- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Updates
- Comparison
- Best Headphones
- Conclusion
- Discussions
We have currently reviewed over 30 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
- 10/21/2019 Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless reviewed
- 07/31/2019 Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee reviewed
- 05/16/2019 Sennheiser IE 40 PRO reviewed
- 05/08/2019 Sennheiser HD 660 S reviewed
- 03/22/2019 Sennheiser HD 4.40 reviewed
Best Sennheiser Headphones
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Best Sennheiser Headphones For Audiophiles
Type : Over-earEnclosure : Open-BackWireless : NoNoise-Cancelling : NoMic : NoTransducer : DynamicThe best Sennheiser headphones we've tested so far for audiophiles are the Sennheiser HD 800 S. They're the company's flagship reference-class headphones for high-end audio. They have a remarkably well-balanced sound and a natural soundstage that helps create the ambiance of listening to speakers in a room. Thanks to their comfortable open-back design, they're a great choice if you want open-back headphones that you can enjoy for hours on end in a dedicated listening room. They come at a very steep cost and can't be used outdoors, so they're not for the uninitiated or those looking for casual headphones, but for seasoned critical listeners, they're worth the investment. If you want something a bit more affordable that still has great audio fidelity, then get the Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee, but they don't sound quite as immersive.
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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 we’ve tested so far are the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless. They’re one of Sennheiser’s most versatile headsets, along with the Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless, but have with an even better-built design with improved noise cancelling. They're comfortable, have a fairly well-balanced sound with lots of bass, and have a good battery life. They're a bit expensive for casual headphones, so you might want to consider the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC if you're looking for something more affordable, but they’re less comfortable and don’t feel as well-built. Overall, if you need a well-rounded headset that you're going to use every day, then the Momentum 3 Wireless are one of the best options that Sennheiser has to offer.
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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 that we’ve reviewed so far are the Sennheiser RS 195 RF Wireless. They're comfortable open-back headphones that come with a dedicated low-latency wireless transmitter so you can enjoy your favorite movies and TV shows from the comfort of your couch without audio latency. The transmitter also acts as a charging stand and provides a nice spot for you to rest the headphones when not in use. These headphones have an excited sound profile that can help bring out the rumble of action movies and dialogue of your favorite TV show, but some people might find they sound too bright and bass-heavy. The Sennheiser RS 185 RF Wireless have an open-back design with a more balanced, neutral sound, but they're a lot harder to find.
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Best Sennheiser Headphones For Gaming
Type : Over-earEnclosure : Open-BackWireless : NoNoise-Cancelling : NoMic : YesTransducer : DynamicThe best Sennheiser headphones for gaming that we’ve tested so far are the Sennheiser Game One. They're very comfortable and have great audio fidelity. Since they're wired, you won't have any issues with latency, and they have an excellent boom microphone for online multiplayer games. They're also more breathable and have a more spacious soundstage than most gaming headsets we've reviewed, thanks to their open-back design. They don't isolate very well, though, so although they'll be fine if you game alone in a quiet room, they're not the ideal headphones to bring to a gaming competition or convention.
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 critical listening headphones 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. However, compared to other brands, like Sony or Bose, they don't have the best isolation for similar headphones.
- Expensive. Although Sennheiser offers a lot of 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 has a varied lineup of headphones but seem more focused on quality audio reproduction than more versatile or casual designs. A lot of their higher-quality models are also a bit 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 especially well for critical listening headphones with the HD series. Below are the typical uses for the different model names.
- 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.
- CXC = The in-ear and earbud variation of the travel series. Typically very portable and noise isolating.
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.
Discover our recommendations for the best audiophile headphones and the best wireless TV headphones.
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