Founded in 1945 by Fritz Sennheiser, Sennheiser has spent the last 75 years making countless high quality audio products that put the customer at the center of everything they do. With a number of massive hits in the headphone world, Sennheiser is a must have for any audiophile headphone collection.
Fritz’s legacy lives on in the brand he founded, as the company has been family owned for three generations. While they started out mainly focused on building microphones, Sennheiser slowly became much more. In 1968 Sennheiser introduced the world’s first open-back headphone, the HD414, and has continued to build their technology ever since. In this guide, we’ll take a look at their current lineup while presenting each headphone’s unique design and capabilities.
Wireless
Accentum - $149.95andAccentum Plus - $199.95
Accentum is Sennheiser’s entry level audiophile wireless headphone. It features good overall sound quality with a bass-boosted neutral tuning style. While it features ANC and solid wireless connectivity, the feature set is fairly basic.
The Accentum Plus splits the difference between Accentum and their wireless flagship Momentum 4. The core sound remains the same as Accentum, but the ANC performance is improved while adding support for aptX Adaptive which offers more consistent quality and lower latency than the original Accentum’s aptX HD. Accentum Plus also uses touch controls on the sides of the ear cups instead of fixed buttons which provide a wide range of touch features on demand.
Momentum 4 TWS - $269.95
Momentum 4 TWS is one of the most advanced wireless earphones on the market with features like Bluetooth 5.4 andbroadened ANC enhancements. The sound remains true to the brand’s reference sound, but you can use the app to tweak them to your liking. Possibly more than any of the other headphones in the Accentum and Momentum lineups, Momentum 4 TWS excels in both offering excellent detail and technical performance in the sound,while providingsuperior technology, connectivity, and call quality.
Momentum 4 Headphones - $299.95
Sennheiser Momentum 4 over-ear headphones offer strong ANC, 60 hours of battery, and top-notch call quality, combined with Sennheiser’s legendary sound. If you’re an audiophile who’s looking for wireless convenience and features without compromising on sound quality, or if you’re someone who values the convenience of headphones like Bose Quiet Comfort or Sony WH1000MX5 but still longing for a bit more audioquality, Sennheiser Momentum 4 delivers the best of both worlds.
Momentum Sport $329.95
Momentum Sportincludes a 10mm transducer that provides impactful bass and powerful sound, giving the listener an experience that helps them go the extra mile. This wireless earbud is designed for athletes looking for a premiumlistening experience while tracking their fitness goals. With this in mind, Momentum Sport not only delivers quality sound but also tracks your heart rate and body temperature, all with tech powered by Polar.Additionally,Momentum Sport is highly durable and resistant to water/sweat with a unique acoustic design that shuts out moisture without compromising sound quality.
Product Name | Price | Design | Bluetooth |
|---|---|---|---|
Accentum Plus | $199.95 | Wireless Headphone | Bluetooth 5.2: SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, mSBC, CVSD |
Momentum 4 TWS | $269.95 | Wireless Earphone | Bluetooth 5.4: SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive/Lossless, LC3 |
Momentum 4 Headphones | $299.95 | Wireless Headphone | Bluetooth 5.2: SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, mSBC, CVSD |
Momentum Sport | $329.95 | Wireless Earphones | Delivers a quality sound but also tracks your heart rate and body temperature |
Headphones
HD 500 Series
Headphones like the HD 560S ($179.95) and HD 569 ($149.95) offer high quality sound with a studio pedigree. The HD 560S focuses on a natural, transparent, reference sound. Expect tight, accurate bass, with a neutral, detailed overall signature. The treble provides strong definition and amazing resolution for the price point, along with good air and extension. If you’re looking for a headphone that hits as close to neutral as possible, HD 560S isn’t just “good” for the $200 price range. It’s an excellent example of a neutral, reference tuning that bests more expensive headphones in terms of pure accuracy.
HD 569 is a closed-back that provides a similar reference tuning at its core, making it a popular pick for musicians for monitoring due to its tight, detailed performance and low price. However, its harder-hitting bass makes it more appropriate for enjoying music at home rather than mixing or engineering at the studio board.
HD 600 - $349.95andHD 650 - $399.95
HD 600 is an open-back headphone that bridges the gap between professional and consumer headphones with a detailed, reference sound that stands the test of time. Originally released in 1997, it has inspired numerous other headphones, and has served as the starting point for Sennheiser in their creation of future headphones.
HD 650 was the next generation in terms of sound and design in Sennheiser’s HD 600 series. HD 650 takes the same basic reference tuning as the HD 600 and makes some subtle improvements to the bass, while enhancing the technical capabilities of the drivers to deliver a faster response and a more expansive sound. Sennheiser also made some tweaks to the chassis to create a headphone that’s a step up in both sound and comfort.
HD 620S - $349.95
HD 620S has that classic Sennheiser look, but doesn’t really stand out from the pack in terms of design. Yet this closed-back headphone has plenty to offerin sound and experience. There is definitely priority when it comes to bass response, demonstrating great extension along with powerful impact. Notwithstanding,HD 620Smanages tokeeps the mids well-separated from thelows which speaks to its overall balance. The upper mid-range has a fantastic presence, and the vocals are not too forward or shallow. To round it off, the treble offers good resolution with a decent extension, making this headphone a great all-around purchase!
HD 660 S2 - $499.95
HD 660S2 continues Sennheiser’s process of dialing in the perfect reference sound. In terms of build and design, the 660S2 isn’t incredibly unique and resembles the 660S very closely. You can expect a detailed listen with this particular headphone. There is great clarity, natural timbre, and solid treble extension. However, what sets it apart from the rest of the 600 series is the bass extension. There is excellent depth and accuracy with a good amount of texturedelivering more feeling. Overall, this headphone stands out as one of the best in the 600 series and is a great addition if you're looking for a new Sennheiser headphone.
