We've currently tested over 50 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. We'll update this article as we release new reviews.
Updates
- 08/05/2024 Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee updated
- 07/23/2024 Sennheiser HD 620S reviewed
- 07/11/2024 Sennheiser MOMENTUM Sport True Wireless reviewed
- 06/27/2024 Sennheiser HD 660 S updated
- 05/17/2024 Sennheiser IE 200 reviewed
Best Sennheiser Headphones
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Best Audiophile Sennheiser Headphones
Neutral Sound8.6Commute/Travel4.0Sports/Fitness5.5Office4.8Wireless Gaming4.9Wired Gaming6.9Phone Calls1.7Type Over-earEnclosure Open-BackWireless NoTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic NoThe Sennheiser HD 800 S are the best Sennheiser headphones for audiophiles that we've tested. They have a high price point, which can set them out of reach for most people, and if you don't have one, you'll need an amp to get them to reach their full potential. However, if you can afford it, these open-back headphones can create a wide, spacious, and natural soundstage that's worth checking out if you want to immerse yourself in audio. The localization of instruments is a highlight of these, and their spacious soundstage helps enthusiasts listen critically and pick out elements of a mix.
They have a very well-balanced and neutral sound profile. Although they lack low bass, like most open-back headphones, their sound has a touch of extra high bass to add warmth to mixes without overwhelming vocals and lead instruments. The headphones are very well-built and have a very comfortable fit, so they're a good choice if you like to listen to music for hours. However, you may find their ear cups large if you have a small head.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Audiophile Sennheiser Headphones
Neutral Sound8.5Commute/Travel4.1Sports/Fitness5.6Office4.8Wireless Gaming4.7Wired Gaming6.8Phone Calls1.6Type Over-earEnclosure Open-BackWireless NoTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic NoIf you want audiophile headphones that don't cost as much as our top pick, consider the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO. These over-ears don't boast quite the same high-quality build of the Sennheiser HD 800 S. They're open-backed but not quite as immersive as our top pick. However, they supply more bass than our top pick, which rolls off considerably more low-end. Plus, they're lighter than the top pick. You also don't need a headphone amp (an additional cost) to drive them, so you can plug into a greater variety of audio sources. Not needing an amp expands their utility outside of ideal critical listening situations, including playing single-player games on consoles or listening to music in your home office straight from the headphone output jack.
These versatile open-back headphones certainly work well for critical listening, with their neutral sound profile that supplies a good amount of boom to kick drums, relatively even midrange for balanced keys and lead instruments, and most of the treble is slightly recessed to allow you to listen longer without fatigue. However, the exception is a narrow peak that boosts harmonics in cymbal hits, for instance.
Adding value and versatility to the kit, you get two different sets of ear pads that alter the frequency response subtly, depending on your needs. A single removable cable is also included, and if you get the Plus version, the manufacturer throws in a second cable and extra headband padding. Unlike most open-back headphones, these have ear cups that can rotate flat so you can rest them around your neck to chat while mixing music without knocking your chin on them. These creature comfort considerations are nice improvements to more common utilitarian designs.
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Best Mid-Range Audiophile Sennheiser Headphones
Neutral Sound8.2Commute/Travel3.8Sports/Fitness5.5Office4.6Wireless Gaming4.5Wired Gaming6.6Phone Calls1.6Type Over-earEnclosure Open-BackWireless NoTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic NoThe Sennheiser HD 560S are a more wallet-friendly audiophile alternative to Sennheiser's pricier models. At this price point, there have been some small reductions in overall performance, like slightly worse frequency response consistency between wears, and they only come with one set of ear pads. Whereas the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO come with two different-sounding ear pads and have better frequency response consistency. However, the soundstage of these open-backed headphones is more spacious and immersive than that of the HD 490 PRO, though they retain a similar comfort and build quality. They also come with a rather long removable cable.
