The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If you prioritize convenience and functionality like wireless charging, ear/head detection, and an integrated microphone with good quality for calls, the Apple Airpods Pro would be a more suitable choice, especially if you're using an Apple device, which leverages the Airpods' features better. They also have active noise cancelling which is great for air travel and environments with background noise. However, if sound quality for music is your main concern and you don't mind a wired connection, the Sennheiser IE600 offers superior music performance, but lacks some practical features such as wireless connectivity, built-in controls, and is often more expensive. The Airpods Pro offer a more versatile experience overall but for pure audiophile-grade listening, the Sennheiser would be preferable. 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 Pro
Good for phone calls
Excellent for air travel
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sennheiser IE600
Very good for music
Excellent for TV and video
Key differences
Music
6.8/10
8.3/10
The Sennheiser IE600 is very good for music, while the Apple Airpods Pro is only fair.
Gaming
5.1/10
6.7/10
The Sennheiser IE600 is only fair for gaming, while the Apple Airpods Pro is poor.
Phone Calls
7.4/10
3.5/10
The Apple Airpods Pro is good for phone calls, while the Sennheiser IE600 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.3/10
5.4/10
The Apple Airpods Pro is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser IE600 is poor.
TV and Video
5.7/10
9.3/10
The Sennheiser IE600 is excellent for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods Pro is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1/10
7.0/10
The Apple Airpods Pro is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser IE600 is good.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The Apple Airpods Pro has 5 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser IE600 does not have a battery.
Cost
$260
$600
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Apple Airpods Pro has a price of $260 and the Sennheiser IE600 costs $600.
"For just $50 USD more than the original model with the wireless charging case, this is definitely the pair of buds to get. The AirPods Pro (1st generation) sounds better than the originals and has a way better fit and active noise canceling to boot. If you have an iOS device, just get this."
"If you've got the bucks, the Sennheiser IE 600 is a nice, upscale set of in-ear monitors made of a lightweight metal with an unusual texture. It comes with a suite of extras, and performs well at virtually every task."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Pro or the Sennheiser IE600
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.