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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize exceptional sound quality and an over-ear form factor for the best comfort during extended listening sessions, the Sennheiser HD 400S would be a solid choice, also noting they come at a more budget-friendly price compared to Sony's option. On the other hand, if portability, advanced features like active noise cancelling, and wireless convenience are more important for you, the Sony WF1000XM5 earbuds would be better, despite their higher cost. Consider that the Sonys are better suited for air travel due to their noise cancellation and size, while the Sennheisers provide a better experience for home use with superior comfort and sound immersion. 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 HD 400S
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM5
- Very good for music
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
7.1
8.0
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for music, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is good.
Gaming
8.6
5.1
The Sennheiser HD 400S is very good for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Phone Calls
8.2
5.0
The Sennheiser HD 400S is very good for phone calls, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.6
4.9
The Sennheiser HD 400S is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
TV and Video
7.6
5.4
The Sennheiser HD 400S is good for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3
8.7
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is poor.
Battery
N/A
9.0 Hours
The Sennheiser HD 400S does not have a battery. The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$50
$298
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Sennheiser HD 400S has a price of $50 and the Sony WF1000XM5 costs $298.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Sennheiser HD 400S and Sony WF1000XM5 both have very good build quality.
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How the Sennheiser HD 400S and the Sony WF1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sennheiser HD 400S | Sony WF1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$50 | $298 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sennheiser | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2019 | July 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.2/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.2/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.7/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.7/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.2/10 | 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 | 5.3/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 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) | 213 Grams | 6 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Sennheiser HD 400S
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Dig into reviews and images
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."
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 HD 400S 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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