Head to head · for music listening
Sennheiser HD 650 vs HD 800 S
More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 650 overall (127 vs 71). Only 1 of the 39 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
- 39
- Say they own both
- 6
- Choose the HD 650
- 1
- Choose the HD 800 S
- 0
Counted across 23 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 | $345cheaper | $2000 |
| Overall rank | #2higher | #7 |
| People who recommend it | 127more | 71 |
| Say they own it | 187more | 69 |
| Mentions | 1,161more | 670 |
| Type | open-back wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | VocalsJazzRelaxed | ClassicalHuge spaceNeeds amp |
| Best for | The one headphone almost everyone in the hobby has owned; the safe buy for long, relaxed music sessions. | Classical, acoustic and anyone who wants the biggest sense of space from a headphone. |
| Buy | Amazon · $345 | Amazon · $2000 |
#2 overall
Sennheiser HD 650 (also sold as Drop HD 6XX)
7 of the 39 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
#7 overall
Sennheiser HD 800 S
11 of the 39 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’ve had my HD-800’s, for about 4 years and have loved them”
A commenter under These SHOULD make you cry... Sennheiser HDB 630 (jakkuh) · Oct 2025