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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for an affordable option with decent sound quality and comfort, the Sennheiser CX300S earbuds are a solid choice with a lower midrange price, but they lack a built-in microphone and wireless capability. On the other hand, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are more expensive but offer superior sound quality, comfort, active noise cancelling, and a quality microphone, making them ideal for travel, work, and immersive listening, with 30 hours of battery life and wireless functionality. 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 CX300S
- Good for TV and video
Advantages of the Sony WH-1000XM5
- Very good for music
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
6.9
8.2
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is very good for music, while the Sennheiser CX300S is only fair.
Gaming
6.1
5.6
The Sennheiser CX300S is only fair for gaming, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Phone Calls
3.0
5.5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sennheiser CX300S are both poor for phone calls, though the Sony WH-1000XM5 is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
4.7
6.0
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser CX300S is poor.
TV and Video
7.3
5.8
The Sennheiser CX300S is good for TV and video, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
9.1
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser CX300S is good.
Battery
N/A
40.3 Hours
The Sennheiser CX300S does not have a battery. The Sony WH-1000XM5 has 40.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$50
$398
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Sennheiser CX300S has a price of $50 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 costs $398.
Build Quality
8.0
8.8
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sennheiser CX300S both have very good build quality, though the Sony WH-1000XM5 has somewhat better build quality.
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How the Sennheiser CX300S and the Sony WH-1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sennheiser CX300S | Sony WH-1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$50 | $398 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sennheiser | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2019 | May 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.1/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.1/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.4/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.2/10 | 6.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 40.3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 3.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.2 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 12 Grams | 249.4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Shopping
Sennheiser CX300S
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Dig into reviews and images
Major HiFi
Carroll Moore | April 2019
"Sennheiser offers impressive bang for your buck when it comes to the CX 300S. Built like a tank and sounding surprisingly good for such a budget-minded earphone, the CX 300S out-classes many of its would-be competitors. Functional but beautiful, it’s the perfect in-ear listening solution for anyone who wants to hear everything and look good doing it."
Sony WH-1000XM5
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Kazi Mahbub Mutakabbir | February 2023
"The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the best Sony Bluetooth headphones so far and one of the most well-rounded Bluetooth headphones around. Look no further if you need class-leading ANC with a mostly inoffensive sound signature. Just be ready to pony up the price premium."
Get a great deal on the Sennheiser CX300S or the Sony WH-1000XM5
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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