Unlike the upper mid-range pick, these have a slightly brighter sound profile. They reproduce a bit less boom and rumble, but their mids sound more neutral, with lead instruments sounding forward and present. Their upper registers emphasize detail and airiness, which highlights sibilants and harmonics in vocals and cymbals. This clarity is useful for critical listening but can fatigue sensitive ears slightly sooner. It's definitely not a tuning for bassheads, so check out our next pick. However, for most media, this tuning presents a clear representation of the audio.
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Best Budget Audiophile Sennheiser Headphones
Neutral Sound7.7Commute/Travel4.5Sports/Fitness4.7Office5.0Wireless Gaming4.0Wired Gaming6.0Phone Calls1.9Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless NoTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic NoIf you're an audiophile who wants to keep spending costs down, we recommend the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro 2016. These use a hardwired cable, so you can't easily replace it, which is normal for budget headphones. Unlike all the other audiophile headphones that have come before this pick, the HD 280 Pro are closed-back headphones, which is more common at this price point. However, due to their design, their passive soundstage won't be as immersive or spacious as open-backs like the Sennheiser HD 560S. At the same time, this design is good for monitoring live recordings since there's much less sound leakage for mics to pick up, and they block out some mid and high-pitched sounds like ambient chatter.
Their fairly balanced sound profile reproduces low bass well for more rumble than the open-back picks and won't overwhelm the rest of the mix. Vocals and instruments are present but veiled and somewhat dull due to a recessed treble, so cymbals can sound hollow. The headband also feels tight on the head, which can be uncomfortable if you wear glasses or have a long listening session. If you're looking for even more bass, the on-ear Sennheiser HD 25 headphones designed for DJs have oodles of low-end emphasis.
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Best Casual-Use Sennheiser Headphones
Neutral Sound7.3Commute/Travel7.9Sports/Fitness7.3Office7.7Wireless Gaming5.9Wired Gaming7.3Phone Calls7.0Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling YesMic YesThe Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless are great closed-back headphones for everyday use. If you're always on the go or looking for a wireless design, you'll want to steer clear of audiophile headphones, which often have to be used in quiet spaces and aren't designed with anything but sound quality in mind. In contrast, these well-built and premium over-ears are packed with features, including an adaptive active noise cancelling (ANC) system that does a good job of blocking background noise, an integrated microphone for calls, and multi-device pairing support. They have a bass-heavy sound profile, which is well-suited for genres like EDM and hip-hop, but you can adjust their sound using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets.
They have a comfortable fit suitable for long listening sessions and a battery that lasts over 62 hours continuously. You can even use them wired in a pinch if you run out of battery. However, you can only receive audio via analog, so you can't use their mic. They have full audio and mic support via wired USB, though. They also have multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected to your PC and smartphone simultaneously, as well as support for the higher quality aptX Adaptive and aptX HD codecs.
If you're on board for the premium build quality, app features, and Sennheiser's tuning but prefer the portability of earbuds, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 are worth a look. As expected, the battery life is worse than the over-ears, but otherwise, they share some of the same features, like ANC and multi-device pairing. They also have an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance.
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Best Mid-Range Casual-Use Sennheiser Headphones
Neutral Sound7.4Commute/Travel7.3Sports/Fitness7.2Office7.2Wireless Gaming5.8Wired Gaming7.1Phone Calls6.9Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling YesMic YesIf you don't want to break the bank to get some top-tier features, the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless land in the middle ground for casual use when considering the best Sennheiser headphones. These headphones work with USB-C connectivity, wirelessly with Bluetooth multi-device pairing, and support the higher quality aptX HD codec (to listen to consistent 24-bit audio). The microphone captures speech and separates your voice from background noise well enough to remain understandable, so you can use the headphones for calls on the go or online meetings.
By default, the sound profile emphasizes low bass frequencies for added rumble and thump in kick drums, a balanced mid-range for lead instrument playback, and treble roll-off to lend an overall warm sound with some diminished harmonics of vocals and cymbals. They have ANC, but it's on/off only, and it's not as effective in filtering out low and mid frequencies as the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless' adaptive ANC. Still, they can somewhat quiet the ambient din on your commute and perform well at isolating high-pitched sounds like crying babies. Plus, you get the same app with features like an EQ. You might also like that they use buttons instead of touch surfaces like the MOMENTUM 4.
