Over-Ear
QCY H3S
81Outstanding
$34
Full review dataQCY H3S vs Sennheiser HD 424: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the QCY H3S comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 81. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: QCY H3S - Outstanding overall at around $34.
Over-Ear
Sennheiser HD 424
35Weak
$52
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
QCY H3S leads on 7 of 7 measures.
- QCY H3S
- Sennheiser HD 424
HearWiki score
81
35
Sound
7.5
4.3
Noise cancelling
7.4
-
Battery
9.8
-
Calls
5.4
-
Value
9.5
-
Price (USD)
$34
$52
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Half a step newer
QCY H3S (2025) against Sennheiser HD 424 (1970). The QCY H3S edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- H3S202555 yr newer
- HD 4241970
What differsH3SHD 424
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
Platform
Specifications
H3SHD 424
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $34
- $52
- HearWiki score
- 81
- 35
- Released
- 2025
- 1970
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 2-driver hybrid
- dynamic
- Driver type
- hybrid
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 2
- 1
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 40 kHz
- 16 Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance
- 32 Ω
- 2000 Ω
- Bluetooth
- 6.0
- -
- Codecs
- AAC, LDAC
- -
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- -
- Wireless range
- 10 m
- -
- Battery life
- 102 h
- -
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 58 h
- -
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- -
- Quick charge
- 10 min → 7 h
- -
- Wireless charging
- No
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- No
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Controls
- buttons
- -
- Voice assistant
- Yes
- -
- Weight
- 240 g
- 180 g
- Water resistance
- none
- -
- Foldable
- Yes
- -
- USB-C
- Yes
- -
- Microphones
- 7
- -
What reviewers said
QCY H3S
The QCY H3S is a budget-friendly over-ear wireless headphone that packs adaptive active noise cancellation, a hybrid dual-driver setup, and support for LDAC and Bluetooth 6.0. Its foldable design and lightweight build add to its portability and convenience.
- Pro:Effective adaptive ANC for the price
- Pro:LDAC and AAC codec support for high-quality audio
- Pro:Multipoint connectivity and Bluetooth 6.0
- Con:No water resistance rating
- Con:No wireless charging support
- Con:Controls are button-based, not touch
Sennheiser HD 424
The Sennheiser HD 424 is a vintage open-back dynamic headphone known for its remarkably high 2000-ohm impedance and spacious, full-bodied sound. It offers a larger presentation and improved bass detail compared to earlier models, but its demanding electrical load means it truly shines with a dedicated amplifier rather than a portable device. This makes it a compelling choice for retro audio enthusiasts who value a wide soundstage and are willing to pair it with appropriate gear.
- Pro:Spacious, open soundstage
- Pro:Fuller and more detailed bass response
- Pro:Lightweight at 180 grams
- Con:Very high impedance requires powerful amplification
- Con:Not suited for high-volume listening without an amp
- Con:Open-back design offers no noise isolation
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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