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Head to head · for music listening
Sennheiser HD 600 vs HIFIMAN Sundara
More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 overall (117 vs 79). Only 1 of the 65 comments naming both explicitly choose one (1 for the Sennheiser HD 600, 0 for the HIFIMAN Sundara), too few to call a winner.
- Comments naming both
- 65
- Say they own both
- 7
- Choose the HD 600
- 1
- Choose the Sundara
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited1 explicit choice among 65 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 27 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 | $179cheaper |
| Overall rank | #4higher | #7 |
| People who recommend it | 117more | 79 |
| Say they own it | 149more | 109 |
| Mentions | 1,279more | 806 |
| Type | open-back wired | open-back planar wired |
| Known for | NeutralVocalsLong sessions | Planar detailHomeAmp helps |
| Best for | Recommended as the reference headphone by people who care about accurate, fatigue-free music listening. | The planar most often recommended under $200, by people who already have, or will buy, a small desktop amp. |
| Buy | Amazon · $300 | Amazon · $179 |
People who mention both, in their own words
“I just upgraded from Sundara to HD600”
Picks the HD 600A commenter under The HD 600 is STILL one of the best headphones. (The Headphone Show) · Jun 2023
#4 overall
Sennheiser HD 600
13 of the 65 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
#7 overall
HIFIMAN Sundara
12 of the 65 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
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 Sundara?
- Only 1 of the 65 comments naming both choose one (1 for the Sennheiser HD 600, 0 for the HIFIMAN Sundara), too few to call a winner. Overall, 117 people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 and 79 the HIFIMAN Sundara.
- Which is cheaper, the Sennheiser HD 600 or the HIFIMAN Sundara?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara is cheaper: $179 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 Sundara?
- The Sennheiser HD 600: 117 people recommend it against 79. On the site-wide leaderboard the Sennheiser HD 600 is #4 and the HIFIMAN Sundara is #7.
- Do people own both the Sennheiser HD 600 and the HIFIMAN Sundara?
- Yes. 7 of the 65 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 13 say they own the Sennheiser HD 600 and 12 the HIFIMAN Sundara.
- What do owners complain about on the Sennheiser HD 600 and the HIFIMAN Sundara?
- The most repeated complaint about the Sennheiser HD 600: needs a decent amp to open up; weak from phones and laptops. About the HIFIMAN Sundara: needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone. The full lists are on each side below.