Sennheiser HD 201 vs HD 206 | Which Headset Offer Better Sound Quality ?

With headphones, you can enjoy music or audio materials privately due to their rich and excellent sound quality. You can listen to music hands-free anywhere and anytime with these devices.

There are many to choose from, but Sennheiser will never let you down. The Sennheiser HD 201 and HD 206 are two of their most popular products.

Sennheiser HD 201 and HD 206 have identical appearances, comfort levels, and weights. Their sounds are similar, aside from HD 206’s subtle bass boost.

The range of frequencies they cover is 21 Hz to 18 kHz, with 108-decibel sensitivity. They work well for vocals, instrumentals, acoustic jazz, classical, string quartets, orchestras, and folk songs.

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Our comprehensive comparison of the two options will assist you in making a decision.

Sennheiser HD 201 vs HD 206 Comparison Chart

Model	Sennheiser HD 201	Sennheiser HD 206
Style	On-Ear	Over-Ear
Weight	5.82 oz	5.82 oz
Attachment Type	Headband	Headband
USB	No	Yes
Wirelss	No	No
Inputs Supported	3.5mm	N/A
Sound Output	Stereo	Stereo
Impedance	24.0 Ohms	24.0 Ohms
Lowest Frequency	21Hz	21Hz
Highest Frequency	18000Hz	18000Hz
Connectivity Technology	Wired	Wired
Cable Length	3	3
Noise Isolating	Yes	N/A
Microphone	No	No
Channels	2	N/A
Neodymium Magnet	Yes	No
Driver Size	1.57 in	N/A
Driver Technology	Dynamic	Dynamic
Acoustic Design	Closed	Closed
Total Harmonic Distortion(THD)	0.7 %	0.7 %
Detachable Cable	No	N/A
Category	Studio	N/A
Connector Contacts Plating	N/A	Gold
Noise Cancelling	No	No
Battery Operated	No	No
Power Handling Capacity	30.0 mW	N/A
Body Material	Leatherette	N/A
Colors	Black, Grey, Black-Silver	Silver, Black-Silver

Sennheiser HD 201 and HD 206 Descriptive Comparison

Design and Build

The Sennheiser HD 201 has a sleek, black-silver design complemented by faux leather ear pads. The headphone weighs 5.82 ounces and comes in a size of 9.50 by four by 7 inches, which is a bit larger than other entry-level Sennheiser products.

The plastic material makes it a bit flimsy, but it is very durable. This headset offers extra noise reduction thanks to its non-detachable 3-meter cable and closed-over ear design.

The Sennheiser HD206 features the same closed-back, comfortable design but without the leatherette pads. Additionally, the excellent design reduces ambient sound interference when you use a microphone, preventing you from hearing everything around you.

It weighs about 7.58 ounces and is 8.25 by 6.5 by 3.5 inches in size. A 3-meter cord is also included, just like the HD 201. As a result of its more comfortable structure, the Sennheiser HD 206 wins this category.

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Comfort

The Sennheiser HD 201 headphones fit over the user’s ears well, providing extreme comfort for long periods. The earpieces are soft and swivel easily when fitting your head perfectly.

You won’t experience any soreness or redness on your ears when wearing Sennheiser HD 206. After prolonged use, the narrower padded headband produces no fatigue or headaches. Sennheiser HD 206 wins in this area as well.

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Sound Quality

Whether you’re recording in the studio, live performing, or working on the computer, the Sennheiser HD 201 provides decent sound. It’s perfect for disc jockeys.

This stereo headphone doesn’t provide a lot of bass, but it offers a pure, pleasant sound. This device provides excellent audio reproduction and enhanced signal levels. It is possible to enjoy relaxing listening experiences with the Sennheiser HD 201 because it effectively suppresses ambient noise.

There is no doubt that Sennheiser HD 206 has a deeper bass, which is more impressive. Due to its crisper bass quality, this supra-aural headphone produces a more dynamic sound. This device provides crystal-clear audio that is pleasant to listen to even for long periods. Neither static nor altered sound quality will be experienced. It has a well-balanced and detailed sound in the lows, mids, and highs. HD 206 is at the forefront in this area.

Amplification

The HD 201 won’t require any but may benefit from them. Smartphones and laptops can drive it due to its low impedance and high sensitivity. The 201 will not really be worth it if you want separate amplification – you’d probably have to upgrade to the Sony MDR V6 if you do. By pushing a 201, you are asking for harmonic distortion.

Consequently, it’s best to listen to it at a lower volume.

Genre Pairing

The HD 201 is great for quiet music, whether jazz, classical, folk, acoustic, or anything else. EDM, rock and hip-hop sound great as well, but the HD 201’s transients are lacking.

When you listen to it, you’ll find the speed and decay are a little lacking. Still, the 201 is a great budget headphone for mixing, mastering, and reference uses.

You’ll hear pretty much everything, allowing you to identify any flaws in the recording quickly. For beginning sound engineers and beatmakers, this makes it a good option. As long as you stick to softer music with a few harder songs thrown in, you should be fine. All I’m saying is I don’t recommend these with really intense music.

Performance

In addition to its versatility as a reference headphone, the Sennheiser HD 201 excels as mastering and mixing headphones. However, despite its lower price, it can identify recording flaws quickly.

It is possible to hear everything that is going on during the recording and resolve sound problems. It is an attractive option for aspiring beatmakers and sound engineers due to its reliability.

Additionally, this HD 201 does an excellent job of preventing sound leaks. There is a low volume issue with this model and a lack of bass depth that makes pairing genres difficult.

A Sennheiser HD 206 is a better sounding headset than a Sennheiser HD 201.

As a result, it has been able to tame the upper-mid region and tweak the bass response, allowing the sounds to be more prominent in the 100-200 Hz range.

It provides a wide and pleasant stereo soundstage while providing plenty of details. The closed-back design reduces the likelihood of a sound spill. It remains average despite its improved bass response in terms of mixing and programming. HD 206 is more versatile and cost-effective in this area.

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Features

Sennheiser HD 201 is a good headset. Having a 24 Ohm impedance, you can use it with a wide range of mobile devices and computers. A gold-plated 6.3 mm jack adaptor is included. Its long, non-detachable cord allows it to move freely around the room.

Sennheiser HD 206 headphones also have a low impedance of 24 Ohms, making them compatible with computers, tablets, and cell phones. There is a gold-plated 6.3 mm jack adaptor included for easy connection. Two earpieces are connected by a twin-core cable that divides below the chin. If you are recording in a studio, the long cord gives you plenty of room to move around. The two-tone colors of the Sennheiser HD 206 make it more stylish.

Price

One of the better headphones under $50 is the Sennheiser HD 201, produced in 2006. HD 206 was introduced in 2016 and offered a better bass response between 100 and 200 Hz. This is a good option if you’re looking for headphones under $70. Expert Reviews has included it in their list of the best budget over-ear headphones. They believe it is the best cheap reference headphone on the market. Sennheiser HD 206 is the best value in terms of price.

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Conclusion

Even though Sennheiser HD 201 and HD 206 don’t win awards for sound quality, they are reliable, capable, and adaptable to most devices. The external features of these devices are not expected to be fancy at their price point. Both headphones deliver good sound despite not having a modern design of high-quality materials. In terms of sound quality and comfort level, we believe Sennheiser HD 206 is the superior choice, based on the marginal improvement in both.

Frequently Asked Questions