Headphones Awards 2023 | Best Wireless Over-Ear Headphones You Can Buy! (In-Depth)
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- Опубліковано 20 тра 2024
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Here's the new 2024 Headphones Awards 👉🏼 • Headphones Awards 2024...
NEW: Best Over-Ear Headphones under $100 👉🏼 • Best Over-Ear Headphon...
It's the big one! After months of testing and 50+ pairs tested, the results are finally in...these are the best headphones on the market right now! But it's time to hand out some awards too.
I've narrowed down a Top 7 and given a review for each in this video, highlighting strengths and weaknesses and ranking each from 1st to 7th for various categories (ANC, sound quality, mic quality etc). So we can see not only each of the winners, but also the overall winner - and you can use this video to see which one ticks the boxes for you as well. Some of the results might surprise you...
This is a long one, so use the time stamps to skip to the bit you want!
p.s. I don't get notifications for all comments, even if you tag my name. Make sure to follow @insidetechltd on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where I'll be able to respond to you!
Featuring:
- Intro: 0:00
- Bose QuietComfort SE/45: 1:01
- Master & Dynamic MW75: 4:30
- Sennheiser Momentum 4: 8:19
- NordVPN (sponsor): 12:49
- Technics EAH-A800: 13:43
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8: 18:05
- Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95: 22:07
- Sony WH-1000XM5: 27:51
- Final Awards/Results: 33:48
#headphones #wireless #technology
-------------------------------------------
True Wireless Earbuds Awards 2022:
👉🏼 • The True Wireless Earb...
Apple AirPods Max Review:
• AirPods Max In-Depth R...
Buy Sony WH-1000XM5 🎧
👉🏼 amzn.to/3G0fYUU (Amazon)
- Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones Review:
• Sony WH-1000XM4 ANC He...
- Sony WF-1000X Earbuds Review:
• Sony WF-1000XM4 In-Dep...
Buy B&O Beoplay H95 🎧
👉🏼 amzn.to/3GbnBYL (Amazon)
Buy Bowers & Wilkins Px8 🎧
👉🏼 amzn.to/3GvQJLt (Amazon)
- Bowers & Wilkins PI5 and PI7 Earbuds Review:
• Bowers & Wilkins PI7 v...
Buy Technics EAH-A800 🎧
👉🏼 amzn.to/3jG1HVR (Amazon)
Buy Sennheiser Momentum 4 🎧
👉🏼 amzn.to/3i5APy9 (Amazon)
- Sennheiser Momentum 3 Review:
• Sennheiser Momentum 3 ...
Buy Master & Dynamic MW75 🎧
👉🏼 amzn.to/3IfSCNB (Amazon)
Buy Bose QuietComfort SE/45 🎧
👉🏼 amzn.to/3CgNiWG (Amazon)
- Bose QuietComfort Earbuds vs Sport Earbuds
• Bose QuietComfort vs S...
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Here's a link to the new 2024 edition of the Headphone Awards! 👉🏼ua-cam.com/video/Ucv4n0zlxqI/v-deo.html
Do you have any video on Phillips TAH8506BK? I'm gravitating into it right now
Sound quality should definitely count more than anything for headphones.
Agree
Nah. Comfort comes first
@@agent7-li7dv disagree
@@agent7-li7dv you can have all the comfort , but if the sounds is not there, wouldn't be much of an experience
@@agent7-li7dv i wouldnt even wanna wear them if they dont sound good
Am usually unimpressed by random reviews of headphones but this one actually was super well organized and informative. Well done!
Thank you 👊🏼
@@insidetechltd I completely agree, very well organized! I know nothing about tech, however the structure of the video is great and really helped me understand and make an informed selection, thank you.
@@insidetechltd is your voice sped up?
My thoughts exactly.. super quality!
👌 super. Keep it up
If you're looking for the best over-ear headphones under $100, that video just went live! 👉🏼 ua-cam.com/video/06Kg6Fitqao/v-deo.html
Very well done my friend, I also tested all of those and couldn't agree more with your assessment. The B&W has slightly worse frequency response than the B&O below 40Hz and above 16Khz, which makes the bass less rumbly and poised. This explains why the bass is emphasized in the Px8's factory calibration, it is necessary to get the low bass to a good enough level, but it is a bit at the expense of neutrality, precision and consistency compared to the B&O. Some people might find the volume on the B&O a tad low, but actually once you have EQ'ed away the excess bass on the B&W, you are left with sensibly the same dynamic range (but less rumble). I spent quite a bit of time comparing those two and although the B&O H95 has the better sound quality, I prefer the design and comfort of the Px8, so I have been quite torn.
Have you considered the Bathys and Dali headphones? I have not heard them yet but I think they also deliver on the audiophile quality. With the new DALI IO-12 just around the corner, it might be a good idea to update your ranking at the beginning of December?
Forgot to mention, I liked the Aipods Max as well because the bass and mids were extremely accurate, and once you corrected the treble they sounded incredibly good, but I just couldn't stand the clamping force, fragile headband and water-trapping metal design..
@@pureffm Thanks a lot! I'll be testing out all the new entries (and repeat testing any older models too) over December ready for another January video release. It'll be interesting to see how the results have changed!
@@insidetechltd
Wondering how the new bose qc ultra will do. I was thinking to get those over sony. Comfort and ANC is important to me.
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Not sure for others but Sony have firmware updates via their app which is basically a must have for that price.
Question can u rank them in volume please i need very loud headphones becouse my earing is bad please and thanks.
@@mester84 the louder you go, the worse your hearing will be in the future. Look after your hearing 😉
Jabras do to
None were open-back.
Superbly magnificent high-quality review. I wish every review on the internet was this caring and considerate. In-depth research, clear, concise and balanced assessment of both the pros and cons. Thanks a million!
That's awesome to hear, thank you!
I recently purchased the Sony XM-5's and am very impressed. I live in a noisy house and do tele-sales for a living, wearing these. The sound quality is superb, the noise cancelling is fantastic, the app allows for custom sound tuning and the comfort level is great as well. The ability to go from ANC to ambient instantly is a great feature. Over-all a great set of headphones.
