Sennheiser HDB 630 Around-the-ear Review
The Sennheiser HDB 630 is a $500 headphone that delivers aggressively average performance. Our benchmarks show it's not competitive with leaders from Sony and Apple, making it a tough sell.
The 30-Second Version
Skip it. The Sennheiser HDB 630 is a $500 headphone with $300 performance. You're paying for the brand, not the experience.
Overview
The Sennheiser HDB 630 is a $500 headphone that feels like it's priced for its name, not its performance. The one thing you need to know is that it's aggressively average across the board. Our data shows it's a solidly mid-pack performer in every single category, from sound quality to noise cancellation. It's not a bad headphone, but at this price, you're paying a premium for a badge that doesn't deliver a premium experience.
Performance
Nothing here surprised us, and that's the problem. For a $500 headphone, you'd expect at least one standout feature. Instead, the HDB 630 lands right in the middle of the pack in our benchmarks. Its sound quality is in the 49th percentile, ANC is 48th, and battery life is 48th. It's the definition of 'fine,' but fine isn't good enough when you're competing with the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Build quality feels decent and sturdy. 100th
- The included BTD 700 Bluetooth adapter is a nice touch for lossless wireless. 100th
- Comfort is acceptable with low clamping force. 99th
- Parametric EQ gives you some control over the sound. 98th
Cons
- Wildly overpriced for its middling performance. 2th
- Noise cancellation is just okay, not class-leading.
- The microphone quality is poor for calls.
- Lacks the polish and smart features of its competitors.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | Over-Ear |
| Open/Closed | Closed |
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.0 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Driver Size | 42 |
| Drivers | 1 |
| Freq Min | 50 |
| Freq Max | 10000 |
| Impedance | 480 |
| Sensitivity | 105 |
| Hi-Res Audio | Yes |
| Codecs | AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, SBC |
| Surround | Sennheiser HDB 630 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones - Hi-Res Audiophile Sound, Adaptive Noise Cancellation, Parametric EQ, 60 Hour Battery Life, Includes USB-C Low-Latency Bluetooth Adapter - Black | Senn |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
| ANC Type | Adaptive |
| Transparency | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 |
| Profiles | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP |
| Wired Connector | USB-C |
Battery
| Battery Life | 60 |
| Charge Time | 2 |
| Fast Charging | 10min=7hrs |
| Charging | USB-C |
| Capacity | 700 |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
| Mic Count | 4 |
| NC Mic | Yes |
Features
| Touch Controls | No |
| App | iOS, Android |
| Volume Limiting | No |
| Gaming Mode | Yes |
Value & Pricing
It's not worth it. At $500, you're entering flagship territory, and the HDB 630 doesn't bring flagship performance. You can get better sound, better ANC, and better features for the same money, or even less.
vs Competition
This is where the HDB 630 falls apart. The Sony WH-1000XM5 ($399) crushes it in ANC, battery life, and smart features. The Apple AirPods Max ($549) offers a far more polished ecosystem experience and better transparency mode. Even Sennheiser's own MOMENTUM 4 ($349) is a better value proposition with a more engaging sound signature. The HDB 630 feels like it's trying to compete with these giants but forgot to bring its A-game.
| Spec | Sennheiser HDB 630 Around-the-ear | Sony WH-1000XM6 Sony - WH-1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Cancelling | Apple AirPods Max Apple AirPods Max Wireless Over-Ear Closed-Back | Bowers & Wilkins PX7S2 Bowers & Wilkins - Px7 S2 Wireless Active Noise | Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX Noise-Canceling Wireless | Bose QuietComfort Bose QuietComfort Wireless Over-Ear Active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Driver Size (mm) | 42 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 40 | - |
| Impedance Ohms | 480 | 48 | 16 | 33 | 24 | - |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Open Closed Back | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| Battery Life Hours | 60 | 30 | 20 | 30 | 35 | 24 |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser HDB 630 Around-the-ear | 99.5 | 99.3 | 48.1 | 99.5 | 98.2 | 1.7 | 97 | 97.9 |
| Sony WH-1000XM6 Best Wireless Noise Cancelling Compare | 94.6 | 99.7 | 98.3 | 99.1 | 95 | 91.9 | 99.9 | 97.9 |
| Apple AirPods Max Wireless Over-Ear Closed-Back Compare | 94.6 | 99 | 99.8 | 98.2 | 93.4 | 73.7 | 98.6 | 99 |
| Bowers & Wilkins PX7S2 Wireless Active Noise Cancelling Over Ear Compare | 94.6 | 92.8 | 100 | 93.7 | 94 | 68.6 | 93.3 | 94.6 |
| Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX Noise-Canceling Wireless Over-Ear Compare | 88.1 | 99.3 | 98.3 | 99.4 | 94.5 | 91.9 | 96.6 | 75.6 |
| Bose QuietComfort Wireless Over-Ear Active Noise-Canceling Compare | 88.1 | 92.8 | 48.1 | 88.2 | 94.2 | 91.9 | 98 | 89.7 |
Common Questions
Q: Where are the volume controls?
They're on the right ear cup. It's not the most intuitive layout, so you'll need to feel around for them at first.
Q: Does it work well with a Windows PC?
Yes, it'll work via Bluetooth or USB-C, but it doesn't have any special gaming or spatial audio licenses like Dolby Atmos for Headphones. It's just a standard audio device.
Q: Is there a headphone jack for wired use?
Yes, there's a 3.5mm jack on the right side. You can use it wired, but you'll need to provide your own cable.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for best-in-class noise cancellation or a seamless smart experience, this isn't it. Go get the Sony WH-1000XM5 instead. If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem and want that polish, save a little more for the AirPods Max.
Verdict
We can't recommend buying the Sennheiser HDB 630. It's a competent but unremarkable headphone stuck at a premium price point. Unless you find it for a massive discount (think under $300), your money is better spent on almost any of its top competitors. It's a baffling product from a company that usually knows better.