A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Etymotic ER2SE offers excellent sound quality and noise isolation, making them ideal for audiophiles who want the best listening experience and for use in noisy environments. However, comfort can be an issue due to their deep ear insertion design. The Sennheiser HD 250BT, on the other hand, are less expensive, provide good sound quality with added convenience of wireless connectivity, and are suitable for activities like gaming or watching TV due to their low latency. Thus, if you prioritize top-notch audio fidelity and noise isolation, the Etymotic ER2SE might be worth the higher cost, but for versatility and better comfort, the Sennheiser HD 250BT are a strong contender at a lower price point. 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 Etymotic ER2SE
- Very good for music
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD 250BT
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.8
6.5
The Etymotic ER2SE is very good for music, while the Sennheiser HD 250BT is only fair.
Gaming
6.2
8.8
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is very good for gaming, while the Etymotic ER2SE is only fair.
Phone Calls
4.9
7.2
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is good for phone calls, while the Etymotic ER2SE is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.6
8.1
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Etymotic ER2SE is good.
TV and Video
7.8
8.4
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is very good for TV and video, while the Etymotic ER2SE is good.
Noise Reduction
9.1
6.0
The Etymotic ER2SE is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser HD 250BT is only fair.
Battery
N/A
25.0 Hours
The Etymotic ER2SE does not have a battery. The Sennheiser HD 250BT has 25 hours of battery life.
Cost
$100
$64
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
The Etymotic ER2SE has a price of $100 and the Sennheiser HD 250BT costs $64.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Headphones
Find your new headphones
Key similarities
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Etymotic ER2SE and Sennheiser HD 250BT both have excellent build quality.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Etymotic ER2SE and the Sennheiser HD 250BT compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Etymotic ER2SE | Sennheiser HD 250BT |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$100 | $64 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Etymotic | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2019 | May 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.9/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.3/10 | 8.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.2/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 25 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 6/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4 Grams | 125 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Shopping
Etymotic ER2SE
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Lily Katz | April 2022
"Etymotic isn’t playing around: it takes audio seriously and has mastered the art of the noise-isolation earphone. Sure, the fit of the earbuds looks silly but it’s a signature Etymotic thing and could be considered charming by some. If you’re looking for best-in-class audio for a realistic price, the ER2SE is it."
Sennheiser HD 250BT
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Check
Pete Scholßnagel | 2020
"As a lightweight, robust audio provider with a long battery life, the Sennheiser HD 250BT offer a lot for their price: very good Bluetooth codecs, an app connection and an extremely understated design. These headphones may not be among the most comfortable, but they deliver adequate sound – without overdriving or distortion."
Get a great deal on the Etymotic ER2SE or the Sennheiser HD 250BT
About Etymotic
Etymotic Research is an American based research, development and manufacturing company founded in 1983. They invented the first insert earphones that were used for the diagnosis and research of hearing loss and other auditory disorders. They went on to pioneer the market of high fidelity, isolating, in-ear earphones.
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
FAQs
FAQs about earbuds and headphones
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
122,900
Recommendations made
18,435
Consumer hours saved
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.
Featured in