Glad you like them!
@@insidetechltd ua-cam.com/users/shorts8wAH9GU2Zj4?feature=share
Can your callers hear background noise?
@@mom4nz610 I have listened to some of my recorded calls, and I cannot hear the background noises very much at all.
how’s the bass, does it really pump ?
I previously used JBL E55BTs for about 5 years and they are crispy sounding headphones. when I switched to the sony, I was surprised how "dull" it sounded. it is bass heavy but I prefer if it was lil bit more crispier too. The hinge thing is super annoying since it a smooth one. because whenever I take it out from the bag or put it around my neck, it slowly stretches out so everytime I wear the headphones, I have to adjest the headband. Many UA-camrs say sound quality is VERY GOOD etc.. so I thought its gonna be amazing. After a while you get used to the sound quality but I still use my JBLs when I'm doing work at my desk. I use the sony when I go out. so I can easily hear the difference. Also I am not a hard core audio person by any means. I like bassy music but I also like it when its crispy.
One nice thing I didn't expect is, you can use 3.5mm wire for audio while using ANC.
For commuting and travel, the XM5 makes sense. Sound quality is surprising good, best in class ANC, light and comfortable, long battery life and excellent mic. It's also not too expensive to the point that I will not feel the need to baby them.
Having said that, the H95 is simply gorgeous and the sound signature is better.
Sometimes I wish there would be a collaboration between B&O and Sony to bring their best strengths together.
Perhaps the new Dali io12 tick that box: audio by Dali and ANC from Sony.
Why sound being surprisingly good? I would expect great sound for a premium?
I do a lot of video editing, so low latency was top priority - I therefore needed aptx support, missing on so many of these headphones. I went for the Momentum 4 that in my opinion was the best all-round headphone with aptx support. From various reviews, I heard the ANC was a weak point. But when I tested it on the train, it did a great job of eliminating nearly all the noise. My previous headphones were the Parrot Zik 2, which in its time used to be really good at ANC. The Momentum 4 is miles ahead of that. Sound quality is excellent and my only problem was that during video editing, every time I took the headphones off and then back on, some random UA-cam video would start up and I would have to find it and stop it. I switched off the auto-play and then they were usable again. Compared to all the others mentioned, I am glad I chose the Momentum 4 as the best all-round headphones with aptx support.
Glad you like them!
Although video editing without using wired headphones 😳
@@insidetechltd By plugging in a long enough USB cable, you get wired headphones. Another feature, many of the other headphones do not support. With good aptx support, the delay is so small, that it does not much matter.
how comfy are they? how long do you have these on?
@@leonbosch03 I wear them for hours, each day and comfort is good enough.
Excellent review, great work indeed. This is definitively subscription-worthy material! The fact that you offer a dedicated video for each model helps us greatly, since each one may be specifically looking for two or more features and, depending on the country, won't find some models at a "fair" price. Thanks a lot!
I really appreciate that, thanks a lot!
Actually impress with this review. Covers all the factors that one should consider for Bluetooth which is that it isn’t truly audiophile
Sony have released a new bata version of their EQ as of August 2023 on their XM4s which I love because it gives me more more choice in finding the sound quality I like. I chose the XM4s over the XM5s because I can fold them up and I can take the headphone case too as they don't take up anywhere as much space as the ones that come with the XM5s. I think they're both superb noise cancelling headphones.
Thank you for your reviews
The B&W PX8 are my first choice with premium quality components and sound.
As we are only in January of 2023, perhaps the best headphones of 2022 would have been a better title as we are sure to see updated headphones coming out in 2023.
I was surprised the Focal Bathys were not included here. Some have said they sound better than most Bluetooth headphones though there is lots of plastic on the headphones with cheap buttons.
Thanks! Px8 is a lovely place to start.
One of the reasons for the title is that this is an awards video. So we're looking back on the past year's best headphones - much the same as the 2023 Academy Awards in March will look back on 2022 films.
Focal's were considered but edged out by the others in the end
@@insidetechltd so the Focal Bathys aren't better than any? I'm reading everywhere that they are the best (sound wise)
@Yanni Blumstein Not compared to the Audeze maxwell. The Audeze Maxwell sound better for music and are cheaper. They also have 80+ hours of battery life, LDAC and a frequency range of 10hz-50khz. The reason is because they are using 90mm Planar magnetic drivers and have a much wider amd more detailed Soundstage than the dynamic drivers used in the PX8 and Focal bathy's.
@@yanniblumstein1 they are v good but not the best, the audeze the guy above mentions are superb but are for gaming as far as I know and I love the sound of the B&O h95 over focal Bathy.
@@zombieimpact2790 the headphones you mention are for gaming, a friend of mine has them and uses them on PlayStation, I must confess I haven’t listened to music through them apart from on games.
Please make this a yearly thing, I understand how hard it is to make videos like this but this was the most helpful video I've ever watched!
Thank you!
I did the earbuds awards two years in a row now, so might do for the headphones too!
Yes please!
Outstanding review. The most comprehensive breakdown of the best headphones on UA-cam right now (and I watched a lot). Great work 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Thank you, love to hear it! 💚
Heard of Oluv's Gadgets or DHRME?
The quality of this review is insanely good. You'll get to 100K subs in no time!! Thank you for all the effort you put into this. I had lots of questions about the Px8's and H95's, and you answered them all. :)
Thank you so much! 💚 Really glad I could help you - that’s why I do this!
