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Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black — Open-back
Sennheiser

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black

Open-back

95
/ 100
From $1,699
VS
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black wins by 3
Audeze MM-500 — Planar magnetic
Audeze

Audeze MM-500

Planar magnetic

92
/ 100
From $1,699
Specdex verdict

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black lands at 95 and Audeze MM-500 at 92. That puts Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black if…

  • ✓Reference-level detail
  • ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
  • ✓Long-term ownership appeal

Pick Audeze MM-500 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

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black

Tuning, detail, and staging

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black leads on sound (95 vs 92).

Noise cancelling

Tie

ANC strength for commute and travel

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

Comfort

Tie

Long-session wearability

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

Value for money

Tie

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black 95
vs
92 Audeze MM-500

Score breakdown

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black
95
anc 0
sound 95
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50
Audeze MM-500
92
anc 0
sound 92
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50

Specs side-by-side

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black versus Audeze MM-500 — full spec comparison
Spec Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black Audeze MM-500
Type
Open-back
Planar magnetic

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black

Pros
  • +Reference-level detail
  • +Well-regarded in audiophile community
  • +Long-term ownership appeal
Cons
  • −Requires amplifier (most)
  • −No active noise cancellation
  • −Impractical for commuting

Audeze MM-500

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 800 S · Midnight Black vs Audeze MM-500

Which is better, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black or Audeze MM-500? +

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

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.

Is Audeze MM-500 worth the price? +

At $1,699, Audeze MM-500 delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in battery.

Does Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black or Audeze MM-500 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 800 S · Midnight Black or Audeze MM-500? +

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black — leads on sound (95 vs 92). Tuning, detail, and staging.