Headphones Awards 2024 | Best Wireless Headphones You Can Buy! (In-Depth)
Wireless Headphones Awards 2024 | InsideTech In-Depth Review 🎧🔥
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After months of testing and 80+ 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 8 by prioritising the most important aspects of headphones and given a review for each in this video, highlighting strengths and weaknesses and ranking each from 1st to 8th 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. If you think there are any I missed, have any questions or want to know more about what tested...leave a comment!
Featuring:
- Intro: 0:00
- B&W Px7 S2e: 0:59
- Bose QC Ultra: 4:35
- Technics EAH-A800: 8:00
- Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2: 10:26
- Wicked Cushions (sponsor): 13:49
- JBL Tour One M2: 14:40
- B&O Beoplay H95: 18:11
- Soundcore Space Q45: 21:24
- Sony WH-1000XM5: 24:27
- Summary / Which Should You Buy?: 27:18
#headphones #awards #tech
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Headphones Awards 2023
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Best Earbuds Under $100 (2023 Edition) | In-Depth Review
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Our own next world KANAL HAVE THE BEST GREETINGS FROM SWEDEN
Hello again my phone is insanely sick 😂 well I wonder if you have tested the heavy metal headphone HEAVY H1H or if you new something about them they have not come to sweden yet crazy like shit 😁 one of the worlds biggest metal lover countries I should be very grateful if you could fix it. And of course listen to the next big metal band of the world ORBIT CULTURE that music in my phones and that not easy to find anyone have it great and rock on 🤘🤘
I don’t have much options for headphones where I live So l would like to know if jbl live 770nc is a good piece
ALMOST 100K SUBSCRIBERS!!! Thanks for the video man! I was looking for a new headphone, your video definitely helped me decide.
Glad to hear it, i'm here to help!
Great insightful comparison of these headphones!! And the ridiculous amount of hours you had put into the testing!! Would be nice if you could have included a honourable mention list... Eg Momentum 4 (read some viewers comments) and you could explain why those didn't make your top 8...
Thanks a lot! It's hard to have honourable mentions though because...where do you stop? Lots of great options that could have been talked about. I already increased the list from 7 to 8 entries from last year. But at 30 minutes long you've got to be careful with balancing the amount of content you feature vs the video length. Unfortunately I can't talk about all the great headphones out there - there are too many now!
Thanks for this great video ! I got a question for the bluetooth multipoint features , which is a major point for me : is the " Shure's aonic 50 gen 2 " the only one in the list able to mix 2 different sources ( 2 sources at the same time ), instead of just switching from one to the other ?
Thanks! So it's not 2 sources at the same time with Shure either. Shure is unique in that you can choose how the multipoint behaviour works. So either the source will immediately switch as soon as you press play on the other device (dynamic mode). Or it won't change over until you press pause on the first device, and then press play on the second (static mode). Shure lets you choose either behaviour, but it's not 2 sources at the same time mixed.
Hi, I wanted to ask for your opinion as I’ve been binging your earbud ranking videos and decided on 4 earbuds, the Sony LinkBuds S, the HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i, the JBL Tune Flex, and the Nothing ear (2). I wanted something with great sound quality, great anc, and comfort. Thank you so much and know that I really appreciate your high quality content! ❤️
Thank you! 4 good options there but I’d have to recommend LinkBuds S from that list - they’re just fantastic all round and comfort is really good. Some people find they don’t stay in their ears particularly well - maybe not a great gym choice. But I’d personally definitely choose those 👍🏼
I was just reading the comments, and seeing how much you reply to a lot of of them is just wow! You’ve just got a new sub :) I do have a question of my own tho, since the Shures is the new third place holder in sound quality (‘replacing’ the Sennys from last year) I wonder how do the 2 compare? Do you think that the spatial audio helps?
I do try to reply to as many as I can! I actually don't think the spatial audio helps, no. I don't factor this in when ranking sound quality because I find it diminishes the quality. Whilst it can be cool to try out, i'm not a big fan of spatial audio in general. I had the two ranked literally once place apart, so it's close. But I found the overall clarity to be slightly higher with Shure. The sound is more expansive and Shure offers better EQ options for making fine-tweaks
@@insidetechltd Thank you very much! Since they are that close, I might just go with the Shures for the extra features :) (I’ve only used entry level headphones, so they should be a worthy upgrade for me)
Thank you for the excellent video, you can see that a lot of effort was put into it. However, the question is, if this is the top of the best headphones, how do you like the Anker Q45 more than the Momentum 4?
