Sennheiser has been making headphones for decades, and its current lineup covers almost every type of listener.
You can find affordable wired headphones for everyday listening, open-back audiophile models for enjoying music at home, closed-back headphones for greater privacy, and wireless noise-cancelling models for commuting and travel.
That variety can also make choosing a pair confusing.
The best Sennheiser headphones for an audiophile probably aren’t the best choice for someone sitting on an airplane. Likewise, expensive open-back headphones can sound fantastic at home but are usually terrible for commuting because they don’t isolate you from outside noise.
For serious home listening, the Sennheiser HD 600 remains my favorite overall choice. If you want wireless headphones for everyday use, the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is a better fit. And if you want the spacious character associated with Sennheiser’s audiophile headphones but need a closed-back design, the HD 620S is especially interesting.
What is the Best Sennheiser Headphones?
Here are some of the best Sennheiser headphones to consider.
1. Sennheiser HD 600 – Best Sennheiser Headphones Overall
The HD 600 has become one of Sennheiser’s most recognizable audiophile headphones. It isn’t wireless. There is no active noise cancellation. You don’t get touch controls or an app full of features.
Instead, the HD 600 focuses almost entirely on sound. It’s an open-back dynamic headphone designed for critical listening. Its sound is generally balanced and natural, making it particularly attractive for vocals, acoustic instruments, jazz, classical music, and recordings where you want to hear the music without huge amounts of added bass.
The open-back design also creates a more natural sense of space than many conventional closed headphones.
But there’s an important disadvantage. Open headphones leak sound and provide very little isolation. Don’t buy the HD 600 for airplanes or noisy offices. They’re designed for sitting in a quiet room and listening carefully.
The HD 600 also has relatively high impedance, so pairing it with a capable headphone amplifier or audio interface can be worthwhile.
2. Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless – Best Wireless Sennheiser Headphones
The MOMENTUM 4 Wireless makes much more sense if you want headphones for everyday life. These are wireless over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation.
That immediately makes them more practical for commuting, traveling, working, and listening around other people than Sennheiser’s open-back audiophile models.
One of the biggest attractions of the MOMENTUM line is that it tries to combine convenience with serious sound quality.
You get Bluetooth connectivity, ANC, microphones for calls, and app-based features without completely abandoning the sound quality Sennheiser is known for. Battery life is another important consideration with wireless headphones.
If you’re using headphones every day, you don’t want to constantly think about charging them. For someone who wants one premium Sennheiser headphone to use with a phone, laptop, and tablet, the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is the model I’d look at first.
3. Sennheiser HD 660S2 – Best Premium Audiophile Headphones
If you already enjoy the HD 600 family and want to move further up Sennheiser’s audiophile range, consider the HD 660S2. It’s another open-back headphone designed around serious home listening.
The HD 660S2 builds on the sound associated with the HD 600 series while placing greater emphasis on low-frequency extension.
That’s particularly attractive if you love the natural midrange presentation associated with Sennheiser’s audiophile headphones but want more weight in the bass.
Like the HD 600, these aren’t really portable headphones. They’re designed for quiet listening spaces. You also need to think about the equipment driving them.
A good headphone amplifier or capable DAC/amp can help you get more from expensive wired audiophile headphones.
If you’re looking for Bluetooth, ANC, and travel features, buy the MOMENTUM 4 instead. The HD 660S2 is for people who care primarily about sitting down and listening to music.
4. Sennheiser HD 620S – Best Closed-Back Sennheiser Headphones
The HD 620S solves an interesting problem. What if you like the natural, spacious character associated with Sennheiser’s open audiophile headphones but can’t actually use open headphones?
Maybe you share a room. Maybe there’s a television running nearby. Or perhaps you simply don’t want everyone else hearing your music. The HD 620S uses a closed-back design while attempting to retain a spacious presentation.
Sennheiser uses 42 mm angled transducers with a 38 mm diaphragm and a 150-ohm aluminum voice coil. The headphones have a specified frequency response of 6 Hz to 30 kHz. The closed construction provides much greater privacy than something like the HD 600.
Sennheiser also reinforces the earcup covers and headband sliders with steel while using artificial-leather ear pads with internal venting.
This makes the HD 620S particularly interesting for home listening, gaming, and amateur music production when isolation matters.
5. Sennheiser HD 560S – Best Value Audiophile Headphones
You don’t necessarily need to start with the HD 600. The HD 560S is one of the more approachable ways to experience Sennheiser’s open-back audiophile sound.
It’s particularly appealing for people interested in accurate listening rather than exaggerated bass. That makes it useful for music, gaming, and even beginner-level audio production.
The open-back design gives you a spacious presentation and allows air to move through the earcups.
Again, that means poor isolation. Someone sitting beside you will probably hear your music, and you’ll hear what’s happening around you.
But if you’re listening in a quiet bedroom or office, that’s not necessarily a problem. For someone buying a first serious wired headphone, the HD 560S can make more sense than immediately spending considerably more on premium audiophile models.
6. Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus Wireless – Best Mid-Range Wireless Option
The MOMENTUM 4 isn’t your only option if you want wireless Sennheiser headphones. The ACCENTUM range is designed to offer many modern wireless conveniences at a more accessible level.
The ACCENTUM Plus Wireless is particularly interesting if you want active noise cancellation, Bluetooth connectivity, and long battery life but don’t want to spend as much as you would on Sennheiser’s premium wireless range.
This type of headphone makes much more sense for most everyday listeners than a traditional audiophile model.
If you mainly listen while moving around rather than sitting in a dedicated listening room, wireless convenience can matter more than the advantages of an open-back design.
7. Sennheiser HD 650 – Best for Relaxed Listening
The HD 650 is another classic model from Sennheiser’s audiophile family. It’s closely related to the HD 600 but has developed its own loyal following.
If the HD 600 appeals to listeners looking for a balanced reference-style presentation, the HD 650 is often preferred by people who enjoy a slightly warmer and more relaxed experience.
That can make it particularly enjoyable for long listening sessions. Vocals can sound rich. Jazz works beautifully. Acoustic music benefits from the natural midrange.
And because the presentation isn’t designed around aggressively boosted treble, many listeners find it comfortable for hours of music.
Like the HD 600, however, the HD 650 is open-back. Use it at home. Don’t expect meaningful isolation on a train or airplane.
Final Thoughts
For serious music listening at home, choose the HD 600. For premium wireless listening and travel, choose the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless.
For a higher-end open-back audiophile experience, consider the HD 660S2. For closed-back listening with a spacious presentation, choose the HD 620S.
For a more affordable entry into open-back audiophile listening, look at the HD 560S. And if you want wireless ANC without paying for the MOMENTUM line, consider the ACCENTUM Plus Wireless.