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Sennheiser HD 660S2 vs HIFIMAN Edition XS

More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 660S2 overall (60 vs 27). None of the 12 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.

Comments naming both
12
Say they own both
3
Choose the HD 660S2
0
Choose the Edition XS
0

Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 12 comments naming both.What the levels mean

Counted across 11 review videos, harvested Sep 2026. A comment counts as a choice only when it says so in plain words (prefer X over Y, upgraded from Y to X); questions never count. Quotes are whole sentences of 12 words or fewer, linked to where they were said. How we count.

At a glance the better number on each row is highlighted
Sennheiser HD 660S2HIFIMAN Edition XS
Typical price$680$209cheaper
Overall rank#12higher#22
People who recommend it60more27
Say they own it90more36
Mentions688more304
Typeopen-back wiredopen-back planar wired
Known forWarmVocalsUpgradePlanarSpaceValue
Best forRecommended as the modern Sennheiser 6-series by vocal-first listeners who found the HD 600 too lean.Recommended as the planar to buy when you want Arya-style space for a fraction of the price.
BuyAmazon · $680DirectAmazon · $209Direct

#12 overall

Sennheiser HD 660S2

3 of the 12 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.

What owners love

  • Vocals and mids: owners who compared it with the Sundara and DT 1990 give it the win on voices
  • Smoother, less fatiguing than bright rivals; long sessions without ear pain
  • Large cups that fit big ears; light for hours of use
  • The S2 adds the bass the original 660S was criticised for

The complaints

  • Bass is still modest next to planars
  • Some units creak
  • Price: owners often call it a little overpriced against the HD 600/650 or the 58X

In their words

#22 overall

HIFIMAN Edition XS

4 of the 12 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.

What owners love

  • Owners call it the best sound under $300 and better than anything in the $300-500 range
  • Huge soundstage and clarity; takes EQ bass boosts without distortion
  • The price keeps dropping, and people who bought at $169-$270 call it the best deal in audio

The complaints

  • The headband and build: thin stock pads and a strap many owners mod or replace
  • Big and awkward for some heads; uncomfortable for a minority
  • HIFIMAN quality control and support worry owners
  • Needs a DAC/amp to shine

In their words

Questions people ask about this pair

Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.

Is the Sennheiser HD 660S2 better than the HIFIMAN Edition XS?
None of the 12 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 60 people recommend the Sennheiser HD 660S2 and 27 the HIFIMAN Edition XS. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
Which is cheaper, the Sennheiser HD 660S2 or the HIFIMAN Edition XS?
The HIFIMAN Edition XS is cheaper: $209 against $680 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
Which do more people recommend, the Sennheiser HD 660S2 or the HIFIMAN Edition XS?
The Sennheiser HD 660S2: 60 people recommend it against 27. On the site-wide leaderboard the Sennheiser HD 660S2 is #12 and the HIFIMAN Edition XS is #22.
Do people own both the Sennheiser HD 660S2 and the HIFIMAN Edition XS?
Yes. 3 of the 12 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 3 say they own the Sennheiser HD 660S2 and 4 the HIFIMAN Edition XS.
What do owners complain about on the Sennheiser HD 660S2 and the HIFIMAN Edition XS?
The most repeated complaint about the Sennheiser HD 660S2: bass is still modest next to planars. About the HIFIMAN Edition XS: the headband and build: thin stock pads and a strap many owners mod or replace. The full lists are on each side below.

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