I own a pair of bang and olufsen hx so the little brother of the h95s. They sound incredible hence why I picked them. Orignally I hated them as they sounded very flat and boring but quickly I found out that they are very neutral and have excellent mids and highs. yes bass does feel a little weak coming from Beats studio 3s but it doesn't feel artificial at all and actually very pleasing depending on the music genre. And if you want more bass, they allow some EQ changes in the app. Adding extra bass really feels like adding a subwoofer compared to just turning the bass switch up on normal speakers. Building quality is excellent with lambskin and aluminium and has a very long battery life. Only wish is comfort was a little better, it's fine but not as good as the quietcomfort and less latency on windows. But apart from that, can definitely vouch for these and the H95s
Yes exactly. The vast majority of headphones are tuned with a bass boosted profile, so most people become used to it and it can make B&O's tuning seem underwhelming. But actually it's as it should be. The Hx came in second for sound quality and deservedly so. Amazing sound
Edit* coming from Beats is almost the polar opposite too. No wonder the bass seemed flat
I have hx and they are amazing
@@liorco300 everyday I regret selling mine :(
@@anaymakan6989 get a new one maybe on sale !
Hello friends,
After watching several hours of reviews on BT headphones I have determined this to be the most well thought out and informative video on UA-cam.
Excellent presentation with a fantastic lineup of manufacturers. A rating chart with all the important issues is given per item to help on your decision.
Fantastic job!
Bryson
Thanks a lot!
This is to be the best comprehensive review I have ever seen for a product… or 7 products. Well done. Is could not have watched this video and not left a comment and thank you for your hard work in producing this video. Great job.
Thank you so much. Having spent months on this (including a 28 hour non-stop stint at my computer yesterday) it genuinely feels amazing to get feedback like that. I appreciate the people who take the trouble to write a comment so much, thank you 🙌🏼💚
I love everything about the XM5 except for the headband. It's so narrow that only a very small section comes into contact with my head which builds up a pressure point very quickly.
I've seen a couple of others mention this too. For me they were fine, but of course it's going to vary with each person
I’m using the Q45s. The price , battery are great for the price , they pair to my phone and my streaming device at the same time very easily . I do think the Q20s are more comfortable though. I mainly use them to watch movies /tv the majority of the time. I’d love to try some of these others you’re mentioning But (some are simply not in my price range ). Great video 👍
I'm gonna do a follow up video for best value headphones - not finished testing yet but the Q45 would definitely be part of it!
Thanks for an excellent presentation, very professional. All the important features that prospective purchasers need to know about where covered in depth, which helps making the right buying descision.
Great, concise video. Thank you SO much for your time. (Loved the way you showed the ranking at the top of the screen.)
Thanks a lot! I think you're the first to comment on the ranking at the top, so thank you! I hoped that would be helpful 😅
Very comprehensive and detailed review, I love thorough analyses like these that are easy to understand at the same time. Thank you so much for this video! Currently deciding between the Sennheisers and the Sonys, it's a tough choice.
Thanks a lot!
Same dilemma! Have you made your decision yet?
Similarly, I listened to these two models in the store for 4 hours. Bass is definitely better on the M4, but everything else is better on the XM5 by a wide margin. Bought Sony, very happy.
i am in this position like you and at similar price i dont know what to chose because i cant test them....
@@bogdisa I've tested the Sony and it was good. But the M4 is still not available in any shops i've been to so there is no way for me to test it. 😔😔😔
Thank you for your review! One suggestion I would make is that not all categories should score equally. For a pair of headphones, surely sound quality should have a greater weighting. As a result, I struggle to see how the Sony XM5 came 1st while coming 5th for sound quality. Also, I would’ve thought the B&W PX7 S2 would have been a better candidate for this test than the PX8. For me, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 offers the best overall package for the price. Thank you,
Thanks!
I understand your point, but not everyone scores sound quality with the greatest weighting either. Lots of people, especially non-audiophiles are happy enough to not have the 'very best' sounding headphones if instead they get something super comfortable or with great ANC etc. It all depends on what each person values - that's why I give awards for each category. That way people can look at each result for each category and decide for themselves which they think is best overall.
I said at the end of the video that the objective winner (Sony) doesn't have to be 'your' winner - and that's exactly why. Sony came in first overall after factoring in everything, including the price. But if you personally place much more weight on sound quality, then of course it will likely be a different pair. No video can be perfect for everyone, and this is how I thought it best to do it!
The PX7 S2 were also considered, but were beaten by the Px8 overall. I'd love to include more great headphones, but I think 7 was a good amount in the end.
@@insidetechltd I would like to ask. Which one do you find better between the px7 and the momentum 4, talking about sound quality? Im a professional classical music player, and I would know which one is the best wireless headphones to listen classical music in this rank prices. Thank you!! :)
@@paugarciasalt7805 для классики или для джаза лучше всего подойдут Focal Bathys или Mark Levinson NO. 5909. У них более реалистичные частоты и "ширина-глубина" звучания.Но это чисто мое личное мнение....
Great video, I got the first gen of the XM5 (MDR 1000X) as they were called back then, and I still wear them daily around 8-12 hours. But since they are slowly dying and I need to charge them every night by now, I really look forward to changing to the newes WH 1000XM5. Thanks for the extensive review!!
Thank you, I hope you enjoy them!
Thanks for the well rounded review! One thing to note for XM5 is that the ANC can be inconsistent due to auto optimizer feature which can't be set manually. There are times when I want to set it to max but the auto decides otherwise. A bit of nitpick since XM4 can set the ANC level manually
Thank you!
With the XM5 ANC, you can still set the level though, right? You can set that to max manually. It’s only the atmospheric pressure optimiser that’s automatic now
@@insidetechltd Only ambient mode has setting for sound pass through level unfortunately. Noise cancelling level can't be for now. Fingers crossed that Sony would enable manual setting in the Sony Headphone Connect app
@@michaelmuliadi6088 Ah i'm with you now. Yeah I guess it depends on how many people want/request the older adjustment method. But hopefully they'll add it to the app!
@@insidetechltdno you can’t. I literally cannot wrap my head around you “expert” reviewers who say the XM5s have the best ANC. I have XM3s and they are better in many situations. The Auto ANC ruins the headphones. I really don’t understand how you don’t notice. Go sit in a restaurant and see if the auto ANC function is gracious enough to allow you full ANC - I bet you it won’t. Meaning you’ll hear way more noise than with the XM3s/XM4s. PLEASE get it right. I bought the XM5s because of reviewers like you, but I had to return them. The Sony forums and Reddit is FULL of complaints about this. Seriously.
