When it comes to pre-eminent makers of headphones, Sennheiser is one of only a handful of elite brands at the very top of the game. German company Sennheiser has made a name for itself producing phones of the highest standard with exceptional sound quality at very reasonable prices.
Sennheiser have an extremely wide – almost bewildering – range of phones and choosing the best phones depends very much on the kind of use they are destined for. Here is a guide to choosing the best Sennheiser headphones most adapted to your requirements.
The true audiophile’s headphones. If you are looking for the most authentic listening experience with music reproduction as close to the artist’s original intention as possible and with near-perfect clarity of sound, Sennheiser’s top-of-the-range HD800 S model is the obvious choice.
These open-back, around-ear phones give a wide soundstage – the sensation that one is listening to music in a room rather than on headphones – and offer a frequency range broader than the human ear is even able to detect.
They are well constructed and sturdy and, although on the heavy side, are comfortable to wear for longer periods of listening.
Sennheiser’s ultimate critical listening headphones are designed for serious, stationary listening and would not be suitable for sports, commuting or office use. Open-backed phones are designed for the highest-quality sound but offer minimal isolation against noise from the outside environment.
We Liked Best:
- Excellent sound quality
- Wide soundstage
- Comfortable to wear
We Didn’t Like:
- Minimal isolation
- High price tag
Best Value Sennheiser Headphones for Music
For those who need fantastic sound quality but who are unwilling to meet the price tag of the HD800 S phones, the HD650 model could be the perfect compromise. While not cheap, they cost much less than the more expensive version while still offering high levels of performance.
They are designed for sound quality and, while not reaching the heights of perfection of the HD800 S, they are still capable of producing rich, crisp and clear sound. As with their more expensive cousin, the soundstage is wide, producing a deliciously deep sound.
These are similarly well-made. They are comfortable to wear, even for extended periods, and they look slick and professional.
The 650s suffer from the same issues as the top-of-the-range model. They are open-backed so offer poor isolation and also leak sound badly, meaning if you wear these for your commute, you risk disturbing fellow passengers.
We Liked These Headphones:
- High quality sound reproduction
- Wide soundstage
- More affordable
We Didn’t Like:
- Poor isolation
- Sound leakage
Best Sennheiser Headset for Gaming
Sennheiser GAME ONE Gaming Headset
This is Sennheiser’s dedicated gaming headset and offers excellent sound quality as well as important features for gaming.
With gaming headphones, the key area to look at is latency, the time lag between seeing the image on screen and hearing the sound.
Headphones with a cable have no latency but wireless phones can have a noticeable time lag. If you only use your phones for music, this is not important, but if the sound needs to match images on a screen, any lag will impair your enjoyment.
With these headphones, the latency is minimal, meaning you see the images and hear the sounds at practically the same moment without a noticeable time lag. With the GAME ONE headset, you have the freedom of movement of wireless but with no perceptible lag.
Bear in mind, they are open-backed and designed for sound quality. They do not provide good isolation and so are less suitable for use in noisy environments. These are not good all-rounders.
We Thought These Were Good Because:
- Minimal latency
- High quality sound
- Good quality microphone
We Didn’t Like:
- Poor isolation
- Not a good all-round choice
Best Sennheiser Headphones Under $100
If you’re looking for Sennheiser’s renowned sound quality but you simply don’t have the budget to consider some of the pricier models, the HD280 PRO could be a worthy purchase.
Make no mistake, these come nowhere near competing with the HD 800 S model or even the 650s, but for headphones at the lower end of the price range, this model performs admirably. For the price, they are also well-constructed and comfortable to wear.
This model was not designed with all-round use in mind. These are open-back headphones, offering little in the way of isolation and they perform best in quieter environments. These phones do not perform well when there is a lot of external noise and are also not suitable for sport.
We Liked These Sennheisers:
- Affordable price
- Good sound quality compared to price tag
- Comfortable
We Didn’t Like:
- Not versatile
- Poor isolation
Best Sennheiser Headphones Under $200
If you’re in the market for a pair of Sennheisers and the higher end of the price range is out of reach, but you still want something a step up from the most basic version, you could do worse than consider a pair of HD 599s.
This model offers a significant increase in performance compared to the HD280PROs without an accompanying huge jump in price.
The quality of sound reproduction is commendable, and they offer an improved soundstage, giving a real impression of depth when compared with headphones such as the previously reviewed model. They are a pleasure to use.
