We've currently tested over 56 pairs of Sennheiser headphones. They're a well-trusted brand that makes various models for different uses, focusing on open-back, reference-quality headphones. We generally test several Sennheiser headphones yearly, and so far, they're one of the best headphone brands we've tested.
It's worth noting that, on March 23, 2026, Sonova announced plans to divest Sennheiser's Consumer Hearing business, which covers the brand's consumer headphones and earbuds, such as the MOMENTUM series. It doesn't affect Sennheiser's separate professional audio business, which isn't owned by Sonova and includes products like microphones, wireless systems, and audiophile-grade headphones such as the Sennheiser HD 800 S.
Updates
- 07/31/2026Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 reviewed
- 07/06/2026Sennheiser HD 480 PRO reviewed
- 01/06/2026Sennheiser HDB 630 reviewed
- 08/05/2024Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee updated
- 07/23/2024Sennheiser HD 620S reviewed
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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Best Open-Back Sennheiser Headphones
Sports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkAudio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationBass Amount:Slightly Underemphasized (-3 dB)Treble Amount:Balanced (0 dB)Sound Signature:FlatType:Over-earEnclosure:Open-BackWireless:NoNoise Cancelling:NoSee all our test resultsMic:NoThe Sennheiser HD 800 S are the best Sennheiser headphones with an open-back design that we've tested. They demand a significant investment and need an amp to drive them, which can set them out of reach for most people. However, if you can stomach their price, these open-back headphones create a wide, spacious, and natural soundstage that's worthwhile if you want to immerse yourself in audio. The localization of instruments is a highlight of these cans, and their spacious sound helps enthusiasts pick out elements of a mix.
They have a flat sound profile, and like most open-backs, lack low-bass output. Still, they're tuned with a slight bump in the high-bass to add warmth to mixes while letting the mid- and treble-range highlight crystal-clear vocals and lead instruments. These cans are very well-built and have a comfortable fit, so they're a good choice if you like to listen to music for hours, but you may find their ear cups feel large if your head is on the smaller side. If you're looking for that little bit of extra bass or a slimmer design, consider the cheaper Sennheiser HD 490 PRO. They don't sound as immersive, but they're just as comfortable, and come with different earpads for mixing or producing.
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Best Closed-Back Sennheiser Headphones
Sports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkAudio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationBass Amount:Slightly Underemphasized (-1 dB)Treble Amount:Balanced (0 dB)Sound Signature:BalancedType:Over-earEnclosure:Open-BackWireless:NoNoise Cancelling:NoSee all our test resultsMic:NoIf you're not about open-backs and desperately in need of low-bass rumble, consider Sennheiser HD 480 PRO, the best Sennheiser headphones we've tested with a closed-back design. Their closed-off and less spacious ear cups won't make audio sound as open or spacious as the Sennheiser HD 800 S, but it's a worthwhile trade-off for the 480 PRO's balanced bass output. If you're a more casual listener or lean toward EDM or dance tracks, the headphones reproduce rumbly wobbles and thumpy kicks. That said, they're still great for critical listening and vocal-dominated tracks thanks to their smooth mid- and treble-ranges. Plus, their closed-off design blocks out more noise and prevents your audio from leaking out as much, which might be important for you if you're recording a track or hosting a podcast.
The headphones are cheaper and won't need an amp, either, making them a more approachable option than the 800 S. They're just as comfortable, and their cable can be plugged into either the left or right ear cup, making them quite flexible. You can also swivel the ear cups down so the headphones rest flat on your collarbones or stow them in the included soft case.
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Best Bluetooth Sennheiser Headphones
Sports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkAudio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationBass Amount:Slightly Emphasized (2 dB)Treble Amount:Balanced (-1 dB)Sound Signature:BalancedType:Over-earEnclosure:Closed-BackWireless:YesNoise Cancelling:YesSee all our test resultsMic:YesThe Sennheiser HDB 630 are the best Sennheiser headphones with Bluetooth we've tested. A wireless design gives you more flexibility over wired cans if you need to take your headphones on the go, and premium entries like the Sennheiser HDB 630 are well-built and packed with features, which include an adaptive active noise cancelling (ANC) system that excels at blocking background noise, an integrated microphone for calls, and multi-device pairing support. They're also very comfortable for long listening periods and have a great build quality, so you can feel confident taking them out and about on buses and trains.
Out of the box, they have a balanced sound. The bass range is well-controlled with just a touch of extra thump, while the mid-range is exceptionally accurate, ensuring voices and instruments sound true-to-life. On top of that, these cans come with an outstanding companion app that lets you customize their sound in detail via a fully parametric EQ. There's even a cross-feed option that blends the left and right channels slightly to create a more forward, speaker-like presentation. If there's one downside to these cans, it's their poor frequency response consistency. The amount of bass you experience varies with your head size, and people who wear glasses may experience a particularly large drop in the bass perception. Still, with a superb 54-hour battery life, the HDB 630 are the cream of Sennheiser's Bluetooth crop.
