Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Sennheiser HD 600: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Sennheiser HD 600: 81% of 253 owners recommend it, vs 36% of 434 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

36%of 434 owners recommend
36% recommend · 24% neutral · 40% don't
Owners praise
  • Comfort over long flights and full work days, including for glasses wearers
  • Ear cups deep enough that ears sit inside them rather than being pressed
  • Noise canceling that buries steady noise like engines, fans and road hum
Owners complain about
  • A background hiss or white noise floor with nothing playing, audible to many owners though not all
  • Popping and thumping when walking, running, or when a door slams nearby
  • A firmware update that removed switching devices from the headphones themselves
Full owner report →

Sennheiser HD 600

81%of 253 owners recommend
81% recommend · 11% neutral · 8% don't
Owners praise
  • Neutral, balanced, natural reference-grade sound
  • Owners love them and won't sell
  • Reveals new detail in familiar music
Owners complain about
  • Can sound bright, harsh or shouty in the highs
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) if
  • ✓Frequent flyers who want quiet on a plane and a case that fits a carry-on
  • ✓Glasses wearers and anyone whose head hurts in tighter-clamping headphones
  • ✓All-day desk wear where the headphones go on in the morning and stay on
  • ✓Listeners who like a full bass-forward sound and will spend a minute in the app
Skip it if
  • Anyone sensitive to background noise during podcasts, quiet passages or silence
  • Walkers, runners and commuters on rough roads, where the noise canceling pops
Get the Sennheiser HD 600 if
  • ✓Listeners wanting a neutral, balanced reference sound
  • ✓People who value long, fatigue-free listening sessions
  • ✓Acoustic, jazz, classical, and rock fans
  • ✓Home listeners pairing them with a proper headphone amp
Skip it if
  • Anyone wanting a wide, expansive soundstage
  • Commuting or outdoor use given the open-back leakage

What Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) owners say

“I’m loving both Bose models though.”
— Zealousideal_Bid2690 on Reddit
“Its very good. quality is top notch”
— Adorable_Toe79 on Reddit
“I had the Ultra headphones which caused severe skin irritation. I got rid of them as the only solution was buying third party ear pads which would have changed the sound.”
— TheLawPlace on Reddit

What Sennheiser HD 600 owners say

“Son una total MARAVILLA y yo en lo personal lo recomiendo AMPLIAMENTE para todo aquel que se diga llamar audiofilo”
— @omariscal39 on YouTube
“estos audífonos son excelentes para mezcla en estudio”
— @IGNOTOMX on YouTube
“I have the HD600 and I'm just not a fan because of the total lack of anything lower than upper mid bass and also how narrow the cups are which rub my ears raw”
— keenbeans87 on Reddit

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Sennheiser HD 600: frequently asked questions

Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) or the Sennheiser HD 600 better?

Real owners lean toward the Sennheiser HD 600: 81% of 253 owners recommend it, vs 36% of 434 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).

Who should get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)?

Owners point the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) at frequent flyers who want quiet on a plane and a case that fits a carry-on, and glasses wearers and anyone whose head hurts in tighter-clamping headphones.

Who should get the Sennheiser HD 600?

Owners point the Sennheiser HD 600 at listeners wanting a neutral, balanced reference sound, and people who value long, fatigue-free listening sessions.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) is a background hiss or white noise floor with nothing playing, audible to many owners though not all. For the Sennheiser HD 600, it's can sound bright, harsh or shouty in the highs.