The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The AKG K361 is a more budget-friendly option with closed-back design, offering better noise isolation which makes them suitable for commuting or office use. They also have a detachable cable, which adds to their durability, and a foldable design for better portability. On the other hand, the Sennheiser 560S has an open-back design, which generally provides a wider soundstage for a more immersive listening experience, making them excellent for music and TV. However, they offer less noise isolation which isn't ideal for noisy environments. Both lack a built-in microphone for calls and neither supports wireless connectivity. Consider the Sennheiser 560S if you prioritize sound quality and don't mind the higher price, and the AKG K361 if you need noise isolation and portability at a more affordable price. 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 AKG K361
Good for air travel
Advantages of the Sennheiser 560S
Best in class for music
Excellent for TV and video
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.5/10
9.5/10
The Sennheiser 560S is best in class for music, while the AKG K361 is good.
Gaming
6.3/10
6.9/10
The Sennheiser 560S and AKG K361 are both only fair for gaming, though the Sennheiser 560S is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
3.2/10
5.1/10
The Sennheiser 560S and AKG K361 are both poor for phone calls, though the Sennheiser 560S is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.0/10
8.1/10
The Sennheiser 560S is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the AKG K361 is poor.
TV and Video
7.8/10
9.1/10
The Sennheiser 560S is excellent for TV and video, while the AKG K361 is good.
Noise Reduction
6.0/10
2.5/10
The AKG K361 is only fair for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser 560S is poor.
Cost
$99
$180
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
The AKG K361 has a price of $99 and the Sennheiser 560S costs $180.
"The K361 retains much of what makes the K371 such a winner, though it has a leaner sound, and the build changes made to trim the price down are immediately apparent. Still, it’s another excellent offering from AKG, and other companies in this fight should either be very worried or quickly designing updates to their old models."
"Sennheiser made a near perfect pair of studio monitors with the HD 560S. Flat bass response? Check. Neutral and uncolored midrange? Check. Extended treble with a bit of lower-treble emphasis to highlight mastering flaws? Check. Fairly easy to drive? Check. Good soundstage and imaging? Check, and check."
Get a great deal on the AKG K361 or the Sennheiser 560S
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
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
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
120,200
Recommendations made
18,030
Consumer hours saved
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.
Jason Lew
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.