I tried many of these in your video and ended up keeping the Mark Levinson 5909. The PX8 was my second fav. The Momentum 3 is my third pick in the ANC wireless group. Drop Panda are my fav passive wireless. Cheers!
Fair enough, the important thing is you've found ones you like 👍🏼
Can I get over ear for school from u
Great comparison. Thank you for this video. I'm still using my NC700 because I need a very good mic and when I bought them no other headphones came close. Unfortunately they aren't the most comfortable headphones (to me at least). How do they rank mic-wise compared to these 7? Would the MX5 be a sensible "upgrade"?
Thank you!
Against these 7 they would have ranked 4th, behind M&D, Technics and Sony. Sony M5s would be a sensible upgrade if you want good mic quality - Sony's mic quality is miles better than anything else right now!
Thanks for your reply. I was amazed by the audio sample of the MX5 compared to the other 6. I might check them out in store. Although I'm not particularly a fan of their design I have to admit. Thanks again for the great review!
This video was exactly what I was looking for with the ranking. Going to be a tough decision on what to by but definitely made easier thanks to this video. Thanks again!!!
Glad to hear it, that's what I make these for 👍🏼
Perfect, looking to get new headphones for work and this is very recent too! Also the airpods bit made me chuckle
It’s a long video, wanted to break it up a bit by throwing that in there 😅
Great video, really impressed with the details explained for each headphone along with rankings in the table at the end!!
I appreciate it, thanks a lot!
The most thorough wireless headphones review by far. Excellent criteria selection and scoring factors 👏
Thank you 👊🏼 Awesome feedback!
Hope you're kidding
Awesome. You have done an amazing job. Thanks for this great comparison. Especially the overall table at the end.
Thank you very much! Glad the table was useful 👍🏼
I wonder how AKG k371bt would compete against momentum 4 or Technics ? I bought them and while I like its sound Im returning them because of multiple issues . Im thinking of buying akg y600nc because they are only $80 as backup headphones too but looking for good main headphones with solid bass and clarity ...
Thanks for this! I was searching for reviews to validate myself for purchasing the Sony XM5, and I'm glad to learn more about headphones. Great review!
Consider yourself validated, they are excellent!
Amazing product review, definitely worth a subscribe. The thoroughness of the review is impressive.
That's very kind, thank you!
You have done some really good work here. I don't own any of these products aside from M&D MW75 and I was very curious what points you would be making. Now considering the fact that you had a whole bunch of phones to go through its understandable that you experienced false perception resulting in an inaccurate verdict.
I have been using these phones on a daily basis and I can tell you this:
1. Controls button - once you get your muscle memory down, there is no chance of making a mistake. The fact that these are traditional buttons makes up for it - these will always be more practical than touch controls.
2. The ear pads are lamb skin memory pads. I have had B&W PX7 I've had the XM3 and even tested the XM4. None of these products had more comfortable pads - and it's not subjective like sound is, it's a simple material used outcome.
3. The ANC works well. My testing tools is UA-cam 24h baby crying clip and I could not / can't hear a damn thing.
4. Comfort wise: That is again subjective because it depends on your ear size. My slip inside and I get instant "God Mode".
Also: You really should highlight the fact that you can use these in analog mode which is an advantage people should be aware of. Once the battery dies on me in couple of years these will maintain as backup / primary headset. Not every head set on your list had that feature.
The sound leakage is in fact a bit pain in the but though. The auto pause / resume seems like an incomplete feature but perhaps with an update it will change. The EQ is limited but when you aim for quality materials and audiophile drivers you don't even notice that because you probably already have installed 3rd party EQ (if you really care for one) on your device.
It’s not a false perception at all, just a different experience from yours perhaps. These are just my thoughts on the headphones :) Thanks a lot for watching!
@@insidetechltd I've heard that one before.
At very least highlight for your viewers this is your subjective conclusion because the purpose of your content is to provide product rating which cannot be (should not be) based on your personal feelings. Just because I am vegan and I may disapprove lamb skin products it does not mean in terms on quality and long lasting it is not superior than faux leather an so on. XM5 have unmatched ANC technology but are build of cheap flimsy plastic - that is a fact - its not my thoughts : ) you follow? :)
I just returned my Sennheiser Momentum 4 since it had persistent connection issues, the local store even swapped it for a Sony XM5 with no extra charge. Turns out a lot of returns have been happening in our area. So bad experiences with the connection, it doesn't make sense that my other buds are more stable in connecting. Pity because it sounded so nice and punches above its price. Sony XM5's are top notch with the features, sound for me though is not as open as the Sennheisers.
Excellent review. Very informative and really supporting one's decision process. Well done.
Thank you 👊🏼
very well done. thank you. I like the bose, they do sound very good to me compared to other ones I have heard. I thought you might have the jabra in your line up, soundcore and the more one.
Thanks!
All of those were tested. You might be able to spot them in that opening shot if you look really closely. Beaten out by these 7 in the end though.
I'm thinking of doing another video like this on some of the cheaper headphones though - soundcore especially are great for the price!
Thorough and easy to digest & refer back to with the comparison chart. Thank you for an excellent presentation.
Thank you! 👊🏼
Happy New Year!!
Best Headphone review of the year.
We have had some excellent headphones over the last few years.
The B&O H95 are a real tempter.
I cannot get myself to go for the Sony.
I have had Sennheiser for so long now that I just cannot sacrifice sound quality.
The truth is that ins very noisy situations - like on a plane - which is what they are for - you really don't notice the sound quality difference, so it should not matter ...However, sometimes I am wearing my Momentum 3 or EPOS Adapt 660 (clone of the Sennheiser PxC 550II) ... and I am stunned by the sound quality when listening in a quiet environment.
