Sennheiser HD 650 · Midnight Black
Over-ear · 2003
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black
Open-back
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sennheiser HD 650 · Midnight Black lands at 90 and Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black at 95. That puts Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black ahead by 5 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sennheiser HD 650 · Midnight Black if…
- ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- ✓Premium build
- ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)
Pick Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black if…
- ✓Reference-level detail
- ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
- ✓Long-term ownership appeal
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sennheiser HD 650 · Midnight Black | Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-ear | Open-back |
| Release year | 2003 | — |
Sennheiser HD 650 · 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 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: Sennheiser HD 650 · Midnight Black vs Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black
Which is better, Sennheiser HD 650 · Midnight Black or Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black? +
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sennheiser HD 650 · Midnight Black worth the price? +
At $499, Sennheiser HD 650 · Midnight Black delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in sound.
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 Sennheiser HD 650 · Midnight Black 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.