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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Sennheiser HD600 headphones offer excellent sound quality with a natural soundstage, which is perfect for audiophiles and those who enjoy music in a quiet environment. However, they are open-back headphones which means they don't isolate sound well, making them less suitable for noisy environments. On the other hand, the Sony WF1000XM5 earbuds are likely to be more portable and come with active noise cancellation, making them a better choice for commuting and traveling. If call quality and convenience are priorities, the Sony earbuds also likely have a built-in microphone and a more user-friendly interface for taking calls and using voice assistants. The decision will depend on whether you prioritize sound quality and an open soundstage, which the Sennheisers provide, or the convenience and features like noise cancellation that come with the Sony earbuds. Keep in mind the Sennheiser's potential higher price when making your decision. 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 HD600
- Excellent for music
- Good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM5
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
9.3
8.0
The Sennheiser HD600 is excellent for music, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is very good.
Gaming
7.0
5.1
The Sennheiser HD600 is good for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
4.9
The Sennheiser HD600 is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
TV and Video
8.9
5.4
The Sennheiser HD600 is very good 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 HD600 is poor.
Battery
N/A
9.0 Hours
The Sennheiser HD600 does not have a battery. The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$300
$230
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Sennheiser HD600 has a price of $300 and the Sony WF1000XM5 costs $230.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Sennheiser HD600 has excellent build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM5 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.0
5.0
The Sennheiser HD600 and Sony WF1000XM5 are both poor for phone calls.
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How the Sennheiser HD600 and the Sony WF1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sennheiser HD600 | Sony WF1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$300 | $230 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sennheiser | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 1997 | July 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 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 | 9/10 | 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) | 258.5 Grams | 6 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Shopping
Sennheiser HD600
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Jean Mouchet | September 2021
"The HD600 are state-of-the-art headphones with high sound quality and remarkable value, among most of the offerings in today’s time."
Sony WF1000XM5
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Dig into reviews and images
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 HD600 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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