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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for high-quality sound and don't need wireless capability, the Sennheiser 560S would be the better choice with a superior sound quality experience, especially for music. However, they lack a microphone, so they're not ideal for calls or meetings. They're also open-back headphones, which means they don't isolate noise well, so they're not the best option for noisy environments or air travel. In contrast, the Soundcore Life Q20 headphones offer good sound quality at a lower price point, have active noise cancelling for better noise isolation in loud spaces, and are wireless, making them more versatile for different environments and uses including exercise. They also have a significantly longer battery life, which is great for extended use without frequent charging. Keep in mind that while the Soundcore may be more suitable for various activities, the Sennheiser 560S will provide a higher fidelity audio experience. 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 Soundcore Life Q20
- Excellent for air travel
Key differences
Music
9.5
7.0
The Sennheiser 560S is best in class for music, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is good.
Gaming
6.9
5.2
The Sennheiser 560S is only fair for gaming, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.1
4.7
The Sennheiser 560S is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
TV and Video
9.1
5.3
The Sennheiser 560S is excellent for TV and video, while the Soundcore Life Q20 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
8.7
The Soundcore Life Q20 is very good for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser 560S is poor.
Battery
N/A
32.3 Hours
The Sennheiser 560S does not have a battery. The Soundcore Life Q20 has 32.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$180
$60
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
The Sennheiser 560S has a price of $180 and the Soundcore Life Q20 costs $60.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.1
4.9
The Sennheiser 560S and Soundcore Life Q20 are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
8.0
8.0
The Sennheiser 560S and Soundcore Life Q20 both have very good build quality.
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How the Sennheiser 560S and the Soundcore Life Q20 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sennheiser 560S | Soundcore Life Q20 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$180 | $60 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sennheiser | Soundcore | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2020 | November 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 4.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.9/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.2/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 32.3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.8 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | No | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 6.8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 244.9 Grams | 258.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof 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."
Soundcore Life Q20
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | January 2022
"As far as headphones that cost under $100 go, the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 is a really solid option. Like any good tool, it does the job well without much guff, and it’s affordable to boot. Sure: it’s not going toe to toe with any of the higher-end models of ANC headphones out there—but the headphones do well enough for commuters that it’s a good stand-in if you were never planning on spending a bunch of money anyway."
Get a great deal on the Sennheiser 560S or the Soundcore Life Q20
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 Soundcore
Soundcore is a sub-brand belonging to Anker Innovations. Starting in 2014, initially marketing wireless, Bluetooth, speakers, Anker now offers an array of, budget-friendly, wireless earbuds and headphones that directly compete, especially in the Active Noise Canceling field, with other brands several times as expensive.
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