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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize wireless convenience and features like active noise cancelling, the Sony WF1000XM4 earbuds, which support virtual surround sound and have a long battery life, are better suited for you. They are also optimized for Android and Apple devices and have an app for sound customization. However, if sound quality, particularly for TV and video, and a wider soundstage are more important to you and you don't mind a wired connection, the Sennheiser IE600 may be worth the higher price. The IE600s are not suitable for exercise and do not have active noise cancelling but provide excellent build quality and a detachable cable system. 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 IE600
- Excellent for TV and video
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM4
- Excellent for music
- Very good for air travel
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.3
9.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is excellent for music, while the Sennheiser IE600 is very good.
Gaming
6.7
5.6
The Sennheiser IE600 is only fair for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is poor.
Phone Calls
3.5
6.7
The Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair for phone calls, while the Sennheiser IE600 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.4
10.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser IE600 is poor.
TV and Video
9.3
6.0
The Sennheiser IE600 is excellent for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
7.0
8.3
The Sony WF1000XM4 is very good for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser IE600 is good.
Battery
N/A
9.0 Hours
The Sennheiser IE600 does not have a battery. The Sony WF1000XM4 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$600
$220
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Sennheiser IE600 has a price of $600 and the Sony WF1000XM4 costs $220.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
9.0
8.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sennheiser IE600 to have excellent build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM4 has very good build quality.
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How the Sennheiser IE600 and the Sony WF1000XM4 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sennheiser IE600 | Sony WF1000XM4 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $220 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sennheiser | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | July 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.3/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.5/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.8/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.3/10 | 6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.6/10 | 6.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 24 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 2.5/10 | 5.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 6 Grams | 6.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Shopping
Sennheiser IE600
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Jasper Lastoria | August 2023
"If you've got the bucks, the Sennheiser IE 600 is a nice, upscale set of in-ear monitors made of a lightweight metal with an unusual texture. It comes with a suite of extras, and performs well at virtually every task."
Sony WF1000XM4
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | March 2023
"The headphones deliver a satisfying user experience, class-leading battery life, some of the best noise-cancelling we’ve heard in this category, and absolutely stunning sound quality."
Get a great deal on the Sennheiser IE600 or the Sony WF1000XM4
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.
By the numbers
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Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
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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