Meze Audio Elite
Planar magnetic
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black
Open-back
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Meze Audio Elite lands at 93 and Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black at 95. That puts Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Meze Audio Elite if…
- ✓Reference-level detail
- ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
- ✓Long-term ownership appeal
Pick Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black if…
- ✓Reference-level detail
- ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
- ✓Long-term ownership appeal
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testSound quality
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight BlackTuning, detail, and staging
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black leads on sound (95 vs 93).
Noise cancelling
TieANC strength for commute and travel
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Comfort
TieLong-session wearability
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Value for money
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight BlackSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black more score per dollar ($1,699 vs $3,500).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Meze Audio Elite | Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Planar magnetic | Open-back |
Meze Audio Elite
- +Reference-level detail
- +Well-regarded in audiophile community
- +Long-term ownership appeal
- −Requires amplifier (most)
- −No active noise cancellation
- −Impractical for commuting
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black
- +Reference-level detail
- +Well-regarded in audiophile community
- +Long-term ownership appeal
- −Requires amplifier (most)
- −No active noise cancellation
- −Impractical for commuting
FAQ: Meze Audio Elite vs Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black
Which is better, Meze Audio Elite or Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black? +
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Meze Audio Elite worth the price? +
At $3,500, Meze Audio Elite delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in battery.
Is Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black worth the price? +
At $1,699, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in battery.
Does Meze Audio Elite or Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black 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, Meze Audio Elite or Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black? +
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black — leads on sound (95 vs 93). Tuning, detail, and staging.
Which is the better value, Meze Audio Elite or Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black? +
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black — more score per dollar ($1,699 vs $3,500). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.