Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Sennheiser HD 650: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Sennheiser HD 650: 75% of 316 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 650

75%of 316 owners recommend
75% recommend · 11% neutral · 14% don't
Owners praise
  • Natural, balanced tonality that just "sounds right"
  • Lush, lifelike midrange and vocals
  • Non-fatiguing for hours of relaxed listening
Owners complain about
  • Rolled-off, light sub-bass that often needs EQ
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 650 if
  • ✓Listeners wanting warm, non-fatiguing sound for long sessions
  • ✓Vocal, acoustic, jazz, and classical lovers
  • ✓Home producers wanting a mixing reference
  • ✓Buyers wanting durable cans that last decades with an amp
Skip it if
  • Bassheads wanting deep sub-bass extension
  • Those needing a wide soundstage and precise imaging

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 650 owners say

“What an incredible difference they make to everything I had before! You can listen to a track and hear subtle details that you did not even know they existed. Wow!”
— @marco83 on YouTube
“HD650 with a bum driver, but I was able to solider the voice coil back on, so they work normally again. I had a pair 15 years ago and always regreted selling them.”
— kindofbluetrains on Reddit
“I find the HiFiMan Sundara & the Fiio FT1 Pro both more useful for mixing - the Sennheisers have a much more condensed/flat sound with less bass extension than either of those”
— @reallyoldcob on YouTube

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Sennheiser HD 650: frequently asked questions

Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) or the Sennheiser HD 650 better?

Real owners lean toward the Sennheiser HD 650: 75% of 316 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 650?

Owners point the Sennheiser HD 650 at listeners wanting warm, non-fatiguing sound for long sessions, and vocal, acoustic, jazz, and classical lovers.

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 650, it's rolled-off, light sub-bass that often needs EQ.