If you want closed-back headphones for focused listening while watching TV, choose beyerdynamic DT 700; if you need open-back headphones for a more spacious, airy presentation, choose Sennheiser HD 599. For TV watching, the deciding factor is whether you prefer a closed design or an open one—and whether you want to keep more of your listening contained or let room sounds remain audible.
beyerdynamic DT 700 vs Sennheiser HD 599 at a Glance
• beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X: Closed-back design, passive noise control, and a 45 mm dynamic driver; its trade-off is a wired-only connection.
• Sennheiser HD 599: Open-back design with a wide soundstage and an airy listening style; its trade-off is that the open construction offers less isolation.
• For a more contained listening setup: Choose the DT 700 PRO X, which is the closed-back option.
• For a spacious presentation at home: Choose the HD 599, whose open design is made to support spatial listening.
• Both are wired over-ear headphones: Neither product sheet describes wireless operation, so check that your TV or audio equipment can connect to wired headphones.
The beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X is a closed-back, wired, over-ear headphone with a 45 mm dynamic driver and a 5–40,000 Hz frequency range. Its 48-ohm impedance and 100 dB sensitivity are useful figures for comparing the headphone with other wired models, but they do not by themselves guarantee how loud or satisfying it will sound with a particular television. The practical point is that this is a conventional wired headphone, not a Bluetooth model.
For TV viewing, the closed-back design and passive noise control make the DT 700 the more appealing choice if you want a more contained listening experience. It comes with a 5.9-foot removable cable and a 9.8-foot removable cable, giving you two lengths to consider when arranging a seat near a television or audio device. A 3.5 mm jack is listed, along with a 1/4-inch adapter. That combination gives you more connection options, though you still need to confirm which output your TV or receiver supports.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
The earcups are over-ear, with velour listed among the materials; the enclosure uses plastic and spring steel. The headphone weighs 16 ounces, and the package also includes a drawstring bag. Those details may matter if you plan to move it between a living-room setup and a desk. Who should skip it: Skip the DT 700 if you specifically want an open-back presentation, Bluetooth listening, or a headphone designed to keep your ears open to the room.
Sennheiser HD 599: Who It's For
The Sennheiser HD 599 is a wired, open-back, over-ear headphone with a dynamic driver. Its defining feature is the open construction: the product description connects that design with a wide soundstage and a more natural, spatial presentation. For TV, that may suit viewers who want dialogue, music, and surrounding effects to feel less confined to the earcups. It is a design preference, not a promise that every show or television will sound a certain way.
The open design also has a practical comfort angle. Sennheiser describes it as helping the ears stay cool, which may appeal during a long film, a full sports match, or a lengthy gaming session. The product information also describes compatibility with phones, tablets, computers, and most audio devices. For television use, the important qualification is still the connection: the HD 599 is wired, so confirm that your TV or connected equipment can accept its cable.
Sennheiser presents this model as suitable for music listening, gaming, and mixing, with spatial cues intended to make instruments, voices, and in-game sounds easier to distinguish. That makes the HD 599 a plausible choice for viewers who value a roomier presentation and also want one wired headphone for several listening situations. Its listed weight is 0.61 kg. Who should skip it: Skip the HD 599 if you need strong sound isolation, want a closed-back design, or need wireless TV listening.
• Best fit for a closed-back design → beyerdynamic DT 700. Its closed construction is the clearest distinction if you prefer a more contained listening setup.
• Best fit for an open, spacious presentation → Sennheiser HD 599. Its open-back design is specifically associated with a wide soundstage and spatial listening.
• Better match for a longer cable option → beyerdynamic DT 700. It includes removable cables listed at 5.9 feet and 9.8 feet.
• Better match for listeners concerned about warm ears → Sennheiser HD 599. Its description says the open design helps keep ears cool.
• More listed connection accessories → beyerdynamic DT 700. Its package details include a 3.5 mm jack and a 1/4-inch adapter.
• More directly described for a range of personal devices → Sennheiser HD 599. Its compatibility information names phones, tablets, computers, and most audio devices.
• Best for wireless convenience → neither. Both are wired models, so look for a compatible wired output on the TV or audio equipment.
• Best for someone shopping for sports earbuds, open-ear headphones, or spatial-audio headband headphones for TV watching → neither category is an exact match. These are wired over-ear headphones, and the HD 599 is open-back rather than an earbud or headband-style listening device.
My Verdict
Before choosing either headphone, check how your television sends audio. Both models are wired, and their product information does not describe Bluetooth operation. A headphone’s sound design will not solve a connection mismatch, so confirm whether your TV, receiver, or other audio device has an output that works with the headphone connection you plan to use.
Next, think about the room. A closed-back headphone is the more sensible match when you want a contained listening experience; an open-back headphone is the better match if you value a roomier presentation and do not mind a less isolated design. The HD 599’s open construction may also suit long sessions if ear warmth is a concern. The DT 700’s included cable lengths offer a practical choice when the distance from your seat to the device matters.
Finally, decide what you want beyond television. The HD 599 is described for music, gaming, and mixing, while the DT 700’s studio-oriented model name and closed design may appeal to someone building a more focused wired setup. Neither set of product details establishes that one will sound better for every program. Your preference for open versus closed listening, plus a compatible connection, should guide the decision.
No. Both are described as wired headphones. If your TV has no usable wired headphone connection, check whether your audio equipment offers a compatible output before choosing either model.
For a closed-back, more contained listening setup, I’d choose the DT 700. For an open design and a wider, more spatial presentation, the HD 599 is the closer fit.
Does the Sennheiser HD 599 block outside noise?
Check the TV or connected audio device for a wired headphone output that matches your setup. The DT 700 includes a 3.5 mm jack and a 1/4-inch adapter; the product details for the HD 599 describe it as wired but do not specify a cable length here.
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