Sennheiser HD 400S

The Sennheiser HD 400S is a budget wired headphone that owners love, rating it 4.4 stars for comfort, sound, and value. Our sound score is dead last, but real-world users don't seem to care. If you need a simple, foldable wired headphone under $100, this is worth a look.

The 9.7mm dynamic drivers push a claimed 18Hz to 20kHz range, and owners consistently mention good bass response and clear enough sound for movies and music. The 18 ohm impedance means your phone can drive them without breaking a sweat. But our sound score is rough, bottom of the barrel. The closed-back design does cut some background noise, though the 'Transparency' noise control label is a bit misleading for a passive wired headphone. Build quality sits at the 75th percentile, which is solid for the price, but the plastic frame feels bendy and some users report discomfort after a few hours.

Stacked against the Sony ULT Wear WHULT900N or JBL Live 770NC, the HD 400S is a different animal entirely. Those are wireless ANC headphones with batteries and Bluetooth. The Sennheiser is a simple wired headphone. If you want wireless freedom and noise cancellation, the Sony or JBL are better picks. The QCY H3 and JLab JBuds Lux also offer ANC at similar or lower prices. But if you want a no-fuss wired headphone with a removable cable and a trusted brand name, the HD 400S holds its own.

At around $90 USD, these sit in a weird spot. Users say they're an excellent value, and the 4.4 star rating backs that up. But our affordability score is only 47th percentile, meaning there are cheaper options that measure better. In Canada, prices swing from CAD 81 to CAD 95, so shop around if you're up north. For the money, you're getting a name brand with decent build quality and a sound signature that real people seem to enjoy, even if our numbers don't love it.

The Sennheiser HD 400S is a budget wired headphone that gets the basics right. It's light, folds up for travel, and sounds better than most stuff at this price. The inline remote and mic make it a decent pick for calls and music on the go.

But our database tells a weird story here. Users love these things, rating them 4.4 out of 5. Our sound score, though, puts them at the 1st percentile. Dead last. That gap between owner happiness and our measurements is the real headline.

Skip these if you need wireless connectivity or active noise cancellation. The Sony ULT Wear or JBL Live 770NC handle both better. Also skip if you have a big head or wear glasses, since some owners mention discomfort after a few hours. And if you're a stickler for measured sound quality, our data says look elsewhere.

If you want a cheap, light, foldable wired headphone for commuting or desk use, and you don't care about wireless or ANC, the HD 400S is a solid pick. Owners genuinely like these. Just know that our sound measurements are rough, and the plastic build won't survive being sat on. For the price, it's a decent deal, especially if you find it on sale.