If you want open, spacious wired listening for relaxed sessions at home, choose Sennheiser HD 598; if you need wireless earbuds with adaptive noise cancelling for commutes and everyday movement, choose Technics Reference Class Hi-Fi. For side sleepers, I would lean toward the Technics because it is an in-ear design rather than a bulky over-ear headphone, though fit and comfort are personal.
The key point in this technics vs sennheiser earbuds comparison is that these are not two versions of the same kind of product. The Sennheiser is a wired, open-back headphone designed for listening in relatively quiet spaces. The Technics is a true wireless earbud set with noise cancelling, device switching, and a charging case. Your routine matters more than a simple sound-feature checklist.
• Sennheiser HD 598 strength: Open-back over-ear design, velour cushions, and a padded headband suit long, comfortable listening at home. Trade-off: It is wired and has no noise control.
• Technics Reference Class Hi-Fi strength: Wireless in-ear listening with adaptive noise cancelling, head tracking for Dolby Atmos, multipoint connection, and up to 10 hours of playback with noise cancelling. Trade-off: Its in-ear fit may not suit every ear, and its listed playback time is shorter than a full workday.
• Choose the Sennheiser for a home listener who values an open, natural presentation and does not need isolation or wireless freedom.
• Choose the Technics for someone who wants portable wireless listening, noise control, calls, or a more practical option to consider for side sleeping.
The HD 598 is an over-ear, open-back headphone built around a wired connection. Its 3.5 mm jack keeps the setup straightforward: connect it to a compatible source and listen. The open-back design is intended to support tonal balance, detail, and a more spatial presentation. Sennheiser’s E.A.R. design directs sound toward the ears, while the headphones use dynamic transducers with aluminum voice coils.
Comfort is a central part of its appeal on paper. The ear cushions are covered in velour, and the leatherette headband is padded. At 270 grams, it is a substantial over-ear design, but the listed construction is meant for extended listening. The burl wood accents and metal mesh also give it a distinctive look rather than the plain, all-plastic appearance common to many headphones.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
I would consider the HD 598 if most of your listening happens at a desk, in a quiet room, or during a relaxed evening with music, films, or spoken audio. I would skip it if you need Bluetooth, active noise cancelling, a microphone for calls, or a compact option for a pocket or bag. Its open back and lack of noise control make it a poor match for someone who wants to block surrounding sound. It is also not the natural choice for side sleeping: an over-ear cup takes up more space against a pillow than an in-ear bud.
The Technics Reference Class Hi-Fi is a true wireless in-ear set. It connects over Bluetooth 5.3 and has no headphone jack, so it is designed for use without a cable between the earbuds and the listening device. Adaptive noise cancelling adjusts to the surrounding environment, while the product also includes a microphone and touch controls. Its Voice Focus AI feature is intended to help make calls clearer.
There is more here than basic wireless playback. The earbuds support Dolby Atmos with head tracking, which responds to head movement during compatible spatial-audio listening. Technics describes the magnetic-fluid driver design as aimed at accurate bass, reduced distortion, and smoother mid- and high-frequency sound. The set can connect with three devices through multipoint, a useful feature for someone who moves between a phone, computer, or other compatible devices.
Battery life is listed as up to 10 hours with noise cancelling, with up to 28 hours when the charging case is included. The case supports wireless charging. Those details make the Technics the more convenient pick for travel, errands, and moving between devices, though the in-ear fit remains an individual matter. For a side sleeper, its smaller in-ear form is more promising than an over-ear headphone, but the product information does not establish that it will be comfortable for every person while lying on one side.
• Best for a wired home listening setup → Sennheiser HD 598. It uses a 3.5 mm connection and does not depend on a wireless connection or charging case.
• Best for commuting or listening around other people → Technics Reference Class Hi-Fi. Adaptive noise cancelling is the clear advantage when you want to manage surrounding sound.
• Best for long sessions in a quiet room → Sennheiser HD 598. Its velour ear cushions and padded headband are designed for comfort over extended listening.
• Best for switching between devices → Technics Reference Class Hi-Fi. Its three-device multipoint connection is more suited to a phone-and-computer routine.
• Best for spatial audio with head movement → Technics Reference Class Hi-Fi. Dolby Atmos head tracking is a specific feature the Sennheiser does not offer.
• Best for a pocketable, cable-free setup → Technics Reference Class Hi-Fi. These are wireless in-ear buds, while the Sennheiser is a wired over-ear headphone.
• Best for listening without a battery in the headphones → Sennheiser HD 598. Its wired design avoids the listed battery-life limit that comes with the Technics.
• More plausible for side sleepers → Technics Reference Class Hi-Fi. In-ear buds are less bulky than over-ear cups, though comfort depends on your ear and sleeping position.
The phrase “best ANC sports earbuds for side sleepers” combines several different needs. If your priority is noise control and a less bulky shape against a pillow, it is the more relevant of these two. If you want the “best extra bass wireless earbuds for side sleepers,” the Technics is again the closer fit because it is wireless and its driver description mentions accurate bass. That does not mean it is specifically a bass-boosted model.
The Sennheiser is sometimes easier to compare with searches for “extra bass over ear headphones for side sleepers,” but that combination is a mismatch for this particular use. The HD 598 is an open-back over-ear headphone with a balanced, detailed sound description, not a wireless bass-focused earbud. Its cup and headband design are better suited to upright listening than to lying with an ear pressed into a pillow.
Sound preference is another dividing line. The HD 598 is described in terms of natural, detailed, balanced sound and an open presentation. The Technics emphasizes wireless convenience, adaptive noise cancelling, spatial audio, and driver technologies intended to support clarity and accurate bass. Those descriptions point to different listening priorities, not a simple contest where one set of headphones wins every category.
I would choose the Technics Reference Class Hi-Fi for a flexible everyday setup: it is wireless, has adaptive noise cancelling, supports multipoint, and is the more practical of the two to consider for side sleepers. Its in-ear shape is not a guarantee of pillow comfort, but it avoids the HD 598’s over-ear cups.
I would choose the Sennheiser instead for quiet, seated listening at home, especially if a wired connection and open-back sound suit your routine. For my side-sleeping priority, though, I would buy the Technics.
No. The Technics is a true wireless in-ear set. The Sennheiser HD 598 is a wired, open-back over-ear headphone, so the comparison is between different product types.
The Technics is the more plausible option because it sits in the ear rather than surrounding it with an over-ear cup. Still, comfort while lying on your side depends on the shape of your ears and how the buds fit; the listed information does not promise a sleeping-specific fit.
The Technics has adaptive noise cancelling. The Sennheiser HD 598 is listed with no noise control, and its open-back design is intended for a more open listening experience rather than blocking outside sound.
The Technics is listed for up to 10 hours of playback with noise cancelling, or up to 28 hours with its charging case. The Sennheiser is wired, so battery runtime is not a comparable feature for that model.
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