Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Sennheiser HD 560S
Best Budget PickSony WF-1000XM5
Best True Wireless EarbudsPrice
$130-$160
$200-$280
Summary
Reddit's unanimous budget champion at ~$140, praised for near-audiophile sound with first-rate imaging. Multiple community analyses crown it the best bang-for-buck headphone you can buy.
Best-in-class noise cancellation for earbuds with specially designed ear tips that block sounds ANC misses. Wirecutter and PCMag both call it the top true wireless option for sound and ANC combined.
Pros
- Best bang-for-buck gaming and music headphone per multiple Reddit recommendation analyses
- First-rate left-center-right imaging for gaming at $140
- Near-audiophile grade sound well below its price class
- Listed by RTINGS.com among their best headphones
- Best noise cancellation of any earbud pair tested per Wirecutter measurements
- Specially designed ear tips block sounds that ANC misses
- Superb sound quality with high-end codec support per PCMag
- Dizzying array of features including LDAC hi-res audio
Cons
- Wired only, no wireless option
- Open-back design — no sound isolation for commuting
- May need a basic amp/DAC to shine at full potential
- Plastic build feels less premium than its sound suggests
- Premium price for earbuds
- Ear tips can be finicky to fit correctly for some users
- Bulky earbud housing is larger than competitors
- Mixed Reddit community sentiment — heavily discussed with some dissatisfaction
Our take
Every Reddit data analysis points to the HD 560S as the sweet spot — you'd have to spend 3-4x more to hear a meaningful upgrade. It's the easy recommendation for anyone not ready to go deep.
For people who hate over-ear headphones but still want serious ANC and audiophile-grade sound in earbuds, the WF-1000XM5 has no real competition right now.
Buy
