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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize sound quality and an immersive experience while listening to music, the Sennheiser 560S is an excellent choice with its best-in-class audio and very good soundstage. They are open-back headphones providing a more expansive sound, but they're poor for calls and not suited for exercise or noisy environments due to the lack of noise isolation. On the other hand, the Sony MDR-ZX110 is much more affordable but offers fair sound quality, meaning it’s decent for casual listening but won't match the audio fidelity of the Sennheiser. The Sony is closed-back, which isolates sound a bit better but it also has poor comfort and is not recommended for long listening sessions. Neither model supports wireless connectivity; Sennheiser has a detachable cable, while Sony does not, making the Sennheiser more versatile. If budget is a significant concern and you need something for short, casual use, the Sony could suffice. For a higher investment, Sennheiser provides a substantially better audio experience for music enthusiasts. 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 Sennheiser 560S
- Best in class for music
- Excellent for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony MDR-ZX110
- The Sony MDR-ZX110 has no clear advantages over the Sennheiser 560S.
Key differences
Music
9.5
7.6
The Sennheiser 560S is best in class for music, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is good.
Gaming
6.9
5.9
The Sennheiser 560S is only fair for gaming, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.1
3.0
The Sennheiser 560S and Sony MDR-ZX110 are both poor for phone calls, though the Sennheiser 560S is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.1
4.3
The Sennheiser 560S is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
TV and Video
9.1
6.9
The Sennheiser 560S is excellent for TV and video, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
2.5
5.3
The Sony MDR-ZX110 and Sennheiser 560S are both poor for noise reduction, though the Sony MDR-ZX110 is somewhat better.
Cost
$180
$10
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
The Sennheiser 560S has a price of $180 and the Sony MDR-ZX110 costs $10.
Build Quality
8.0
6.0
The Sennheiser 560S has very good build quality, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 has only fair build quality.
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How the Sennheiser 560S and the Sony MDR-ZX110 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sennheiser 560S | Sony MDR-ZX110 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$180 | $10 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sennheiser | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2020 | July 1, 2015 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.5/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.9/10 | 5.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.2/10 | 7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 3.9/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8/10 | 6/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 244.9 Grams | 119.9 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Dustproof Rating | |||
Dustproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Sennheiser 560S
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Kazi Mahbub Mutakabbir | March 2022
"Sennheiser made a near perfect pair of studio monitors with the HD 560S. Flat bass response? Check. Neutral and uncolored midrange? Check. Extended treble with a bit of lower-treble emphasis to highlight mastering flaws? Check. Fairly easy to drive? Check. Good soundstage and imaging? Check, and check."
Sony MDR-ZX110
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Dig into reviews and images
Audio.org
Audio.org | December 2022
"My opinion about Sony MDR ZX110 is they are the best budget headphones of Sony with top-class sound. Clear vocals, great bass, and balanced sound with low sound distortion. The treble could be sharper, but it's ok. 30 mm neodymium dynamic drivers give clear and precise audio, and an inline remote with a mic give decent call quality. Closed-Back Design also helps to improve sound performance."
Get a great deal on the Sennheiser 560S or the Sony MDR-ZX110
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.
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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
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.
Luis Torres
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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