Over-Ear
HiFiMAN HE 1000 Stealth
83Outstanding
$1,400
Full review dataHiFiMAN HE 1000 Stealth vs Sennheiser HD 800: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the HiFiMAN HE 1000 Stealth comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 83. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: HiFiMAN HE 1000 Stealth - Outstanding overall at around $1399.
Over-Ear
Sennheiser HD 800
76Great
$1,800
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
HiFiMAN HE 1000 Stealth leads on 4 of 4 measures.
- HiFiMAN HE 1000 Stealth
- Sennheiser HD 800
HearWiki score
83
76
Sound
9.3
9.2
Value
8.8
-
Price (USD)
$1,400
$1,800
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Same generation
The HiFiMAN HE 1000 Stealth is 14 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price. For 14 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- HE 1000 Stealth202314 yr newer
- HD 8002009
Specifications
HE 1000 StealthHD 800
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $1,400
- $1,800
- HearWiki score
- 83
- 76
- Released
- 2023
- 2009
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- planar magnetic
- 56 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- -
- 56 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 8 Hz - 65 kHz
- 14 Hz - 44.1 kHz
- Sound signature
- neutral
- -
- Impedance
- 32 Ω
- 300 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 93 dB/mW
- 102 dB/mW
- Sensitivity (dB/Vrms)
- -
- 102
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- No
- Weight
- 458 g
- 330 g
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- Yes
- USB-C
- No
- No
- Connector
- 6.35 mm
- 6.35 mm
- Balanced connection
- Yes
- Yes
What reviewers said
HiFiMAN HE 1000 Stealth
The HiFiMAN HE 1000 Stealth is a wired, open-back planar magnetic flagship that delivers a neutral, highly detailed sound signature. It's easier to drive than typical planars thanks to its 32-ohm impedance and 93 dB sensitivity, yet still rewards quality amplification. With its relatively lightweight build for a large headphone and detachable balanced cable, it offers strong technical performance and comfort, though its size and price may not suit everyone.
- Pro:Refined, neutral sound with excellent detail
- Pro:Easier to drive than most planar headphones
- Pro:Comfortable for its large over-ear design
- Con:Still relatively heavy at 458 grams
- Con:Large fit may be awkward for smaller heads
- Con:Treble can sound uneven on bright recordings
Sennheiser HD 800
The Sennheiser HD 800 is an open-back, over-ear headphone renowned for its expansive soundstage and exceptional detail, achieved through a large 56 mm dynamic driver and angled transducer design. It delivers a highly neutral, low-distortion frequency response, though it demands a powerful amplifier and offers no noise isolation. While priced at a premium, its reference-grade performance and comfort have made it a benchmark for audiophile listening since 2009.
- Pro:Expansive, speaker-like soundstage
- Pro:Exceptional detail and resolution
- Pro:Very flat, low-distortion response
- Con:Requires a powerful amplifier; not for portable use
- Con:Fully open design provides no isolation
- Con:High price point
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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