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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If budget is a concern and you value sound isolation and build quality, the Etymotic ER2SE is a cost-effective choice with excellent noise isolation and overall sound quality. However, these earbuds have limited comfort and no wireless capabilities. On the other hand, if you're willing to invest in a premium audio experience with greater comfort for extended listening sessions, the Sennheiser IE600 offers top-notch sound quality and comfort. They, too, lack wireless functionality and have poor microphone quality, making them less suitable for calls. Neither option is ideal for exercise or sports due to the lack of sweatproof certification. Both have a detachable cable, which is a plus for durability. 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
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sennheiser IE600
- Excellent for TV and video
Key differences
Music
8.8
8.3
The Etymotic ER2SE and Sennheiser IE600 are both very good for music, though the Etymotic ER2SE is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
4.9
3.5
The Etymotic ER2SE and Sennheiser IE600 are both poor for phone calls, though the Etymotic ER2SE is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.6
5.4
The Etymotic ER2SE is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser IE600 is poor.
TV and Video
7.8
9.3
The Sennheiser IE600 is excellent for TV and video, while the Etymotic ER2SE is good.
Noise Reduction
9.1
7.0
The Etymotic ER2SE is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser IE600 is good.
Cost
$100
$600
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Etymotic ER2SE has a price of $100 and the Sennheiser IE600 costs $600.
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Key similarities
Gaming
6.2
6.7
The Sennheiser IE600 and Etymotic ER2SE are both only fair for gaming.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Etymotic ER2SE and Sennheiser IE600 both have excellent build quality.
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How the Etymotic ER2SE and the Sennheiser IE600 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Etymotic ER2SE | Sennheiser IE600 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$100 | $600 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Etymotic | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2019 | June 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.9/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 3.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.3/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.9/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.2/10 | 4.6/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 2.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4 Grams | 6 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Etymotic ER2SE
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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 IE600
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Soundguys
Jasper Lastoria | August 2023
"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 Etymotic ER2SE or the Sennheiser IE600
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.
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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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