Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

HiFiMan HE400se vs Sennheiser HD 600: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 80% of 127 HiFiMan HE400se owners recommend it, vs 81% of 253 for the Sennheiser HD 600.

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

HiFiMan HE400se

80%of 127 owners recommend
80% recommend · 9% neutral · 11% don't
Owners praise
  • Outstanding sound for the price / bargain planar
  • Wonderful, fast planar bass
  • Responds beautifully to EQ
Owners complain about
  • Uncomfortable headband with a pressure hotspot
  • Hard to drive / needs a proper amp
  • Treble peaks / harshness that need EQ
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 HiFiMan HE400se if
  • ✓Budget listeners getting into planar magnetic headphones
  • ✓Users who EQ their headphones for best results
  • ✓Fans of warm, musical, non-clinical sound
  • ✓Value seekers pairing them with a proper amp
Skip it if
  • Phone-only listeners without a decent amp
  • People sensitive to headband pressure or hotspots
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 HiFiMan HE400se owners say

“The treble is still tamed, but the bass doesn't seem to roll off. Punchy and fun.”
— @onepieceatatime on YouTube
“they are amazing, the replacement grills smooth out all the peaks and dips”
— @ZdraveBass on YouTube
“Hifiman are known to last about two months. It's only a question of time before they fail and customer service is bad from what I saw.”
— @westsenkovec on YouTube

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

HiFiMan HE400se vs Sennheiser HD 600: frequently asked questions

Is the HiFiMan HE400se or the Sennheiser HD 600 better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 80% of 127 HiFiMan HE400se owners recommend it, vs 81% of 253 for the Sennheiser HD 600.

Who should get the HiFiMan HE400se?

Owners point the HiFiMan HE400se at budget listeners getting into planar magnetic headphones, and users who EQ their headphones for best results.

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 HiFiMan HE400se is uncomfortable headband with a pressure hotspot. For the Sennheiser HD 600, it's can sound bright, harsh or shouty in the highs.