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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize exceptional sound quality and a spacious soundstage for music and TV, the Sennheiser HD800S excels but requires an amplifier for the best experience and is not suitable for use during exercise or travel due to its open design and poor noise isolation. Conversely, the IE600 offers excellent portability and better noise isolation, making it a versatile choice for everyday use and some exercise, with a compromise on soundstage. Both have excellent build quality but limited built-in controls and no wireless option, and neither are ideal for calls or gaming due to poor mic quality and latency issues. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD800S
- Best in class for music
- Good for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sennheiser IE600
- The Sennheiser IE600 has no clear advantages over the Sennheiser HD800S.
Key differences
Music
9.9
8.3
The Sennheiser HD800S is best in class for music, while the Sennheiser IE600 is very good.
Gaming
7.5
6.7
The Sennheiser HD800S is good for gaming, while the Sennheiser IE600 is only fair.
Phone Calls
5.0
3.5
The Sennheiser HD800S and Sennheiser IE600 are both poor for phone calls, though the Sennheiser HD800S is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.1
5.4
The Sennheiser HD800S is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser IE600 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
7.0
The Sennheiser IE600 is good for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser HD800S is poor.
Cost
$1,600
$599
$300
$320
$340
$360
$380
$400
The Sennheiser HD800S has a price of $1,600 and the Sennheiser IE600 costs $599.
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Key similarities
TV and Video
9.7
9.3
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sennheiser HD800S to be best in class for TV and video, while the Sennheiser IE600 is excellent.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Sennheiser HD800S and Sennheiser IE600 both have excellent build quality.
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How the Sennheiser HD800S and the Sennheiser IE600 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sennheiser HD800S | Sennheiser IE600 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,600 | $599 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sennheiser | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2015 | June 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 10/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 3.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.7/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 4.6/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 2.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 371.9 Grams | 6 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Sennheiser HD800S
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | March 2023
"The cans offer stellar sound quality, comfort, and good maintenance options—so they're an easy recommendation if you have the cash and the need for the last headphones you'll buy for years."
Sennheiser IE600
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Jasper Lastoria | August 2023
"If you've got the bucks, the Sennheiser IE 600 is a nice, upscale set of in-ear monitors made of a lightweight metal with an unusual texture. It comes with a suite of extras, and performs well at virtually every task."
Get a great deal on the Sennheiser HD800S or the Sennheiser IE600
About Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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