Head to head · for music listening
Sennheiser HD 650 vs HD 600
More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 650 overall (127 vs 116). None of the 166 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 166
- Say they own both
- 18
- Choose the HD 650
- 0
- Choose the HD 600
- 0
Counted across 35 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 | $345 | $300cheaper |
| Overall rank | #2higher | #3 |
| People who recommend it | 127more | 116 |
| Say they own it | 187more | 151 |
| Mentions | 1,161 | 1,240more |
| Type | open-back wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | VocalsJazzRelaxed | NeutralVocalsLong sessions |
| Best for | The one headphone almost everyone in the hobby has owned; the safe buy for long, relaxed music sessions. | The reference headphone for people who care about accurate, fatigue-free music listening. |
| Buy | Amazon · $345 | Amazon · $300 |
People who mention both, in their own words
“I have two HD650 and an HD600 both for around 10 years”
Owns bothA commenter under The NEW HD600!! (Joshua Valour) · Feb 2020
#2 overall
Sennheiser HD 650 (also sold as Drop HD 6XX)
28 of the 166 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- The single most-recommended headphone across every forum read: warm, smooth and easy to listen to for hours
- Scales with better amps; several owners run it on expensive tube amps and say it keeps up
- Female vocals and mids that owners describe as amazing
- The Drop HD 6XX version sold for $199-220 for years, which made it the default first audiophile headphone
The complaints
- Needs an amp; from a phone it sounds flat
- No real sub-bass
- Clamp is tight on big heads
- Some find the slight bass tilt less balanced than the HD 600; soundstage is small
In their words
“Been using HD6XX for years and I love them for gaming”
A commenter under What GAMING Headphones AUDIOPHILES Use: 2024 Update! (BadSeed Tech) · Jun 2024
“I have both 600 and 6xx and i love them both”
A commenter under The NEW HD600!! (Joshua Valour) · Feb 2020
“I have the HD-6XX and love them”
A commenter under Why You SHOULDN'T Buy HD 600... & What To Get Instead (The Headphone Show) · Sep 2025
#3 overall
Sennheiser HD 600
24 of the 166 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