Head to head · for music listening
HIFIMAN Sundara vs Sennheiser HD 800 S
More people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara overall (80 vs 71). None of the 13 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 13
- Say they own both
- 1
- Choose the Sundara
- 0
- Choose the HD 800 S
- 0
Counted across 9 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 | $2000 |
| Overall rank | #6higher | #7 |
| People who recommend it | 80more | 71 |
| Say they own it | 115more | 69 |
| Mentions | 831more | 670 |
| Type | open-back planar wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | Planar detailHomeAmp helps | ClassicalHuge spaceNeeds amp |
| Best for | Best planar-magnetic sound under $200 for someone who already has, or will buy, a small desktop amp. | Classical, acoustic and anyone who wants the biggest sense of space from a headphone. |
| Buy | Amazon · $179 | Amazon · $2000 |
#6 overall
HIFIMAN Sundara
2 of the 13 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
#7 overall
Sennheiser HD 800 S
1 of the 13 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Huge soundstage and detail; the classic end-game dynamic headphone
- Several owners keep it as the serious-listening set beside a cheaper everyday pair
- Comfortable despite its size
The complaints
- Lean bass and bright treble; can be analytical rather than fun
- Needs a good amp and good recordings
- Price
In their words
“Ok, i got encourage to get the HD800 after i saw this”
A commenter under Sennheiser HD 800 Unboxing, Review & Shootout w/ HiFiMAN HE-500 Headphones (Music + BF4) (Barnacules Nerdgasm) · Oct 2013
“I have all sennheiser hp and hd800 my daily driver”
A commenter under Is Sennheiser's new headphone REALLY an upgrade? (The Headphone Show) · Feb 2023
“I’ve had my HD-800’s, for about 4 years and have loved them”
A commenter under These SHOULD make you cry... Sennheiser HDB 630 (jakkuh) · Oct 2025