Best Sennheiser headphones

Sennheiser has long been an audio mainstay, creating some of the best over-ear headphones on the market, so knowing which headphones are right for you can be a bit daunting — especially considering how expensive some of the models are. Despite not having the catchiest of model names, Sennheiser headphones are generally reliable and consistently perform well, so much so that they often make our list of the best headphones. So, let’s dig in to help you find the best Sennheiser headphones for your needs.

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The Quick Answer

Check out our top picks below for the short version of this article. Each has a link to our full reviews, which should be able to answer any potential question you can come up with.

The best for most:

The best for casual listening at home:

The best audiophile value:

The best budget commuting pick:

The best studio pick:

The best high-end pick:

The best budget wired pick:

The best earbuds:

Why is the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless the best Sennheiser headphones for most people?

Sennheiser’s flagship consumer product, the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless, is a premium set of active noise canceling (ANC) headphones. These cans feel comfortable for extended listening sessions and even for folks with glasses. For international travelers, the battery life is very impressive at 56 hours and 21 minutes of battery life (with ANC on), but if you do, there’s always an optional wired connection over TRS or USB-C. You even get an airplane adapter for flying.

Through the combination of isolation and ANC, the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless reduces the loudness of high-pitched sounds by 75-95%. Low-pitched sounds see about a 75% reduction in volume. Adding to this premium experience is the suite of high-quality Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX, or aptX Adaptive. Most listeners won’t want to alter the sound much, given that the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless arrives sounding very close to our preference curve.

Keyboard warriors should get the Sennheiser HD 550

Sennheiser’s latest headphones are geared at reviving its older HD 5XX line, which is aimed more at the casual listener who wants something a bit better. Though the less-expensive HD 505 is excellent, the HD 550 is superb for the casual listener. These are pretty bare-bones, but with low power requirements and improved tuning, you won’t want for equalization or need an amplifier. You can simply use these headphones out of the box without too much fuss — so long as you have a 3.5 or 6.3mm TRS jack on your source device.

Its sound is characterized by a reasonably good treble and mids, with a little bit of a rolloff in the lowest octave. For casual music and media consumption, it’s great, but studio-grade, it is not. The HD 550 has open backs, which means you won’t want to use it out of your home due to sound leaks and almost zero isolation. However, as a set of headphones for milling about the house and watching shows or using your computer without bothering to charge batteries, it’s a solid desktop companion.

The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless is one of the best value buys on the market

The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless has solid sound quality and brings ANC for roughly half the cost of other top-end competitors. With their support for aptX and aptX HD, listeners can indulge in high-fidelity audio for prolonged listening, thanks to their lightweight and snug, albeit not overly thick, padding. They boast a robust 46+ hours of battery life, which is near the top of their class, ensuring the music doesn’t stop on even the longest journeys.

On the downside, the ACCENTUM doesn’t feature LE Audio or a TRS jack, limiting some connectivity options. Also, while it provides active noise cancelation (ANC), it may not be the fortress of solitude that commuters in boisterous environments desire. The ANC performs admirably at higher frequencies, effectively silencing 90% of noise above 1kHz, but it doesn’t quite match the prowess of more premium competitors. These headphones are a compelling pick for those whose priority is a balance between cost, audio fidelity, and day-to-day functionality.

Audiophiles on a budget will love the Drop x Sennheiser HD 6XX

The Drop x Sennheiser HD 6XX is a budget-friendly pathway to high-end audio. A successor to the venerable Sennheiser HD 650, it boasts similar characteristics at a significantly reduced cost, making it a viable option for audiophiles prioritizing sound quality over frills. Comfort is key with the HD 6XX; its lightweight design and deep velour pads cater to extensive listening sessions without the strain, a boon especially for glasses wearers. With a resistance of 300Ω and a sensitivity of 103dB/1Vrms, the HD 6XX delivers a clean, neutral-leaning sound profile, minimizing distortion and channel imbalances and presenting music with clarity and fidelity that respects the original recordings.

The Drop x Sennheiser HD 6XX is great for those looking to upgrade their home audio experience without breaking the bank. This headset is not about features; it’s about pure performance, and at $200, it punches well above its weight in the audiophile market. While it’s not designed for the mobile listener, those with a stationary setup will be rewarded with audio quality that rivals more expensive headsets.

