Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black
Over-ear · 2017
Sennheiser HD 800S
Over-ear · 2016
Sennheiser HD 800S takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black lands at 84 and Sennheiser HD 800S at 95. That puts Sennheiser HD 800S ahead by 11 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black if…
- ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- ✓Premium build
- ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)
Pick Sennheiser HD 800S if…
- ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- ✓Premium build
- ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testSound quality
Sennheiser HD 800STuning, detail, and staging
Sennheiser HD 800S leads on sound (95 vs 84).
Noise cancelling
Sennheiser HD 800SANC strength for commute and travel
Sennheiser HD 800S leads on anc (93 vs 82).
Comfort
Sennheiser HD 800SLong-session wearability
Sennheiser HD 800S leads on comfort (94 vs 83).
Value for money
Bose QC 35 II · Midnight BlackSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black more score per dollar ($349 vs $1,699).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black | Sennheiser HD 800S |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Release year | 2017 | 2016 |
Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black
- +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- +Premium build
- +Active noise cancellation (most models)
- −Battery varies by codec
- −Some are Bluetooth-only
- −Price creep vs previous gen
Sennheiser HD 800S
- +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- +Premium build
- +Active noise cancellation (most models)
- −Battery varies by codec
- −Some are Bluetooth-only
- −Price creep vs previous gen
FAQ: Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black vs Sennheiser HD 800S
Which is better, Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black or Sennheiser HD 800S? +
Sennheiser HD 800S scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 11. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black worth the price? +
At $349, Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black delivers a Specdex score of 84 — strongest in sound.
Is Sennheiser HD 800S worth the price? +
At $1,699, Sennheiser HD 800S delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in sound.
Does Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black or Sennheiser HD 800S last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for sound quality, Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black or Sennheiser HD 800S? +
Sennheiser HD 800S — leads on sound (95 vs 84). Tuning, detail, and staging.
Which is better for noise cancelling, Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black or Sennheiser HD 800S? +
Sennheiser HD 800S — leads on anc (93 vs 82). ANC strength for commute and travel.