Sometimes I am on a train or in a coffee bar, and I am utterly blown away by the quality - I am taken to a magical place and really just melt. It's amazing!. The Sennheiser sound is just sublime.
I could not give that up for even excellent noise cancellation.
The noise cancellation on the Momentum 3 is not good at all, but the EPOS Adapt 660 has reasonable ANC - just a bit less than the Bose NC700 and Sony Mk4.
I want to upgrade, but I am torn.
The H95 are just so expensive, and the Sennheiser Momentum 4 may not be as comfortable as I would like + I need them to be excellent with calls.
Given these criteria - which would you punt for?
Once again - excellent video. You put a great deal of work in, and the matrix you created was exactly right - there is no "Best at everything " headphone, so it makes sense to say how they rank in specific categories. Loved that. I would love to hear your thoughts on my question, if possible.
Would you consider the B&O Hx? I know they didn't feature as a top 7 here and I explained why up top. But I still have the full data set for the testing results: they ranked 2nd for sound quality and ahead of Sennheiser for both comfort and call quality. Perhaps they strike the right balance for you without the H95 price tag?
Otherwise you could look to the Technics headphones. Slightly behind Sennheiser in sound quality but with much better ANC, mic quality and comfort - a truly underrated pair of headphones.
Don't forget that comfort is very subjective though - you may find the Momentum 4 perfectly comfortable for your use. You may even find the call quality good enough, especially if mostly in a quiet environment. So I would recommend buying from somewhere that allows you to try headphones before buying. I can make suggestions, but you'll only know for sure if you try for yourself!
@@insidetechltd So grateful for your reply.
Got the M4 and the H95 to audition (booth 2nd hanbd and cheaper ... The H95 were literally half price.) Auditioned them both and simply couldn't send them back - looking at eating gruel for the rest of the year haha. Just changed the pads on the M3s .... they sound amazing now. THe sound quality battles are engaged ...at least in my house.
Thoughts?
Unbelievably excellent comparison.
I would like to see Nura headset in it.
Can’t imagine how well you will do on hot item like gaming headsets comparisons. ( steel series nova pro, artic series, B&O Beoplay portal, Turtle beach, Astro..etc )
Thank you!
I would actually really like to do a gaming headset comparison. My Platinum headset for my PS5 is dying, so I’ve been doing a lot of research lately. I hope others want to see a video like that too!
@@insidetechltd If you want to do a headset comparison you have to keep an eye on the Audeze Maxwell. They seem to be class leading in Sound and Mic quality and got rid of the weaknesses of the Penroses.
Great review. The format of this video is what seperates it from most headphone reviews.
Thanks a lot 🙌🏼
Very thankful for this great video also perfect timing for me since I returned the AirPods Max due to lack of comfort and considering buying the XM5’s.
Do you have a review of the B&O Beoplay EX earbuds ?
Wondering if they can keep up with the sound stage of the Sony headphones since B&O is usually superb when it comes to sound
Thank you!
I've not got a dedicated review on those yet. But I am testing them as part of the true wireless earbuds awards for this year (end of Jan is planned release date). Similar video style to this but for all the best earbuds instead
Excellent, thank you for taking your time to do this. I am awaiting a pair of Bowers & Wilkins PX8
Thank you!
Great video. I have the Momentum 4, does everything right and we’ll but the touch controls are stupidly sensitive. Tried the PX8 but I really didn’t like the tight bass, too controlled imo but sound was great. The H95 had the best sound, touch controls and features I needed but there’s something wrong with the Bluetooth driver on the right earcup with a low buzz on playback which stops after 20-30 seconds when you stop the playback, then starts ticking for a few seconds. It’s low but it got annoying really quick. Returning
The H95 sound better than the Momentum 4?
THIS is how tech comparisons should be!
👊🏼
Really good to see Panasonic finally up their with their Technics brand - I'll be picking up a set of them after this, I can get the A800's at around 40% off current RRP - which in my opinion makes them an absolute bargain based on how they placed in the middle of a very strong pack here.
Absolutely, that's a great deal! They're leading the way with earbuds right now too - so good times for Technics
May I ask you about the tools you use to record videos like this? For example, what kind of lights, tripods and camcorders are there and how much does it cost? Thank you, hope your channel grows more and more
I just picked up the XM5 and love them. I decided to finally upgrade from my 11-year old Bose Quietcomfort 15 ANC, which are still going strong!
11 years 😱
@@insidetechltd I am going to still use my QC15 ACNs, as they are still good headphones 11 years and running! I like to think that by keeping them this long, they have only cost me about $3 a month or less despite the initial $400 price tag. Now I just need to get the kind of mileage out of the XM5s. Good review by the way. Thanks for your content.
Exactly right, the longer you can use them the better value you're getting and better for the environment too. Thanks a lot for watching!
@Robert Logan the xm5 will be good ? Or Sennheiser Momentum 4 which will you suggest ? Please help
Momentum 4, they last longer, sony needs to sell hp's evwr 4 years.....
very good evaluation !!!, I cant wait for your in-ear wireless earbuds Awards as well
Thank you! 🙌🏼
Amazing video and the fact that you used Paramore to show controls of the music is just the cherry on top. A man of taste
🔥🔥
Interesting
This is very informative. Thank you. I already had my sights set on the XM5s and this just finalized my choice.
Glad to hear it!
Just a heads up. H95 were a bit heavy on my head and not enough loud to my liking replaced them with HX both issues resolved, so happy but I could tell some details were lost in the songs but still pretty good. If H95 were 9.6/10 sound wise, HX are 9.2/10 over wireless transmission / for comparison sake Momentum 3 wireless 8.8/10. I had high hopes for PX8's I haven't tested them yet. will wait for their successor.
Hey I am thinking abour buying the Beoplay HX do you think it is still a good option or are there newer models from B&O or other brands?
Thank you
@@mrklugiii I will stick to them. Premium quality and airy sound performance.
