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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize sound quality and have a quiet environment, consider the Sennheiser 560S headphones; they excel in sound and are great for music listening, but their open design doesn't block outside noise, making them less ideal for noisy situations or commutes. However, they lack a microphone for calls and are not suitable for exercise due to their large, non-foldable design. On the other hand, the Sony WF1000XM5 earbuds are a more versatile option with good sound quality, effective noise cancellation for travel, a portable design, and features like a built-in microphone, wireless charging, and app controls, but they tend to be more expensive and may not match the Sennheiser's audio fidelity for music aficionados. 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 WF1000XM5
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
9.5
8.0
The Sennheiser 560S is best in class for music, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is very good.
Gaming
6.9
5.1
The Sennheiser 560S is only fair for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.1
4.9
The Sennheiser 560S is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
TV and Video
9.1
5.4
The Sennheiser 560S is excellent for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
8.7
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser 560S is poor.
Battery
N/A
9.0 Hours
The Sennheiser 560S does not have a battery. The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$180
$298
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Sennheiser 560S has a price of $180 and the Sony WF1000XM5 costs $298.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.1
5.0
The Sennheiser 560S and Sony WF1000XM5 are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
8.0
8.5
The Sony WF1000XM5 and Sennheiser 560S both have very good build quality.
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How the Sennheiser 560S and the Sony WF1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sennheiser 560S | Sony WF1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$180 | $298 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sennheiser | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2020 | July 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.5/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.9/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.2/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 18 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 244.9 Grams | 6 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
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 WF1000XM5
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Sound Guys
Harley Maranan | July 2023
"The Sony WF-1000XM5 is among the best noise canceling earbuds currently on the market, and they aren’t cheap. These earbuds aren’t the best choice for budget-conscious listeners. But if you prioritize active noise cancelation, sound quality, and extensive software support, the WF-1000XM5 is worth its premium price tag."
Get a great deal on the Sennheiser 560S or the Sony WF1000XM5
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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