- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Updates
- Comparison
- Best Headphones
- Conclusion
- Discussions
We have currently reviewed 31 Sennheiser headphones. They're a good, well-trusted brand, with a wide variety of headphones for different uses. They also focus on high-end, reference-quality models for more critical listeners and audiophiles. We generally have quite a few Sennheiser reviews scheduled each year, so we will continue to update you on any new headphones that we test.
Updates
- 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
- 01/18/2019 Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless reviewed
Compared to other brands
- Great open-back models. Sennheiser is one of the few companies to offer such a wide variety of open headphones at all price ranges.
- Above-average sound quality. 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 headphone series, 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 some other brands, 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 versatility and all-purpose 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.
Best Sennheiser Headphones
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Best Sennheiser Headphones for Audio Quality
Usage Ratings - Version 1.26.2Mixed Usage8.5Critical Listening4.8Commute/Travel5.5Sports/Fitness5.4Office6.2TV6.1GamingThe best Sennheiser headphones for audio quality are the Sennheiser HD 800 S. They are Sennheiser's flagship headphones for high-end audio. They're a good choice if you want headphones that have excellent sound quality and can reproduce the ambiance of listening to speakers in a room rather than headphones on your head. They're made with premium materials, are sturdy, and have a comfortable fit that you can wear for hours. However, they're quite expensive and are only meant for critical listening, so they won't be your everyday headphones.
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Best Sennheiser Headphones for Mixed Usage
Usage Ratings - Version 1.27.1Mixed Usage7.5Critical Listening7.3Commute/Travel7.2Sports/Fitness7.4Office5.9TV5.8GamingThe best wireless Sennheiser headphones for mixed usage that we’ve tested so far are the Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless. They’re one of Sennheiser’s most versatile headsets, with a stylish, comfortable, and noise cancelling design. They also have a customizable sound profile and a great battery life. If you need a well-rounded headset that you're going to use every day, then the PXC 550 are one of the best options that Sennheiser has to offer. If you find them a bit too expensive, consider the Sennheiser HD 4.50. They’re less comfortable and don’t feel as well-built, but have better isolation performance and are also customizable.
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Best Sennheiser Headphones for Home Theater
Usage Ratings - Version 1.26.1Mixed Usage7.7Critical Listening5.1Commute/Travel5.0Sports/Fitness6.0Office6.9TV5.9GamingThe best Sennheiser headphones for home theater that we’ve reviewed so far are the Sennheiser RS 185. 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 experiencing 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. The RS 185 have a good sound quality for TV and movies, but their open-back design leaks a lot of sound and hardly isolates any noise. Consider the closed-back RS 165 if you’re looking for something with better isolation.
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Best Sennheiser Headphones for Gaming
Usage Ratings - Version 1.26.3Mixed Usage7.9Critical Listening5.2Commute/Travel5.8Sports/Fitness5.7Office6.0TV7.4GamingThe best Sennheiser headphones for gaming that we’ve tested so far are the Sennheiser Game One. They’re very comfortable and are more breathable than most gaming headsets we’ve tested, which makes them great for long gaming sessions. Their low-latency wired connection and excellent boom microphone make them suitable for online multiplayer games. They sound great, and their open design gives them a more spacious soundstage than many of the other gaming headphones we've reviewed. However, their design is not versatile enough for outdoor use. They also leak a lot and don't block a lot of noise, so they should be fine if you game alone in a quiet room, but they won't be ideal to take to a gaming competition or convention.
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 and home theater entertainment than sports or travel.
Discover our recommendations for the best audiophile headphones and the best wireless TV headphones.
