The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
If you're looking for earbuds that offer an immersive experience with a variety of features such as active noise cancellation, touch controls, and wireless charging, and you're okay with the higher price, then the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is a strong choice. They also have a low latency mode which is suitable for watching videos and gaming. However, if you prioritize cost-effectiveness and don't mind using wired headphones, the Sennheiser HD 400S are less expensive and provide excellent sound quality for music. But they lack the modern conveniences of wireless connectivity and a built-in microphone. Keep in mind, the earbuds are more portable and discreet, while the headphones can offer better comfort for long listening sessions. 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 "Nothing" Brand Ear (2)
Very good for TV and video
Good for exercise
Very good for air travel
Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD 400S
Very good for phone calls
Key differences
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.1/10
7.6/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is good.
Noise Reduction
8.0/10
5.3/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is very good for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is poor.
Battery
6.7 Hours
N/A
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) has 6.7 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser HD 400S does not have a battery.
Cost
$149
$50
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) has a price of $149 and the Sennheiser HD 400S costs $50.
Build Quality
9.0/10
8.5/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) has excellent build quality, while the Sennheiser HD 400S has very good build quality.
The Sennheiser HD 400S and "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) are both good for music.
Gaming
8.5/10
8.6/10
The Sennheiser HD 400S and "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) are both very good for gaming.
Phone Calls
7.9/10
8.2/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sennheiser HD 400S to be very good for phone calls, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is good.
TV and Video
8.0/10
7.6/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) to be very good for TV and video, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is good.
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How the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) and the Sennheiser HD 400S compare to other earbuds and headphones
"For the price the Nothing Ear (2) is pretty good. It fits well, and the IP54 rating (and IP55 with case) is durable enough for daily life. Most of its unique features are found in the Nothing X app, such as personalized frequency responses, and personalized, adjustable ANC."
"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 "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) or the Sennheiser HD 400S
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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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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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