The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds offer excellent noise cancellation, making them ideal for travel or noisy environments, though they may cost more. They're also wireless, providing convenience and freedom of movement. In contrast, the Sennheiser 560S are likely better for critical listening due to their open-back design which delivers a more natural soundstage. However, they won't isolate sound as well, making them less suitable for loud places, and the wired connection could limit mobility. For in-home use, especially for music enthusiasts, the Sennheiser 560S could offer a more immersive experience. If you prioritize portability and noise isolation, the Bose earbuds are 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 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Very good for gaming
Very good for exercise
Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Sennheiser 560S
Best in class for music
Excellent for TV and video
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.6/10
9.5/10
The Sennheiser 560S is best in class for music, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good.
Gaming
8.8/10
6.9/10
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for gaming, while the Sennheiser 560S is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0/10
8.1/10
The Sennheiser 560S is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is only fair.
TV and Video
8.1/10
9.1/10
The Sennheiser 560S is excellent for TV and video, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good.
Noise Reduction
8.9/10
2.5/10
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser 560S is poor.
Battery
6.5 Hours
N/A
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser 560S does not have a battery.
Cost
$249
$180
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has a price of $249 and the Sennheiser 560S costs $180.
Build Quality
9.0/10
8.0/10
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has excellent build quality, while the Sennheiser 560S has very good build quality.
"Bose put the time in to fix the major issues with the previous earbuds, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are very befitting of its price point. While you might be tempted to save a few bucks and go with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II on sale, fight the urge. There are enough upgrades here to justify the newer model."
"Sennheiser made a near perfect pair of studio monitors with the HD 560S. Flat bass response? Check. Neutral and uncolored midrange? Check. Extended treble with a bit of lower-treble emphasis to highlight mastering flaws? Check. Fairly easy to drive? Check. Good soundstage and imaging? Check, and check."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or the Sennheiser 560S
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
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.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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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.
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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.