Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

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

Real owners lean toward the Sennheiser HD 660S2: 61% of 231 owners recommend it, vs 53% of 352 for the HiFiMan Sundara.

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

HiFiMan Sundara

53%of 352 owners recommend

53% recommend · 30% neutral · 17% don't

Owners praise

Exceptional value for the price, repeatedly called the best bang-for-buck headphone in the hobby, punching well above its price bracket
Responds dramatically well to EQ, with many owners saying a modest EQ profile transforms them into a much more detailed, bass-capable headphone
Wide, spacious soundstage with strong instrument separation and detail retrieval that owners compare favorably to pricier flagships

Owners complain about

Inconsistent build quality and QC, owners report cracked headbands, dead or channel-imbalanced drivers, and units failing anywhere from days to a couple years in
Bright, sometimes sibilant treble that a meaningful minority finds fatiguing or 'too bright' out of the box
Thin sub-bass and lacking low-end impact without EQ, described as anemic by several owners

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 Sundara if

✓Budget-conscious audiophiles wanting near-flagship detail and soundstage for a fraction of the price
✓Listeners willing to EQ, since owners say a bass shelf and treble tweaks transform the sound
✓Music listeners who prize detail, instrument separation, and vocal staging over bass slam
✓Owners who treat them gently at a desk, since many report years of trouble-free use

Skip it if

Bassheads, since many owners find stock bass thin or anemic without EQ
People sensitive to treble brightness or sibilance, a recurring complaint

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 Sundara owners say

“They won't break. I've got a opair of the 2020 Sundara's and a recently purchased set of Arya Stealth. They're both perfect. Sound wise and build quality too.”
— Kevbassman on Reddit

“Absolutely the Sundara gives you way more than its price suggests clean planar bass, great detail and a neutral tuning that honestly captures most of what people love about higher end cans.”
— Ornery-Ad-9419 on Reddit

“I think the. Sundara is super overrated. It's fine, nothing special, has some quirks/problems that many better headphones in and above its class don't.”
— drwafflefingers on Reddit

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 Sundara vs Sennheiser HD 660S2: frequently asked questions

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

Real owners lean toward the Sennheiser HD 660S2: 61% of 231 owners recommend it, vs 53% of 352 for the HiFiMan Sundara.

Who should get the HiFiMan Sundara?

Owners point the HiFiMan Sundara at budget-conscious audiophiles wanting near-flagship detail and soundstage for a fraction of the price, and listeners willing to EQ, since owners say a bass shelf and treble tweaks transform the sound.

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 Sundara is inconsistent build quality and QC, owners report cracked headbands, dead or channel-imbalanced drivers, and units failing anywhere from days to a couple years in. For the Sennheiser HD 660S2, it's dark, veiled or muffled-sounding presentation.