Comparison: Sennheiser RS 175 vs Sony WH-l600

In today’s review, we are going to look at two excellent headsets. What is so special about these units, you may ask? Well, we want to talk about the wireless transmission itself. How many of you have heard of it?

Even if you haven’t, most of you might be using it even right now as you read this review. Digital transmission is a new evolution that provides a brand horizon in the production of headsets and the whole market.

As you know, the traditional radio frequency signals were quite popular among several users. Using the digital transmission, the signals have a powerful mode of seeping through things and provide listeners with clarity and accuracy while listening to music and watching movies.

You can also move around inside your apartment or home without any disturbance in the signal. Users can listen to what is going on on the television without them having to sit in one place.

Doing that is boring and makes you less productive when you can actually get a lot of things going around in your home. This considering the fact the average home in America comes with 6 meters in height and approximately 10 meters in width.

In this post, we will be reading about the Sennheiser RS 175 vs Sony WH-l600 headsets. These units are embedded in digital transmission signals. With their help, you can now give a new dimension or practice to your entertainment.

We highly recommend them when you are in search of a headset purely for entertainment purposes. The Sennheiser RS 175 headset is a popular unit that has its own tremendous features.

Instantly, you realize that the Sennheiser 175 model is similar in looks to the Sennheiser 165. You will be glad to note that they are incredibly comfortable to wear without the slightest hint of discomfort in them.

They have low latency that makes them ideal when viewing movies. The headset is not suitable for instruments, voices and has little bass on the higher side of things. It is not quite versatile enough and can be used for indoor purposes.

On the other hand, the Sony WH-l600 headset comes infused with fantastic specifications in it. They have been produced for allowing users to watch television and some news too. Consumers concerned that they are disturbing the entire household at night might want to consider this model.

The fitting is splendid like most Sony units, the comfort is simply fantastic, and the audio performance of the model is impressive. It is ideal for those of you who are night owls and the perfect option for you.

Do they fit the bill? That is precisely what we will be reading about in this post.

Sennheiser RS 175	Sony WH-l600
PROS	PROS
The unit has massive earcups that are immensely flexible. The headset has a low latency connection. It comes with exceptional audio performance. It is easy to set up and begin your session. The product comes with a bass boost and surrounds sound listening mode.	The model can transmit sound wirelessly from a TV or audio system. The unit has 4 listening modes: Voice, Theater, Games, and Sports. It has sound mixers from Sony Pictures and PlayStation. Its battery working life is 30 hours. The unit comes with a 1-year warranty.
CONS	CONS
It has poor isolation and high leakage.	The unit tends to make some creaking noises.

SPECIFICATIONS	Sennheiser RS 175	Sony WH-l600
Name	RS 175 Wireless Over-the-Ear Headphones	WH-L600 RF Digital Surround Wireless Headphones
Brand	Sennheiser	Sony
Sound Mode	Surround	Surround
Connection Type	Wireless	Wireless
Wireless Connectivity	Radio Frequency (RF)	Radio Frequency (RF)
True Wireless	No	No
Maximum Wireless Range	328 feet	98 feet
Headphone Fit	Over-the-Ear	Over-the-Ear
Adjustable Headband	No	No
Battery Life	18 hours	17 hours
Warranty	2 years	1 year

Sennheiser RS 175 vs Sony WH-l600: Design & Comfort

The design & comfort is something that the Sennheiser models are always known for. The Sennheiser RS 175 headset comes in a very ergonomic shape, and the fitting is sublime. This feature enables users to gain the most from it.

As we said earlier, these models are ideal for watching television and listening to music. We will be reviewing them based on that. This model is a wireless unit; you can easily pair it with your home entertainment system flawlessly.

It is a closed-back design ensuring that the music remains inside. However, there is much leakage that can ruin the hearing experience of some users. You can now listen to music & watch television without much distraction.

The over the ear design comes with 18 hours battery life that works effortlessly. Its form factor is the same present on the 165 unit. You can also find similar features present on most of the RS models too.

It comes with a stand transmitter. You need to connect it with the help of your home system. The size of the earcups is good. They offer you with immense comfort. You can wear them for several hours without difficulty.

There is an extra button that provides you with the surround sound effect. Though it is slightly large in size, it is not ideal for outdoor usage. We thought that they were not very fashionable headsets.

The padding was good on them. You can quickly notice that the pressure balance on your ears is not the same. There can be slight soreness noticed after wearing them for some time, which was quite surprising.

However, it is manageable. It is elegant in design, and the earpads are nicely cushioned. Likewise, the Sony WH-l600 headset is light & portable, unlike the Sennheiser units. The material used to make it is plastic, and it can cover the entire model elegantly.

