Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Bose - QuietComfort SC | Sennheiser - HD 800 S |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 240 g | 330 g |
| Driver size | 35 mm | 56 mm |
| Active noise cancellation | true | false |
| Multipoint | true | false |
| Battery life | 24 h | 0 h |
Between the QuietComfort SC and HD 800 S, the QuietComfort SC comes out ahead in weight / active noise cancellation, while the HD 800 S wins on driver size. Overall, the QuietComfort SC scores 70.2 and the HD 800 S scores 55.3 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The QuietComfort SC is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 14.9 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the QuietComfort SC if you carry the device everywhere and weight or thickness has been the deciding factor before. The biggest gaps in its favor are weight, active noise cancellation, multipoint, among others. The single most decisive one: Weight — 90.00 g less. 240 vs 330.
Pick the HD 800 S if you care most about driver size. Its strongest claims are driver size. The single most decisive one: Driver size — 60.00% more. 56 mm vs 35 mm.
Both ship with comparable spatial audio, ldac, water resistance, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the QuietComfort SC is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: Bose - QuietComfort SC or Sennheiser - HD 800 S?
Bose - QuietComfort SC leads the current Mars Score by 14.9 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare driver size, battery life, weight against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Bose - QuietComfort SC if…
Bose - QuietComfort SC has the measurable edge on weight g, has anc, has multipoint.
Choose Sennheiser - HD 800 S if…
Sennheiser - HD 800 S has the measurable edge on driver size mm.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Bose - QuietComfort SC wins
- ▲Weight — 90.00 g less. 240 vs 330.
- ▲Has Active noise cancellation.
- ▲Has Multipoint.
- ▲Battery life: 24 h vs 0 h.
Why Sennheiser - HD 800 S wins
- ▲Driver size — 60.00% more. 56 mm vs 35 mm.
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Bose - QuietComfort SC | Sennheiser - HD 800 S |
|---|---|---|
| Type | over-ear | over-ear |
| Weight | 240 glead | 330 g |
| Water resistance | none | none |
Audio
| Spec | Bose - QuietComfort SC | Sennheiser - HD 800 S |
|---|---|---|
| Driver sizeⓘ | 35 mm | 56 mmlead |
| Impedanceⓘ | 32 Ω | 300 Ωlead |
| Sensitivityⓘ | 98 dB | 102 dBlead |
| Active noise cancellationⓘ | truelead | false |
| Transparency mode | truelead | false |
| Spatial audioⓘ | false | false |
Battery
| Spec | Bose - QuietComfort SC | Sennheiser - HD 800 S |
|---|---|---|
| Battery lifeⓘ | 24 hlead | 0 h |
| Fast chargeⓘ | truelead | false |
Connectivity
| Spec | Bose - QuietComfort SC | Sennheiser - HD 800 S |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetoothⓘ | 5.1lead | 0 |
| Multipointⓘ | truelead | false |
| 3.5mm jack | true | true |
| LDACⓘ | false | false |
| aptX HDⓘ | false | false |
Frequently asked
Which has better battery life, QuietComfort SC or HD 800 S?+
QuietComfort SC lasts 24 hours vs 0 hours.
Do QuietComfort SC or HD 800 S have active noise cancellation?+
QuietComfort SC has active noise cancellation; HD 800 S does not.
Which supports LDAC, QuietComfort SC or HD 800 S?+
Neither supports LDAC.