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What we think
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Updated April 11, 2024·
If price is a major concern, the Etymotic ER4XR should appeal to you as they are significantly less expensive than the Sennheiser IE600 and provide excellent noise isolation and sound quality. However, the IE600 boasts superior comfort and slightly better overall sound quality, which might justify the higher cost for avid music listeners. The ER4XR, with a closed-back design and good soundstage, works well for music and TV, but isn't optimal for gaming due to less comfort. Both options have a detachable cable and are not wireless, which is something to consider if that convenience is important for you. Neither is particularly well-suited for exercise or features active noise cancelling, but if you frequently make calls, the microphone quality may disappoint in both models. 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
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sennheiser IE600
- Excellent for TV and video
Key differences
Phone Calls
4.7
3.5
The Etymotic ER4XR and Sennheiser IE600 are both poor for phone calls, though the Etymotic ER4XR is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.3
5.4
The Etymotic ER4XR is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser IE600 is poor.
TV and Video
7.4
9.3
The Sennheiser IE600 is excellent for TV and video, while the Etymotic ER4XR is good.
Noise Reduction
9.1
7.0
The Etymotic ER4XR is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser IE600 is good.
Cost
$234
$600
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Etymotic ER4XR has a price of $234 and the Sennheiser IE600 costs $600.
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Key similarities
Music
8.0
8.3
The Sennheiser IE600 and Etymotic ER4XR are both very good for music.
Gaming
6.2
6.7
The Sennheiser IE600 and Etymotic ER4XR are both only fair for gaming.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Etymotic ER4XR and Sennheiser IE600 both have excellent build quality.
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How the Etymotic ER4XR and the Sennheiser IE600 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Etymotic ER4XR | Sennheiser IE600 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$234 | $600 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Etymotic | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2016 | June 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.8/10 | 3.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.3/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.4/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.1/10 | 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 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 IE600
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Dig into reviews and images
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 ER4XR 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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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.
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.
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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.
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