Sennheiser HDB 630 review: near‑audiophile wireless with a dongle

Sennheiser’s HDB 630 aim to bring audiophile‑level sound to a wireless, ANC‑equipped package. Priced at $500 and shipping with the BTD 700 USB‑C dongle, these headphones unlock high‑resolution wireless streaming (up to 24‑bit/96kHz with the dongle), a neutral and detailed tuning, long battery life, and a robust suite of customization options.

They’re not perfect: the design borrows heavily from the Momentum 4 (a look some find underwhelming for a $500 pair), some genres benefit from EQ boosts, and the control app is mobile‑only. Still, for listeners who prioritize sound fidelity in a wireless set, the HDB 630 are one of the most compelling options right now.

Quick highlights

• High‑res wireless via included BTD 700 dongle: aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless up to 24‑bit/96kHz.
• Strong battery life: up to 60 hours with standard streaming; ~45 hours when using the high‑res dongle.
• Neutral, detail‑focused tuning with a spacious presentation on some material; parametric EQ and Crossfeed available in the app.
• Good ANC and clear call performance; adaptive ANC can be adjusted with a pinch gesture on the earcup.

Design & comfort

The HDB 630 inherit the Momentum 4 chassis: soft earpads, a cushioned headband and a comfortable clamp that suits long listening sessions. They’re slightly heavier than the Momentum 4 but remain balanced. A capacitive touch panel (including a pinch gesture) controls playback and an Adaptive ANC slider; some users may find the gestures fiddly at first.

Sound quality & tuning

Sennheiser redesigned the acoustic platform (42mm drivers and a new baffle mesh) to achieve a neutral, detailed sound that aims for an open‑back character. Out of the box the tuning emphasizes mids and detail — excellent for electronic, orchestral and vocal‑centric tracks. Rock and bass‑heavy genres may need EQ tweaks to restore low‑end impact.

Connecting with the BTD 700 dongle — included in the box — notably elevates the experience. The dongle enables higher‑bit streaming and lower latency for gaming. Wired USB‑C mode also delivers great results if you prefer a direct lossless connection.

Software, features & dongle

The Sennheiser Smart Control Plus mobile app offers a parametric EQ, Crossfeed (speaker‑like blending of channels), ANC tuning and preset management. A limitation: there’s no desktop app, so EQ and advanced settings must be configured from your phone before you pair the dongle to a PC or Mac.

The BTD 700 dongle adds aptX Adaptive/aptX Lossless support, a 30ms low‑latency gaming mode, improved voice performance and Auracast compatibility. It ships with a USB‑A adapter for older hosts.

ANC, calls & battery

ANC performance is solid — comparable to Sennheiser’s best recent efforts — and handled voices and background chatter well during testing. Call quality is serviceable, with the dongle promising improved voice pickup in some scenarios. Battery life is a standout: expect up to 60 hours (standard streaming) and around 45 hours with high‑res playback via the dongle. A 10‑minute quick charge can yield several hours of listening.

Competition & where HDB 630 fit

At $500 the HDB 630 compete with the Sony WH‑1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, AirPods Max and alternatives like Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3. Where the HDB 630 stand out is sound fidelity and included high‑res dongle — a package aimed at listeners who want near‑audiophile wireless performance without carrying a full DAC/amp rig.

Verdict

If you want the best possible wireless sound and don’t mind paying a premium and adapting your workflow (keep the dongle handy), the Sennheiser HDB 630 are among the most convincing choices today. They won’t be the pick for every listener — some will prefer warmer, more exciting stock tunings or a flashier design — but for clarity, detail and high‑res wireless capability they’re hard to beat.

Further reading: detailed review on Engadget: Engadget review. Sennheiser product page: sennheiser.com.

Discussion: Would you carry a dongle to get near‑audiophile wireless sound — or do you prefer simpler headphone setups? What features would make a $500 wireless pair a no‑brainer for you?