The Sennheiser HD 600 are open-back, over-ear headphones for audiophiles or those who need an analytical listening tool. Originally released in 1997, they underwent a minor cosmetic facelift in 2019. Online reports indicate that there have been no changes to their tried-and-tested sound profile, which promises to deliver high-fidelity sound via their dynamic drivers. Their high impedance and sensitivity mean you'll need a dedicated amp or sound card to get the best out of them, as they won't get loud enough when connected to mobile devices.
Our Verdict
The Sennheiser HD 600 aren't designed for sports or fitness use. Although they're well-built and have a decently stable fit, they're also big, bulky, and cumbersome. They also lack dedicated controls, and their wired design means you can easily get the cable snagged while in motion.
- Stable and comfortable design.
- Weak headband build quality.
The Sennheiser HD 600 aren't designed for commuting. The open-back ear cups don't isolate you from any ambient noise and leak a lot of audio to the point where they might disturb other commuters. Also, they aren't very portable and don't have a control scheme for mobile devices.
- Stable and comfortable design.
- Open-back design, so they leak a lot.
- Poor noise isolation, by design.
The Sennheiser HD 600 aren't made for office use, despite being decently comfortable. Their open-back design leaks a lot of audio that will bother others around you and provides very little attenuation against ambient noise. So, if you're trying to focus on tasks, you'll be easily distracted by office chit-chat around you.
- Stable and comfortable design.
- Open-back design, so they leak a lot.
- Poor noise isolation, by design.
The Sennheiser HD 600 are wired headphones and aren't suitable for wireless gaming.
The Sennheiser HD 600 are acceptable for gaming. They're decently comfortable, have a flat sound profile, and have a low-latency wired connection. However, they don't have a microphone for voice chat when gaming, so you'll need to purchase a standalone mic. Their underemphasized bass response will also mean that dynamic sound effects, like explosions, will lack some rumble and oomph.
- Detailed audio reproduction.
- Stable and comfortable design.
- Open-back design, so they leak a lot.
- Weak headband build quality.
The Sennheiser HD 600 are very good for audio reproduction and accuracy. Their flat sound profile is well-aligned with our target curve, with the exception of the bass range, which is rolled off due to their open design. Their frequency response doesn't deviate too much from their sound profile, though, with only small peaks and dips in the treble range. Their L/R drivers are well-matched in terms of frequency, amplitude, and phase, too. The drivers also produce low levels of harmonic distortion, so you don't need to worry about audible coloration.
The Sennheiser HD 600 have a terrible noise isolation performance, though this is by design, due to their open-back design. They provide almost no isolation against bass and mid-range sounds, like honking cars on the street, and only partially attenuate treble range sounds, like office chit-chat. They also leak a lot of audio and aren't suitable for listening in quiet environments.
The Sennheiser HD 600 don't have a built-in microphone.
The Sennheiser HD 600 have excellent frequency response consistency. Most people will experience audio delivery that matches our frequency response measurements, regardless of physical characteristics like head size and hair thickness.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Mar 26, 2026:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
- Updated Mar 24, 2026: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1, which features minor updates to our sound tests.
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Updated Sep 23, 2025:
After noticing an error in some target deviation calculations, we updated this review's Bass, Mid-Range, and Treble Target Compliance scores, as well as its Peaks and Dips score. As a result, some Usages and side-by-side text may also have changed.
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Updated Jul 29, 2025:
We've updated the Sound Profile box with a link to a downloadable folder of EQ settings that will help you match these headphones' frequency response to different target curves available in our Graph Tool. We've also added a mention of the Drop + Grell OAE1 in the Style box.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sennheiser HD 600 come in one variant: 'Black.' Our unit features a marbled pattern on the headband and ear cups, which has since been discontinued and replaced with a monochrome black finish.
If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sennheiser HD 600 are over-ear, open-back headphones for dedicated listening setups. They have a flat sound that represents instruments and vocals accurately. However, those who like to hear some oomph in the low-end will find they're lacking in bass. They're also quite comfortable, but a little tight if you have a larger head. If you're looking for open-back headphones with more bass and a more immersive sound, check out the Audio-Technica ATH-R70x. The Sennheiser's build quality also feels somewhat cheap for their price range, especially compared to other premium open-back headphones like the Audeze MM-100. However, they're a great choice if you love to listen to more instruments and vocal-heavy genres.
See also our recommendations for the best headphones for recording, the best headphones for music, and the best over-ear headphones.
There's not much to split the Sennheiser HD 650 and the Sennheiser HD 600. They feature very similar sound profiles that lack low-bass delivery with a somewhat recessed treble range. Both feature accurate, detailed mid-range reproduction though. The biggest difference between the two models is that the HD 650 are a bit more comfortable, so you can wear them for longer than the HD 600. Given the similarities in sound profile, budget-conscious audiophiles might want to opt for the more wallet-friendly HD 600.
The Sennheiser HD 598 are slightly better headphones than the Sennheiser HD 600, mostly due to comfort. The HD 598 have a better over-ear fit that does not clamp your head and feels very comfortable. They also have a slightly more elevated high-bass which some may like since it adds a bit more punchiness than the HD 600, and they come with an additional cable in the box. On the other hand, the HD 600 deliver audio more consistently and won't sound as boomy on some tracks as the HD 598. The HD 600 also have a slightly better build quality which can be advantageous if you plan on using them frequently.
Both the Sennheiser HD 600 and the Sennheiser HD 660S2 are audiophile open-back headphones designed for analytical listening. The HD 600 deliver audio more consistently. While they're both tuned similarly, the HD 600 have a brighter treble, which can be helpful in exposing high-frequency audio artifacts in pro audio work. Meanwhile, the HD 660S2 have a touch more bass, which conveys the punch and boom in kicks and basslines better and a warmer top-end.
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO are better critical listening headphones than the Sennheiser HD 600. The Beyerdynamic offer a better value thanks to their excellent build quality and balanced sound profile. They feel a lot more durable than the Sennheiser and have better bass extension. While the two have similarly detailed mid-range responses, the Sennhesier don't sound as sharp as the Beyerdynamic on bright tracks. They also come with detachable cables.
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Test Results
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