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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're seeking a portable and stylish option for commuting and casual listening, the "Nothing" Ear Stick can be a good choice, often offering a unique design and wireless convenience. However, if you're more concerned with sound quality and want an immersive experience, the Sennheiser HD 400S may serve you better as Sennheiser is known for their sound signature and headphones performance. The Sennheiser also comes with a wired connection that can provide a more stable audio signal without latency issues that are sometimes associated with wireless earbuds, making them a better fit for watching TV and gaming. Keep in mind though, portability and the ease of use that comes with wireless earbuds like the "Nothing" Ear Stick might outweigh the benefits of sound quality and low latency if you're always on the move. Additionally, consider the battery life of wireless earbuds and whether having to charge them could be inconvenient for your usage patterns compared to the simplicity of wired headphones. 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 Stick
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD 400S
- Good for music
- Good for air travel
Key differences
Music
6.1
7.1
The Sennheiser HD 400S is good for music, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is only fair.
Gaming
8.1
8.6
The Sennheiser HD 400S and "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick are both very good for gaming, though the Sennheiser HD 400S is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.4
7.6
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
5.3
The Sennheiser HD 400S and "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick are both poor for noise reduction, though the Sennheiser HD 400S is somewhat better.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has 5 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser HD 400S does not have a battery.
Cost
$99
$50
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has a price of $99 and the Sennheiser HD 400S costs $50.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has excellent build quality, while the Sennheiser HD 400S has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
8.6
8.2
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick and Sennheiser HD 400S are both very good for phone calls.
TV and Video
7.5
7.6
The Sennheiser HD 400S and "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick are both good for TV and video.
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How the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick and the Sennheiser HD 400S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick | Sennheiser HD 400S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$99 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | "Nothing" Brand | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2022 | January 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.2/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.2/10 | 8.7/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.6/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 22 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4.4 Grams | 213 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
"Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | December 2022
"If the Ear (stick) fits your ears, its light weight means you can easily wear it until the unimpressive battery life totally drains. The IP54 rating of the buds lends some confidence that it’ll survive some light abuse too. Finally, for the person who only wears earbuds at their desk, the Nothing Ear (stick) with its decent microphone could offer a reasonable Zoom meeting solution."
Sennheiser HD 400S
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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 "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick 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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