Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 550. It ranks #5 of 165 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $199.95; the Sennheiser HD 600 ranks #8, rated 4.4/5, and costs $272.36, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Sennheiser HD 550 does well: A preference score of 94 in oratory1990’s measurement, with only 1.63 dB of deviation and an almost perfectly neutral tilt, means voices, instruments and mixes sound natural and accurate. Watch for: Sub-bass averages 6 dB below target and falls 6 dB under by 34 Hz, so deep electronic bass and organ notes lack rumble.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 600: It earns a preference score of 91, with the midrange from 200 Hz to 6 kHz within about 0.1 dB of target, giving vocals and acoustic instruments a very natural tone. The tradeoff: Sub-bass is about 7.9 dB below target, so bass lacks rumble and weight on electronic and hip hop tracks.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 550. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sennheiser HD 600 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 550 | Sennheiser HD 600 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $272.36 |
| Ranked | #5 of 165 in Over-Ear Headphones | #8 of 165 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 94 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 91 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.63 dB standard deviation | 1.88 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 34 Hz (-6.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 42 Hz (-8.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic | 1 x 42mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 150 ohms | 300 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106.7 dB/mW | 97 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (237 g) | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 39.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 12Hz - 40.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
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How Sennheiser HD 550 compares with other leading options:
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- Sennheiser HD 550 vs Sennheiser HD 650
- Sennheiser HD 550 vs Sennheiser HD 599
- Sennheiser HD 550 vs Sennheiser HD 820
- Sennheiser HD 550 vs Sennheiser HD 569
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The Two Headphones In Full
Sennheiser HD 550: $199.95 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A preference score of 94 in oratory1990’s measurement, with only 1.63 dB of deviation and an almost perfectly neutral tilt, means voices, instruments and mixes sound natural and accurate. Midrange and presence stay within about 1 dB of target, so vocals are clear without any harshness. At 237 g it is light, and 106.7 dB/mW sensitivity lets it reach normal levels from most sources despite its 150 ohm impedance.
Cons: Sub-bass averages 6 dB below target and falls 6 dB under by 34 Hz, so deep electronic bass and organ notes lack rumble. A 5.9 dB dip near 9.5 kHz slightly softens cymbal shimmer, and the open back leaks sound and offers no isolation. The Philips Fidelio X2HR earns the same rating for less money.
Full Sennheiser HD 550 review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.63 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 39.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 94 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 150 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106.7 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 34 Hz (-6.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (237 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.3 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 | +8.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 67 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.34 |
| Peak | 9,968 Hz | +3.2 dB | 1.23 |
| Peak | 1,280 Hz | -2.1 dB | 1.99 |
| Peak | 2,040 Hz | +2.2 dB | 1.90 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,135 Hz | +2.3 dB | 5.98 |
| Peak | 5,001 Hz | -1.7 dB | 5.47 |
| Peak | 56 Hz | -0.7 dB | 2.46 |
| Peak | 83 Hz | +0.6 dB | 3.02 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Sennheiser HD 600: $272.36 Amazon eBay
Pros: It earns a preference score of 91, with the midrange from 200 Hz to 6 kHz within about 0.1 dB of target, giving vocals and acoustic instruments a very natural tone. At 260 g it is light, and the long-running design from 1997 remains a reference for neutral midrange tuning. The warm and neutral tilt suits listeners who dislike bright treble.
Cons: Sub-bass is about 7.9 dB below target, so bass lacks rumble and weight on electronic and hip hop tracks. Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 3.6 dB low, with a 7.5 dB dip near 9.6 kHz that softens cymbals. At 300 ohms and 97 dB SPL/V it needs a dedicated headphone amp for proper volume, and the open back leaks sound.
Full Sennheiser HD 600 review and specifications →
| Released | 1997 (29 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.88 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 42mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 40.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 91 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 300 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 97 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 42 Hz (-8.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.3 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 | 125 Hz | -2.7 dB | 0.55 |
| Peak | 8,445 Hz | +3.3 dB | 1.61 |
| Peak | 522 Hz | +0.7 dB | 1.02 |
| Peak | 1,298 Hz | -1.2 dB | 2.14 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,158 Hz | -1.8 dB | 3.67 |
| Peak | 2,166 Hz | +0.9 dB | 3.32 |
| Peak | 6,639 Hz | +2.2 dB | 5.82 |
| Peak | 5,433 Hz | -1.2 dB | 5.70 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons