Head to head · for music listening
Sennheiser HD 800 S vs HIFIMAN HE1000
More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 800 S overall (71 vs 14). None of the 25 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 25
- Say they own both
- 1
- Choose the HD 800 S
- 0
- Choose the HE1000
- 0
Counted across 15 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 | $2000 | $1399cheaper |
| Overall rank | #7higher | #17 |
| People who recommend it | 71more | 14 |
| Say they own it | 69more | 21 |
| Mentions | 670more | 190 |
| Type | open-back wired | open-back planar wired |
| Known for | ClassicalHuge spaceNeeds amp | AiryScaleNeeds amp |
| Best for | Classical, acoustic and anyone who wants the biggest sense of space from a headphone. | Wide, airy end-game planar for people who want scale rather than punch. |
| Buy | Amazon · $2000 | Amazon · $1399 |
#7 overall
Sennheiser HD 800 S
1 of the 25 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
#17 overall
HIFIMAN HE1000 (V2 / se / Stealth)
1 of the 25 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Owners describe hearing things in familiar tracks for the first time
- Lighter and more comfortable than an Audeze LCD-X; usable lying down
- Called a monster of a headphone that defines end-game for staging
The complaints
- More analytical than fun for some tastes
- HIFIMAN build and quality-control reputation
- Price varies wildly by version
In their words
“I've since rebought he1000v2 as it's my favorite headphone of all time”
A commenter under HiFiMAN HE1000 V2 Live Impressions & Measurements - Resolve Q&A (The Headphone Show) · Dec 2022
“I love my Hifiman HE1000SE, EQd”
A commenter under ARYA ORGANIC -VS- EVERYTHING! (Joshua Valour) · Aug 2023