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Sennheiser HD 650 — Over-ear · 2003
Sennheiser

Sennheiser HD 650

Over-ear · 2003

90
/ 100
From $499
VS
HiFiMan Susvara wins by 6
HiFiMan Susvara — Planar magnetic
HiFiMan

HiFiMan Susvara

Planar magnetic

96
/ 100
From $5,999
Specdex verdict

HiFiMan Susvara takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Sennheiser HD 650 lands at 90 and HiFiMan Susvara at 96. That puts HiFiMan Susvara ahead by 6 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Sennheiser HD 650 if…

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

Pick HiFiMan Susvara 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

HiFiMan Susvara

Tuning, detail, and staging

HiFiMan Susvara leads on sound (96 vs 90).

Noise cancelling

Sennheiser HD 650

ANC strength for commute and travel

Sennheiser HD 650 leads on anc (88 vs 0).

Comfort

Tie

Long-session wearability

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

Value for money

Sennheiser HD 650

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Sennheiser HD 650 more score per dollar ($499 vs $5,999).

Sennheiser HD 650 90
vs
96 HiFiMan Susvara

Score breakdown

Sennheiser HD 650
90
anc 88
sound 90
comfort 89
battery 82
features 86
HiFiMan Susvara
96
anc 0
sound 96
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50

Specs side-by-side

Sennheiser HD 650 versus HiFiMan Susvara — full spec comparison
Spec Sennheiser HD 650 HiFiMan Susvara
Type
Over-ear
Planar magnetic
Release year
2003
—

Sennheiser HD 650

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

HiFiMan Susvara

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: Sennheiser HD 650 vs HiFiMan Susvara

Which is better, Sennheiser HD 650 or HiFiMan Susvara? +

HiFiMan Susvara scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 6. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Sennheiser HD 650 worth the price? +

At $499, Sennheiser HD 650 delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in sound.

Is HiFiMan Susvara worth the price? +

At $5,999, HiFiMan Susvara delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in battery.

Does Sennheiser HD 650 or HiFiMan Susvara 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, Sennheiser HD 650 or HiFiMan Susvara? +

HiFiMan Susvara — leads on sound (96 vs 90). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, Sennheiser HD 650 or HiFiMan Susvara? +

Sennheiser HD 650 — leads on anc (88 vs 0). ANC strength for commute and travel.