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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The AKG K361 is a more budget-friendly choice with closed-back design, offering better noise isolation, which makes them suitable for commuting or use in noisy environments; however, they have a smaller soundstage compared to open-back headphones. The Sennheiser HD800S is at the higher end of the price spectrum, but provides an expansive soundstage and is extremely comfortable, ideal for critical listening in quiet environments. Neither have wireless capabilities or active noise cancelling, and both are better suited for music rather than calls and gaming, with the HD800S having a slight edge in gaming. If portability and noise isolation are important to you, the AKG K361 would be a practical choice, while for a more immersive and detailed listening experience in a stationary setting, the Sennheiser HD800S may be worth the investment despite the higher price. Both have detachable cables and similar durability, but Sennheiser is less portable due to its size. 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 HD800S
- Best in class for music
- Good for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.5
9.9
The Sennheiser HD800S is best in class for music, while the AKG K361 is good.
Gaming
6.3
7.5
The Sennheiser HD800S is good for gaming, while the AKG K361 is only fair.
Phone Calls
3.2
5.0
The Sennheiser HD800S and AKG K361 are both poor for phone calls, though the Sennheiser HD800S is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.0
8.1
The Sennheiser HD800S is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the AKG K361 is poor.
TV and Video
7.8
9.7
The Sennheiser HD800S is best in class for TV and video, while the AKG K361 is good.
Noise Reduction
6.0
2.5
The AKG K361 is only fair for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser HD800S is poor.
Cost
$98
$1,600
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The AKG K361 has a price of $98 and the Sennheiser HD800S costs $1,600.
Build Quality
8.5
9.0
The Sennheiser HD800S has excellent build quality, while the AKG K361 has very good build quality.
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How the AKG K361 and the Sennheiser HD800S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| AKG K361 | Sennheiser HD800S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$98 | $1,600 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | AKG | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2018 | December 1, 2015 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.5/10 | 10/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.3/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.9/10 | 9.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 4.5/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 219 Grams | 371.9 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Dustproof Rating | |||
Dustproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
AKG K361
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Dig into reviews and images
Medium
Alex Rowe | November 2019
"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 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."
Get a great deal on the AKG K361 or the Sennheiser HD800S
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.
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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
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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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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