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HiFiMAN HE1000SE vs Sennheiser HD 800S

Side-by-side comparison — scores, specs and which one fits your setup.

HiFiMAN HE1000SE
9.2
/ 10
Over-earReference
HIGHER SCORE
Sennheiser HD 800S
9.5
/ 10
Over-earReference

Specs comparison

9.2/10
SCORE
9.5/10
38Ω
IMPEDANCE
300Ω
86dB
SENSITIVITY
102dB
Yes
NEEDS AMP
Yes

Analysis

The HiFiMAN HE1000SE scores 9.2/10 with 38Ω impedance and 86dB sensitivity. At 38Ω, it benefits significantly from a dedicated amplifier.

The Sennheiser HD 800S scores 9.5/10 with 300Ω impedance and 102dB sensitivity. At 300Ω, it also benefits from amplification to perform at its best.

Based on our scoring, the Sennheiser HD 800S scores higher overall. However, the right choice depends on your full audio chain — use our analyzer to see which fits your actual setup.

Own one of these headphones?

A high headphone score doesn't mean your audio sounds great. Your DAC, amp or source might be the real bottleneck.

Analyze my setup →HiFiMAN HE1000SE details →HD 800S details →

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