@@ihussain1011 Thank you for the answer. I bought the HX for myself now. I think the package will arrive tomorrow really hyped to try them out. Thank you again and have a nice week!
What a well put out together video!! Thank you for all the time you put into it!! Very much appreciated!
Thank you!
I have the momentum 4s, and I love them, but the clamping strength isn't nearly enough for me to use if I have to move around muc/at all. I use them for watching movies when I need to be quiet at my house. I just got the Bose quiet comfort ultra, and they are AMAZING! I couldn't resist the $9/month financing through sweetwater.. It's like getting flagship headphones for free.. I will never even notice the $9 being pulled out each month.
Awesome video, thank you!
Do you know if any headphones can stream audio from two devices (iphone + macbook) at the same time? No switching, just having two videos play at the same time and both stream to the headphones
Thank you, and no i'm not aware of any that can stream two audio sources at once - sorry!
Fantastic comparison video!! Literally one of the best I’ve seen. I did watch the whole thing and it really helped me make a decision on which headphones to buy.
Thanks so much!
I personally picked Sennheisers. The ANC is quite good for my liking, you can mute mic with a single button (surprisngly MX5s can't and this one is quite important to me), the battery life is excellent and most importantly the sound quality is superb (for this price category anyway). For me there's no point of spending $300+ on headphones if sound quality is meh (like Bose's) or overcooked (like Sony's).
Glad you like them!
Love my momentum 4s. Crap on the apple.
Is the sound quality better theb the mx5s?
@@luigijudah6965 Broadly speaking yes, not sure you'll find a thorough review that would say otherwise.
@@luigijudah6965 yes
Instant new subscriber! Such an informative video. Thanks 🙏🏾
Welcome to the team 👊🏼
Are the infinite controls on the H95 necessary in case you use an alternative method to adjust them?
Maybe 🤷
Thank you for your rankings. While I am unfamiliar with the majority of the models discussed here, I own both the Bose SE (QC45) and the Sony XM5. Personally, I disagree that the Bose has better ANC and that the XM5s are more comfortable between the two. I'd flip those categories, but the end result would likely be the same.
I have a QC45, now want to buy an XM5
@@AnhTuanTran77477 The issue I have with the XM5s (and with the previous few generations of Sony XM headphones) is that the ear cup padding is VERY soft and tends to compress over time. The result is that the shallow inner workings of the cups press down on my ears making them somewhat uncomfortable. A reviewer can be excused for not picking up on that, as the cup padding is just fine when the set is new. I have never had that problem with any Bose QC models going back to the QC15. That said, I believe that ANC capabilities of the Sony XMs are currently second to none. If you seek the ultimate in peace and quiet, I haven't experienced better. And that's coming from a loyal Bose customer for over 10 years. Back then, nothing came close.
how’s the bass on the xm5, do they really pump?
@@donerickson5984 It is soft so your ears feel comfortable, while QC if you use for more than 1 hour, it hurts
sorry for the question but the sound quality of bose qc45, is great if i want to listen to music or going on tiktok?
The final ranking should also include price for better individual comparison. Otherwise great video and very informative.
Sorry, with prices fluctuating a lot and changing by region it's always a difficult one - but i'll note this for next time!
Recently i've heard that due to software updates, both in the Sony's and Bose's headphones, the new ANC king is the XM5 by far.. Can anyone confirm that? I'm trying to decide in between these two, since ANC is the major concern for me
Amazing, comprehensive and excellent review; well done, and thank you!
Thanks a lot!
underrated channel, youll get far, keep on doing your stuff
Thank you, that's awesome to hear 💚
You just convinced me to get the Sony's over the Sennheiser's, can't beat that comfort aspect and I'm no audiophile so I'm sure it'll sound fantastic to me. Nice review!
Do it. I have the Sony's and they are great. Excellent noise cancelling, great sound quality and loaded with easy to use features.
Thank you! Let us know what you think when you get them 👍🏼
bro...pls dont. momentum 4 trumps xm5. the sound quality is night and day even after fine tuning. xm5 has muddy bass that drowns the mids and highs as higher volumes.
@@drippy3080 ain't nobody able to hear you speak on a phone call though and you won't be able to enjoy that better quality in any area with even low levels of noice, because the ANC is pretty much at passive noice cancellation levels.
@@danilicious2308 bud...you seriously dont know what ur talking ab. build quality, comfort, souns especially all go to sennheiser. ye xm anc and mic is every so slightly better but that dont mean jack when momentum 4 makes xm4 and 5 sound like a pair of $150 headphones
I have been going back and forth between the Xm5 and the Momentum 4s. I feel like there is quite a bit of cabin pressure produced by the xm5 after a little time of listening.
Sorry for asking late but , i know that the anc and ambience of the senheiser are not that good but are they good enough for flights ? Especially compared to the xm3? Idk if i should upgrade to the xm5 or momentum 4 ( cause i have sometimes felt that the treble roll of on the sony quite abit ) thank you
Sony are definitely better and you'd notice it on a flight. But also, with music playing and ANC on with the Momentum 4 it's going to block out almost everything anyway. You've got to think about how often you'll actually be flying and in a situation where Sony would be better, and ask yourself if that's often enough to justify getting them based on that. A flight once or twice a year might not cut it. Otherwise if you'll mostly be in places where you don't need the very best ANC, the sound quality advantage from Sennheiser will be more worth it
I just got the bose qc45 mainly because of this video. Even though it was ranked the lowest here, my priorities were comfort and ANC for the price. As a college student with noisy room mates, the goal is to listen to the online lectures and study for a prolonged period of time without distraction. And I do value physical buttons over touch.
Exactly - the rankings don't apply to each person's own individual circumstances and use cases. As I said in the video, it doesn't mean they aren't 'your' number one. I hope you enjoy them!
I love them, they’re really light and comfy and they’re way cheaper than contenders…
Cute fakout with the Apple headphones. I was preparing to just skip past that, being an Android/Windows person and all.