While they have some similar features, the overall comfort and utility of the ACCENTUM don't beat that of the MOMENTUM 4. They also have less plush padding, no case, and no analog connectivity. If that bothers you, it's worth considering the newer and more expensive Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus Wireless, which are very similar but support an analog connection and come with a case. That said, the original ACCENTUM are cheaper and offer better value for people who want some flagship features without the MOMENTUM 4's hefty price tag.
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Best Budget Casual-Use Sennheiser Headphones
Neutral Sound6.6Commute/Travel7.6Sports/Fitness8.2Office6.8Wireless Gaming5.4Wired Gaming5.3Phone Calls6.2Type In-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling YesMic YesIf you're on a tight budget, Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless give you the best bang for your buck. These represent the step up from the standard Sennheiser CX True Wireless model with the addition of ANC. Despite their budget-friendly price, their build quality still feels premium, making these a great pick amongst the best Sennheiser earbuds. Their warm sound profile suits EDM and hip hop, but instruments and vocals sound somewhat dark and veiled. You can adjust their frequency response using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets to suit your taste. The battery lasts about seven hours on a single charge, and they have an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life when you're not using them.
While lightweight, the bulky bud design sticks out of your ears. Where they show their price point is in their ANC's performance. These offer an okay noise isolation performance but won't block out as much ambient noise as the latest Sennheiser MOMENTUM line.
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 ranges, which helps ensure a spacious, immersive sound. -
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. -
Diverse headphone lineup.
One of the best advantages of such a longstanding company is the multitude of headphones it offers, from the best gaming Sennheiser headphones, the Sennheiser Game One Gaming Headset, to the Sennheiser RS 195 RF Wireless, which are home theatre headphones.
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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. -
Expensive.
Although Sennheiser offers many cheap models, their better-sounding headphones tend to be more expensive than the competition. -
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 a planar-magnetic driver that ensures 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 of a passive soundstage. Sennheiser, on the other hand, is best known for its open-back options, which give you a wider and more natural-feeling soundstage but leak more audio. Both company's 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, these 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, 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. Sennheiser is a close runner-up to Bose regarding ANC, but not all their models have the same powerful noise cancelling performance. Additionally, Sennheiser's lineup is quite large compared to Bose's. It produces casual-use, audiophile, and gaming 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 & 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 has also made gaming headphones under their own name in the past, like the Sennheiser Game One Gaming Headset, Sennheiser Communications dissolved their joint venture with Demant (a hearing-based health care company) in 2020, resulting in two different brands: Sennheiser and EPOS. The EPOS brand encompasses gaming and business-related products, including the Game One Gaming Headset. You'll even find co-branded products, like the Drop + Sennheiser/EPOS PC38X. However, as of September 2023, EPOS Gaming has shut down operations, and it's unclear if Sennheiser will resume manufacturing gaming headsets. That said, you can continue to purchase EPOS | Sennheiser gaming headphones while supplies last.
Recent Updates
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Aug 29, 2024: We checked that our recommendations are all up to date and in stock, but didn't change the picks themselves this time.
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May 31, 2024: Added the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus Wireless as an alternative to the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless and replaced the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 with the new Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 as the earbud alternative to the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless.
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Apr 05, 2024: The Sennheiser HD 490 PRO have been added as the upper mid-range pick. The Sennheiser HD 560S section has been updated to reflect how they compare to the upper mid-range pick, and the Sennheiser HD 25 was mentioned in the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro 2016 section.
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Feb 05, 2024: This article has been updated to include the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless as the best mid-range headphones for casual use, and the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 are now compared with the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless. Minor text edits have been made throughout the article.
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Dec 05, 2023: We've made minor changes to this article's text to ensure it's up-to-date and accurate. However, there hasn't been a change in our recommendations.
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, their headphones tend to focus more on better sound quality, even in the lower-tiered products, than versatility, offering more models that cater to critical listening or home theater entertainment than sports or travel.