If you want a compact, noise-isolating wired option for a PC, choose Shure SE425; if you need full-size over-ear listening for a PC, choose HIFIMAN SUNDARA Over-Ear Full-Size. The main choice is between an in-ear fit designed to reduce outside noise and a planar-magnetic headphone with an over-ear design.
Neither is wireless in the configuration compared here, so a shopper looking for a wireless headset for PC should consider that before choosing.
Shure SE425 vs HIFIMAN SUNDARA Over-Ear Full-Size at a Glance
• HIFIMAN SUNDARA Over-Ear Full-Size: Its full-size planar-magnetic design and stated frequency range of 6 Hz to 75 kHz suit focused listening; the trade-off is that it is wired and has no listed noise-control feature.
• Choose the SE425 if you want a small wired option, a secure over-ear cable route, and isolation for a noisy desk or shared room.
• Choose the SUNDARA if you prefer over-ear headphones and want a metal headband, a weight-spreading strap, and a wide stated frequency range.
The Shure SE425 is for someone who wants to keep a PC listening setup compact and close-fitting. Its dual high-definition drivers are described as delivering detailed, natural sound, while the sound-isolating sleeves are designed to block up to 37 dB of ambient noise when properly fitted. That combination makes it a practical option for working or listening in a shared space where nearby sound is distracting. The isolation comes from the fit, not from a separate electronic noise-control system.
Fit matters here. The SE425 uses an over-ear wireform arrangement to hold the earbuds in place and keep the cable routed out of the way. The included flex and foam sleeves come in small, medium, and large sizes, giving buyers a few ways to find a secure seal. For a long PC session, that secure fit may be a plus if in-ear listening suits you; it may be a deal-breaker if you prefer not to have earpieces sitting inside your ears.
The detachable 3.5 mm cable is another useful practical detail. If the cable needs replacing, it can be detached rather than being permanently fixed to the earphones. The package also includes a quarter-inch adapter and a compact carrying case. The stated sensitivity is 109 dB SPL/mW, with a frequency range of 20 Hz to 19 kHz and an impedance listed as 20 ohms in the feature description. These figures identify the SE425 as a wired earphone with a standard 3.5 mm connection, though they do not by themselves guarantee that it will suit every PC audio setup.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-18 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip it: Skip the SE425 if you want full-size over-ear headphones, or if you dislike an in-ear fit and cable routed over the ears.
The HIFIMAN SUNDARA is the more natural match for someone who specifically wants full-size over-ear headphones at a PC. It uses planar-magnetic drivers, and its stated frequency range is 6 Hz to 75 kHz. The product information describes a newly developed diaphragm, thinner than the one used in the HE400 Series, as part of a design intended to support a wider frequency response and detailed sound. Those specifications make the SUNDARA worth considering for focused listening, but they should be read as design information, not as a promise that every listener will hear the same result.
Its build is also distinct from the Shure’s. The SUNDARA has an all-metal headband and a weight-spreading strap, pairing a sturdier-looking frame with a design intended to distribute weight. At 372 g, it is not a tiny travel earphone; it is a full-size wired headphone. The over-ear format may be appealing for desk listening if you prefer headphones that sit around your ears instead of in them. The listed product details give its sensitivity as 94 dB and impedance as 32 ohms, with a 3.5 mm headphone connection.
The trade-off is straightforward. The SUNDARA has no listed noise-control feature, so it does not offer the SE425’s stated passive sound-isolation performance. It is also wired, with no wireless connection described for this model. Its metal headband and replaceable-style 3.5 mm connector design are relevant considerations for a desk setup, but the information provided does not establish how it will fit every head or how much outside sound it will let through.
• Best for reducing outside noise around a PC → Shure SE425. Its sleeves are designed to block up to 37 dB of ambient noise with a proper fit; the SUNDARA lists no noise-control feature.
• Best for a full-size over-ear fit → HIFIMAN SUNDARA. It is explicitly an over-ear headphone, while the Shure is an in-ear earphone with an over-ear cable route.
• Best for a compact listening setup → Shure SE425. The earphones come with a compact carrying case and do not require a full-size headphone frame.
• Best for a metal headband and weight-spreading strap → HIFIMAN SUNDARA. Those are specific design features of the SUNDARA, not the Shure.
• Best for a detachable 3.5 mm cable and multiple sleeve sizes → Shure SE425. It includes a detachable cable and small, medium, and large flex and foam sleeves.
• Best for a very wide stated frequency range → HIFIMAN SUNDARA. Its listed range is 6 Hz to 75 kHz, compared with 20 Hz to 19 kHz for the SE425.
• Best for someone who dislikes in-ear earpieces → HIFIMAN SUNDARA. Its over-ear design avoids the Shure’s in-ear fit.
• Best for a wired PC setup rather than wireless use → Either, with a caveat. Both are wired in the configurations described; neither should be treated as a wireless headset for PC.
Buying Considerations
Before choosing, check how your PC connects to headphones. Both products list a 3.5 mm connection, and the SE425 package also includes a quarter-inch adapter.
Think about fit before focusing on technical figures. The SE425 relies on sleeves forming a proper seal for its stated sound isolation. It offers several sleeve sizes, but an in-ear fit is personal. The SUNDARA avoids that issue by going over the ears, but it is a full-size headphone weighing 372 g. If you expect to wear headphones for extended desk sessions, consider which style you are more comfortable with rather than assuming one design will suit everyone.
Finally, both options are wired as described. If freedom to move around without a cable is essential, neither one matches the wireless headset for PC you may have in mind. The SE425 has separate wireless variants described in its product information, but the wired model covered here comes with a 3.5 mm cable. The SUNDARA listing describes a wired headphone. Check the current price on Amazon if cost is part of your decision.
For a PC, I would choose the Shure SE425 if my priority were reducing distractions in a shared or noisy room. Its proper-fit isolation, secure over-ear cable route, and detachable cable are concrete advantages for that use. I’d choose the HIFIMAN SUNDARA instead if I wanted full-size over-ear headphones and its planar-magnetic design. My pick for a noise-conscious PC setup is the SE425, but only if an in-ear fit works for me.
For a noisy PC environment, the SE425 has the clearer feature advantage: its sleeves are designed to reduce ambient noise by up to 37 dB with a proper fit. For someone who prefers full-size over-ear headphones, the SUNDARA is the more suitable shape.
The SE425 is specifically described as sound-isolating, with sleeves designed to block up to 37 dB of ambient noise when properly fitted. The SUNDARA lists no noise-control feature, so the provided specifications do not support the same isolation claim for it.
Are the SE425 and SUNDARA wireless?
The SUNDARA lists a range of 6 Hz to 75 kHz. The SE425 lists 20 Hz to 19 kHz. Frequency range is one specification to consider, but it does not alone determine which headphone will sound better to you.
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