I use Soundcore Space Q45, which retails for $200 CDN. Overall I like it, though I'm not entirely sure it was worth the upgrade over the Life Q30's I had been using previous. Though it is sufficient, I was put off with their battery claims falling fall short. It's supposed to be 50 hours or something with ANC, but my estimates would put it closer to 30, if that (After about 25.5 hours of use, it's usually around 20% left). The Life Q30 headphones on the other hand, promised 40 hours with ANC and actually delivers on that claim. My hearing is poor so I don't notice much of a difference in audio quality, so overall the upgrade was probably not worth it. I think it's a bit more comfortable, but that can partially be attributed to my Life Q30 pair being several years old at this point, with less initial padding and it losing some of its robustness with time. Soundcore's EQ offerings are good, and back when the Life line was launched with their app, it was impressive for the time when EQ (especially custom EQ) was not terribly common. Regardless, I use my Space Q45 for work now, and my old Life Q30's for TV use (I only use headphones on TV for maybe 5 hours a week).
For me, comfort and I figure solid midtones (since I listen to audiobooks a lot at work, and use them for 8.5 hours, less the occasions where I take them off for conversations) is paramount. Maybe one of these days I will splurge for a fancier set of cans. Possibly to replace my gaming headphones at some point.
EDIT: B&W really seem to be shooting themselves in the foot on the EQ side. That, and the price are the main downsides, but they at least have the look to reflect their premium price so it's a 'you get what you pay for' situation, even though the price is rather steep. I'm guessing they just like to have a bit of a stranglehold on the EQ settings so no random user could make them sound worse than they'd like or something? The B&O seem nice (though I personally think their earbuds are more stylish and eye catching), but way too expensive to justify getting. They're not the sort of company where you can expect a good discount (or possibly any discount) at some point either.
Thank you for making this video and greatly appreciate it. Headphones over the past decade has been a challenge for me. Beats ... which is not one here had issues after having them for 8 months. I had b&O earbuds which adhesive fell apart after owner them for a few years. Love to get Bowers but may want to see if I can test the sound quality to the Sony. If the build quality is cheap ..
I still may buy Sony only to wait for your review for 2025 headsets. It is possible I may spend more $$$ then.
The ones that I like gives good sound quality, delivering the best sounding stereo effect I had experienced.
As a plus point, it can also be used as a pair of speakers, clamped around your neck. It boasts bluetooth and can also be connected directly to the handphone via cable.
The available rands I found with these options is the Evolve model from Mini. And the OneDer model.
+1 sub! This is the most concise but detailed comparison and review so far! Great one mate! This makes me decided to get the Sony MX5!
Thank you! 🙌🏼
Thanks you was helpful I just got a used one I just don't like how it don't play music ❤🙏
I’ve been scanning through some comments and it’s clear that different people have different experiences with the same headphones:) some find the ANC better on x and others find the y headphones more comfortable:) conclusion is to go test them in store or from friends and make up your own mind. It’s probably difficult to rank these things because everyone has different shaped heads and ears and experiences sound differently… amazing review though! I got the Bose before I saw this video and I’m really fond of them
You said it yourself: everyone has their own experience! There is no 'one winner' - it all depends on each person. Thanks a lot for watching!
Kudos to you bro for great review 👍
Thank you! 🙌🏼
I would recommend to take B&W PX7 S2 which is very similar to PX8 (both sound quality and luxury look) and recently was priced for 325 in Amazon!
I would too, mainly because I prefer not to use real leather
Best bang for the buck currently out there.
Please suggest Sound core Q45 Noise Cancellation Headphones are worthy to buy or not and how many hours we can use in 1 charge.
Got a full review of those already live on the channel: ua-cam.com/video/_cmQ8GmFF7E/v-deo.html 👍🏼
1000xm4s are imo a lot more comfortable and have better ANC for most situations. Soundcore's Space Q45 are worth consideration, they're very close to the Sonys while being less than half the price.
I can't imagine how long it took you to make this video. Thank you, this really helped me decide which is best for me.
I appreciate you watching, thank you!
Fine & detailed review. That said, I would've added 'value' as an additional category, i.e. what you are getting for the price of each headphone. It's definitely something to consider when you compare a headphone that costs £299 vs one at £779.
It's a very good point and I very nearly did. The issue is that I wanted to give a clear comparison of these headphones against each other in each category as we went along. How each is better or worse at each specific aspect. But introducing a 'value' category actually opens up the market to very different options, and would've completely changed the video. Soundcore's Space Q45 for example, the cheaper Sony models...It would've made for a whole new video by itself (and I intended to follow this one up with that specific video). In the end I just made the video in a way that would showcase the best overall, and then compare them to each other - that way I could discuss the relative value within the video rather than as a separate category.
With all the information present, hopefully people can then decide for themselves what price they're willing to pay!
I am an avid music listener and listen to all genres of music, every day as a way to help manage stress/anxiety. I like noise cancelling headphones because they block out the outside noise and it further helps to escape daily life. I am going to try buying the Momentum 4 headphones.
I wanted to buy those too.
However I'm going to buy the Beoplay H95.
I found a pair with a discounted price because it was used for demo.
The build quality of these is just good.
Otherwise I would buy the Sennheisers.
Though the build quality is a little off.
I went with PX8s, given that they have that really good sound quality that pairs well with super good build.
They also have the most luxurious feel amongst the list.
Are the Px7 s2e is good?
Awesome video, nice work. Thank you.
Unfortunately I’ve had the Sony’s for a few months and can only wear them for 10 minutes until both ears hurt. The padding is almost nonexistent :-(
Thank you!
Ah I’m sorry they didn’t work out for you. Comfort is so subjective, but I hope you find some that fit well!
Despite leaning towards Sony XM5 as the crowd's overall favourite, I'm getting the Sennheiser Momentum 4. I care about sound quality and I am a fan of the brand, so I hope it's worthy. They will arrive in two days. I will cover my impressions in the coments.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Okay so I have them now and I gotta say that the bass on these is so kicking that I actually had to turn them down like 2 db in the eq. Tried other eq modes and I found the stock mode absolutely enough. the highs or mids don't need to be adjusted. These are on the level of your home speaker system really. Allrhou if you listen to eg orchestral trance you will get tired of the bass thumping in 138 bpm constantly. Other than that, I listened to Secret Garden albums and for those the stock eq tuning is just perfect.
