Sennheiser HD 201 vs HD 206

Both provide good sound output, but they do not suit those who prefer sounds with heavy-bass hip hop, rock, or rhythm and blues. For these types of music, you can check out these options:

• Sony WH1000XM3
• Beats Studio 3
• Audeze LCD-1 Audiophile Headphones

In summary, the Sennheiser HD 201 and Sennheiser HD 206 are practically identical in appearance, comfort level, and weight. To some extent, even the sound they produce seems very similar, except that HD 206 has a very subtle bass boost. They have 108-decibel sensitivity with a minimum frequency range of 21 Hz and 18 kHz maximum frequency range. Both are great for vocal tracks, instrumentals, classical, acoustic jazz, classical string quartet, orchestra, and folk music.

To help you choose between the two options, we make a comprehensive comparison of their features.

Build and Appearance

Sennheiser HD 201 has a smooth, sleek black-silver design with faux leather ear pads. This 5.82-ounce headphone comes in 9.50 by 4 by 7 inches, which is a bit bigger than other Sennheiser entry products. Its build is a bit flimsy due to the plastic material but very durable. It has a non-detachable 3-meter cable and features a closed-over ear design that offers extra ambient noise attenuation.

The younger brother, Sennheiser HD 206, features a closed-back, comfortable design without the leatherette pads. The cool design also promotes better passive noise isolation, preventing the ambient sound from interfering when you are using a microphone. It measures 8.25 by 6.5 by 3.5 inches and weighs about 7.58 ounces. It also comes with a 3-meter cord, just like the HD 201.

Because of the more comfortable structure, the winner in this category is the Sennheiser HD 206.

Sound Quality

Sennheiser HD 201 delivers a decent sound quality perfect for live performances, disc jockeys, studio recording, or working on the computer. This stereo headphone may not provide very deep bass, but it gives a very clean, fine sound. It offers wonderful audio reproduction and increased signal levels. Sennheiser HD 201 successfully suppresses the ambient noise, providing a pleasurable listening experience.

Between the two, Sennheiser HD 206 has the more impressive, deeper bass. This supra-aural headphone boasts a more dynamic sound due to its crispier bass quality. It offers a crystal-clear sound that is pleasant to the ears, even for a prolonged period. You will never experience static or alteration of sound quality. Overall, its lows, mids, and highs are well-balanced and detailed. 

In this department, HD 206 has the cutting edge. 

Comfort

Sennheiser HD 201 fits well over the user’s ears, offering ultra-comfort for hours. The earpieces are soft and swivel excellently when you want to find the perfect fit on your head.

Sennheiser HD 206 is extremely comfortable and does not leave soreness or redness on your ears. The narrower padded headband does not produce fatigue or headache after a long period of use.

We can say that in this area, Sennheiser HD 206 wins, too.

Features

Sennheiser HD 201 has good characteristics. It has 24 Ohms impedance that makes it compatible with a variety of mobile devices and computers. It features a 6.3 mm gold-plated jack adaptor. The long, non-detachable cord lets it move freely in a room. 

Sennheiser HD 206 also has a low 24 Ohms impedance, making it compatible with computers, tablets, cell phones, and other mobile devices. It comes with a gold-plated 6.3 mm jack adaptor that offers ease of connectivity. The twin-core cable that splits below the chin empowers both earpieces. The long cord gives you enough room to move around when using it in a studio recording. 

Sennheiser HD 206 is more stylish with its two-tone colors.

Sennheiser offers a wide range of audio products at discounted prices on their website.

Performance

Sennheiser HD 201 excels as a reference headphone as well as mastering and mixing sounds. While it is more in the cheaper headphone category, it can easily detect recording flaws quickly. You can hear everything that is happening and resolve sound issues during the audio recording. This characteristic makes it a reliable option for new beatmakers and sound engineers. This HD 201 also does a decent job of preventing sound leaks. The downside of this model is the low volume issue and the lack of bass depth that impedes genre pairing.

Sennheiser HD 206 sounds better than HD 201. It has successfully tamed the upper-mid region and tweaked the bass response, making the sounds more prominent in the 100 to 200 Hz range. It provides plenty of details while keeping the stereo soundstage wide and pleasant. Its closed-back design lessens the occurrence of a sound spill. But while there is enhanced bass response, it remains an average when it comes to mixing and programming tasks.

In this field, HD 206 offers more versatility and value.

Price

Sennheiser HD 201, which was produced in 2006, remains one of the good choices of headphones under the $50 budget range.

The HD 206 that came about in 2016 produces a better bass response in the 100-200 Hz range. It is a good choice for under $70 headphones. 

In the context of price, Sennheiser HD 206 takes the lead.

Overall verdict

While the sound quality of Sennheiser HD 201 and HD 206 will not win awards, they are both reliable, capable, and adaptable to your favorite devices. At their price point, you should not expect fancy external features. However, they may not have modern design or high-quality materials, but both headphones deliver good sound output.

As for which one is better, our fearless verdict is Sennheiser HD 206 based on the marginal improvement of the comfort level that it gives to users and sound quality.