- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Updates
- Comparison
- Best Headphones
- Conclusion
- Discussions
We've currently tested over 40 pairs of Sennheiser headphones. They're a well-trusted brand that makes a wide variety of models for different uses, with a particular focus on open-back, reference-quality headphones. We generally test quite a few Sennheiser headphones each year, so we'll continue to update this article as we release new reviews.
Updates
- 10/22/2021 Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless reviewed
- 08/30/2021 Sennheiser HD 599 updated
- 08/11/2021 Sennheiser CX True Wireless reviewed
- 05/06/2021 Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 updated
- 12/09/2020 Sennheiser HD 6XX reviewed
Best Sennheiser Headphones
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Best Sennheiser Earbuds
Type In-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessNoise Cancelling YesMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best Sennheiser earphones that we've tested are the Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless. They're the upgraded variant of the Sennheiser CX True Wireless and come with active noise cancelling (ANC). Out of the box, they have a warm sound profile suitable for genres like EDM and hip-hop. That said, you can adjust their sound to suit your tastes using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. They have under seven hours of continuous playback time and are equipped with an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life when you're not using them. They feel well-built and are rated IPX4 for resistance against splashes of water.
Unfortunately, their ANC system only offers an okay noise isolation performance, and it may not be enough to block out the low rumble of bus and plane engines. While they also have a lightweight fit, their bulky design sticks out of your ear a bit, which could bother some users. However, if you prefer an earbud design, they're a solid choice.
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Best Sennheiser Headphones For Audiophiles
Type Over-earEnclosure Open-BackWireless NoNoise Cancelling NoMic NoTransducer DynamicThe Sennheiser HD 800 S are the best Sennheiser headphones for audiophiles that we've tested. These open-back over-ears have a premium feel, with a solid metal frame and large, spacious ear cups with suede-like ear cup padding. They're breathable and don't clamp onto your head too hard, so you should be able to wear them for long listening sessions without much discomfort or fatigue. Their very well-balanced, neutral sound profile is suitable for a wide variety of musical genres. Their soundstage is perceived as very open, spacious, and speaker-like, yielding an immersive listening experience.
However, the big ear cups may be uncomfortable for people with smaller heads. Also, like most open-back headphones, they're not well-suited to noisy environments since they hardly block out any ambient noise and leak a lot of sound. If you're looking for more affordable options with an open-back design and a well-balanced sound profile, the Sennheiser HD 560S or the Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee are worth considering; however, their passive soundstage isn't as good.
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Best Sennheiser Headphones For Casual Use
Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling YesMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best Sennheiser headphones for casual use that we've tested are the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless. These premium-looking over-ear headphones have a solid metal frame and leather ear cup padding. Their default sound profile is well-balanced and a bit bass-heavy, which may suit fans of genres like EDM and hip-hop, and if you prefer a different sound, you can customize it with a parametric EQ and presets in the companion app. Their active noise cancelling (ANC) feature does a great job of blocking out background noise, including sounds like rumbling bus and plane engines. Their microphone's recording quality is decent, meaning that if you use them for phone calls, your voice sounds clear and reasonably full-bodied.
However, like most headphones with an open-back design, they leak a lot of audio, so they aren't the best choice if you want to listen to music at high volumes on the bus or at the office. Also, their bulky size means they aren't the most convenient to carry around, although they fold into a more compact shape and come with a soft case to store them. If portability is important to you, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 are much smaller in-ear headphones, although their ANC feature isn't nearly as effective. If you want more portable headphones with an over-ear design, the Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless are more compact, although their build quality isn't as good.
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Best Sennheiser Headphones For Home Theater
Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling NoMic NoTransducer DynamicThe best Sennheiser headphones for home theater we've tested are the Sennheiser RS 195 RF Wireless. These dedicated home theater headphones are well-built and comfortable, so you can enjoy long listening sessions without feeling a lot of fatigue. They come with a specialized receiver dock that plugs directly into most TV sets, and their low latency ensures that the audio you hear matches the images you see. Thanks to their bass-heavy sound profile, you can feel the thump and rumble in action-packed scenes in your favorite movies, and dialogue is still clear and present. Also, with 24-hour continuous battery life, they can last through multiple films without needing a recharge.
