity
  • Con:Heavier than average at 550g, potentially affecting long-term comfort

t+a ATH-R70x

No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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