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Sennheiser HD 650 vs HD 800 S

More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 650 overall (152 vs 71). Only 1 of the 48 comments naming both explicitly choose one (1 for the Sennheiser HD 650, 0 for the Sennheiser HD 800 S), too few to call a winner.

Comments naming both
48
Say they own both
5
Choose the HD 650
1
Choose the HD 800 S
0

Preference evidence:Limited1 explicit choice among 48 comments naming both.What the levels mean

Counted across 30 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.

At a glance the better number on each row is highlighted
Sennheiser HD 650Sennheiser HD 800 S
Typical price$345cheaper$2000
Overall rank#1higher#10
People who recommend it152more71
Say they own it213more71
Mentions1,403more675
Typeopen-back wiredopen-back wired
Known forVocalsJazzRelaxedClassicalHuge spaceNeeds amp
Best forThe one headphone almost everyone in the hobby has owned; recommended as the safe buy for long, relaxed music sessions.Recommended for classical, acoustic and anyone who wants the biggest sense of space from a headphone.
BuyAmazon · $345Amazon · $2000

#1 overall

Sennheiser HD 650 (also sold as Drop HD 6XX)

7 of the 48 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

#10 overall

Sennheiser HD 800 S

11 of the 48 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

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 650 better than the Sennheiser HD 800 S?
Only 1 of the 48 comments naming both choose one (1 for the Sennheiser HD 650, 0 for the Sennheiser HD 800 S), too few to call a winner. Overall, 152 people recommend the Sennheiser HD 650 and 71 the Sennheiser HD 800 S.
Which is cheaper, the Sennheiser HD 650 or the Sennheiser HD 800 S?
The Sennheiser HD 650 is cheaper: $345 against $2000 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
Which do more people recommend, the Sennheiser HD 650 or the Sennheiser HD 800 S?
The Sennheiser HD 650: 152 people recommend it against 71. On the site-wide leaderboard the Sennheiser HD 650 is #1 and the Sennheiser HD 800 S is #10.
Do people own both the Sennheiser HD 650 and the Sennheiser HD 800 S?
Yes. 5 of the 48 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 7 say they own the Sennheiser HD 650 and 11 the Sennheiser HD 800 S.
What do owners complain about on the Sennheiser HD 650 and the Sennheiser HD 800 S?
The most repeated complaint about the Sennheiser HD 650: needs an amp; from a phone it sounds flat. 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.

More comparisons

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