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Best Bluetooth Sennheiser Earbuds
Sports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkAudio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationBass Amount:Emphasized (3 dB)Treble Amount:Underemphasized (-4 dB)Sound Signature:WarmType:In-earEnclosure:Closed-BackWireless:Truly WirelessNoise Cancelling:YesSee all our test resultsMic:YesIf you're looking to shed the excess weight of bulky over-ears, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 are the best Bluetooth Sennheiser earbuds we've tested. However, their smaller design comes with a trade-off: battery life is a much shorter 7.3 hours (with three extra charges in the case) compared to over-ear wireless options like the Sennheiser HDB 630, which clock in at over 54. Thanks to the included stabilizer sleeves and an IP54 rating against water splashes and dust, you can also take these buds out for a run even on a rainy day.
The earbuds' warm sound profile emphasizes the entire bass range, which, when combined with the underemphasized treble, can cause vocals and instruments to lack presence and articulation. That said, you can adjust their frequency response to suit your taste using the companion app's 5-band graphic EQ and presets. Their noise cancellation system effectively tackles screeching brakes and ambient office chatter, allowing you to comfortably listen to your favorite tracks without disturbance. They also support aptX Adaptive and aptX HD, giving you access to both low-latency and hi-res audio.
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Best Sennheiser In-Ear Monitors
Sports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkAudio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationBass Amount:Slightly Emphasized (1 dB)Treble Amount:Slightly Underemphasized (-2 dB)Sound Signature:WarmType:In-earEnclosure:Closed-BackWireless:NoNoise Cancelling:NoSee all our test resultsMic:NoIf you need low audio latency for recording, monitoring, or performing live, but don't want to deal with bulky, wired over-ears for long recording sessions, consider the Sennheiser IE 200, the best Sennheiser in-ear monitors we've tested. While they don't come with active features like the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4, the IE 200 have functionally zero audio latency, so you won't need to worry about annoying audio delay (assuming the rest of your gear has near-zero latency). These IEMs also have exceptional frequency response consistency, so recordings before and after a coffee break won't sound different due to the earbuds' fit.
Out of the box, the IE 200 have a warm tuning, with recessed low- and mid-treble that cuts the shoutiness of vocals and reduces fatigue over long listening sessions. That said, the buds have a nifty feature that lets you adjust the ear tip positioning to somewhat influence their tuning. The buds are also much slimmer than most wireless earbuds, so they'll fit better if you have smaller ears. And, there are both silicone and foam ear tips included with the buds.
Compared To Other Brands
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Great open-back models.
Sennheiser is one of the few companies to offer a wide variety of open-back headphones at varying price points, which helps ensure a spacious, immersive sound.
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High audio fidelity.Sennheiser's lineup typically focuses on quality audio reproduction. Many of their headphones are geared towards neutral sound compared to all-purpose headsets.
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Diverse headphone lineup.
Sennheiser is a company with a long history, so it offers a wide range of products, from audiophile headphones to home theater headphones to earbuds for running.
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Mediocre noise isolation.Some Sennheiser headphones block or cancel noise effectively, but unlike other brands like Sony or Bose, they don't have the best isolation for similar headphones.
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Expensive.Although Sennheiser offers many cheap models, their better-sounding headphones tend to be more expensive than the competition.
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Overlapping models.Some models in the vast Sennheiser lineup are very similar, with only slight aesthetic changes and minor differences in sound.
Sennheiser vs HiFiMan
HiFiMan and Sennheiser both produce top-of-the-line audiophile headphones that are renowned for their accurate sound but differ in significant ways. While HiFiMan's headphones feature planar-magnetic drivers that contribute to a flatter sound, Sennheiser's headphones feature dynamic drivers, which aren't as prone to imaging issues due to their simpler design. Additionally, HiFiMan only produces expensive high-end audiophile headphones, while Sennheiser produces a wide range of headphones at different price points for both critical listening and casual use.
Sennheiser vs Beyerdynamic
Beyerdynamic and Sennheiser make headphones for audiophiles, but each company is known for a different specialty. Beyerdynamic is best known for its closed-back models, which help passively isolate you from outside noise but don't create as wide a passive soundstage. Sennheiser, on the other hand, is best known for its open-back options, which give you an expansive and more natural-feeling soundstage but leak more audio. Both companies' headphones perform well, so the choice comes down mainly to your preferences and requirements for audio leakage. However, Beyerdynamic's audiophile lineup is generally far more affordable than Sennheiser's, making them a great option for the budget-conscious hi-fi enthusiast.
