The headphones thread! [Sorry about your wallet]

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › The headphones thread! [Sorry about your wallet]

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#3481279 16-Apr-2026 11:35

timmmay:

I just returned the WF-1000XM5 because it was really large, painful in the ear, the XM6 looks quite large as well.

I'm replacing Jabra Elite 5, for use on outdoor calls, as the noise cancellation straight out doesn't work on teams calls most of the time, and they're pretty loud in the wind.

The XM5 had great sound quality, great noise cancellation, but if you can't keep them in your ears it's not much good to you. I also had and returned the Technica AZ100 which was better than the Sony, but again too large and painful. Bose QuietComfort Ultra v1 were terrible in the wind, a gentle breeze sounded like a hurricane, and they felt weird. I'm going to try the Sony Linkbuds S and / or the JBL Live Beam 3 next, but also interested if anyone has suggestions for someone who apparently has smaller outer ear (concha - the little bowl outside the ear canal) than average.

Where are you buying from that let you return used earbuds?

I lost one of my current set of Xiaomi earbuds (4yo), bought a new pair of Sony WF-C710Ns. They felt a little too big and then accidently went through the wash in a pocket... So I'm still wearing the remaining Xiaomi while contemplating what to try next. Retail stores don't generally have their full range available to demo and I'm assuming they won't let you pop open multiple boxes to try/compare. Don't want to spend $$ on another punt or go for cheap ones I don't mind throwing away.

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#3481281 16-Apr-2026 11:45

JuiceNZ:

Where are you buying from that let you return used earbuds?

Some manufacturers let you try and return if you buy direct from them. Bose, Technics, Sony, JBL are the ones that come to mind, all have limits and conditions.

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#3485421 29-Apr-2026 08:51

Sennheiser True Wireless 5 headphones and IEM are nearly upon us.

Jaxson

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#3485448 29-Apr-2026 09:58

dafman:

Sennheiser True Wireless 5 headphones and IEM are nearly upon us.

Thanks, I'll be watching M5 release with interest.
Keen to see if they improve their noise cancelling.

Interesting to see 47mm driver on the mock ups, vs 42mm on the M4.

mrgsm021

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#3485454 29-Apr-2026 10:12

Speaking of new releases, I wonder when Technics is going to announce the successor to the highly rated EAH-A800 cans.

Has anyone heard anything?

nitro

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#3485530 29-Apr-2026 13:32

mrgsm021:

Speaking of new releases, I wonder when Technics is going to announce the successor to the highly rated EAH-A800 cans.

Has anyone heard anything?

i'd be keen on this, too. they've certainly progressed their in-ear/true wireless buds from the first AZ40/60 to the AZ100.

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timmmay

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#3485532 29-Apr-2026 13:39

I loved the AZ100, bit big for me though in the body of the bud, I'd love to see what they can do in a smaller earbud.

nitro

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#3485534 29-Apr-2026 14:07

curiously, Technics Japan's website does not even have the A800 - Technics - Products. hopefully, this means that a replacement is cooking, rather than signifying a retreat in the on-ear headphones war - perhaps mainly from sony's onslaught.

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#3485539 29-Apr-2026 14:24

I really love the comfort and sound from my Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, but I am pretty disappointed with the ANC.

I can actually sleep with them in, which is a first of anything I've tried, but the lack of proper ANC is going to be a deal breaker for me I think :(

nitro

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#3487544 5-May-2026 01:03

apparently, Sony NZ "leaked" the page for the 1000XX:

i'm a bit underwhelmed that DSEE Ultimate seems to be the only thing "new" apart from materials / build quality. then again, it's a leak by the maker, so it could have been a decoy. worst case, it ends up as "it seems that these headphones will represent a special 10th anniversary release for Sony's 1000X series". we'll find out in a couple of weeks, if the 19 May launch date is true/accurate.

nitro

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#3487545 5-May-2026 01:34

Jaxson:

Keen to hear how you find these after a longer period of use @Networkn.

Debating these vs B&W PX7/8 options.
I don't mind the 'commercial tuning' so if I can get the new Senns to that at times it would be good.
You can typically go that way but not in reverse to flat if that makes sense.

If looking at the B&W then becomes a sound quality/headphone clamp force and comfort with glasses conversation - especially over time on an aircraft and getting hot ears/head crushed etc.
I don't know enough about the B&W range yet, but they appear to review well against the M4s I have currently.
As I've said before I wanted to like Bose but find their audio lacking despite excellent ANC.

so previous generations of B&W over ears apparently have that clamping force issue. i can safely say it no longer is with the current gen Px7 S3 and Px8 S2. i am saying this with a big oval head, long hair and eyeglasses.

as for hot ears, yes i've seen a few sites saying genuine leather makes the Px8 S2 cooler. in the last couple of days, i've used it for hours - 4 hours straight this morning on Teams/music, and there was no discomfort. BUT i've used the Px7 S3 for 4 weeks in similar situations, plus pretty much one whole day of team planning that was certainly more extended, and i had no discomfort with that either. of course, this was in an office scenario and could very well be different when used outdoors.

sound quality is there on both of them... will try to elaborate a bit after some shut eye.

