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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Beats Solo 3 are wireless, have a longer battery life, and feature optimizations for Apple devices, making them convenient for users within the Apple ecosystem and those who prioritize portability and wireless features. On the other hand, the Sennheiser HD 400S, while not wireless, offers better sound quality, comfort, and a superior microphone, making them a better choice for calls, meetings, and gaming. They also provide a great experience for listening to music and watching TV or videos. Price-wise, the Beats Solo 3 are more expensive, so if budget is a concern, the Sennheiser HD 400S may be the more cost-effective choice without sacrificing audio quality and comfort. 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 Solo 3
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD 400S
- Good for music
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
6.3
7.1
The Sennheiser HD 400S is good for music, while the Beats Solo 3 is only fair.
Gaming
5.3
8.6
The Sennheiser HD 400S is very good for gaming, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Phone Calls
4.7
8.2
The Sennheiser HD 400S is very good for phone calls, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.8
7.6
The Sennheiser HD 400S is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
7.6
The Sennheiser HD 400S is good for TV and video, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Battery
41.5 Hours
N/A
The Beats Solo 3 has 41.5 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser HD 400S does not have a battery.
Cost
$117
$61
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Beats Solo 3 has a price of $117 and the Sennheiser HD 400S costs $61.
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Key similarities
Noise Reduction
5.3
5.3
The Beats Solo 3 and Sennheiser HD 400S are both poor for noise reduction.
Build Quality
8.0
8.5
The Sennheiser HD 400S and Beats Solo 3 both have very good build quality.
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How the Beats Solo 3 and the Sennheiser HD 400S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Beats Solo 3 | Sennheiser HD 400S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$117 | $61 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Beats | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2016 | January 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.3/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.7/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.3/10 | 8.7/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 5.9/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 41.5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 4.2 | N/A | |
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 | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 5.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 5.7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 213.1 Grams | 213 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Beats Solo 3
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Lily Katz | May 2023
"The Beats Solo3 Wireless is an old set of headphones but still works reliably well with iPhones, due to W1 chip integration and AAC support. The Beats Solo3 Wireless holds up well today with just a few features showing its age."
Sennheiser HD 400S
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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 Solo 3 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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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