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Head to head · for music listening
Sennheiser HD 600 vs HD 800 S
More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 overall (117 vs 71). None of the 51 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 51
- Say they own both
- 7
- Choose the HD 600
- 0
- Choose the HD 800 S
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 51 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 28 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 | $300cheaper | $2000 |
| Overall rank | #4higher | #10 |
| People who recommend it | 117more | 71 |
| Say they own it | 149more | 71 |
| Mentions | 1,279more | 675 |
| Type | open-back wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | NeutralVocalsLong sessions | ClassicalHuge spaceNeeds amp |
| Best for | Recommended as the reference headphone by people who care about accurate, fatigue-free music listening. | Recommended for classical, acoustic and anyone who wants the biggest sense of space from a headphone. |
| Buy | Amazon · $300 | Amazon · $2000 |
#4 overall
Sennheiser HD 600
9 of the 51 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
#10 overall
Sennheiser HD 800 S
9 of the 51 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 Sennheiser HD 600 better than the Sennheiser HD 800 S?
- None of the 51 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 117 people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 and 71 the Sennheiser HD 800 S. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the Sennheiser HD 600 or the Sennheiser HD 800 S?
- The Sennheiser HD 600 is cheaper: $300 against $2000 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 Sennheiser HD 800 S?
- The Sennheiser HD 600: 117 people recommend it against 71. On the site-wide leaderboard the Sennheiser HD 600 is #4 and the Sennheiser HD 800 S is #10.
- Do people own both the Sennheiser HD 600 and the Sennheiser HD 800 S?
- Yes. 7 of the 51 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 9 say they own the Sennheiser HD 600 and 9 the Sennheiser HD 800 S.
- What do owners complain about on the Sennheiser HD 600 and the Sennheiser HD 800 S?
- The most repeated complaint about the Sennheiser HD 600: needs a decent amp to open up; weak from phones and laptops. 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.