These headphones, as with all the above-mentioned models, are designed for use in quiet environments. They feature an open-back design for the best listening experience, but they perform less well when there is background noise.
Good Because:
- Excellent quality of sound relative to price tag
- Comfortable to wear
- Ideal for home listening, home cinema or studio use
We Didn’t Like:
- Not suitable for general use
- Feel slightly flimsy
Best Wireless Sennheiser Headphones
The Momentum 2.0, an upgrade on the original Momentum model, can be considered Sennheiser’s current flagship general-use headphones and, unsurprisingly, they are an extremely popular choice. Here, we are looking at the wireless version, but they are also available with a cable.
When going wireless, a vital consideration is battery life. The Momentum 2.0 puts in a strong performance in this area, and a full charge should easily give you over 20 hours of continuous listening. If this is not enough, you can always plug in the cable in emergencies.
The sound quality is admirable, with crisp, accurate reproduction. These being closed-back headphones, the soundstage can’t compete with open-back models, but they offer more isolation in noisy environments and the active noise reduction works extremely well.
For this reason, these are an appropriate choice if you will be listening in loud places. If you are likely to be listening on crowded trains or in a busy office, these are much more suitable than more specialized open-back options.
The Momentum 2.0s are comfortable and stay in place, and since they are wireless, they would also be suitable for moderate sports use.
We Liked:
- Closed-back for isolation, suitable for noisier environments
- Long battery life
- Versatile headphones
We Didn’t Like:
- Soundstage not as good as open-back models
- Latency issues makes them less suited to gaming and home cinema use
Best Sennheiser Headphones for Sport
Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear Wireless Headphones
When choosing headphones for sport, many would argue that the best configuration is wireless and in-ear. Wires get in the way and over-ear models are too bulky and prone to falling off. Sennheiser have now released their own wireless in-ear phones and they’re a winner.
As always, battery life is a key consideration. These will last around ten hours, plenty of time for any gym workout or long run outside.
Another important feature for sport headphones is ease of use. You won’t want to be fiddling with awkward buttons changing songs when you’re trying to beat your personal best, so the simple, intuitive controls on these headphones are more than welcome.
These versatile, closed-back headphones are not limited to just sports use, however, and can make a useful hands-free telephone headset. The sound quality is just what you would expect from Sennheiser and they look like a quality piece of equipment too.
On the downside, these headphones are not actually designed for sports use and they are not waterproof or sweatproof. While the in-ear part shouldn’t have any problems during your workout, the neckband is made of good-quality leather and may suffer if you sweat heavily onto it.
We Liked:
- Wireless and in-ear, offering greatest mobility
- Intuitive controls
- Versatile and can be used as a telephone headset
We Didn’t Like:
- Leather neckband not ideal for sweaty activities
- Headphones not retractable when not in use
Best DJ Headphones
A DJ has very specific requirements from a pair of headphones, including clear sound reproduction with the right emphasis as well as comfort in different positions. These are Sennheiser’s dedicated headphones for DJs and are an excellent choice for bedroom and club DJs alike.
While there is no such thing as an “industry standard” for headphones on the DJ circuit, Sennheiser has long been a popular choice. Designed with DJs in mind, the HD 8 model offers good comfort, whether worn on both ears, on just one or simply hung around the neck.
The sound reproduction is particularly suited to DJing. The bass is strong and clear, something extremely important when beat-matching, while the rest of the range is crisp.
Another important feature for a DJ is isolation. When cueing up the next tune, you need to be able to hear what is happening in your ear without it being drowned out by the music in the club. Again, these phones don’t disappoint.
One final touch that experienced DJs will appreciate is that they fold up into a supplied hard case, meaning they are likely to survive a lot longer than headphones that just end up thrown into a bag at the end of a gig.
We Liked:
- Excellent bass for beat-matching
- Good isolation
- Comfortable in multiple positions
We Didn’t Like:
- Expensive
- Sound balance may not suit non-DJs
Conclusion
With such a broad range of Sennheiser products available, you are certain to be able to find the perfect set for you, regardless of your requirements, intended use or budgetary limitations.
At one end of the scale, Sennheiser make affordable, entry-level phones, such as the HD280PROs, while at the other end, attempt to reach aural perfection with the outstanding HD800 S model. In between lies just about everything else imaginable.
Top Recommended
While it’s almost impossible to choose a winner as everyone has different needs, for us, with a combination of price, high performance and versatility, as well as the practicality of being wireless, our winner and recommended Sennheiser phones are the wireless Momentum 2.0s.
BestForTeens.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.