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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're considering price as a major factor, the Apple AirPods (2nd generation) are much more affordable than the Sennheiser HD800S and offer wireless convenience for everyday use and travel. They are compact, have a good microphone for calls, and easily integrate with Apple devices. In contrast, the Sennheiser HD800S are high-end, over-ear headphones designed for audiophiles seeking the best sound quality for music at home. They offer a wide soundstage and detailed sound but are bulky, wired, and not suited to portable use or making calls. If you value sound quality above all and mostly listen at home, the HD800S are superior; however, for versatile, everyday use, especially with Apple products, the AirPods are more practical and cost-effective. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple Airpods (2nd generation)
Good for air travel
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD800S
Best in class for music
Good for gaming
Best in class for TV and video
Key differences
Music
5.8/10
9.9/10
The Sennheiser HD800S is best in class for music, while the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) is poor.
Gaming
4.8/10
7.5/10
The Sennheiser HD800S is good for gaming, while the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) is poor.
Phone Calls
6.9/10
5.0/10
The Apple Airpods (2nd generation) is only fair for phone calls, while the Sennheiser HD800S is poor.
TV and Video
5.4/10
9.7/10
The Sennheiser HD800S is best in class for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) is poor.
Battery
4.0 Hours
N/A
The Apple Airpods (2nd generation) has 4 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser HD800S does not have a battery.
Cost
$89
$1,400
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Apple Airpods (2nd generation) has a price of $89 and the Sennheiser HD800S costs $1,400.
Build Quality
7.6/10
9.0/10
The Sennheiser HD800S has excellent build quality, while the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) has good build quality.
"The cans offer stellar sound quality, comfort, and good maintenance options—so they're an easy recommendation if you have the cash and the need for the last headphones you'll buy for years."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) or the Sennheiser HD800S
About Apple
Apple Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1976, known for its wide range of premium products, including smartphones, computers, and audio solutions. Apple offers the very popular personal audio line AirPods, highly regarded for their wireless, smart capabilities and their seamless integration with the iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. They provide a high-quality sound, comfort and lifestyle features perfect for all users invested in their ecosystem.
About Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.