Sennheiser HDB 630 review: will these Bluetooth headphones shake up the competition?

With the HDB 630, Sennheiser aims to reconcile musical fidelity with on-the-go comfort. These noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones carry on the heritage of the Sennheiser HD and Sennheiser Momentum series, while taking precision and sound control a step further. The battery life, connectivity and build quality seem to confirm a more high-end positioning. Do these headphones keep their promise of offering daily listening pleasure?

Presentation

The Sennheiser HDB 630 headphones are designed to offer a premium, uncompromising wireless listening experience. Designed for discerning music lovers, these Sennheiser 2025 wireless headphones combine sound quality, comfort and exceptional autonomy.

Designed to deliver an accurate, immersive sound, the Sennheiser HDB 630 feature precision transducers designed to deliver deep bass, clear mids and natural highs. Similar to the Sennheiser Momentum 4, they have been redesigned to provide a more detailed and faithful soundstage, highlighting every nuance of the music.

In Bluetooth wireless mode, the Sennheiser HDB 630 support the aptX HD and aptX Adaptive high-resolution codecs for even more precise sound reproduction. Thanks to Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, transmission is stable and smooth. They can also be used wired, either via a USB-C cable or using a mini-jack audio cable, both of which are included. In addition, the manufacturer also supplies a BTD 700 Bluetooth dongle (to be connected via USB-C), compatible with aptX, aptX Adaptive Audio and, above all, aptX Lossless, so you can be sure of enjoying the most stable and high-quality wireless connection possible from your smartphone or computer.

• aptX Lossless: Qualcomm announces CD-quality wireless transmission

These latest-generation headphones feature active noise cancelling technology that adapts to the environment, effectively filtering out unwanted sound. This means you can stay focused on your music, calls or podcasts, even on public transport and in noisy environments.

Equipped with a generous battery, the HDB 630 provide up to 60 hours of Bluetooth sound, with a quick 10-minute recharge offering up to 7 hours of autonomy.

Available as a free download for iOS and Android, the Sennheiser Smart Control Plus app makes it easy to adjust the sound to suit your preferences or hearing abilities thanks to the built-in equalizer.

Lightweight (311g) and comfortable, the HDB 630 are particularly well-suited to long sessions. The large earpads and a sturdy headband ensure a pleasant fit.

Supplied with a hard case, USB-C cable, audio cable and airplane adapter, the Sennheiser HDB 630 can go everywhere with you. Designed in Germany, they combines elegance, performance and reliability, so you can enjoy the signature Sennheiser sound in total freedom.

Key specifications

• Over-ear headphones
• 42mm transducers
• Bluetooth 5.2 multipoint
• BTD 700 Bluetooth USB-C Dongle included
• SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX adaptive codecs
• Certified High-Res Audio in USB DAC mode
• Adaptive ANC
• 60-hour battery life
• iOS/Android app

Included accessories

The Sennheiser HDB 630 headphones come in an attractive hard case that also contains:

• a USB-C charging cable, that can be used as an audio cable (USB DAC mode),
• a 2.5mm to 3.5mm mini-jack audio cable,
• a dual-mono adapter,
• a Sennheiser BTD 700 USB-C Bluetooth module,
• a user manual,
• an information booklet.

Test conditions

I tested these Sennheiser headphones at home, on public transport and in the office (open space), both in Bluetooth mode (high-resolution mode for aptX HD listening), with and without the supplied dongle, and in USB wired mode.

My sources were Hi-Res audio files, stored locally or read from Qobuz. On my Android smartphone, I used the USB Audio Player Pro app, and while on my Windows PC, I used the Audirvana and Qobuz apps.

📝 Expert advice
If, like me, you own an Android smartphone and want to enjoy the audio qualities of your headphones via a USB wired connection, without any restrictions, I recommend using a bit-perfect audio playback app like USB Audio Player Pro. This bypasses all of Android's inherent audio limitations, allowing you to take full advantage of the headphones' built-in DAC by sending it the raw audio stream, unmodified by the smartphone's operating system.  
This also applies if you decide to use the Sennheiser BTD 700 dongle, which will receive the best possible digital audio stream before encoding in aptX, resulting in more accurate sound.  

