Geektastic: Anyone tried the new Bose Ultras?

Geektastic: Anyone tried the new Bose Ultras?

After listening to the demo headphone, I found their sound profile to be different to that of its predecessor the NC700 - the Ultra sounds more bass heavy which is what I like, tempted now to get these but missed out on their Xmas/New Year special on Bose NZ website where you get $100 off and then further $50 off for StudentBean discount.

I haven't tried the Ultras but I have their predecessors in earbud form, the Quietcomfort Earbuds II. They sound pretty good but maybe a bit colourful for me - I tend to prefer the more clinical sound signature of the AirPods Pro. 

The Quietcomfort Earbuds II seem to have a habit of occasionally disconnecting from my iPhone totally at random but to be fair the AirPods Pro also do this, albeit less often. 

I can't do earbuds; they are like a torture device stuck in my ear!

I quite like the look of the Bose Ultras - especially in the Bose online only Sandstone colour.

I have some Sony ANC headphones - I cannot recall the naming spaghetti but the current versions. I dislike them for reasons I can't really define. They were sweaty on longhaul flights and somehow less pleasant to use than the preceding versions which I passed along to SWMBO. The case and folding ability of the previous ones was far better than the current ones.

I would not mind trying the Airpods Max but NZ seems to be the only place in the world where they have barely dropped in price since launch and no way am I paying $900+ for them! I have found them in the US as low as NZ$750 equivalent. The stupid case for them puts me off though.

Geektastic:

 

The case and folding ability of the previous ones was far better than the current ones.

 

Definitely a design change amongst these in the last few years, with most flagships no longer folding in, and instead opting for a fixed headband.
Latest Bose/Sony are like this.  The Sennheiser option is the same but the ear cups swivel at least, so it lays a big flatter.

I like it, from a sleeker design look perspective, but definitely takes up more room than I'm used to now when travelling.

@networkn

You have used the Bose Ultra and Sony M5 earbud/headphones.

What is your recommendation? Also, which one is better with the spatial sound feature? I used a Google Pixel 8, so have more options with the codec

Delorean:

 

@networkn

 

You have used the Bose Ultra and Sony M5 earbud/headphones.

 

What is your recommendation? Also, which one is better with the spatial sound feature? I used a Google Pixel 8, so have more options with the codec

 

Hi. 

Noise cancelling is the Bose Ultra Soundbuds magic trick. It's incredible. The Spatial sound is novel and interesting, but I wouldn't pay extra for it. Sound quality if I am honest, my technics AZ80's are the best I've heard in Bluetooth, and the Bose isn't as good, though it's passable. Very bass heavy. 

I have the Bose on a 90 day trial and I am quite torn but am about 75% likely to return them and keep my Technics simply because of the musical quality of the Technics. 

Until Airlines have bluetooth or until I get an adapter to convert 3.5mm to BT, I will need to keep my Sony's which are the XM5 over ears rather than the buds, so I can use the planes entertainment system. They are my favourite ever BT NC over ear headphones, they are really excellent. The issue is primarily bulk.  If you don't use Airline Entertainment, then earbuds, if you find them comfortable, are the right answer for travelling IMO. 

My dream solution for earbuds is Bose NC, Technics Sound Signature and quality, and Bose Sleep buds slimness so I can lie on side with them in.  The new Sennheiser True Wireless Momentum 4 should be interesting, though from experience the depth of them prevents them being a contender for me despite loving the Sennheiser sound.

networkn: Wow. Do you have something to drive them with?

Astell & Kern SP3000.

I just bought a pair of Denon 9200 headphones.

I really was not expecting Denon to have a product that good. They have an excellent reputation on Head-Fi etc and when I saw them in a sale at 66% of their usual price I decided to try them.

Boy are they good. I wanted some closed backs for use in the motorhome after SWMBO has retired to bed. I have them hooked up to my A&K SP3000 and the sound quality is quite astonishing.

If these were made by one of the smaller more boutique companies like ZMF etc I think you would be paying double what they retail at to be honest. Denon being a huge company with diverse product lines, I suspect they are able to spread some costs around in a way in which a small company that makes only headphones could not.

Build quality is top notch - they are hand assembled in Japan and come with a tag on that thanks you for buying them and has the serial number (also etched into the frame) on it. 

They have that quality that high end Japanese products like Grand Seiko etc have. I cannot quite define it - 'quiet competence' might come close.

They're not the most neutral reference headphone ever: they are, however, euphonic and musical, rendering most genres I have tried (mostly Dad rock and jazz to be fair!) just really well and lovely to listen to for hours on end. @networkn will be pleased that the opening bass notes in Fast Car by Tracy Chapman are lovely and deep!

Does anybody have the Focal Bathys for sale? Can't find them used anywhere.