Sennheiser HD 600

The audiophile open-back that pro audio engineers have used as a reference for 30 years

Best for: Experienced audio producers who want a world-class open-back reference for final mix review and critical listening

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The HD 600 is an open-back, over-ear audiophile and professional headphone featuring a 42mm driver with acoustic silk for controlled airflow and a frequency response of 16 Hz to 30 kHz. Impedance is 300 ohms, which demands a dedicated headphone amplifier or high-output interface. THD is 0.1% and sensitivity is 97 dB. Weight is 260g without cable. First launched in 1997, it remains a benchmark for natural, reference-grade sound.

Key features

Open-back, over-ear design - NOT for recording
42mm driver with acoustic silk for airflow control
16 Hz - 30 kHz frequency response
300 ohm impedance - dedicated amp required
THD 0.1%, Sensitivity 97 dB
Detachable cable with dual 3.5mm connectors

Our take

The HD 600 has a 30-year track record as a professional reference standard - sound engineers, mastering engineers, and broadcast veterans reach for it when they need to hear exactly what is on the recording, uncolored and unembellished. The 300-ohm impedance is serious: you need a real headphone amp or a quality interface with proper output voltage. A cheap USB adapter will not get these sounding right. Once properly driven, the HD 600 delivers a soundstage and midrange transparency that very few headphones at any price match. The open-back design means zero recording isolation - this is a post-production and review tool exclusively. For podcasters who take their audio seriously and want to know exactly how their final mix sounds, this is the benchmark.