The Sennheiser HD 490 Pro are excellent studio cans on a budget

The Sennheiser HD 490 PRO stands out as an excellent choice for audio professionals, music producers, and mixing engineers seeking versatile studio headphones. These open-back headphones offer a distinct advantage with swappable velour and fabric ear pads that tailor the sound for producing (velour) or mixing (fabric). The velour pads provide a fun, consumer-friendly sound with decent bass, while the fabric pads offer a less-editorialized reference tuning ideal for critical mixing sessions.

The lightweight, durable build with swappable parts ensures long-lasting comfort over extended studio sessions. Helpful extras like the included dearVR MIX-SE plugin simulate various acoustic environments for versatile monitoring. With an approachable $399 price point, the HD 490 PRO brings pro-level features to home studios and budding music producers. Its thoughtful design and execution make it a flexible, high-value choice for aspiring audio engineers on a budget.

Is the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro good for the money?

The Sennheiser HD 280 Pro is a studio classic and the only sub-$100 pick here. This set of dynamic, closed-back cans is ideal for studio use and comfortable to wear for extended periods. Considering studio headphones are a category that can get quite expensive, this budget pair does its job pretty darn well.

The headband cushions may look silly, but they promote even weight distribution, and the earpads are breathable, preventing your ears from overheating. The 3.3-meter-long coiled cable offers plenty of leeway for navigating a studio environment; it’s also replaceable, which is a nice touch. Moreover, the earcups rotate and lay flat on the chest when not in use.

Break the bank with the Sennheiser HD 800 S

When it comes to high-end headphones, the Sennheiser HD 800 S is a defining model. At 300g, these are not light but feel comfortable, and the weight is well distributed. Being a set of open-back headphones, they’re not as great at attenuating external noise, but they are one of the best open-back headphones you can get.

The plush velour earpads and featherweight suspension headband enable hours of fatigue-free listening sessions. User-replaceable cables with standard and balanced termination options enhance long-term usability. While their open design limits outdoor use, the HD 800 S effortlessly meets the lofty expectations set for elite audiophile cans within a home environment. Expensive but uncompromising, they represent the true endgame for discerning listeners.

If you’re not ready to blow out your bank account, the Sennheiser HD 660S2 is also a great option, but decidedly inferior to the HD 800 S.

The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus is a great mid-range pick

The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus strikes a good balance as a well-rounded mid-range option for wireless ANC headphones. At $229, it delivers capable active noise cancelation that hushes up to 80% of ambient sounds, making it ideal for commutes or office environments. Battery life is a strength, with an impressive 53 hours of playback on a charge.

While sound quality won’t threaten premium models, the ACCENTUM Plus provides a pleasant listening experience, though highs can get a bit sibilant. EQ presets in the companion app allow some customization as well.

The MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 are the best Sennheiser earbuds

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 represents the pinnacle of the brand’s true wireless earbud lineup. With rich, impactful bass, precise mids, and crisp treble, it achieves an impressively balanced, hi-fi-tuned sound right out of the box, earning stellar results in our MDAQS testing.

Beyond raw audio fidelity, the MOMENTUM 4 package is brimming with features like adjustable EQ, effective ANC, wireless charging, and support for cutting-edge Bluetooth codecs like LE Audio and Auracast. The comfortable, stylish candy bar design with IPX4 protection allows for enjoying immersive sound in nearly any environment. Battery life is also a strength at nearly 8 hours per charge.

