- 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
- 12/09/2020 Sennheiser HD 6XX reviewed
- 11/25/2020 Sennheiser CX 400BT True Wireless reviewed
- 11/13/2020 Sennheiser HD 560S reviewed
- 10/02/2020 Sennheiser SC 160 USB-C Headset reviewed
- 08/18/2020 Sennheiser HD 450BT Wireless reviewed
Best Sennheiser Headphones
-
Best Sennheiser Headphones For Audiophiles
Type Over-earEnclosure Open-BackWireless NoNoise Cancelling NoMic NoTransducer DynamicThe best Sennheiser headphones for audiophiles that we've tested are the Sennheiser HD 800 S. These open-back over-ears are amazingly well-built, courtesy of their high-grade plastic and metal construction. They're very comfortable to wear, with spacious ear cups lined with a suede-like material that don't clamp your head too tightly. They have a very well-balanced sound profile that should suit a wide mix of musical genres, with reasonably full bass, exceptionally full-bodied, present, and clear vocals and lead instruments, and well-articulated and detailed sibilants. They also have an incredibly open, spacious, and natural soundstage, yielding an immersive, speaker-like listening experience.
Unfortunately, their large ear cups can be uncomfortable for users with smaller heads. Also, like most open-back headphones, they barely block out any ambient noise and leak a lot of audio. If you're looking to spend less on a pair of open-backs with a well-balanced sound profile, you could also consider the Sennheiser HD 560S or the Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee, though neither provides as open a soundstage.
-
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 Bluetooth-enabled over-ears look and feel quite premium, with a solid metal frame and leather-lined padding. Out-of-the-box, they have a bass-heavy sound profile, though this shouldn't totally overwhelm vocals or lead instruments. Still, if that isn't to your liking, their companion app features a parametric EQ as well as a couple of presets to let you adjust their audio reproduction to your liking. Their ANC system also helps them block out an impressive amount of ambient noise, ranging from the low-pitched rumble of bus and plane engines to the high-pitched hum of an AC unit. Their mic also makes your voice sound clear, somewhat full-bodied, and mostly free of background noise in moderately loud environments.
Unfortunately, they leak a lot of audio, which could annoy people nearby if you like to listen to music at a high volume in a quiet setting. They're also somewhat bulky, though they can be folded up into a more compact format to make it easier to store in their included soft pouch or another bag. If portability is a concern, you may also want to take a look at the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2, though they have a somewhat ineffective ANC system and a short continuous battery life. If you aren't a fan of the bass-heavy default sound profile, the Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless are a good alternative, though they aren't quite as well-built.
-
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 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 really feel the deep 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 movies 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.
-
Best Sennheiser Headphones For Gaming
Type Over-earEnclosure Open-BackWireless NoNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best Sennheiser headphones for gaming that we’ve tested are the Sennheiser Game One Gaming Headset. These well-built wired gaming headphones have an open-back enclosure, which should yield a more natural, speaker-like listening experience while gaming. They also have a reasonably well-balanced sound profile. Some fans of action heavy-games may prefer a little more low-end thump and rumble, though this underemphasized low-bass response is normal for open-back headphones. Their boom microphone delivers excellent performance overall, as it makes your voice sound full-bodied, clear, and detailed. It also does an amazing job of isolating speech from background noise, so teammates can hear you clearly even in noisy environments.
Unfortunately, they don't have any customization features via companion software, so you can't adjust their default sound profile or make any adjustments to their mic. Their open-back enclosure also leaks a lot of audio and does almost nothing to block out background noise. Otherwise, they're a good option if you're looking for a pair of simple sturdy gaming headphones.
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 seems more focused on quality audio reproduction than more versatile or casual designs. A lot of their higher-quality models are 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.
Recent Updates
-
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.
Take a look at our recommendations for the best audiophile headphones and the best wireless TV headphones.
