When comparing Sennheiser HD 650 vs Jabra Elite Sport (2017), the Slant community recommends Sennheiser HD 650 for most people. In the question“What are the best headphones?” Sennheiser HD 650 is ranked 10th while Jabra Elite Sport (2017) is ranked 26th. The most important reason people chose Sennheiser HD 650 is:
The sound signature is near neutral but with a little emphasis on the lower frequencies. The bass is slightly forward with good punch and tightness. Explosions will have good rumble, without overpowering the other frequencies. The mids are warm and clear, adding extra body to the sound. Game dialogue will be easy to hear. Highs have good clarity, but are not forward in any way, so harshness is minimized.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Tight and punchy bass, clear with natural mids and highs
The sound signature is near neutral but with a little emphasis on the lower frequencies. The bass is slightly forward with good punch and tightness. Explosions will have good rumble, without overpowering the other frequencies.
The mids are warm and clear, adding extra body to the sound. Game dialogue will be easy to hear.
Highs have good clarity, but are not forward in any way, so harshness is minimized.
Pro Lightweight and comfortable with a near neutral sound signature
The H650 is popular for its near neutral sound, which makes it quite versatile. The headphones can give a great casual listening, gaming, and movie watching experience yet are accurate enough for pro audio mixing. They are also lightweight and comfortable so you won't have any issues wearing them for hours.
Pro Comfortable even when used for hours straight
Clamping force is not too tight. The ear pads and headband feature memory foam which are covered by velour material. The pads feel really soft on the head and allow airflow for minimized heat build-up/sweat.
The headband also features similar cushioning materials and minimizes pressure spots on the head.
Pro Decent soundstage
The open ear cup design allows the sound to blend with your surroundings, giving it a natural width. It will also be easier to identify the direction of sounds, which can really help immersion.
Pro Lightweight for full-sized headphones
The HD-650s do not feel heavy at all. They are usable for long music listening, movie or gaming sessions without feeling pain or strain on their head and neck.
Pro Headphone cable can easily be replaced
While the cable connectors are proprietary, they can easily be removed from the ear cups with a firm pull. The popularity of these headphones means that there are a lot of aftermarket cables that can be bought.
Pro HearThrough mode allows you to better hear your surroundings
In this mode, the mic picks up audio from your surroundings. You can hear sound from around you mixed in with your music.
Pro Can monitor fitness stats
There is an integrated heart rate monitor which can connect to Jabra's fitness companion app. This combination should make it very easy for you to see fitness related data.
Pro Balanced sound signature with clear highs, rich mids and controlled bass
The Elite Sport sounds quite balanced with no harshness or muddiness. The highs are clear and deliver good detail. Mids sound natural and rich, while the bass is tight and controlled instead of bloated. With these headphones, you will get decent punch from the usually bass-centric workout tracks, yet you will still be able to enjoy a refined sound when listening to more mellow or instrument focused music.
Pro Can be used during workouts or while raining
These resist sweat and other liquids as they are IP67 rated. They can be submerged in water without getting damaged as long as the water is not too deep and they are not submerged for a long time.
Pro Optional wing tips improve fit
You can attach wing tips to the earpieces, which allow for better in-ear fit for reduced chances of the earpieces falling off. The tips are quite soft so they will not have too much of a negative impact on comfort.
Pro Earpiece buttons allow playback/call control
Each earpiece has two buttons which you can use to control playback or to answer/end calls.
Pro Can easily be charged on the go
The charging case has an internal battery that can add up to 6 hours to the Elite Sport's battery life.
Pro Allows you to take calls
There are microphones integrated in the ear pieces so hands free calls are possible. Voice quality from the mic is actually pretty good.
Pro An extensive accessory pack is included
You get a charging case, 3 pairs of silicone ear tips in different sizes, 3 pairs of premium Comply ear tips in different sizes, 3 wing tips in different sizes as well as a charging cable.
Cons
Con Sound leak can be a distraction for others
The open design means that a lot of sound can leak out the ear cups. Other people in your immediate vicinity will be able to hear your music, movie or game, which can be annoying for them.
Con Requires a headphone amp for optimal sound
Plugging these directly to your computer or phone will most likely result in audio that is lacking in volume or may sound too thin. To get the best listening experience, you will need to run these with a capable headphone amp.
Con Battery life is not very good
On average, you'll only be able to get around 3 hours of playback time from a full charge.