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Bose QC45 · Moss Green — Over-ear · 2021
Bose

Bose QC45 · Moss Green

Over-ear · 2021

88
/ 100
From $329
VS
Sennheiser HD 800 S wins by 7
Sennheiser HD 800 S — Open-back
Sennheiser

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Open-back

95
/ 100
From $1,699
Specdex verdict

Sennheiser HD 800 S takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Bose QC45 · Moss Green lands at 88 and Sennheiser HD 800 S at 95. That puts Sennheiser HD 800 S ahead by 7 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Bose QC45 · Moss Green if…

  • ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • ✓Premium build
  • ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)

Pick Sennheiser HD 800 S if…

  • ✓Reference-level detail
  • ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
  • ✓Long-term ownership appeal
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Sound quality

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Tuning, detail, and staging

Sennheiser HD 800 S leads on sound (95 vs 88).

Noise cancelling

Bose QC45 · Moss Green

ANC strength for commute and travel

Bose QC45 · Moss Green leads on anc (86 vs 0).

Comfort

Tie

Long-session wearability

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Value for money

Bose QC45 · Moss Green

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Bose QC45 · Moss Green more score per dollar ($329 vs $1,699).

Bose QC45 · Moss Green 88
vs
95 Sennheiser HD 800 S

Score breakdown

Bose QC45 · Moss Green
88
anc 86
sound 88
comfort 87
battery 82
features 84
Sennheiser HD 800 S
95
anc 0
sound 95
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50

Specs side-by-side

Bose QC45 · Moss Green versus Sennheiser HD 800 S — full spec comparison
Spec Bose QC45 · Moss Green Sennheiser HD 800 S
Type
Over-ear
Open-back
Release year
2021
—

Bose QC45 · Moss Green

Pros
  • +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • +Premium build
  • +Active noise cancellation (most models)
Cons
  • −Battery varies by codec
  • −Some are Bluetooth-only
  • −Price creep vs previous gen

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Pros
  • +Reference-level detail
  • +Well-regarded in audiophile community
  • +Long-term ownership appeal
Cons
  • −Requires amplifier (most)
  • −No active noise cancellation
  • −Impractical for commuting

FAQ: Bose QC45 · Moss Green vs Sennheiser HD 800 S

Which is better, Bose QC45 · Moss Green or Sennheiser HD 800 S? +

Sennheiser HD 800 S scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 7. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Bose QC45 · Moss Green worth the price? +

At $329, Bose QC45 · Moss Green delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in sound.

Is Sennheiser HD 800 S worth the price? +

At $1,699, Sennheiser HD 800 S delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in battery.

Does Bose QC45 · Moss Green or Sennheiser HD 800 S 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 QC45 · Moss Green or Sennheiser HD 800 S? +

Sennheiser HD 800 S — leads on sound (95 vs 88). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, Bose QC45 · Moss Green or Sennheiser HD 800 S? +

Bose QC45 · Moss Green — leads on anc (86 vs 0). ANC strength for commute and travel.