My impressions

Design

In terms of design, these headphones don’t reinvent the wheel. If you liked the silhouette of the Sennheiser Momentum 4, you will appreciate the HDB 630, which use the same aesthetic and materials as the black model. The structure is made of plastic, and the ear pads and headband are covered with imitation leather. The main changes concern the color of the yokes, which are silver, and the top of the headband, which swaps the fabric for black leatherette. A change in status that gives them a more classic style, a little more plush too, but nonetheless discreet.

The storage case adopts the same format as the case included with the Momentum, with a black fabric finish. The headphones section is recessed to hold them securely in place, and includes a compartment for the USB cable. The other part features a large mesh pocket for the user manual, and two smaller ones for the dual-mono airplane adapter and the Sennheiser BTD 700 USB-C Bluetooth module. The latter lacks the USB-C to USB-A adapter, unlike the version marketed separately by Sennheiser.

Comfort and battery life

Comfort is a major concern for the manufacturer, and these headphones are no exception. I appreciated that the weight of the headphones (311 grams) was evenly distributed over the head. Pressure on the temples is sufficient to keep them firmly in place during normal use. However, forget about running while listening to music, or nodding your head along to your favorite riffs, or they will slip off!

The earpads fit snugly around the ear without constricting it, and are extremely pleasant to the touch. Soft and well-padded, they are perfectly suited to spectacle wearers. Moreover, the passive isolation proved convincing.

Lastly, I found the battery life to be in line with the manufacturer’s claims, as I was able to accumulate a week’s worth of listening sessions, at a rate of several hours a day, sometimes at sustained volume, without completely draining the battery!

Bluetooth 5.2 compatible

The Sennheiser HDB 630’s Bluetooth 5.2 compatibility comes with support for multipoint connection and SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive codecs. Unfortunately, aptX Lossless and Auracast are absent, which is all the more regrettable given that the BTD 700 dongle supplied with the headphones offers these functions. The manufacturer has missed a great opportunity to stand out from the crowd by integrating these features, which are still not widely available on the market.

Noise cancelling and hands-free calls

Here too, the similarities with the Sennheiser Momentum 4 are obvious. There’s the hybrid adaptive ANC, with 2 microphones per earpiece.

In use, I found it very effective in attenuating low and mid-range frequencies, especially road noise on public transport. However, mid and high frequencies remained slightly audible, if only during the silence between two tracks. This was confirmed in a slightly noisy open plan office: between two tracks, I was able to hear the voices of my editorial colleagues. The ANC isn’t quite at the same level as benchmarks Bose and Sony, but this Sennheiser model is still one of the best in this domain.

The transparency mode convinced me with its balanced reproduction, free from robotic effects and distortion. The voices of my interlocutors sounded natural, as did ambient street noise.

Finally, when it came to phone calls, these headphones were flawless. My interlocutors’ voices were perfectly audible, while they heard mine just as clearly, with no noise despite the wind.

Headphone controls and app

The Sennheiser HDB 630 headphones have a single physical button to turn them on and off and for Bluetooth pairing. All other controls are touch-sensitive and operated from the right earcup. The various gestures used to control the headphones are simple and easy to remember. The touch-sensitive interface covers the entire flat part of the cup and is very responsive, reacting to the slightest touch. This is both very practical and sometimes annoying: several times, I accidentally interrupted playback just by adjusting the headphones on my ears.

Fortunately, Sennheiser has a solution for those who don’t like the touch interface. It can be deactivated via the Sennheiser SmartControlPlus app. In this case, playback and volume are controlled directly on the smartphone or PC.

The Sennheiser app is extremely comprehensive, allowing you to adjust the headphones’ sound quality. To do this, you can choose between several pre-set equalization modes, with the option of creating new ones. More expert users can use the full 5-band parametric equalizer, with adjustment of center frequency, Q-factor and gain. The headphones’ transducers respond very well to the equalization, allowing a highly personalized listening experience.

