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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the Etymotic ER4XR and the Sennheiser HD600, consider your preferences and needs. The ER4XR earbuds are a more portable and better choice for passive noise isolation, making them ideal for travel, noisy environments, and focused listening sessions. Their sound quality is high, although the Sennheiser HD600 headphones rate higher in this regard and offer a more immersive experience, especially with their open-back design contributing to a more spacious soundstage. However, the open-back design of the HD600s means they will leak sound and provide minimal isolation from ambient noise, which is not ideal in noisy settings or for maintaining privacy. The ER4XR does not come with a microphone or built-in controls and is less suitable for calls and meetings compared to the HD600s. Both have high build quality with detachable cables, and neither features wireless connectivity. If comfort is a major factor, the HD600s are more comfortable for longer sessions, whereas the ER4XR's in-ear fit may not be comfortable for everyone. In summary, choose the ER4XR for portability and isolation or the HD600 for comfort and a more open, immersive listening experience. 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
- The Etymotic ER4XR has no clear advantages over the Sennheiser HD600.
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD600
- Excellent for music
- Good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
8.0
9.3
The Sennheiser HD600 is excellent for music, while the Etymotic ER4XR is very good.
Gaming
6.2
7.0
The Sennheiser HD600 is good for gaming, while the Etymotic ER4XR is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.3
7.9
The Sennheiser HD600 and Etymotic ER4XR are both good for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Sennheiser HD600 is somewhat better.
TV and Video
7.4
8.9
The Sennheiser HD600 is very good for TV and video, while the Etymotic ER4XR is good.
Noise Reduction
9.1
2.5
The Etymotic ER4XR is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser HD600 is poor.
Cost
$234
$350
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Etymotic ER4XR has a price of $234 and the Sennheiser HD600 costs $350.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
4.7
5.0
The Sennheiser HD600 and Etymotic ER4XR are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Etymotic ER4XR and Sennheiser HD600 both have excellent build quality.
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How the Etymotic ER4XR and the Sennheiser HD600 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Etymotic ER4XR | Sennheiser HD600 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$234 | $350 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Etymotic | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2016 | January 1, 1997 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.8/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.3/10 | 7/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.4/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.1/10 | 4.5/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 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 | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4 Grams | 258.5 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
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 HD600
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Jean Mouchet | September 2021
"The HD600 are state-of-the-art headphones with high sound quality and remarkable value, among most of the offerings in today’s time."
Get a great deal on the Etymotic ER4XR or the Sennheiser HD600
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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