Browse by budget and use
Head to head · for music listening
HIFIMAN Sundara vs Sennheiser HD 800 S
More people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara overall (79 vs 71). None of the 14 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 14
- Say they own both
- 1
- Choose the Sundara
- 0
- Choose the HD 800 S
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 14 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 10 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 | #7higher | #10 |
| People who recommend it | 79more | 71 |
| Say they own it | 109more | 71 |
| Mentions | 806more | 675 |
| Type | open-back planar wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | Planar detailHomeAmp helps | ClassicalHuge spaceNeeds amp |
| Best for | The planar most often recommended under $200, by people who already have, or will buy, a small desktop amp. | Recommended for classical, acoustic and anyone who wants the biggest sense of space from a headphone. |
| Buy | Amazon · $179 | Amazon · $2000 |
#7 overall
HIFIMAN Sundara
2 of the 14 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
#10 overall
Sennheiser HD 800 S
1 of the 14 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 use HD800s as my daily driver”
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 800 S?
- None of the 14 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 79 people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara and 71 the Sennheiser HD 800 S. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the HIFIMAN Sundara or the Sennheiser HD 800 S?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara is cheaper: $179 against $2000 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 800 S?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara: 79 people recommend it against 71. On the site-wide leaderboard the HIFIMAN Sundara is #7 and the Sennheiser HD 800 S is #10.
- Do people own both the HIFIMAN Sundara and the Sennheiser HD 800 S?
- Yes. 1 of the 14 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 2 say they own the HIFIMAN Sundara and 1 the Sennheiser HD 800 S.
- What do owners complain about on the HIFIMAN Sundara and the Sennheiser HD 800 S?
- The most repeated complaint about the HIFIMAN Sundara: needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone. About the Sennheiser HD 800 S: lean bass and bright treble; can be analytical rather than fun. The full lists are on each side below.