Sennheiser HD 800S
Over-ear · 2016
HiFiMan Arya Organic
Planar magnetic
Sennheiser HD 800S takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sennheiser HD 800S lands at 95 and HiFiMan Arya Organic at 92. That puts Sennheiser HD 800S ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sennheiser HD 800S if…
- ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- ✓Premium build
- ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)
Pick HiFiMan Arya Organic if…
- ✓Reference-level detail
- ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
- ✓Long-term ownership appeal
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testSound quality
Sennheiser HD 800STuning, detail, and staging
Sennheiser HD 800S leads on sound (95 vs 92).
Noise cancelling
Sennheiser HD 800SANC strength for commute and travel
Sennheiser HD 800S leads on anc (93 vs 0).
Comfort
Sennheiser HD 800SLong-session wearability
Sennheiser HD 800S leads on comfort (94 vs 88).
Value for money
HiFiMan Arya OrganicSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
HiFiMan Arya Organic more score per dollar ($1,299 vs $1,699).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sennheiser HD 800S | HiFiMan Arya Organic |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-ear | Planar magnetic |
| Release year | 2016 | — |
Sennheiser HD 800S
- +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- +Premium build
- +Active noise cancellation (most models)
- −Battery varies by codec
- −Some are Bluetooth-only
- −Price creep vs previous gen
HiFiMan Arya Organic
- +Reference-level detail
- +Well-regarded in audiophile community
- +Long-term ownership appeal
- −Requires amplifier (most)
- −No active noise cancellation
- −Impractical for commuting
FAQ: Sennheiser HD 800S vs HiFiMan Arya Organic
Which is better, Sennheiser HD 800S or HiFiMan Arya Organic? +
Sennheiser HD 800S scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sennheiser HD 800S worth the price? +
At $1,699, Sennheiser HD 800S delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in sound.
Is HiFiMan Arya Organic worth the price? +
At $1,299, HiFiMan Arya Organic delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in battery.
Does Sennheiser HD 800S or HiFiMan Arya Organic 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 800S or HiFiMan Arya Organic? +
Sennheiser HD 800S — leads on sound (95 vs 92). Tuning, detail, and staging.
Which is better for noise cancelling, Sennheiser HD 800S or HiFiMan Arya Organic? +
Sennheiser HD 800S — leads on anc (93 vs 0). ANC strength for commute and travel.