Head-to-head

Sennheiser HD 660S2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Apple AirPods Pro 3

Sennheiser HD 660S2

8.9 $407.89

Sony WH-1000XM6

9.5 $398

Apple AirPods Pro 3

9.3 $199.99

Verdict

Sennheiser HD 660S

Sound first, everything else a distant second. The HD 660S2 deliver the classic Sennheiser midrange, smooth, spacious, and easy on the ears for hours. The catch is everything else: no isolation, no wireless, no ANC, and they want a headphone amp to open up.

Sony WH-1000XM6

Still the pair to beat for silence. The XM6 top the field on noise cancellation, take calls cleanly, and last 30 hours. Sound is a refinement of the XM5, not a leap, and the build feels plasticky for $400, but for travel and focus nothing tops them.

Apple AirPods Pro

If you have an iPhone, just buy these. The Pro 3 leap past the Pro 2 on noise canceling, fit more ears with new foam tips, and add a heart-rate sensor and a hearing test, all with effortless Apple switching. Audiophiles may prefer something more neutral.

Best for

Sennheiser HD 660S

At-home listeners who want spacious, detailed open-back sound and are willing to pair it with a headphone amp.

Sony WH-1000XM6

Travelers and focused workers who want class-leading noise cancellation and all-day over-ear comfort.

Apple AirPods Pro

iPhone users who want excellent noise cancellation in a pocketable case with seamless switching across Apple devices.

Avoid if

Sennheiser HD 660S

You need noise isolation, portability, wireless, or a built-in mic — open-back headphones leak sound both ways.

Sony WH-1000XM6

You want the most pocketable earbuds, or you mainly need open-ear awareness while running or cycling.

Apple AirPods Pro

You're mainly on Android or Windows and want full features, or you prefer over-ear comfort and longer battery life.

Score breakdown

value

Sennheiser

8.0

Sony WH-10

8.3

Apple AirP

8.5

mic calls

Sennheiser

1.0

Sony WH-10

9.0

Apple AirP

9.2

comfort fit

Sennheiser

9.0

Sony WH-10

9.0

Apple AirP

8.8

noise control

Sennheiser

2.0

Sony WH-10

9.5

Apple AirP

9.0

sound quality

Sennheiser

9.6

Sony WH-10

9.0

Apple AirP

8.5

battery features

Sennheiser

2.5

Sony WH-10

9.0

Apple AirP

8.0

Specs

type

Open-back wired over-ear

Over-ear closed-back wireless

In-ear true wireless (ANC)

cables

Balanced 4.4 mm + unbalanced 6.35 mm, plus 3.5 mm adapter

—

driver

38 mm dynamic transducer, aluminum voice coil

—

best use

Home and studio listening

—

features

None (no wireless/ANC) - tuned purely for sound

10-band EQ, 360 Reality Audio, speak-to-chat, replaceable earpads

Live Translation (Apple-Intelligence iPhone required), spatial audio with head tracking

impedance

300 ohms (benefits from a headphone amp)

—

isolation

None - open-back leaks sound both ways

—

anc

—

Adaptive hybrid ANC with Sony's HD noise-cancelling processor

Active Noise Cancellation + Adaptive Transparency (improved over Pro 2)

codecs

—

SBC, AAC, LDAC

—

colors

—

Black, Midnight Blue, Sand Pink, Platinum Silver

—

battery

—

Up to 30 hours with ANC; USB-C quick charge

Up to ~8 hours with ANC; USB-C / Qi charging case

drivers

—

30 mm dynamic

—

connectivity

—

Bluetooth multipoint

—

fit

—

Foam-infused silicone tips, 5 sizes (XXS-L)

health

—

In-ear heart-rate sensor, hearing test, hearing-aid and hearing-protection modes

ecosystem

—

Best with iPhone and Apple devices

Buy →Buy →Buy →

	Sennheiser HD 660S2	Sony WH-1000XM6	Apple AirPods Pro 3
Score	8.9	9.5	9.3
Price	$407.89	$398	$199.99
Verdict	Sound first, everything else a distant second. The HD 660S2 deliver the classic Sennheiser midrange, smooth, spacious, and easy on the ears for hours. The catch is everything else: no isolation, no wireless, no ANC, and they want a headphone amp to open up.	Still the pair to beat for silence. The XM6 top the field on noise cancellation, take calls cleanly, and last 30 hours. Sound is a refinement of the XM5, not a leap, and the build feels plasticky for $400, but for travel and focus nothing tops them.	If you have an iPhone, just buy these. The Pro 3 leap past the Pro 2 on noise canceling, fit more ears with new foam tips, and add a heart-rate sensor and a hearing test, all with effortless Apple switching. Audiophiles may prefer something more neutral.
Best for	At-home listeners who want spacious, detailed open-back sound and are willing to pair it with a headphone amp.	Travelers and focused workers who want class-leading noise cancellation and all-day over-ear comfort.	iPhone users who want excellent noise cancellation in a pocketable case with seamless switching across Apple devices.
Avoid if	You need noise isolation, portability, wireless, or a built-in mic — open-back headphones leak sound both ways.	You want the most pocketable earbuds, or you mainly need open-ear awareness while running or cycling.	You're mainly on Android or Windows and want full features, or you prefer over-ear comfort and longer battery life.
Score breakdown
value	8.0	8.3	8.5
mic calls	1.0	9.0	9.2
comfort fit	9.0	9.0	8.8
noise control	2.0	9.5	9.0
sound quality	9.6	9.0	8.5
battery features	2.5	9.0	8.0
Specs
type	Open-back wired over-ear	Over-ear closed-back wireless	In-ear true wireless (ANC)
cables	Balanced 4.4 mm + unbalanced 6.35 mm, plus 3.5 mm adapter	—	—
driver	38 mm dynamic transducer, aluminum voice coil	—	—
best use	Home and studio listening	—	—
features	None (no wireless/ANC) - tuned purely for sound	10-band EQ, 360 Reality Audio, speak-to-chat, replaceable earpads	Live Translation (Apple-Intelligence iPhone required), spatial audio with head tracking
impedance	300 ohms (benefits from a headphone amp)	—	—
isolation	None - open-back leaks sound both ways	—	—
anc	—	Adaptive hybrid ANC with Sony's HD noise-cancelling processor	Active Noise Cancellation + Adaptive Transparency (improved over Pro 2)
codecs	—	SBC, AAC, LDAC	—
colors	—	Black, Midnight Blue, Sand Pink, Platinum Silver	—
battery	—	Up to 30 hours with ANC; USB-C quick charge	Up to ~8 hours with ANC; USB-C / Qi charging case
drivers	—	30 mm dynamic	—
connectivity	—	Bluetooth multipoint	—
fit	—	—	Foam-infused silicone tips, 5 sizes (XXS-L)
health	—	—	In-ear heart-rate sensor, hearing test, hearing-aid and hearing-protection modes
ecosystem	—	—	Best with iPhone and Apple devices
	Buy →	Buy →	Buy →

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