Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold
Open-back
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
CustomTune ANC · Immersive Audio · aptX Adaptive
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold lands at 95 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra at 93. That puts Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold if…
- ✓Reference-level detail
- ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
- ✓Long-term ownership appeal
Pick Bose QuietComfort Ultra if…
- ✓Best comfort in class
- ✓Excellent ANC
- ✓Immersive Audio spatial feature
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testSound quality
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose GoldTuning, detail, and staging
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold leads on sound (95 vs 92).
Noise cancelling
Bose QuietComfort UltraANC strength for commute and travel
Bose QuietComfort Ultra leads on anc (96 vs 0).
Comfort
Bose QuietComfort UltraLong-session wearability
Bose QuietComfort Ultra leads on comfort (98 vs 88).
Value for money
Bose QuietComfort UltraSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Bose QuietComfort Ultra more score per dollar ($429 vs $1,699).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold | Bose QuietComfort Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Open-back | — |
| Driver | — | 35 mm dynamic |
| Battery | — | 24 h (Immersive Audio off) / 18 h (on) |
| Weight | — | 253 g |
| Codecs | — | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold
- +Reference-level detail
- +Well-regarded in audiophile community
- +Long-term ownership appeal
- −Requires amplifier (most)
- −No active noise cancellation
- −Impractical for commuting
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
- +Best comfort in class
- +Excellent ANC
- +Immersive Audio spatial feature
- −Bose app fiddly
- −No USB-C audio (3.5 mm + Bluetooth only)
- −No LDAC support
FAQ: Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Which is better, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold or Bose QuietComfort Ultra? +
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold worth the price? +
At $1,699, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in battery.
Is Bose QuietComfort Ultra worth the price? +
At $429, Bose QuietComfort Ultra delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in comfort.
Does Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold or Bose QuietComfort Ultra 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 · Rose Gold or Bose QuietComfort Ultra? +
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold — leads on sound (95 vs 92). Tuning, detail, and staging.
Which is better for noise cancelling, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold or Bose QuietComfort Ultra? +
Bose QuietComfort Ultra — leads on anc (96 vs 0). ANC strength for commute and travel.