Sennheiser vs Apple
Apple and Sennheiser both offer upper mid-range in-ear headphones with premium features, great build quality, and powerful sound. Their flagship models often perform very similarly, so your ideal headphones may come down to personal preference. While Sennheiser's in-ears often feature more bass than Apple's, they lack Apple's proprietary chips that help seamlessly integrate them with the brand's product ecosystem. The best Apple headphones also support Spatial Audio, which changes the stereo image based on your head's position. If you don't have an Apple device or just don't care about quick pairing, Sennheiser's line of casual-use headphones are comfortable and stable and have comparably good active noise cancellation (ANC) for commutes and busy offices.
Sennheiser vs Bose
Bose and Sennheiser are two headphone manufacturers with great-performing active noise cancellation (ANC) features. Bose's lineup of over-ear and in-ear headphones is renowned for its versatile isolation system that cuts out noise across the entire audible range, making it a go-to for commuters. In general, Sennheiser's ANC tends to perform slightly worse than Bose's. On the other hand, Sennheiser's lineup is quite large compared to Bose's. It produces casual-use and audiophile headphones that'll suit many listeners' needs and budgets.
Sennheiser vs Sony
Sony and Sennheiser have extremely diverse headphones that cover a wide range of uses and listener preferences. Both make truly wireless in-ears, Bluetooth noise cancelling over-ears, and audiophile headphones. Their offerings are comfortable and have great noise isolation performance, although Sony's are typically better at blocking out the low-bass from traffic or bus rides. Sony's casual-use lineup also leans more bass-heavy, which can better suit genres like metal and EDM than the neutral sound profile found in most models made by Sennheiser. If you want more from this manufacturer, check out our best Sony headphones article.
Overall, Sennheiser offers a variety of headphones for different uses. Many of its higher-quality models are pricey; however, many of its cheaper models also perform admirably. Sennheiser is easily one of the best for high-end open-back headphones, with some models offering stellar sound quality for audiophiles.
Lineup
Sennheiser has a wide range of headphones that range in price and intended use.
If you're an audiophile, you know this manufacturer as one of the key players in high-end reference headphones. They mainly produce these under one name:
- HD: Open- or closed-back, dynamic-driven audiophile headphones. Intended for home listening and hi-fi sound.
If you're looking for casual use, Sennheiser has a few sub-categories to suit your preferences:
- Momentum: Flagship in-ear and over-ear wireless closed-back headphones with ANC and a durable build for everyday listening.
- Accentum: Mid-range, over-ear wireless headphones that offer many of the Momentum's features (ANC, long battery life) at a more wallet-friendly price point.
- CX: Mid-range, truly wireless in-ears with a carrying case. Stable enough for sports and commuting, and some models have ANC.
- HD xBT: Low mid-range Bluetooth over-ear headphones without ANC.
Sennheiser also produces models for specialty uses, like the SPORT, which are in-ears with stability fins and an IP54 rating for dust, splash, and sweat resistance. They also manufacture a line of TV headphones:
- RS: Over-ear headphones with side controls and a dock for low-latency TV watching.
While Sennheiser made gaming headphones in the past, like the Sennheiser Game One Gaming Headset. But that business was moved under the EPOS brand after its joint venture with Demant ended in 2020, offering products like the Drop + Sennheiser/EPOS PC38X. EPOS later shut down its gaming operations in 2023, though some EPOS | Sennheiser models remained available for a time.
Recent Updates
Aug 18, 2026:
We've overhauled the article structure, focusing more on specific characteristics and usages rather than price. As a result, we've trimmed or renamed a few picks to make it easier to find the right product.
Apr 02, 2026:
We've cleaned up the text for clarity and readability without changing the picks, and we've added a note on Sonova's plans to divest Sennheiser's consumer division.
Jan 06, 2026:
The Sennheiser HDB 630 are our new 'Best Bluetooth' pick thanks to their well-balanced sound and excellent noise isolation. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless are now our 'Best Upper Mid-Range Bluetooth' pick.
May 27, 2025:
We've verified the text's accuracy and made minor updates to align the article with Test Bench 2.0.
Nov 28, 2024:
We made minor text edits for clarity. After checking stock and prices, there hasn't been a change to our picks.
Conclusion
Sennheiser is a big brand with products that range from consumer to professional audio applications. Therefore, it has a wide variety of headphones that are either specific to a certain use or well-rounded enough for everyday casual use. However, even their lower-priced models tend to focus more on sound quality than versatility, with more options suited to critical listening and home theater use than sports or travel.