Browse by budget and use
Head to head · for music listening
HIFIMAN Sundara vs Sennheiser HD 660S2
More people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara overall (79 vs 60). Only 1 of the 81 comments naming both explicitly choose one (1 for the HIFIMAN Sundara, 0 for the Sennheiser HD 660S2), too few to call a winner.
- Comments naming both
- 81
- Say they own both
- 11
- Choose the Sundara
- 1
- Choose the HD 660S2
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited1 explicit choice among 81 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 17 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.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $179cheaper | $680 |
| Overall rank | #7higher | #12 |
| People who recommend it | 79more | 60 |
| Say they own it | 109more | 90 |
| Mentions | 806more | 688 |
| Type | open-back planar wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | Planar detailHomeAmp helps | WarmVocalsUpgrade |
| Best for | The planar most often recommended under $200, by people who already have, or will buy, a small desktop amp. | Recommended as the modern Sennheiser 6-series by vocal-first listeners who found the HD 600 too lean. |
| Buy | Amazon · $179 | Amazon · $680Direct |
People who mention both, in their own words
“I have had both the Sundara and 660s for a few weeks”
Owns bothA commenter under Sundara v 660S v 1990 (Under $500 Headphone Comparison) (Joshua Valour) · Feb 2020
#7 overall
HIFIMAN Sundara
15 of the 81 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Planar speed and detail that people say is unmatched at the price
- Good soundstage and imaging; responds well to EQ
- Frequently on sale or open-box direct from HIFIMAN, which is how many owners bought it
- Comfortable and clean; several owners say they stopped shopping after buying it
The complaints
- Needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone
- Older units had driver failures and some people call HIFIMAN build and quality control poor
- Tuning takes getting used to; a couple of listeners simply do not like planars
In their words
“I bought the Sundara on your recommendations and really love it”
A commenter under Sundara v 660S v 1990 (Under $500 Headphone Comparison) (Joshua Valour) · Feb 2020
“I got my Sundaras at a crazy price, and I love them”
A commenter under The Best Deal in Audio... Period. (Joshua Valour) · Nov 2024
“I use the sundaras and i would recommend them”
A commenter under Why Do All Streamers Use These Headphones? (Dagwummy) · Jul 2023
#12 overall
Sennheiser HD 660S2
17 of the 81 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
“Love my hd660S, couldn't imagine switching to anything else but the 660S2”
A commenter under Why You SHOULDN'T Buy HD 600... & What To Get Instead (The Headphone Show) · Sep 2025
“using the sennheiser hd 660s for gaming and i absolutely LOVE them”
A commenter under 5 of the Best Headphones Under $500 (Joshua Valour) · Feb 2020
“I recently bought the Sennheiser HD660S and I LOVE them”
A commenter under Open vs Closed Back Headphones for GAMING - Which Is Best? (Hardware Canucks) · Jul 2019
Questions people ask about this pair
Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.
- Is the HIFIMAN Sundara better than the Sennheiser HD 660S2?
- Only 1 of the 81 comments naming both choose one (1 for the HIFIMAN Sundara, 0 for the Sennheiser HD 660S2), too few to call a winner. Overall, 79 people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara and 60 the Sennheiser HD 660S2.
- Which is cheaper, the HIFIMAN Sundara or the Sennheiser HD 660S2?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara is cheaper: $179 against $680 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the HIFIMAN Sundara or the Sennheiser HD 660S2?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara: 79 people recommend it against 60. On the site-wide leaderboard the HIFIMAN Sundara is #7 and the Sennheiser HD 660S2 is #12.
- Do people own both the HIFIMAN Sundara and the Sennheiser HD 660S2?
- Yes. 11 of the 81 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 15 say they own the HIFIMAN Sundara and 17 the Sennheiser HD 660S2.
- What do owners complain about on the HIFIMAN Sundara and the Sennheiser HD 660S2?
- The most repeated complaint about the HIFIMAN Sundara: needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone. About the Sennheiser HD 660S2: bass is still modest next to planars. The full lists are on each side below.