Sennheiser HD 660S · Midnight Black
Open-back
Sennheiser HD 800S
Over-ear · 2016
Sennheiser HD 800S takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sennheiser HD 660S · Midnight Black lands at 90 and Sennheiser HD 800S at 95. That puts Sennheiser HD 800S ahead by 5 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sennheiser HD 660S · Midnight Black if…
- ✓Reference-level detail
- ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
- ✓Long-term ownership appeal
Pick Sennheiser HD 800S if…
- ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- ✓Premium build
- ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testSound quality
Sennheiser HD 800STuning, detail, and staging
Sennheiser HD 800S leads on sound (95 vs 90).
Noise cancelling
Sennheiser HD 800SANC strength for commute and travel
Sennheiser HD 800S leads on anc (93 vs 0).
Comfort
Sennheiser HD 800SLong-session wearability
Sennheiser HD 800S leads on comfort (94 vs 88).
Value for money
Sennheiser HD 660S · Midnight BlackSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Sennheiser HD 660S · Midnight Black more score per dollar ($499 vs $1,699).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sennheiser HD 660S · Midnight Black | Sennheiser HD 800S |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Open-back | Over-ear |
| Release year | — | 2016 |
Sennheiser HD 660S · Midnight Black
- +Reference-level detail
- +Well-regarded in audiophile community
- +Long-term ownership appeal
- −Requires amplifier (most)
- −No active noise cancellation
- −Impractical for commuting
Sennheiser HD 800S
- +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
FAQ: Sennheiser HD 660S · Midnight Black vs Sennheiser HD 800S
Which is better, Sennheiser HD 660S · Midnight Black or Sennheiser HD 800S? +
Sennheiser HD 800S scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sennheiser HD 660S · Midnight Black worth the price? +
At $499, Sennheiser HD 660S · Midnight Black delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in battery.
Is Sennheiser HD 800S worth the price? +
At $1,699, Sennheiser HD 800S delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in sound.
Does Sennheiser HD 660S · Midnight Black or Sennheiser HD 800S 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 660S · Midnight Black or Sennheiser HD 800S? +
Sennheiser HD 800S — leads on sound (95 vs 90). Tuning, detail, and staging.
Which is better for noise cancelling, Sennheiser HD 660S · Midnight Black or Sennheiser HD 800S? +
Sennheiser HD 800S — leads on anc (93 vs 0). ANC strength for commute and travel.