Music

In direct Bluetooth connection with the smartphone, with the high-resolution mode activated to take advantage of the aptX HD codec, the Sennheiser HDB630 offered a balanced sound. Spatial imaging was precise, with satisfactory width and depth for closed-back headphones, even if I would have appreciated more openness, as is the case with the Focal Bathys, for example. It’s worth noting that whether ANC is activated or not, the sound remains very clean, with no audible crackling or hissing during silence.

On Take the Power Back (Rage Against the Machine), the bass was firm, less omnipresent than on a Sennheiser Momentum 4 or Sony WH1000, but more responsive and better controlled. High frequencies were detailed and crisp, but were slightly harsh during certain parts of the song. Watch out for tracks with slightly harsh production!

An important clarification: it’s not so much the headphones that were to blame as the compression associated with the Bluetooth connection. Despite a higher bit rate than standard aptX, aptX HD still uses compression. What’s more, the quality of the source’s Bluetooth chip (smartphone, PC) plays a big role in the final sound, which I was able to quickly verify using the BTD 700 transmitter.

With this Sennheiser dongle, both on a smartphone and on a PC, we heard a noticeable difference. The sound was richer and more detailed, with greater proximity to the artists and instruments. I noticed better impact in the bass, which was still rich and highly responsive, as well as greater precision in the higher frequencies, which were smoother while remaining very clear.

Unsurprisingly, on both PC and smartphone, it was the USB cable connection that provided the best listening experience, combining energy, definition, balance and emotion. The sound was diffused with greater amplitude and presence. The bass was particularly well controlled, with velocity, depth and nuance. The midrange was more realistic, with a beautiful vocal reproduction and rich, well-modulated tones. For their the high frequencies were particularly smooth and bright, without any sibilance or harshness.

No matter what track is playing, the Sennheiser headphones remained calm and in control, even during complex passages. This resulted in a serene listening experience that was never tiring, even with slightly difficult tracks such as Prince’s The Truth.

Sennheiser HDB 630 compared with the Sennheiser Momentum 4

The similarity between these two headphones is immediately obvious, and is not limited to the overall aesthetics, since the transducers and technical specifications are more or less the same.

And yet, when you listen to them, the HDB 630 stand out for their sound signature, which is more balanced than that of the Momentum. In this respect, they are very much in line with the HD series headphones, adopting a true high-fidelity approach. They offer greater precision and definition in the high frequencies, without sounding clinical in any way. The bass is much more responsive and rigorous, while vocals are more fully fleshed out. This character is expressed with constant serenity, while remaining highly engaging.

• See the Sennheiser Momentum 4 review

Sennheiser HDB 630 compared with the B&W PX8

In contrast to the Bowers & Wilkins PX8, the Sennheiser HDB 630 take a more neutral, analytical approach to sound. Where the PX8 seduce with their warm, enveloping reproduction, the HDB 630 favor rigor, precision and tonal balance. However, the British headphones retain a slight advantage in terms of spatialization and stage depth, thanks to their highly expressive carbon drivers. On the other hand, Sennheiser offers greater endurance, with double the battery life, and a more accomplished USB DAC mode for high-resolution listening. Comfort is also slightly better over time. The PX8 scores points for its more luxurious appearance, with metal and leather elements, and its more powerful ANC, while the HDB 630 headphones stand out as a more versatile audiophile choice, designed for those who prefer accurate, coherent sound to a flattering reproduction.

• See the B&W PX8 review

Who is the Sennheiser HDB 630 designed for?

The Sennheiser HDB 630 are aimed at discerning listeners looking for wireless headphones that combine high fidelity with everyday use. They are a good option for music lovers who prefer precision, balance and neutrality, rather than a demonstrative reproduction. Their comfortable design, long battery life and efficient ANC make them ideal for long listening sessions at home, in the office or on the move. Users of Android smartphones or computers will benefit fully from its capabilities, thanks to aptX HD codecs and the USB DAC mode, making them a relevant choice for those who want to combine mobility with audiophile quality sound.

Frequently asked questions about the Sennheiser HDB 630