Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 569, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #457 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 1.6/5, at $129.95; the Sony ULT Wear ranks #473, rated 1.0/5, at $129.95. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 481 over-ear headphones; for better sound, the HIFIMAN HE400se ranks #23 at $109.
The Sennheiser HD 569 is the better-sounding choice. A wired closed-back headphone with a built-in microphone. The tradeoff: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 5 dB low and presence is down 4 dB, with an 11.7 dB dip near 10 kHz, so the sound is dull and veiled.
The case for the Sony ULT Wear: Active noise cancelling, up to 30 hours of battery with ANC on and 50 with it off, LDAC and AAC support, and a wired option make it a practical travel headphone. The tradeoff: The preference score is just 8, with a very uneven response; a 12 dB dip near 9.7 kHz beside a 5.6 dB peak at 11.2 kHz, plus a presence region more than 4 dB low, buries vocals and detail under the bass.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 569. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sony ULT Wear at the same price, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
A wired closed-back headphone with a built-in microphone.
Amazon $129.95 eBay
Active noise cancelling, up to 30 hours of battery with ANC on and 50 with it off, LDAC and AAC support, and a wired option make it a practical travel headphone.
Amazon $129.95 Sony $249.99 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 569 | Sony ULT Wear | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.95 | $129.95 |
| Ranked | #457 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #473 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 8 (median of 2 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.97 dB standard deviation | 5.04 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.89 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.9 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+6.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 23 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 115 dB SPL/V | 100 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (300 g) | 0.6 lbs (255 g) |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 30 hours (50 with ANC off, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
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