The best Sennheiser headphones: Notable mentions

• Sennheiser HD 450BT ($129 at Amazon): Before the ACCENTUM, these were the budget pick ANC headphones from Sennheiser. They supply high-quality codecs like aptX and aptX Low Latency alongside standard AAC and SBC. You can also plug it in with the optional headphone jack.
• Sennheiser HD 600 ($299 at Amazon): They may be very old, but the Sennheiser HD 600 is as sure a bet as they come. Older-model headphones stick around because they perform their function and perform it well. The Sennheiser HD 600 is one of the most venerated headphones in the audiophile space over the last few decades. For good reason, it’s great.
• Sennheiser HD 620 S ($329.95 at Amazon): These closed-back headphones seem more like an HD 5XX series set, but offer decent sound for those who want a bit of isolation.
• Sennheiser HD 650 ($399 at Amazon): This expensive set of headphones is a classic for production and audio enthusiasts. It has a neutral frequency response and open-backs.
• Sennheiser HD 660S2 ($499 at Amazon): These headphones are absolutely excellent, but they fall short of dethroning the HD 800-series headphones for the best spot. Find these on sale for a good bargain.
• Sennheiser IE 100 PRO Wireless ($149 at Amazon): Want a pair of earbuds that can go from wired to wireless in just a few seconds? Well, then check out the IE 100 PRO Wireless. With this, Sennheiser even includes its Bluetooth neckband adapter and MMCX earbuds.
• Sennheiser IE 200 ($119 at Amazon): These wired earphones have a consumer-friendly sound and a nice build, striking a balance between price and performance.
• Sennheiser IE 300 ($281 at Amazon): These wired earbuds will please audiophiles with their 7mm Extra Wide Band Transducers. Their sound profile is similar to the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 earbuds, but they have ear hooks and an easily replaceable cable. They’re by no means cheap, but they’re still nice.
• Sennheiser IE 900 ($1199 at Amazon): If you want the cream of the crop when it comes to enthusiast IEMs, the Sennheiser IE 900 are the headphones to beat. It’s certainly a premium pick with the high price, but if you have extra cash to spend, these will never become obsolete.
• Sennheiser MOMENTUM Sport True Wireless ($329 at Amazon): If you are a fitness enthusiast who wants biometric tracking built into your earbuds, these are the best option, but they cost a pretty penny.

What you should know about Sennheiser headphones

Most models are more specialized than general consumer cans, so you’ll need to know more info before you buy. While that doesn’t preclude every option from being a worthy consumer headset, it does mean Sennheiser headphones are a bit more niche than something like Beats.

How should the best Sennheiser headphones sound?

It depends on which headphones you’re looking at. If you’re going for a consumer headset like the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless, then you’ll notice the headphones that the treble aligns well with the SoundGuys Headphone Preference curve with a hint of more bass. This curve is mainly meant to provide context about what we consider to be a baseline for good sound, so it will help you learn about your own preferences the more reviews you read. If you notice you like more bass than our curve has, or more treble, you can use the charts to compare different products to what you know about your own preferences.

Studio headphones from Sennheiser sound different from consumer ones and generally have a fairly “flat” response in the bass and mids. This it easier to mix audio. There are plenty of reasons why you’d want a studio sound from your headphones and plenty of reasons why you wouldn’t want this. It all depends on your use case.

Do Sennheiser earbuds and headphones need an amp?

Some headphones, like the Sennheiser HD 800 S, can require an amp and DAC combo for optimal performance, but you won’t know that unless you’re intimately familiar with your computer’s specifications. If you buy headphones and you can’t get a good listening level out of them, you may need an amp. However, it’s extremely unlikely that you need to buy a new DAC.

How we choose the best Sennheiser headphones

When it comes to Sennheiser headphones, we know that most interested consumers are looking for the best sound quality they can afford, which is what we kept in mind when picking out each awardee per category.

We did our due diligence by testing each product in our lab with the latest equipment and analysis protocols over the last 6 years. We tested:

1. Frequency response, or how each frequency is emphasized over others.
2. Power requirements — do you need an amp to use a particular set of headphones?
3. Noise attenuation — how much outside noise is prevented from reaching your ear.
4. Human testing — we use the headphones for several days ourselves to log our experience with them.

By being able to compare objective performance for every model, we’re able to highlight the most likely products to satisfy your particular use cases.

Why you should trust SoundGuys

Each writer at SoundGuys has accumulated years of experience reporting on the consumer audio market, and our staff adheres to a strict ethics policy. We don’t use sponsored content on the website at a time when doing so is the norm. SoundGuys’ survival depends almost exclusively on readers enjoying their purchases. We pride ourselves on transparently outlining objective facts while accounting for the subjective experience to contextualize an audio product’s performance. When we do misspeak, we correct and own up to it.

Frequently asked questions about the best Sennheiser headphones