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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If sound quality and expansive soundstage are your priorities for a rich listening experience, particularly with music and TV, the Sennheiser HD800S would be the better choice. However, they are open-back, not suitable for loud environments, lack conveniences like a microphone, and work best with an amplifier. On the other hand, the Sony MDR-ZX110 is a budget-friendly option that is more portable and closed-back, providing some noise isolation, but it compromises significantly on sound quality, comfort, and build. Neither option is well-suited for exercise, gaming, or travel, and if a microphone for calls is important, you'll need to look elsewhere. 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 HD800S
- Best in class for music
- Good for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony MDR-ZX110
- The Sony MDR-ZX110 has no clear advantages over the Sennheiser HD800S.
Key differences
Music
9.9
7.6
The Sennheiser HD800S is best in class for music, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is good.
Gaming
7.5
5.9
The Sennheiser HD800S is good for gaming, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.0
3.0
The Sennheiser HD800S and Sony MDR-ZX110 are both poor for phone calls, though the Sennheiser HD800S is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.1
4.3
The Sennheiser HD800S is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
TV and Video
9.7
6.9
The Sennheiser HD800S is best in class for TV and video, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
2.5
5.3
The Sony MDR-ZX110 and Sennheiser HD800S are both poor for noise reduction, though the Sony MDR-ZX110 is somewhat better.
Cost
$1,390
$10
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Sennheiser HD800S has a price of $1,390 and the Sony MDR-ZX110 costs $10.
Build Quality
9.0
6.0
The Sennheiser HD800S has excellent build quality, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 has only fair build quality.
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How the Sennheiser HD800S and the Sony MDR-ZX110 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sennheiser HD800S | Sony MDR-ZX110 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,390 | $10 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sennheiser | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2015 | July 1, 2015 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 10/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.6/10 | 5.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.7/10 | 7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 3.9/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 6/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 371.9 Grams | 119.9 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Dustproof Rating | |||
Dustproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Sennheiser HD800S
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | March 2023
"The cans offer stellar sound quality, comfort, and good maintenance options—so they're an easy recommendation if you have the cash and the need for the last headphones you'll buy for years."
Sony MDR-ZX110
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Audio.org
Audio.org | December 2022
"My opinion about Sony MDR ZX110 is they are the best budget headphones of Sony with top-class sound. Clear vocals, great bass, and balanced sound with low sound distortion. The treble could be sharper, but it's ok. 30 mm neodymium dynamic drivers give clear and precise audio, and an inline remote with a mic give decent call quality. Closed-Back Design also helps to improve sound performance."
Get a great deal on the Sennheiser HD800S or the Sony MDR-ZX110
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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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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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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