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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If your primary focus is on high sound quality and a broad soundstage for a more immersive experience, the Sennheiser HD800S offers exceptional performance, but keep in mind that they are open-back headphones, which may not be suitable if you need sound isolation or will use them in noisy environments. The Etymotic ER4XR, while less expensive, provide excellent noise isolation and are highly portable, but they may not be as comfortable for long periods due to their in-ear design and don't offer the same expansive soundstage as the HD800S. Neither model has wireless capabilities, but both have detachable cables which is great for durability. Consider your environment, portability needs, and whether immersive sound or noise isolation is more important to you when making your choice. 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 HD800S.
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD800S
- Best in class for music
- Good for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.0
9.9
The Sennheiser HD800S is best in class for music, while the Etymotic ER4XR is very good.
Gaming
6.2
7.5
The Sennheiser HD800S is good for gaming, while the Etymotic ER4XR is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.3
8.1
The Sennheiser HD800S is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Etymotic ER4XR is good.
TV and Video
7.4
9.7
The Sennheiser HD800S is best in class 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 HD800S is poor.
Cost
$234
$1,390
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Etymotic ER4XR has a price of $234 and the Sennheiser HD800S costs $1,390.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
4.7
5.0
The Sennheiser HD800S and Etymotic ER4XR are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Etymotic ER4XR and Sennheiser HD800S both have excellent build quality.
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How the Etymotic ER4XR and the Sennheiser HD800S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Etymotic ER4XR | Sennheiser HD800S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$234 | $1,390 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Etymotic | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2016 | December 1, 2015 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8/10 | 10/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.8/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.3/10 | 7.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.4/10 | 9.7/10 | |
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 | 10/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4 Grams | 371.9 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 HD800S
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | March 2023
"The cans offer stellar sound quality, comfort, and good maintenance options—so they're an easy recommendation if you have the cash and the need for the last headphones you'll buy for years."
Get a great deal on the Etymotic ER4XR or the Sennheiser HD800S
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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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.
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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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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.
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