Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 6XX. It ranks #70 of 429 over-ear headphones by sound quality (rated 4.1/5); the HIFIMAN Sundara ranks #87 (rated 4.0/5).
Why pick the HIFIMAN Sundara: Crinacle’s measurement gives a preference score of 82, and the midrange and treble stay within about 1 dB of target in hobbyist measurements on squig.link, so voices and instruments sound natural with a neutral balance. The tradeoff: Sub-bass falls about 5 dB below target under 60 Hz and is 6.1 dB down at 30 Hz, so kick drums and synth bass lack deep rumble.
What the Sennheiser HD 6XX does well: Measured response gives it an excellent Harman preference score of 84 with a 2.10 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. The tradeoff: Sub-bass is 7.9 dB short at 30 Hz, so deep bass lacks rumble.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 6XX. It is rated higher for sound quality than the HIFIMAN Sundara.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| HIFIMAN Sundara | Sennheiser HD 6XX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 | - |
| Ranked | #87 of 429 in Over-Ear Headphones | #70 of 429 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Harman Preference Score | 82 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 84 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.54 dB standard deviation | 2.10 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.27 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Drivers | 1 x planar magnetic | 1 x 42mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 37 ohms | 300 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB/mW | 103 dB/Vrms |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (372 g) | 0.6 lbs (260g) |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 75kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 41kHz |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 30 Hz (-6.1 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 40 Hz (-7.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sennheiser HD 6XX:
- Sennheiser HD 560S vs Sennheiser HD 6XX
- Sennheiser HD 600 vs Sennheiser HD 6XX
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs Sennheiser HD 6XX
- AKG K7XX vs Sennheiser HD 6XX
- AKG K371 vs HIFIMAN Sundara
Prices on this page were last checked October 13, 2026 at 3:17 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
HIFIMAN Sundara: $179.00 Amazon $179.00 eBay
Pros: Crinacle’s measurement gives a preference score of 82, and the midrange and treble stay within about 1 dB of target in hobbyist measurements on squig.link, so voices and instruments sound natural with a neutral balance. The air band is lifted almost 4 dB above 10 kHz, adding openness and detail without a harsh peak. The open-back planar design gives a spacious presentation, and it is rated equal to the AKG K612 while costing less.
Cons: Sub-bass falls about 5 dB below target under 60 Hz and is 6.1 dB down at 30 Hz, so kick drums and synth bass lack deep rumble. At 94 dB/mW it needs more power than most over-ears and can run short of volume from a phone, and 372 g is heavy. The open back leaks sound and offers no isolation.
Full HIFIMAN Sundara review and specifications →
| Released | 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.54 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 75kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 82 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 37 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 30 Hz (-6.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (372 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 127 Hz | -2.0 dB | 0.29 |
| Peak | 2,009 Hz | +6.5 dB | 2.96 |
| Peak | 4,085 Hz | -4.4 dB | 1.19 |
| Peak | 7,580 Hz | +2.3 dB | 0.66 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 63 Hz | -1.2 dB | 2.40 |
| Peak | 38 Hz | +0.9 dB | 2.27 |
| Peak | 789 Hz | -1.6 dB | 4.10 |
| Peak | 5,821 Hz | +1.9 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sennheiser HD 6XX eBay
Pros: Measured response gives it an excellent Harman preference score of 84 with a 2.10 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. It uses 1 x 42mm dynamic.
Cons: Sub-bass is 7.9 dB short at 30 Hz, so deep bass lacks rumble. Treble sits about 4.9 dB low, so it sounds a little dark.
Full Sennheiser HD 6XX review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2016 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.10 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 42mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 41kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 84 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 300 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB/Vrms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 40 Hz (-7.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.27 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (260g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,800 Hz | +5.1 dB | 1.42 |
| Peak | 118 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.50 |
| Peak | 37 Hz | +0.7 dB | 3.96 |
| Peak | 3,169 Hz | -1.7 dB | 3.89 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,227 Hz | -1.2 dB | 2.53 |
| Peak | 2,055 Hz | +1.2 dB | 3.23 |
| Peak | 587 Hz | +0.4 dB | 1.19 |
| Peak | 5,332 Hz | -1.1 dB | 5.75 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons