Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 598 CS, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #175 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.9/5, at $449; the Neumann NDH20 ranks #194, rated 2.6/5, and costs $545, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 216 over-ear headphones, and the HIFIMAN Ananda Nano, ranked #4 at $319, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
What the Sennheiser HD 598 CS does well: 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.
The case for the Neumann NDH20: The closed back isolates well, and bass extends to 20 Hz with about 4 dB of extra weight below 200 Hz, a good fit for warm and bassy listeners. The catch: An 11.2 dB dip near 9.8 kHz in oratory1990’s measurement and air about 3.7 dB under target leave cymbals and room ambience muted, and a 3 dB recession in the upper mids pulls vocals back.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 598 CS. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Neumann NDH20 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 598 CS | Neumann NDH20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.00 | $545.00 |
| Ranked | #175 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #194 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 50 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.84 dB standard deviation | 3.45 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.36 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.2 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 23 ohms | 150 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 115 dB | 114 dB SPL/V |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Weight | - | 0.9 lbs (390 g) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
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- Austrian Audio Hi-X55 vs Sennheiser HD 598 CS
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- Shure SRH1540 vs Neumann NDH20
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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 |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| 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 |
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Neumann NDH20: $545.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The closed back isolates well, and bass extends to 20 Hz with about 4 dB of extra weight below 200 Hz, a good fit for warm and bassy listeners. At 114 dB/V it gets loud from most sources despite a 150 ohm impedance.
Cons: An 11.2 dB dip near 9.8 kHz in oratory1990’s measurement and air about 3.7 dB under target leave cymbals and room ambience muted, and a 3 dB recession in the upper mids pulls vocals back. At 390 g it is very heavy. The Austrian Audio Hi-X55 carries a higher rating at a lower price.
Full Neumann NDH20 review and specifications →
| Released | Jan 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.45 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 50 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 150 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 114 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.36 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (390 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 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 | -2.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 194 Hz | -3.7 dB | 0.86 |
| Peak | 2,307 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.68 |
| Peak | 3,430 Hz | -4.7 dB | 2.52 |
| Peak | 1,753 Hz | +2.5 dB | 2.42 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +3.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 797 Hz | -0.8 dB | 1.69 |
| Peak | 83 Hz | +1.2 dB | 3.07 |
| Peak | 40 Hz | -0.6 dB | 1.43 |
| Peak | 7,033 Hz | +2.7 dB | 5.90 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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