The best Sennheiser headphones offer audiophile-grade sound quality, a super comfortable design, and plenty of advanced features to customize your listening experience. They’re built from premium internal components to give you crisp highs, reliable mids, and deep lows. As such, these are the best headphones for the audiophile community and music industry professionals.
If you’re looking for headphones that give you a more natural sound signature for critical listening, studio work, or immersive home listening, you can’t go wrong with Sennheiser headphones. The company’s wired options are perfect for home listening, and its wireless options offer long hours of battery life for long listening sessions. Plus, with a wide variety of different options in the company’s headphone lineup, Sennheiser allows you to find the right fit for your exact needs without a problem.
Keep reading to learn more about the best Sennheiser headphones, their key features, and how to choose the best option for you.
Top Sennheiser Headphones
#1 Sennheiser 450BT Headphones
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: With BLE tech, this device provides fast, lossless connectivity, supporting AAC and AptX low-latency codecs. It has built- in sound isolation and boasts excellent music playback time.
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]- Outstanding ergonomics
- Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity
- On-ear controls
- Lacks 3.5mm interface
Equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 tech, the Sennheiser 450BT headphones support AAC and AptX low latency codec. It connects to a wide variety of devices, including computers and mobile gadgets without the need for an adapter. With a built-in rechargeable battery, the headset provides up to 30 hours of music listening time before requiring recharging, and it comes with a USB charging cable. This headset is foldale for simple storage. However, this model doesn’t have a 3.5mm wired interface.
Active noise cancellation reduces interruptions from background chatter and traffic noise. A carry case simplifies transporting this headset. Crafted from high-quality parts, this headset is suitable for daily use and frequent travel. It works with the Sennheiser Smart Control app, allowing users to change sound modes via a mobile device. This device has large ear cups with thick, soft padding, and a heavily padded adjustable headbeam provides an ergonomic fit. On-ear controls enable changing various settings conveniently.
#2 Sennheiser HD 599 Headphones
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: With detachable 6.3mm and 3.5mm cables, this headset connects to professional music equipment and regular computers and smartphones. It has an acoustic open-back design that delivers spatial audio, and it’s lightweight for comfort.
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]- Excellent ivory design
- Open-back design
- Detachable 6.3mm and 3.5mm cables
- Open-back design doesn’t support audio immersion
With an open-back design, the Sennheiser HD 599 headphones deliver impressive sounds that will appeal to music enthusiasts. The headset is made of high-quality materials that hold up well in the face of regular use. With a gorgeous ivory color scheme, this headset will stand out. It comes with an outstanding 9.9-foot cord with a 6.3mm plug, connecting seamlessly to music instruments and studio equipment. However, the open-back design is not suitable for auditory immersion.
An additional 3.9-foot cable with a 3.5mm plug connects to computers and mobile devices. Both cables on this device are detachable for hassle-free replacement, and the connectors are gold-plated for durability. This headset has high-quality transducers with aluminum coils, delivering high-quality low-distortion sound. It boasts lightweight materials, so it’s comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. A wide frequency response range of 12 to 38,500 Hz, delivers excellent mids and outstanding bass.
#3 Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones
Award: BEST FOR STUDIO MONITORING APPLICATIONS
WHY WE LIKE IT: With accurate, linear sound reproduction, these headphones are ideal for studio monitoring applications. They have replaceable ear pads, cords, and headband padding, and they have an outstanding circumaural design, providing auditory immersion.
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]- Outstanding lightweight construction
- Replaceable ear pads, and headband padding
- Detachable 9.8-foot and 3.3-foot cords
- Slightly muted high tones
Users seeking auditory immersion will be pleased with the design of the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones. This has oversized earcups with a circumaural design, delivering a hypnotic listening experience. A jointed, adjustable headset with thick cushioning contours around the user’s head for comfort. This headset has lightweight construction, weighing in at just 285g. It comes with two cords, including a 9.8-foot coiled cable suitable for studios, workstations, and home theaters. However, with a frequency response of 8 to 25,000Hz, this headset’s high-tones are a bit muted.
The device is bass-heavy, appealing to music enthusiasts and gamers. It has a modular design, featuring replaceable ear pads, headband padding, and audio cords. This headset has a premium black color scheme that blends in with studio equipment and office gadgets seamlessly. It has comfortable synthetic leather ear pads that are pleasant to wear in both warm and cool weather. Powerful drivers deliver accurate, linear sound, making these headphones a good choice for studio monitoring applications.
#4 Sennheiser HD 650 Headphones
Award: BEST FOR RECORDING
WHY WE LIKE IT: An outstanding open-back design delivers exceptional natural, spatial audio. This device has a minimal THD and delivers high-resolution audio, making it a good choice for studio recording and connecting to various hi-fi devices.
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]- Excellent frequency response range
- Low-distortion open-back design
- Ultra-long 9.8-foot cord
- Doesn’t block out ambient sounds
Featuring open-back ear cups, the Sennheiser HD 650 headphones will appeal to users who want low-distortion audio. This unit boasts acoustic silk for reducing the total harmonic distortion, delivering excellent spatial sounds. A frequency response range of 10 to 39,500 Hz optimizes the treble, mids, and bass, providing blanched audio at all sound levels. This headset features high-quality drivers with neodymium magnets that provide durability. However, the open-back design is not as immersive as closed models.
With a 3.5mm plug, this headset connects to a wide variety of gadgets, including PCs and mobile devices. It has lightweight aluminum voice coils that provide fast transient response. A long 9.9-foot cord supports connecting to far-away devices. This headset has a pleasant design, featuring a sophisticated titanium-silver finish. It is the device of choice for HD recording, and it can connect easily to stationary hi-fi components such as SACD, DVD-A, and CD players
#5 Sennheiser HD 660 S Headphones
Award: BEST SELECTION OF CONNECTORS
WHY WE LIKE IT: With 6.35mm and 4.4mm Pentaconn connectors as well as a 3.5mm adapter, this device plugs into a wide variety of professional and domestic devices. It has a low-resolution open-back design suitable for music playback and recording.
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]- Handy detachable cables
- 6.3mm, 4.4mm, and 3.5mm connectors
- Low-distortion open-back design
These Sennheiser HD 660 S headphones have high-quality transducers, delivering high-fidelity audio. With an open-back design, this headset reduces distortion, producing powerful high-res sounds. It is suitable for connecting to regular domestic devices, and it boasts para-aramid reinforced copper cables for excellent signal transmission. This device comes with a 6.35mm and 4.4mm Pentacoonn for delivering in-depth sounds from studio equipment and musical instruments. However, this unit has average soundstage performance.
An included 3.5mm adaptor provides compatibility with computers and mobile devices. This headset has large over ear cups designed for comfort. The earbuds are plush and have optimized airflow, preventing heat build-up during extended recording sessions. This unit has thick headband padding, and the headbeam is adjustable for comfort. Weighing just 260g, this headset is comfortable to wear during extended recording sessions. An excellent frequency response range of 10 to 41,000 Hz offers excellent mids, highs, and bass.
#6 Sennheiser Momentum 3 Headphones
Award: BEST CORDLESS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This cordless device has automatic pairing, simplifying connection to various devices. An intelligent pausing function stops playback when the headset is removed from the ears. This unit works with a mobile application for simple control.
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]- Intelligent automatic pausing function
- Works with the SennheiserSmart Control app
- Voice control
- Not ideal for recording
Audiophiles seeking a high-quality wireless headset should check out the Sennheiser Momentum 3 headphones. This device has a sleek design with a black and gray color scheme that will lend an aura of sophistication to any desk. With on-ear controls and an LED light, this device is easy to operate. It has a lightweight headband, and heavily cushioned ear cups for comfort. However, because it lacks physical connectors, this device is not ideal for recording or studio monitoring.
This headset has an auto on/off smart pause function that automatically pauses playback when the user removes the headset from the ears. This headset has a closed-back design with active noise cancellation, allowing users to concentrate on the music and block out background sounds. It works with the Sennheiser Smart Control app for changing various settings. This unit works with voice assistants such as Alexa for hassle-free voice control. It has automatic pairing, offerring simple, reliable connectivity.
Introduction to Sennheiser Headphones
After the end of World War II, a man named Fritz Sennheiser and seven other engineers employed at the University of Hannover in Germany started a company called Laboratorium Wennebostel, or Lab W for short.
Lab W’s first product was a voltmeter, but it quickly expanded its business into producing microphones, as well. By 1955, the company had started to make a wide range of audio equipment, including a noise-compensated microphone, miniature magnetic headphones, and microphone transformers. In 1958, the company changed its name to Sennheiser Electronic, thus paving the way for the brand to become a top audio company.
By the 1980s, Sennheiser had begun selling its products in the United States while continuing to see success in its original European market. The company had also partnered with Germany’s commercial airline company, Lufthansa, selling them headsets for their pilots. This success continued with microphones in Hollywood, when the famed MKH 816 shotgun microphone won an Academy Award in 1987.
As the 21st century began, Sennheiser Electronic began acquiring other audio companies and expanding aggressively in commercial and consumer markets. The company started producing audiophile headphones for studios and audio enthusiasts. It also continued to sell microphones and other audio equipment for professional applications.
Today, Sennheiser still sells products for both consumer and commercial applications. In the consumer world, they focus mainly on headphones. With options like over-ear headphones, audiophile headphones, wireless headphones, and both open-back and closed-back headphones, customers have a wide variety of models from which to choose.
How Sennheiser Headphones Compare to Other Brands
(Pro 1) Accurate Sound Quality and Audio Fidelity: Historically, Sennheiser built itself on the principle of producing headphones with high-fidelity audio quality, more natural sound, and wider frequency response, including crispy highs and deep lows. These things mean that these headphones are excellent for use inside a studio. They are often the preferred professional headphones in audio production.
If you’re looking for a good pair of audiophile headphones, you can’t go wrong with a pair of headphones from Sennheiser. Whether you want to enjoy a long, immersive listening session in your home or you’re buying new headphones for your audio production company, these are some of the finest earphones your money can buy.
(Con 1) Premium Pricing More Expensive Than Most: In general, the term audiophile headphones is synonymous with expensive, which remains true for Sennheiser earphones. To get excellent sound quality, headphone companies need to use premium internal components (like a dynamic driver) for both their over-ear headphones and in-ear earbuds. While Sennheiser offers a wide range of different products with prices on either end of the scale, their best options are found on the higher end of the price range.
(Pro 2) Excellent Open-Back Headphone Models: While all of Sennheiser’s headphones are excellent when it comes to sound quality and comfort, their absolute best models feature an open-back design, also known as open headphones. The headphones’ open-back design creates a more natural and wider sound quality, good for critical listening and studio sessions.
Models with an open-back design are typically over-ear headphones with extra padding and a direct connection to your audio source using an audio cable. If you’re looking for audiophile headphones with a more natural audio quality, a pair of Sennheisers is an excellent choice.
(Con 2) Only Adequate Noise Isolation and Noise Cancellation: Headphones typically need a closed-back design to get the best noise cancelation. Sennheiser does produce closed headphones with options like active noise cancelation, but they aren’t nearly as good as their open-back models.
If you’re looking for the finest noise-canceling headphones to cancel out external noise, you’re better off looking at options like the high-end Sony headphones. This company offers tons of closed-back headphones fully capable of eliminating background noise without sacrificing clearer sound reproduction.
(Pro 3) Tons of Different Models to Fit Your Needs: Sennheiser offers a truly expansive headphone lineup with a ton of different options. This means you’ll easily be able to find a pair of comfortable headphones to fit your specific needs, no matter what they are.
Let’s take a look at the different lines Sennheiser offers:
- CX: These are truly wireless earbuds that rest in your ear canal. These headphones offer a comfortable listening experience on the go. If you’re looking for a casual pair of headphones you can use while traveling or commuting, the CX line is a good choice.
- CXC: These wired, great earbuds offer a portable listening experience and noise-canceling features to help you block out background noise while you use them. These are the best headphones with a mic to use while commuting.
- HD: These are either open or closed headphones with excellent sound quality for a better audio experience. Their all-around good performance makes them ideal studio headphones and ear monitors for critical listening.
- Momentum: These are incredibly versatile headphones that can come in the form of either wireless earbuds or over-ear headphones. These are some of Sennheiser’s top-selling options for the casual audiophile since they are incredibly user-friendly. One of the most popular options is the Sennheiser Momentum 3 wireless headphones.
- MM: These are travel headphones with a foldable design and an excellent ability to cancel out environmental sounds. These quality headphones are perfect for plane and train rides, thanks to Transparent Hearing, which allows you to enjoy your music while still being able to communicate with anyone around you without removing the headphones.
- PXC: These are also travel headphones, but they are larger than the MM lineup and include a fuller over-ear design. Sennheiser PXC headphones can cancel out ambient sound as the MM series does while still allowing you to talk with those around you.
- RS: These wireless headphones are used with home theater and home audio systems. They offer plenty of hours of battery life on a single charge and a comfortable design with thicker headband padding.
(Con 3) Overlap Between Individual Products Can Be Confusing: With so many amazing headphones across all product lineups, there is inevitably some overlap between individual models. This can lead to some confusion, especially if you’re purchasing your first pair of Sennheiser cans. There are also some key differences to understand between individual models, which can cause further frustration.
Why You Should Buy Sennheiser Headphones
With superb sound quality, ergonomic design features, a wide frequency range, and reliable noise reduction technology, a pair of headphones from Sennheiser is an excellent choice for both casual and professional listeners. Plus, with their comprehensive lineup, you can find professional and consumer headphones to fit all kinds of needs.
You might have to pay a pretty penny to get a good pair of Sennheiser cans, but the added cost is well worth it, especially when you consider how much more audio quality you get compared to other premium brands like the greatest Bose headphones. While you get some noise-canceling features with Sennheiser earphones to eliminate external noise, it’s not as good as it could be, so you might want to look elsewhere for the leading noise-canceling headphones for sleep.
How Long Will Sennheiser Headphones Last?
Most experts agree that headphones should last you anywhere between five and ten years before they need to be replaced. However, since Sennheisers are high-end headphones, you should expect them to last for longer periods. Many people experience upwards of 15 years of use with the premium options in Sennheiser’s lineup.
Sennheiser Headphones Warranty
All Sennheiser headphones include a two-year limited warranty in the purchase. Like warranties on other electronics products, you can expect Sennheiser to cover the cost of repair or replacement if your headphones fail due to a mechanical reason caused by a manufacturer defect.
To stay eligible for a warranty repair or replacement, you’ll need to purchase your headphones from an authorized Sennheiser retailer and keep the receipt or bill of sale from the transaction. You can view a list of authorized dealers here.
Be aware that some issues and components are expressly not covered in Sennheiser’s warranty. These include:
- Batteries
- Replacement ear pads
- Earbud covers
- Leather earpads
- Memory foam ear pads
- Detachable cable clips
- Cases
