Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 598 CS, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #114 of 134 over-ear headphones by sound quality (rated 2.9/5) at $449 and is still sold new; the Beats Studio3 Wireless ranks #117 (rated 2.7/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 134 over-ear headphones, and the HIFIMAN Ananda Nano, ranked #3 at $319, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 598 CS: A low 23 ohm impedance and very high 115 dB sensitivity let it play loudly from a phone or laptop with no headphone amp. The catch: Treble is the weak point, running about 6 dB below target from 6 kHz up and dropping into a 13.5 dB dip near 9.9 kHz, so cymbals, air and detail sound dull and closed in.
Why pick the Beats Studio3 Wireless: It combines Bluetooth with SBC and AAC, active noise cancelling and a built-in microphone, with about 22 hours of battery life with ANC on and up to 40 hours without. The tradeoff: The low mids run about 3.6 dB over target, which thickens male vocals and can make the sound muddy, while presence from 3 to 6 kHz is about 3 dB low and a dip of about 8 dB near 4.8 kHz softens detail.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 598 CS. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Beats Studio3 Wireless is discontinued.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 598 CS | Beats Studio3 Wireless | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.00 | $286.49 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #114 of 134 in Over-Ear Headphones | #117 of 134 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 53 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.84 dB standard deviation | 3.30 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.30 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | - |
| Impedance | 23 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 115 dB | - |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | - | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 22 hours (40 without ANC, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Sennheiser HD 598 CS compares with other leading options:
- Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 vs Sennheiser HD 598 CS
- Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 vs Beats Studio3 Wireless
- Beats Studio3 Wireless vs Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e
- Beats Studio3 Wireless vs Sony WH-1000XM5
- Beats Studio3 Wireless vs Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2
Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 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
Sennheiser HD 598 CS: $449.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A low 23 ohm impedance and very high 115 dB sensitivity let it play loudly from a phone or laptop with no headphone amp. The closed-back build keeps sound in and outside noise down, which is useful for shared spaces. Bass is close to target, only about 1 dB above it, so the low end is warm without being boomy.
Cons: Treble is the weak point, running about 6 dB below target from 6 kHz up and dropping into a 13.5 dB dip near 9.9 kHz, so cymbals, air and detail sound dull and closed in. Presence between 3 and 6 kHz is also about 4 dB low, which pushes voices back. The Sony MDR-M1ST has a higher rating at a lower price.
Full Sennheiser HD 598 CS review and specifications →
| Released | 2016 (10 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.84 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 23 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 115 dB |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.8 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 | -2.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 10,000 Hz | +6.1 dB | 0.40 |
| Peak | 1,121 Hz | -2.7 dB | 0.57 |
| Peak | 178 Hz | -3.9 dB | 1.12 |
| Peak | 297 Hz | +4.2 dB | 1.74 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,480 Hz | -3.3 dB | 5.91 |
| Peak | 4,410 Hz | +1.7 dB | 4.27 |
| Peak | 2,845 Hz | +1.7 dB | 5.08 |
| Peak | 55 Hz | -0.4 dB | 1.59 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Beats Studio3 Wireless: $286.49 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: It combines Bluetooth with SBC and AAC, active noise cancelling and a built-in microphone, with about 22 hours of battery life with ANC on and up to 40 hours without. A 260 g weight and a wired option make it flexible for commuting. Bass between 60 and 200 Hz is about 3 dB above target, which gives a warm, punchy sound for pop and hip hop.
Cons: The low mids run about 3.6 dB over target, which thickens male vocals and can make the sound muddy, while presence from 3 to 6 kHz is about 3 dB low and a dip of about 8 dB near 4.8 kHz softens detail. A peak of nearly 7 dB near 11.9 kHz adds a sharp edge to the top end. The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 has an equal rating at a lower price. Discontinued.
Full Beats Studio3 Wireless review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 22 hours (40 without ANC, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.30 dB standard deviation |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 53 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.30 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.9 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 | +7.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 327 Hz | -5.9 dB | 1.56 |
| Peak | 5,209 Hz | +6.7 dB | 2.64 |
| Peak | 68 Hz | -8.1 dB | 0.78 |
| Peak | 1,978 Hz | +4.3 dB | 2.19 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,257 Hz | -1.9 dB | 4.42 |
| Peak | 666 Hz | +1.5 dB | 2.52 |
| Peak | 6,665 Hz | +1.5 dB | 3.92 |
| Peak | 428 Hz | -1.1 dB | 4.35 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons