Sennheiser HD 598 SR vs Jaybird X3

The large ear pads feature a velour surface and a soft foam material underneath. The comfort of the headband is also notable. It features a synthetic leather material with a thick foam inside. In combination, these cushioned parts feel like pillows on the head.

These headphones are in a price range that is quite affordable, yet offers sound and build quality that is beyond the standards in its price bracket.

The bass takes a bit of a back seat compared to the other frequencies, yet is still enough to give fullness and punch to the sound. The mids are the star of these headphones' sound signature. They are clear and a little bit forward, which give a lot of extra detail and presence to guitars and vocals. The highs are pretty crisp and clean, and complement the other frequencies really well.

Even for open back headphones, the soundstage that the HD 598 produces is amazing. It is quite wide yet natural at the same time, which makes it feel like you're listening to the artist perform in front of you live. This wide sound stage and great imaging also make these ideal for games and movies, as these can enhance audio immersion.

This makes the headphones quite easy to store, and the cable easy to replace. Also, the attachment mechanism is a twist to lock system which minimizes the chances of the cable getting disconnected while in use.

Exposure to splashes of rain or sweat won't easily damage these earphones.

The highs are crisp, airy and forward so detail presentation is very good. Bass is fast and controlled instead of boomy, so it does not muddy up the overall sound. The mids sound natural and do not get lost in the mix.
This sound signature works well with a wide range of genres and rock, pop, hip-hop and EDM will definitely sound great with these headphones.

The X3 comes with wing tips that you can attach to the earpieces. The tips enhance the grip of the headphones in the ear, and will help keep them secure even while you are running

The in-line remote will allow you to control music playback, adjust volume as well as answer/end calls.

Integrated into the remote is a microphone, so you do not need to pull out your phone should a call come in. Mic quality is pretty decent, and your voice should be easy to understand on the other line.

You get standard silicone ear tips in different sizes, along with a carrying case, different sized wing tips, premium Comply foam ear tips in different sizes, cable management clips as well as the charging cradle with micro-USB cable.

The older X2 model had bigger and heavier earpieces which made them prone to falling off, and also made it difficult to use the earphones with a helmet or a hat. The X3’s earpieces have been redesigned to be smaller, while the internal batteries have been moved from the earpiece to the remote. This helps keep the X3 in-place inside the ears and at the same time makes these earphones easier to fit under a hat or helmet.

The X3 gets around 8 hours of playback time from a full charge. This battery life is much more consistent compared to the previous model which had spotty battery life.

Signal quality is pretty stable with minimal distortion or drops, even if you are on the move.