I vote the XM4!

AirPods Max if your budget allows. The build quality alone is a huge step-up from the plasticy XM4 and Bose options.

Might not be as compelling for you if you're not all-in on the Apple ecosystem, though.

Benjip:

 

AirPods Max if your budget allows. The build quality alone is a huge step-up from the plasticy XM4 and Bose options.

 

 

 

Might not be as compelling for you if you're not all-in on the Apple ecosystem, though.

 

Yes, they are really aimed at users of the Apple ecosystem. Most of the add on features don't work with Android or Windows. 

Edit: I forgot to add they're also very  expensive in comparison to other brands which are also quite spendy in my opinion. 

Benjip:

 

AirPods Max if your budget allows. The build quality alone is a huge step-up from the plasticy XM4 and Bose options.

 

I have the AirPods Max and I don't regret buying them but, given the price, it's reasonable to have very high expectations and I have a few complaints:

• Their sonic performance is bottlenecked by bluetooth bandwidth. 
• There is no digital line-in to mitigate the above. The supplied cable takes an analogue signal and converts to digital, with the headset then converting back to analogue again. Multiple DA conversions are unsuitable for hifi applications.
• On a couple of occasions my Airpods Max have suddenly cut out while in use. On investigation my iPhone had just suddenly 'forgotton' that they exist, requiring a repairing. Quality issues like this are not acceptable for a $1000 audio product. 

Would I recommend them? Probably, but I recommend thinking carefully and the pros and cons before forking out that sort of money. 

alasta:

 

Benjip:

 

AirPods Max if your budget allows. The build quality alone is a huge step-up from the plasticy XM4 and Bose options.

 

 

I have the AirPods Max and I don't regret buying them but, given the price, it's reasonable to have very high expectations and I have a few complaints:

 

• Their sonic performance is bottlenecked by bluetooth bandwidth. 
• There is no digital line-in to mitigate the above. The supplied cable takes an analogue signal and converts to digital, with the headset then converting back to analogue again. Multiple DA conversions are unsuitable for hifi applications.
• On a couple of occasions my Airpods Max have suddenly cut out while in use. On investigation my iPhone had just suddenly 'forgotton' that they exist, requiring a repairing. Quality issues like this are not acceptable for a $1000 audio product. 

Would I recommend them? Probably, but I recommend thinking carefully and the pros and cons before forking out that sort of money. 

 

Here's the thing...

If you live in the Apple eco-system (like I do with much of my kit) and the pairing between their phones / iPads and their portables is not perfect - you start wondering where the value proposition actually sits. It's certainly not in sound quality, they're good, but not the best at the price. My partner has constant dropout and connection issues with a set of Gen 2 Airpods and a set of Airpod Pro's connected to an iPhone 8 and a latest iPad Pro. She has asked me about other brands, especailly as one set of in-ears had to be replaced under warranty due to crackling.

Initial setup / updates and pairing is market leading - but after that the let downs are puzzling.

XM4's are great if you want good preforming ANC and audio quality, but they suck for phone calls or MS Teams calls at least in my case on an iphone and windows PC. 

dt:

 

XM4's are great if you want good preforming ANC and audio quality, but they suck for phone calls or MS Teams calls at least in my case on an iphone and windows PC. 

 

Interesting on the phone calls, I know they are not good on XM3 and thought Sony would have improved phone call quality on the XM4.

mrgsm021:

 

dt:

 

XM4's are great if you want good preforming ANC and audio quality, but they suck for phone calls or MS Teams calls at least in my case on an iphone and windows PC. 

 

 

Interesting on the phone calls, I know they are not good on XM3 and thought Sony would have improved phone call quality on the XM4.

 

Improved certainly. They aren't brilliant though. They are OK. I don't use them for that, so for me they are nearly perfect (too smaller cups). XM5's I'd like to see better Microphone, even better sound quality and marginally wider earcups.

dt:

 

XM4's are great if you want good preforming ANC and audio quality, but they suck for phone calls or MS Teams calls at least in my case on an iphone and windows PC. 

 

Suck in what way?

I've had no problems on my tablet with my WH XM3's when used for Zoom or Teams though I do generally use the WF XM3's as they're less visually intrusive. They work well too.

For phone calls the mic quality isn't very good, the other end has a really hard time trying to hear you.

Teams always bugs the headset out for me, best way I can describe is that it sounds like you're underwater - other end also complains of hardly being able to hear you

There are endless topics online about xm4's and teams as well as poor mic quality on phone calls

I was quite disappointed after the purchase and spent hours trying to resolve it, I ended up having to buy another headset for VC and just answering phone calls from the handset 

I still like them for their audio and ANC though and they're absolute fantastic while traveling via plane, just wish I didn't have to chop n change around all the time and they just 'worked' 

I think I was slightly more triggered as they were meant to be an upgrade to a cheap set that I picked up at an electronics market while in China that were surprisingly good for ANC and calls/VC. 

Dunnersfella:

 

Here's the thing...

 

If you live in the Apple eco-system (like I do with much of my kit) and the pairing between their phones / iPads and their portables is not perfect - you start wondering where the value proposition actually sits. It's certainly not in sound quality, they're good, but not the best at the price. My partner has constant dropout and connection issues with a set of Gen 2 Airpods and a set of Airpod Pro's connected to an iPhone 8 and a latest iPad Pro. She has asked me about other brands, especailly as one set of in-ears had to be replaced under warranty due to crackling.

 

Initial setup / updates and pairing is market leading - but after that the let downs are puzzling.

 

That is really interesting. I have never had problems with dropouts with my Airpods. In fact they seem to hold a connection really well, even in an adjacent room in the house.

Ultimately Apple is a tech company so they are focused on bells and whistles at the expense of reliability. If I had to replace my Airpods Pro and Max right now then I would probably buy the much cheaper alternatives from Bose or Technics, but I have to admit it wouldn't be an easy choice. 

mrgsm021: Interesting on the phone calls, I know they are not good on XM3 and thought Sony would have improved phone call quality on the XM4.

A Technics A800 just landed here. First impressions:

- Nice finish, comfortable fit
- The sound is amazing and the level of control of ambient sound vs noise cancelling is great
- My Android device showed up a popup as soon as I turned the Technics on and offered to connect. It also identified my Alexa app and offered to setup - even before opening the Technics app. 
- Unlike the Alexa-enabled earbuds I have here (JBL, Jabra and the Technics), the assistant is voice-activated so it responds to "Alexa" without having to touch it. 
- Did I mention the sound is amazing (connected to a Samsung Fold 3)?

I really really want to try these as well.

Are the controls gesture-controlled like the Sony? Ie can you swipe to volume up and down and track forward and next and hold your hand over the cup to temporarily allow noise in? Or is it all physical buttons?

Not sure if you have tried the XM4's by Sony, but how is the cup size compared?