Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

HiFiMan HE400se vs Sennheiser HD 660S2: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the HiFiMan HE400se: 80% of 127 owners recommend it, vs 61% of 231 for the Sennheiser HD 660S2.

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 660S2

61%of 231 owners recommend
61% recommend · 20% neutral · 19% don't
Owners praise
  • Lush, natural mids and vocals with classic Sennheiser timbre
  • Deeper, richer bass with much better sub-bass extension than the older 6x0
  • Excellent imaging and soundstage for gaming and movies
Owners complain about
  • Dark, veiled or muffled-sounding presentation
  • Loses the forward midrange magic of the cheaper 600/650
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 660S2 if
  • ✓HD6x0 owners wanting more bass extension and treble sparkle
  • ✓All-day listeners who want a warm, fatigue-free sound
  • ✓Gaming, movie, and music all-rounder seekers
  • ✓Metal, rock, and EDM fans wanting fuller low end
Skip it if
  • Those wanting a wide, expansive soundstage over intimate presentation
  • Purists chasing the classic 600/650 midrange, which feels recessed

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 660S2 owners say

“I've had it for 5 years now and I still consider it the best of the 600 series”
— @o.f.ftrack3444 on YouTube
“They are my go-to primary headphones.”
— @scottlowell493 on YouTube
“At $250-$350 I would consider giving these a go at $600 they are a pass.”
— @mindhead1 on YouTube

HiFiMan HE400se vs Sennheiser HD 660S2: frequently asked questions

Is the HiFiMan HE400se or the Sennheiser HD 660S2 better?

Real owners lean toward the HiFiMan HE400se: 80% of 127 owners recommend it, vs 61% of 231 for the Sennheiser HD 660S2.

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 660S2?

Owners point the Sennheiser HD 660S2 at hD6x0 owners wanting more bass extension and treble sparkle, and all-day listeners who want a warm, fatigue-free sound.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the HiFiMan HE400se is uncomfortable headband with a pressure hotspot. For the Sennheiser HD 660S2, it's dark, veiled or muffled-sounding presentation.