Noise canceling is on the level of Sony XM4 so no isues there for me. You need to try and see for yourself. Battery life - no need to think about it, I listened to them for 7 hours and got 10 % down and they were not fully charged.
In conclusion, I decided for these to be my last headphones ever. No need to change anything and the sound is amazing as well. You WILL feel like RIGHT THERE with the musicians playing just for you, no jokes. These are made for live recordings but also for every music that is space oriented.
Definitely recommended.
And for those wanting to compare to Sony, Sony can't compete with the soundstage of the Sennheisers. The ANC is very good and the battery will get you.
Same, I was going to get Sony XM5 because I already have the Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds and the noise canceling is the best, but I want to try something new with better sound quality
I am of the same belief too.
Sennheisers sound is amazing.
I have a conundrum though;
I found the Beoplay H95 on discount ($350) because they are a demonstration pair, with one year of warranty.
That's about the same price as the Sennheisers.l Momentum 4.
The shop assistant told me that the QC is much better with B&O than Sennheisers from his experience.
Hopefully the H95 sounds great.
I'll try them on Friday.
@@TheWolod Are the Sennheiser M4s comfortable for usage over a long period of time (hours at a stretch)?
I bought the qc45 after long consideration, and i was very disappointed with the ANC outdoors. The wind noise was terrible and a lack of anc off/ wind mode made them almost unusable outside. Returned them after a day, dont know if its a normal problem or just with my pair
It is tipical for Bose as they don't even try to hide the microphones as Sony does
I have the sony wh1000xm4s and am looking for a more comfortable headset. My biggest problem with the sony is that they feel way too sweaty since i wear them while studying for long periods. They arent breathable at all and i think this isnt mentioned very often. I have tried the apple headphones and they are a lot better but on the expensive side for me. Do you have any recommendations for breathable headphones? From what i have read i think the bose apart from apple have the best foam for this problem.
This was well done!! Super informative!! Thank you 💪🏾😃
Thank you 🙌🏼
THIS is the review I’ve been waiting for! Very comprehensive and I’ve finally made my decision.
Awesome, thank you! 👊🏼
great review I used to own a momentum 4 and I sell it for its poor noise canceling effort comparing to my airpods pro 2. Considering to buy 1000xm5 and your video helps a lot ~
1 correction for the H95s, they *do* play audio over USB-C. Using it to watch this video haha. B&O have supported USB audio since the H9 released in 2016.
I have been long time user of various Sennheiser products, especially their wired products. Having owned PXC 550-II, I tried few as an upgrade, mainly PX7/8, B&O H95 and Focal Bathys (best sound but much costlier and bulkier), I ended up with Sennheiser M4 Wireless - priority being sound, sound signature (which I really enjoy) and wide soundstage. Ended up EQing with bass -2.0db, treble +1.5db and mids about +0.5 to +1.0db.
P.S. Saying Sony is 1st is laughable, except maybe in ANC.
This is the result of the tests - you're welcome to do your own and see what you get!
I wholeheartedly agree with you EazyVG! I also agree that the overall sound signature of the M4s is perhaps the best out of the wireless options or at least EASILY very close save the Focal Bathys and Mark Levinson 5909 (which I have not personally heard, but trust another account based on personal previous Mark Levinson equipment exposure). But the price to sound ratio is no where close on the others compared to the M4s which are still NOT far off from even these much more expensive options. There are so many things in this test that are very different (and many that are close but still different) from a majority of the other tests I have spent months reading and watching. The effort here is worth applause, but I do not know how "the test" results were so different from so many others. And in my opinion, the "you're welcome to do..." reply is a brush off that was probably better left blank...
No ill-will intended at all. I simply meant that this is what my testing and results led me to conclude. But if you do your own, you may get different results! A lot of this is subjective and these are just my thoughts
@@insidetechltd Thank you for a classy and worth while reply. Well said.
@@ABG2412 m4 is my 2nd choice currently for bang for the buck. My 1st is B&W p7 s2. All those higher priced cans out there currently ain’t worth it buck for buck. Spend more and don’t get enough better quality for what you paid for honestly.
Best review out there .. can’t imagine how long this took you . Going for the Sonys coz price and comfort .. will play around with the equaliser to kill the bass and tune up the highs 🎉
Thank you! It did take a lot of life 😅 but comments like make it worth it!
Thank you for this, I was on the fence between the B&W’s vs the Sony’s! & I couldn’t find a shop to test the B&W’s out, so I’m at peace knowing the Sony’s are exactly what I want. I will use them in the gym…so any input on sweat & if they would survive almost 2 hours & 6 day routines?
I wouldn't recommend any of these for gym use - sweat could end up ruining them and i'd feel bad if you spend that much money and had that happen. You could get lucky and they last ok...but I expect that that amount of use will wreck them. I'd go for either earbuds or a sweat resistant pair for gym use
@@insidetechltd that’s my biggest challenge, my left ear can’t have an earbud & I can’t find a good pair that are sweat resistant 😥
Jabra's Elite 85h are a sweat resistant option - though the sound doesn't match up to most of these here. You could try going for a pair that have easily swappable (and easy to buy) replacement earpads - an expensive route to take though and still doesn't prevent the actual electronics from becoming water-damaged
Could you share the criteria that you utilize to evaluate sound quality? Thanks.
Loved this very detailed video.
Sure. Nothing really special to it, just listening out for all the main aspects that contribute to good quality sound. Particular songs are selected to analyse the bass, mids and treble. We also tested for the soundstage, stereo separation, instrument separation, clarity, balance, volume and distortion
A well balanced review 👌
Sound quality is my primary goal.... and to be able to use them normally once the power fails.