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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you value overall sound quality and enjoy a more immersive soundstage for music at home, choose the Sennheiser HD600, as their open-back design offers superior audio fidelity and comfort for extended listening sessions. Keep in mind the Sennheiser's open-back design is not suitable for noisy environments as it allows sound to leak in and out. 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 WH-1000XM5
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
9.3
8.2
The Sennheiser HD600 is excellent for music, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is very good.
Gaming
7.0
5.6
The Sennheiser HD600 is good for gaming, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.0
5.5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sennheiser HD600 are both poor for phone calls, though the Sony WH-1000XM5 is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
6.0
The Sennheiser HD600 is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is only fair.
TV and Video
8.9
5.8
The Sennheiser HD600 is very good for TV and video, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
9.1
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser HD600 is poor.
Battery
N/A
40.3 Hours
The Sennheiser HD600 does not have a battery. The Sony WH-1000XM5 has 40.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$300
$398
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Sennheiser HD600 has a price of $300 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 costs $398.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
9.0
8.8
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sennheiser HD600 to have excellent build quality, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 has very good build quality.
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How the Sennheiser HD600 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sennheiser HD600 | Sony WH-1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$300 | $398 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sennheiser | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 1997 | May 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 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 | 2.5/10 | 9.1/10 | |
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 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 258.5 Grams | 249.4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
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 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 HD600 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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Why trust us
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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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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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