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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Beats EP headphones are on-ear with a more stylish design, but they do not have a microphone for calls and the price is higher. They provide a good overall sound for music, but may not be as comfortable for long periods. On the other hand, the Sennheiser HD 400S are over-ear headphones that generally cost less, include a microphone which is good for calls, and offer a very comfortable fit and higher durability; they're also a better choice for gaming and watching TV due to higher scores in those applications. Neither model is wireless, both have similar noise isolation, and neither is sweat or dustproof. 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 Beats EP
- Very good for music
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD 400S
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for air travel
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.1
7.1
The Beats EP is very good for music, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is good.
Gaming
6.3
8.6
The Sennheiser HD 400S is very good for gaming, while the Beats EP is only fair.
Phone Calls
4.2
8.2
The Sennheiser HD 400S is very good for phone calls, while the Beats EP is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.8
7.6
The Sennheiser HD 400S is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Beats EP is only fair.
Cost
$100
$61
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
The Beats EP has a price of $100 and the Sennheiser HD 400S costs $61.
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Key similarities
TV and Video
7.6
7.6
The Sennheiser HD 400S and Beats EP are both good for TV and video.
Noise Reduction
5.3
5.3
The Beats EP and Sennheiser HD 400S are both poor for noise reduction.
Build Quality
8.0
8.5
The Sennheiser HD 400S and Beats EP both have very good build quality.
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How the Beats EP and the Sennheiser HD 400S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Beats EP | Sennheiser HD 400S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$100 | $61 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Beats | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2018 | January 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.3/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.3/10 | 8.7/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.6/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 4.2/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 226.7 Grams | 213 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Beats EP
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonecheck
Ulf Kaiser | 2015
"With the EP model, Beats delivers a stylish headphone with cable connection and hands-free functionality that should please consumers seeking a balanced sound for playback on mobile devices."
Sennheiser HD 400S
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Dungeon
Jim | August 2022
"Sennheiser has done it again. The HD 400S performs well beyond its price range and is one of the better budget model headphones I’ve tried. It has very few bells and whistles and offers a simple means of listening that still delivers amazing clarity and quality. If you need a good first pair of headphones or need something that you can take out of the house, then the HD 400S is definitely for you."
Get a great deal on the Beats EP or the Sennheiser HD 400S
About Beats
Beats is an American, consumer-focused, audio products manufacturer. Founded originally by American rapper and producer Dr Dre, the company is now a subsidiary of Apple. Beats sells a wide range of audio products, including several models of headphones, earbuds and speakers as well as full car audio systems.
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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