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Sennheiser HD 650 — Over-ear · 2003
Sennheiser

Sennheiser HD 650

Over-ear · 2003

90
/ 100
From $499
VS
Sennheiser HD 650 wins by 2
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold — Gaming · 2022 · Black
SteelSeries

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold

Gaming · 2022 · Black

88
/ 100
From $249
Specdex verdict

Sennheiser HD 650 takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Sennheiser HD 650 lands at 90 and SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold at 88. That puts Sennheiser HD 650 ahead by 2 points — a narrow 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 SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold if…

  • ✓Low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless (most)
  • ✓Detachable broadcast mic
  • ✓Console compatibility
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Winner by scenario

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

Sound quality

Sennheiser HD 650

Tuning, detail, and staging

Sennheiser HD 650 leads on sound (90 vs 88).

Noise cancelling

Sennheiser HD 650

ANC strength for commute and travel

Sennheiser HD 650 leads on anc (88 vs 70).

Comfort

Sennheiser HD 650

Long-session wearability

Sennheiser HD 650 leads on comfort (89 vs 86).

Value for money

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold more score per dollar ($249 vs $499).

Sennheiser HD 650 90
vs
88 SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold

Score breakdown

Sennheiser HD 650
90
anc 88
sound 90
comfort 89
battery 82
features 86
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold
88
anc 70
sound 88
comfort 86
battery 86
features 88

Specs side-by-side

Sennheiser HD 650 versus SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold — full spec comparison
Spec Sennheiser HD 650 SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold
Type
Over-ear
Gaming headset
Release year
2003
2022
Variant
—
Black

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

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold

Pros
  • +Low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless (most)
  • +Detachable broadcast mic
  • +Console compatibility
Cons
  • −Bulkier than audiophile cans
  • −Game-tuned EQ
  • −Software required on PC

FAQ: Sennheiser HD 650 vs SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold

Which is better, Sennheiser HD 650 or SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold? +

Sennheiser HD 650 scores 90 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. 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 SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold worth the price? +

At $249, SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in sound.

Does Sennheiser HD 650 or SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold 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 SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold? +

Sennheiser HD 650 — leads on sound (90 vs 88). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, Sennheiser HD 650 or SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Rose Gold? +

Sennheiser HD 650 — leads on anc (88 vs 70). ANC strength for commute and travel.