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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If your priority is wireless convenience and features for exercise such as sweat and dust resistance, the JBL Live Flex 3 earbuds with active noise cancelling and a smart charging case would be a great fit. They are also optimized for both Android and Apple devices and have app controls for personalization. However, the Sennheiser HD 400S headphones, while more budget-friendly, have superior sound quality for gaming, calls, and meetings. They offer a detachable cable and are foldable for easy transport but lack the wireless capability, app features, and are not sweatproof or dustproof. If you primarily listen to music in a stationary setting and want better call and gaming audio, go for the Sennheiser. If you need advanced features with portability for an active lifestyle, choose the JBL. 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 JBL Live Flex 3
- Very good for music
- Very good for exercise
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD 400S
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
- Good for air travel
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.0
7.1
The JBL Live Flex 3 is very good for music, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is good.
Gaming
5.5
8.6
The Sennheiser HD 400S is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.2
8.2
The Sennheiser HD 400S is very good for phone calls, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.9
7.6
The Sennheiser HD 400S is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
TV and Video
5.7
7.6
The Sennheiser HD 400S is good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3
5.3
The JBL Live Flex 3 is very good for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is poor.
Battery
10.0 Hours
N/A
The JBL Live Flex 3 has 10 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser HD 400S does not have a battery.
Cost
$216
$50
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The JBL Live Flex 3 has a price of $216 and the Sennheiser HD 400S costs $50.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The JBL Live Flex 3 and Sennheiser HD 400S both have very good build quality.
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How the JBL Live Flex 3 and the Sennheiser HD 400S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Flex 3 | Sennheiser HD 400S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$216 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2024 | January 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.5/10 | 8.7/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.8/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.4/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 10 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 40 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.8 Grams | 213 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Sennheiser HD 400S
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Dungeon
Jim | August 2022
"Sennheiser has done it again. The HD 400S performs well beyond its price range and is one of the better budget model headphones I’ve tried. It has very few bells and whistles and offers a simple means of listening that still delivers amazing clarity and quality. If you need a good first pair of headphones or need something that you can take out of the house, then the HD 400S is definitely for you."
Get a great deal on the JBL Live Flex 3 or the Sennheiser HD 400S
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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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