Looks-wise, the unit could have been made better. Thanks to the plastic used all over it, the model is light, and you can notice the shine on the surface of it. Unlike the Sennheiser models that are heavy and robust, this one offers you better comfort.

When you are keen on experiencing sound quality and having fun using it, you might want to concentrate on the device’s weight. It weighs only above 300 grams, making it light. These earcups are ideal for small ears, too, and the headband is comfortably padded.

We did see that the headset can be worn for few hours without the slightest discomfort noted. All in all, both the headsets come with exceptional design & comfort infused in them. The Sony unit comes embedded with more convenience and stability compared to the other model.

Sennheiser RS 175 vs Sony WH-l600: Build Quality

The build quality of the Sennheiser RS 175 headset is robust and comes with exceptional flexibility. It is reinforced with a metal frame that gives it that durable appearance. As you know, Sennheiser models are known for their reliability.

The earcups are dense and heavier than most of the models found in the market. Our tester noticed that this one, in particular, may not be as good as the others in the same segment. The material used here is also plastic.

It does not feel capable of last even a few accidental falls. The padding was good but not very thick like you would want it to. It is acceptable for the price point. Users who are going to be wearing them for hours to watch a movie might appreciate the build quality.

The unit may not be suitable for sports & physical activity. You may not use them very far from the stand transmitter. The buttons and the volume controls can be used for altering the bass mode and surround settings.

You can see that the stand transmitter is quite suitable, and the upright tower supports it. At the back, you can find the optical cable to connect digital sound to the system. You can also use 3.5mm analog input on your PC & smartphone.

You can find a switch on the rear panel. It comes included with 2 inputs in the transmitter. There are also cables for it included. Our tester noticed that the stand transmitter is not very stable in a sense; the headset quickly falls off at any given moment.
The build quality of the Sony WH-l600 headset may not be the best in the market. You can definitely find out models that come with a stunning build design it. However, the quality is good, and it comes made with plastic.

That means it is lightweight. You can wear them for several hours without problems. It may not stand those falls, and you might want to take good care of the model. Sony was never known for producing exceptionally built models like Bose or Apple.

You can find the power button at the right and comes with the volume control too. You can find the buttons that can help you control the different modes. There are few buttons at the base of the headset that enables you to control different sources of audio quality.

You can press the button to swap from the optical mode. If you press it once more, then it can switch to the next mode. At the center, you can find a button that lets you change the sound. You can find many elements like voice, cinema, neutral, sports, voice & others.

Sadly, the cable is not more than 1.5 meters, and you may not be able to go more than that. Hence, you will want to stay glued to the television when watching movies or a documentary. Overall, the build quality in the Sennheiser model is slightly better than the Sony unit here.

Sennheiser RS 175 vs Sony WH-l600: Audio Performance

The Sennheiser RS 175 headset comes with stiff earpads. That explains the poor quality in the bass range. If you are somebody who delves on the bass, then you might be highly disappointed here.

We are not sure about the audio quality if you wear glasses or have long hair. That should not be a problem because the fit is quite tight. That is a perfect thing here. For movie watchers, the unit is a top-notch model that will allow you to appreciate the home entertainment system.

The audio bass is enhanced if you want, and using the 2 virtual surround modes; you can offer stunning surround sound. Due to the digital wireless technology, you can see to that the unit signals are transmitted opulently.

You will enjoy your movie watching because the unit fits on your head with excellent stability. Besides, the built-in controls present on the model offer you amazing design capabilities. You can note that the fitting is also quite comfortable for prolonged usage.

The audio performance of the Sony unit is sublime. However, we cannot recommend it for listening to music because it is superb for watching movies and cinema. Of course, you can hear your favorite songs and enjoy them.
But when you want to realize the true potential of the headset, you may want to make use of movies. Our tester felt that when you are particular about the music, you might want to choose another unit from the maker.

Using the surround sound from the Sony, you can hear eloquent audio from it. It also comes with the immersive modes provided by the headset giving a similar experience in the stadium. As we said, it is ideal for watching movies and documentaries; it won’t disappoint you.

With the help of the listening mode, you can watch the television and enjoy the experience. Sony has done a fabulous job here. We highly suggest that you use the surround system of the maker and listen to its true powers of it.

Sennheiser RS 175 vs Sony WH-l600: Microphone Performance

The Sennheiser RS 175 headset does not come with a microphone. You will have to choose other models when you are keen on using the microphone. Some of them include the Sennheiser PC 8 USB On-Ear Stereo Headset, EPOS Sennheiser GSP 302 Closed Back Gaming Headset, and Sennheiser Game One PC Gaming Headset.

The Sony WH-l600 headset does not have microphone capabilities. If you are particular about them, then you may have to check out the other Sony models. Some of them include Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancellation Headphone, Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless Noise Cancellation Headphone, and Sony WH-CH510 Wireless Bluetooth On-Ear Headphone with Mic.

Sennheiser RS 175 vs Sony WH-l600: Compatibility

These models were designed & produced for compatibility purposes. When you know how to use them for your benefit, you stand to gain a lot from them. The Sennheiser RS 175 headset offers you with digital technology to connect to your television with an optical.

The optical comes from your TV. However, this might not impress you. It means that you can effortlessly connect your headset to the television and have the speakers playing. There is no need for you to choose a particular unit and fiddle around with the adjustments.

It will work just fine once you switch on the device for your entertainment purposes. We were happy to note that the audio performance was enhanced immensely. You will be delighted to know that it comes with the surround sound listening modes and the bass boost.

The surround sound mode provides you with spatial and live audio. Using the bass boost, you can now get a new dimension of the audio quality that you prefer to hear. We intensely noticed that the RS 175 unit is a lot similar to the previous model, the 165.

It has a battery working life of 24 hours that makes it a good option. The unit makes use of the AAA batteries that are rechargeable. Please see that it takes 8 hours for completely recharging. But you can change the AAA batteries from the ones that you are currently using.

A customer had written about the customer service meted out to him in America from Sennheiser. He was thoroughly impressed. His optical connectivity from the television was lost. He thought that it had to do with the headset.

He promptly sent an email and then responded within an hour. They told him to make some changes & adjustments. The issue was resolved quickly, and it was his television that needed some tuning, not the Sennheiser headset.

The compatibility of the Sony WH-l600 headset is commendable. It comes with the ability to produce a sublime audio performance for you. You can now sit with the unit for 18 hours at least. That is possible because the moment you place the headset on the stand, it begins to charge.

You can also use it close to 30 meters from the stand transmitter. It allows you to listen to what you want to with ease. This helps you to move around as and when you want to without having to remove the headset often because it works flawlessly.

There is an incredible amount of support that you receive from the headset. You can work on a barrage of services, including DTS, Dolby Digital & Dolby Pro Logic IIx. It comes with several choices, and you can swap to the option that you prefer using the button provided there.

Sennheiser RS 175 vs Sony WH-l600: Price

The Sennheiser RS 175 headset is priced under $280. The unit is currently sold at $202 at the time of writing. You might want to place your order soon. It comes embedded with unique features like ergonomic over-ear headphones and wireless bass boost with surround sound listening modes.

It has a design that is synonymous with Sennheiser models. They are known the world over for their fitting. Additionally, their durability is also something that you would want to think about. The Sony WH-l600 headset is priced under $299.

It has incredible features like immersive surround sound with theater mode. Sony is doing a good job, and we are going to find it extremely hard to choose a winner between the two at the end.

There are 4 sound modes that you can consider using for movies, Dialog, games, and Sport. There is a difference of $19 in the models. It does not have to make a significant impact on the purchasing ability of the consumers.

Sennheiser RS 175 vs Sony WH-l600: Verdict

We have ended our discussion on the Sennheiser RS 175 vs Sony WH-l600 headsets. Hope you liked what you read. The Sennheiser RS 175 headset is a good model that comes infused with several features & specifications in it.

It is ideal for home theater use. We are not convinced that they can do an excellent job in all kinds of environments that you put them in. For example, if you plan to use them on the bus or subway train, they might not give you the best audio performance.

As we read above, the noise leakage is slightly on the higher side in this particular headset. Users can notice that the stand transmitter does not work very well outdoors, and you will need to be within the transmitter’s range.

Though it offers you solid support, the headset is not usable in this scenario. Sennheiser RS 175 model comes with an exotic design & tight fitting. This makes it an exceptional choice when you are looking for a magnificent unit.

The charging station and stand transmitter do a phenomenal job with them both together. The unit is able to accept the digital & analog signals with ease and provide you with remarkable service.

Its lows & highs are brilliant. They come with an incredible option for you to add the additional bass here and there, as they are immensely sculpted. Likewise, the Sony WH-l600 headset is an exceptional choice.

It comes embedded with remarkable features with it. This unit gives you the ability to listen to high-quality music without the need to have a home theatre system at home. You will be delighted to know that it is capable of providing with excellent sound quality.

You can use it to listen to music, news, watch games, and even use it for online chatting. Please understand that the headset can be used mainly for watching movies late at night when you do not want to disturb those around you in your house.

Besides, they show their actual capabilities only when the environment is quiet. We were not completely impressed with the music capabilities of the headset and might recommend models like the Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro & Sennheiser HD 660 S.

The winner in our comparison review between Sennheiser RS 175 vs Sony WH-l600 headsets is the Sennheiser RS 175 model. The Sennheiser unit won because of its all-around abilities. Its comfort, design, audio performance, and price point gave it the edge over the Sony unit.