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Head to head · for music listening
Sennheiser HD 600 vs HIFIMAN Edition XS
More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 overall (117 vs 27). None of the 29 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 29
- Say they own both
- 2
- Choose the HD 600
- 0
- Choose the Edition XS
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 29 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 14 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 | $300 | $209cheaper |
| Overall rank | #4higher | #22 |
| People who recommend it | 117more | 27 |
| Say they own it | 149more | 36 |
| Mentions | 1,279more | 304 |
| Type | open-back wired | open-back planar wired |
| Known for | NeutralVocalsLong sessions | PlanarSpaceValue |
| Best for | Recommended as the reference headphone by people who care about accurate, fatigue-free music listening. | Recommended as the planar to buy when you want Arya-style space for a fraction of the price. |
| Buy | Amazon · $300 | Amazon · $209Direct |
#4 overall
Sennheiser HD 600
3 of the 29 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- The most natural, neutral mid-range people can name; a 25-year reference
- Super comfortable for long sessions
- Timbre and tone that owners call perfect for acoustic, classical and vocals
- Owners who tried many others keep coming back to it
The complaints
- Needs a decent amp to open up; weak from phones and laptops
- Small, intimate soundstage; some call it boring
- Bass does not go deep
In their words
“My favorite headphones are my painted hd600s with a custom matching cable”
A commenter under Crinacle's ULTIMATE Guide to Headphones (crinacle) · Dec 2024
“After trying all other options, we highly recommend the HD 600”
A commenter under Why You SHOULDN'T Buy HD 600... & What To Get Instead (The Headphone Show) · Sep 2025
“I love my HD600 but have to compensate for the weak bass”
A commenter under Almost all headphones are inaccurate. Only these are good. (AP Mastering) · Dec 2024
#22 overall
HIFIMAN Edition XS
2 of the 29 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Owners call it the best sound under $300 and better than anything in the $300-500 range
- Huge soundstage and clarity; takes EQ bass boosts without distortion
- The price keeps dropping, and people who bought at $169-$270 call it the best deal in audio
The complaints
- The headband and build: thin stock pads and a strap many owners mod or replace
- Big and awkward for some heads; uncomfortable for a minority
- HIFIMAN quality control and support worry owners
- Needs a DAC/amp to shine
In their words
“I really love my Hifiman Edition XS, cheap but really amazing pair”
A commenter under The Headphones I actually use. (DankPods) · Sep 2024
“I also have the HiFiman Edition XS and love them as well”
A commenter under Why You SHOULDN'T Buy HD 600... & What To Get Instead (The Headphone Show) · Sep 2025
“to Hifiman Edition XS and love them too”
A commenter under Don't Buy Studio Headphones Until You See This Tier List! (Under $500) (Andrew Chapman Creative) · Dec 2025
Questions people ask about this pair
Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.
- Is the Sennheiser HD 600 better than the HIFIMAN Edition XS?
- None of the 29 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 117 people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 and 27 the HIFIMAN Edition XS. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the Sennheiser HD 600 or the HIFIMAN Edition XS?
- The HIFIMAN Edition XS is cheaper: $209 against $300 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the Sennheiser HD 600 or the HIFIMAN Edition XS?
- The Sennheiser HD 600: 117 people recommend it against 27. On the site-wide leaderboard the Sennheiser HD 600 is #4 and the HIFIMAN Edition XS is #22.
- Do people own both the Sennheiser HD 600 and the HIFIMAN Edition XS?
- Yes. 2 of the 29 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 3 say they own the Sennheiser HD 600 and 2 the HIFIMAN Edition XS.
- What do owners complain about on the Sennheiser HD 600 and the HIFIMAN Edition XS?
- The most repeated complaint about the Sennheiser HD 600: needs a decent amp to open up; weak from phones and laptops. About the HIFIMAN Edition XS: the headband and build: thin stock pads and a strap many owners mod or replace. The full lists are on each side below.