Unfortunately, they're powered by rechargeable AAA batteries, and they can take more than eight hours to charge up, depending on the age and wear of the rechargeable batteries. Also, they struggle to block out a lot of background noise, which may be distracting if you're watching TV in a lively environment. They leak a bit of noise, which can be annoying for those around you. However, they ultimately rank among the best headphones for watching TV that we've tested, and they're a solid addition to your home theater setup.
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Best Sennheiser Headphones For Gaming
Type Over-earEnclosure Open-BackWireless NoNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best gaming Sennheiser headphones we've tested are the Sennheiser Game One Gaming Headset. These open-back gaming headphones offer very similar performance as the Drop + Sennheiser PC38X. However, they have a slight edge as they can create a larger and more immersive passive soundstage. Their warm sound profile can help emphasize sound effects in your gameplay while dialogue and instruments sound clear and accurate. Their boom mic can capture your voice very well, even in noisy environments, which is nice if you like to game with others. Thanks to their wired design, you shouldn't experience audio lag either, and their very comfortable fit means you can game for long periods without experiencing fatigue.
Unfortunately, their open-back enclosure means that they can't block out much background noise. They leak a lot of audio, which can annoy others around you. That said, although they lack sound customization features, these no-frills gaming headphones offer an immersive audio experience suitable for gamers.
Compared to other brands
- Great open-back models. Sennheiser is one of the few companies to offer a wide variety of open headphones at varying price ranges.
- Above-average audio fidelity. Sennheiser's lineup typically focuses on quality audio reproduction. They provide more headphones geared towards neutral sound than all-purpose headsets.
- Diverse headphone lineup. One of the best advantages of such a longstanding company is the multitude of headphones it offers, which gives you more options to find headphones that suit your tastes and habits.
- Mediocre noise isolation. There are a couple of headphones from Sennheiser that block or cancel noise effectively. Compared to other brands like Sony or Bose, they don't have the best isolation for similar headphones.
- Expensive. Although Sennheiser offers many cheap models, their better-sounding headphones tend to be more expensive than the competition.
- Overlapping models. Some models in the vast Sennheiser lineup are very similar, with only slight aesthetic changes and minor differences in sound.
Overall, Sennheiser offers a variety of headphones for different uses. Many of their higher-quality models are on the pricey end; however, many of their cheaper models also perform admirably. That said, they're easily one of the best when it comes to high-end open-back headphones, with some models offering stellar sound quality for critical listeners.
Lineup
Sennheiser has a wide variety of headphones that range in price and intended use. They do well for critical listening headphones with the HD series. Below are the typical uses for the different lines.
- CX = Truly wireless in-ears designed with casual use in mind.
- CXC = The in-ear and earbud variation of the travel series. Typically very portable and noise isolating.
- HD = Open or closed headphones designed to deliver great and balanced audio quality.
- Momentum = Versatile and durable headphones for everyday casual use.
- MM = The travel series. Compact and noise isolating headphones to easily carry around on a flight.
- PXC = Also a travel and commuting series but with more full-size over-ear headphones.
- RS = Home theatre over-ear headphones that come with a wireless transmitter.
Recent Updates
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Nov 30, 2021: Replaced the Sennheiser CX True Wireless with the Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless as the CX Plus offer active noise cancelling (ANC).
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Sep 01, 2021: Added the Sennheiser CX True Wireless as the 'Best Sennheiser Earbuds'.
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Jul 08, 2021: Verified that the recommended products are in stock and updated text. No changes made to product picks.
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Apr 12, 2021: Verified that all main picks are still in stock and represent the best choice for their given category.
Conclusion
Sennheiser is a big brand. Therefore, they have a wide variety of headphones that are either specific to a certain use or well-rounded enough for everyday casual use. However, in general, they tend to focus more on better sound quality than versatility, offering more models that cater to critical listening or home theater entertainment than sports or travel.
Look at our recommendations for the best audiophile headphones and the best wireless TV headphones.