HD 800S - $1,399.95
The HD 800S has a unique look and is one of the most recognizable Sennheiser headphones out there. The comfort is top notch with a lightweight feel and design which give it an all-day use accessibility. This headphone has a reputation for having a great soundstage, wide and three-dimensional providing an incredible audio canvas foryour music. The HD 800S maintains a detailed presentation, but can leave the listener wanting a little more on bass impact. The combination of its impressive soundstage, incredible clarity, and natural sound has provenHD 800S to be a winner.
HD 820 - $1,799.95
While the HD 800S has legendary performance and sound, it’s also one of the most open open-back headphones, and is fully capable of letting everyone know what you’re listening to. If you want HD 800S’s incisive sound and legendary imaging without serenading your office mates or fellow passengers on the train with your personal soundtrack, check out Sennheiser'spopularHD 820. HD 820 doesn’t reach the same heights as HD 800S, but it does provide an exceptionally wide soundstage in a closed-back, while also delivering excellent detail and insight into the music.
Product | Price | Design | The Bottom Line |
|---|---|---|---|
HD 569 | $149.95 | Closed Back Headphones | Tight and detailed performance and low price means it’s a popular pick for musicians |
HD 600 | $349.95 | Open Back Headphones | Bridges the gap between professional and consumer headphones with a detailed, reference sound that stands the test of time |
HD 620S | $349.95 | Closed Back Headphones | Mids are well separated from the bass with a well presence, and good resolution in the treble. |
HD 650 | $399.95 | Open Back Headphone | Subtle improvements to the bass, while enhancing the technical capabilities of the drivers to deliver a faster response and a more expansive sound |
HD 660 S2 | $599.95 | Open Back Headphone | Excellent depth and accuracy, with a good amount of texture and clarity. |
HD 800S | $1,799.95 | Open Back Headphone | Great soundstage, its wide and three-dimensional, providing an incredible canvas for the music to play on |
HD 820 | $1,999.95 | Closed Back Headphones | Provides an exceptionally wide soundstage in a closed-back, while also delivering excellent detail and insight into the music |
IEMs
IE 200 - $149.95
IE 200 is the little brother of the IE 600 and 900, so while you might hear similarities between the three, IE 200 still differentiates in certain aspects. The tuning of the IE 200 has a relaxed sound and is more mild in the vocals. It’s not too forward and has a delicate and sparkly treble. The overall tonality is great, and for its price point, it really stands out from the crowd. However, in comparison to the rest of the series, the IE 200 lacks texture in the bass and the soundstage sounds a little shallow. In other words the IE 200 has great things to bring to the table at this price point, but is lacking when compared to the rest of the IE series.
IE 300 - $299.95
While most of Sennheiser’s lineup is focused on reference tunings, IE 300 delivers a fun, V-shaped tuning, with strong impact and rumble in the bass, coupled with a snappy, engaging treble. Though Sennheiser’s core sensibilities remain in IE 300’s construction of its soundstage and stereo image,it leans pretty far into the fun and away from a reference sound.
IE 600 - $549.95
With the IE 600 you get a well-crafted midrange that's more reminiscent of Sennheiser’s over-ear headphones, along with a slightly more subdued trebleover IE 300. The bass is still big and punchy, but with less bleed into the midrange than IE 300. Inmany ways, it’s a refinement of IE 300's sound and concept into a technically stronger IEM.
IE 900 - $1,199.95
While you might expect IE 900 to refine things even further as a flagship IEM, it takes a different route and goes back to IE 300’s core tuning, but delivers that fun, v-shaped sound with more precision and technical prowess. The IE 900 provides clear, detailed mids in addition to a strong bass emphasis. The treble is strong as well, but tighter in its construction than IE 300. Overall, IE 900 is a nearly perfect example of a single dynamic driver flagship IEM sound.
Product Name | Price | Design | The Bottom Line |
|---|---|---|---|
IE 200 | $179 | Dynamic Driver IEM | Relaxed sound and is more mild in the vocals. It’s not too forward and has a delicate and sparkly treble. The overall tonality is great and for its price point |
IE 300 | $229 | Dynamic Driver IEM | Strong impact and rumble in the bass, coupled with a snappy, engaging treble yet Sennhiesers core sensibilities still remain in overall construction of this IEM. |
IE 600 | $379.95 | Dynamic Driver IEM | Bass is still big and punchy, but with less bleed into the midrange. In other words it’s a refinement of the IE300 and a technically stronger IEM. |
IE 900 | $329.95 | Dynamic Driver IEM | Has a fun v-shaped sound with more precision and technical prowess giving the listener clear and detailed mids and strong bass emphasis |
What's the Best Sennheiser Headphone for Me?
Sennheiser's wide variety of great quality products can make it tough to pick the perfect set! When it comes to headphones, Sennheiser sticks to their neutral reference tuning with a focus on accuracy and transparency with bumped versions at each price point. However, when it comes to in-ear models, there's a little more fun to be had. Sennheiser’s IEMs have more of a consumer friendly tuning with great impact in the low end such as IE 300with its emphasized V-shape, IE 600's elevated mid range and less-emphasized treble, and IE 900's detail andsuperior technical performance. Not only areSennheiser's IEMs consumer friendly, buttheir wireless selection provides every day accessibility without compromisingSennheiser's legendary, premiumsound!
