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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If sound quality is a priority and you're willing to invest more, the Etymotic ER4XR earbuds offer a high-fidelity listening experience and superior noise isolation, making them ideal for quiet environments. However, they aren't as comfortable for long listening sessions and lack a microphone for calls. On the other hand, the Sennheiser HD 250BT headphones are less expensive, have a longer battery life for wireless use, and include a microphone, making them suitable for a variety of uses including calls and meetings. Their sound quality is very good, and they provide low latency ideal for gaming and TV. They're also better for exercise and travel due to better portability and 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 ER4XR
- 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
8.0
6.5
The Etymotic ER4XR 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 ER4XR is only fair.
Phone Calls
4.7
7.2
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is good for phone calls, while the Etymotic ER4XR is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.3
8.1
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Etymotic ER4XR is good.
TV and Video
7.4
8.4
The Sennheiser HD 250BT is very good for TV and video, while the Etymotic ER4XR is good.
Noise Reduction
9.1
6.0
The Etymotic ER4XR is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser HD 250BT is only fair.
Battery
N/A
25.0 Hours
The Etymotic ER4XR does not have a battery. The Sennheiser HD 250BT has 25 hours of battery life.
Cost
$234
$64
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Etymotic ER4XR has a price of $234 and the Sennheiser HD 250BT costs $64.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Etymotic ER4XR and Sennheiser HD 250BT both have excellent build quality.
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How the Etymotic ER4XR and the Sennheiser HD 250BT compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Etymotic ER4XR | Sennheiser HD 250BT |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$234 | $64 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Etymotic | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2016 | May 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.3/10 | 8.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.1/10 | 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 ER4XR
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | May 2015
"The Etymotic ER4XRs' top qualities are the detail and definition of the midrange, rewarding the closest listening. While the soundstage is large rather than gigantic, the excellent separation and spatial precision mean you can dive deep into music just as much as when wearing a pair of full-size open-backed headphones."
Sennheiser HD 250BT
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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 ER4XR 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.
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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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