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Jaxson

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#3487609 5-May-2026 10:07

nitro:

so previous generations of B&W over ears apparently have that clamping force issue. i can safely say it no longer is with the current gen Px7 S3 and Px8 S2. i am saying this with a big oval head, long hair and eyeglasses.

as for hot ears, yes i've seen a few sites saying genuine leather makes the Px8 S2 cooler. in the last couple of days, i've used it for hours - 4 hours straight this morning on Teams/music, and there was no discomfort. BUT i've used the Px7 S3 for 4 weeks in similar situations, plus pretty much one whole day of team planning that was certainly more extended, and i had no discomfort with that either. of course, this was in an office scenario and could very well be different when used outdoors.

sound quality is there on both of them... will try to elaborate a bit after some shut eye.

Appreciate the write up, thanks.

Yes clamping force (I wear glasses) and tuning conceptual approach were the two main questions for me.
Am a fan of the Sennheiser tuning, just works for me personally. Wanted to like bose (as they're definitely comfortable and quality noise cancelling) but just couldn't get past the dull tuning.

Senn HDB 630 or coming Momentum 5 are what I'd be looking at next, but do like a slightly more commercial V which the M4s gave rather than straight purist flat monitor neutral etc response.
Tricky though as also want the bright separation where the bass isn't bloated and interfering with the mids/highs.

@nitro I'm guessing the Px7 S3 gives more commercial V tuning than the Px8 S2? Guessing we're talking different leagues of quality, so Px8 S2 vs HDB 630, Px7 S3 vs M4 etc

Also how does the noise cancelling perform on the B7Ws?
It's passable on M4s but in a C's get Degrees level and I suspect would be number one request from users of the M4s.

nitro

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#3487689 5-May-2026 13:57

Jaxson:

Appreciate the write up, thanks.

Yes clamping force (I wear glasses) and tuning conceptual approach were the two main questions for me.
Am a fan of the Sennheiser tuning, just works for me personally. Wanted to like bose (as they're definitely comfortable and quality noise cancelling) but just couldn't get past the dull tuning.

Senn HDB 630 or coming Momentum 5 are what I'd be looking at next, but do like a slightly more commercial V which the M4s gave rather than straight purist flat monitor neutral etc response.
Tricky though as also want the bright separation where the bass isn't bloated and interfering with the mids/highs.

@nitro I'm guessing the Px7 S3 gives more commercial V tuning than the Px8 S2? Guessing we're talking different leagues of quality, so Px8 S2 vs HDB 630, Px7 S3 vs M4 etc

Also how does the noise cancelling perform on the B7Ws?
It's passable on M4s but in a C's get Degrees level and I suspect would be number one request from users of the M4s.

you're welcome. Bose pretty much invented ANC, and they continue to be among the best there. sound quality is an acquired taste though. if you only ever use their headphones, you'd probably be happy. but there's so much competition out there now. my first 5.1 system was a Bose affair with AM-5 SII, VCS-10 and 101IT.

completely understand the preference for Sennheiser tuning. a couple of workmates have the momentum 4 and have compared it with the Technics A800. the Sennheiser bass bump is done tastefully. i haven't done a back-to-back with the B&Ws. i was also considering the HD630, but i missed the Easter sale. then The Listening Post had a relocation sale including the Px7 S3, and they looked really good! no regret with that decision.

to start off, both of the B&Ws have a V tuning. i think what gives the impression that the Px7 is more V is the fact that it has more bass (in quantity), without losing the clarity. not to say that the Px8 is lacking, because it isn't. it does come across as more lively. the Px8 also has a bigger soundstage and what feels like better separation. things you will only notice if you're doing a back-to-back. The Eagles' Hotel California from Hell Freezes Over makes this obvious. for music of the type, including jazz and vocal, the Px8 shines. play something like Daft Punk's "Giorgio by Moroder" and the Px7 steps up to the plate.

what i haven't done is do a back-to-back comparison via usb-c. in no small part, because i will be using them wireless most of the time.

ANC is sufficient. certainly not class-leading, but definitely good enough to hush office chatter (not completely eliminate loud mouths). from memory, not far behind, maybe even at the level of the XM4, perhaps akin to the A800. i have yet to bring them to the engineering lab with some 500 routers, switches, and test equipment to see if it's an audible difference. the A800 was good enough for that. i should bring all these in one day for testing (except the XM4 is my daughter's)! also, i've read articles, and seen videos that the Px7 has better ANC than the Px8, and that's a good test to do. for me personally, the sound quality means i have music going on most of the time, anyway. transparency mode on the B&Ws are very good!

one other thing i noticed though... recordingnow.com has published EQs for both Px7 S3 and Px8 S2. the two options they have for the Px7, i quite like... the one they have for the Px8 seems to ruin it for me.

unfortunately, it's not easy to find the B&Ws in shops in order to audition side-by-side. JB Hifi carry them, but neither in stock nor on display in wellington. you'll have to find some of those higher-end, potentially audiophile-catering shops to try them. and, then they won't have the sony or bose gear to compare them with.

Jaxson

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#3487862 5-May-2026 19:24

Thanks, really appreciate the feedback.

timmmay

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#3487865 5-May-2026 19:29

I found the ANC on Bose Ultra v1 in-ears to be quite poor, particularly with wind noise. I suspect in an office it might be better, but the fit was unusual.

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