Thanks! The key area soundcore pulled ahead in was comfort. That was a high priority category and gave soundcore a boost. There were smaller things too like better transparency, newer Bluetooth version, slightly better battery life. It was extremely close between those two - but soundcore had an edge in the end
I noticed you briefly featured the Focal Bathys when talking about the sound quality of the H95 while saying you tested it against competitors of comrable sound quality and I'm curious as to why they did not feature in the video, in fact, after browisng your channel it appears that you do not have a review of the Focal Bathys and I'm curious what your comparison of the sounds of the Bathys are to the H95 considering both seem to be getting alot of praise as audiophile tier headphones. Which would you say sounds better and why?
So the reason I specifically showed Bathys is because I felt they were the closet competitor to the H95 in terms of sound quality. Almost everything I said about the H95 applies to Bathys except for one key difference: bass. The H95 low end is richer and offers a more complete bass frequency reproduction - that's why I put them ahead. There's an argument to be made about how expressive and how well the separated instruments are in Bathys mid range, but on the whole...H95 have better sound quality. As for the other aspects...Bathys don't make the top 10. They're let down in areas like mic quality and ANC so they wouldn't make it into this video
@@insidetechltd All right, thank you very much for this! I'll definitely save up to get the H95 now! Also wonderful review, you just earned yourself a subscriber!
Do you think you could add/mention the inner cup sizes in the future ? This info is notoriously hard to find online and really important for the comfort.
If lots of people care about this, then of course! I always thought this was quite niche though, so for most people that sort of info would just clutter up the screen. I'll always give people a general idea though by describing the size (e.g. 'deep', 'large' etc).
@@insidetechltdI think the h95 build quality is better than bower and Wilkins px7 s2e
I think the fact that the XM4 and XM5 have a common issue of the cups falling off is something of note too.
@@RealistReviewer4 years later and there has not been one issue with my XM4s
@@insidetechltdI know this is months after but I second this
Why the focal bathys are not there?
Excellent video, I currently am saving up for a pair of Beoplay H95 because of this video. Have you tried the Focal Bathys? I'm curious about your thoughts on them and how they stack up against the H95 considering both tend to be put at the top of people's lists in terms of sound quality yet surprisingly few people have ever done a (fair) comparison between the two in my opinion. Thank you :)
Thank you! Yes, I have tested Bathys. It's the pair you see on the right at 20:30. I made sure to show them in the video this year because people often wonder about them. The sound quality is fantastic, but the H95 has a fuller and richer low end frequency response. I personally think these are the number 1 and 2 pairs for sound quality though
If you’re saving up for a premium sounding wireless headphone, and if sound quality is topmost on your priority list, my advice would be to keep on saving and skip past the H95 and the Bathys. Instead, go for the Dali IO-12. It’s superior IMHO and I own all three of these headphones. Go and try them out at your nearest hi-fi dealer/shop, and especially try the Dali IO-12, you owe it to yourself! 👌
I absolutely love the H95. Good decision!
Thanks for the info!!
Hi, great video. Could you please give me some advice? My ears are sensitive to the cabin pressure sensation which the Sony WM5 headphones give me. Can you give me a few examples of other headphones that have less ANC which won't have the same cabin feel issue? I'm more bothered about sound quality than ANC. Thanks
So obviously all of the headphones here aside from Bose have less effective ANC than Sony. But I would perhaps try one with an adjustable level of ANC e.g. JBL, Shure, Soundcore, H95, Technics. I can't guarantee what your experience with that cabin pressure-like sensation will be - everyone is different. But at least with an adjustable level you can try to lower it to improve the experience for you
Same here… noise cancelling has always made me nauseous and I’m surprised how often that feature takes such priority over quality and loudness. Eg the Soundcore Q45s seemed like a no brainer until I actually got them and found the volume to be p-ss poor while all other metrics were fine
WM5.... don't know that model😂
@@HarryLoveTV Which one did you go with instead in the end?
Thank you for this video!❤
Thanks for watching!
I am a big fanboy of B&W's own a few speakers and headphones but as time passes by so does tech and needs , my older headphones are all wired and a in your ear and on your ear but would love a over the ear pair of headphones with wireless and wired features ( own a old iPod video and an iPhone ) so good to see these on the PX7 s2e also prefer buttons rather then gestures purely because they have been times with touch buttons you accidentally adjust it when adjusting etc and I have a habit of listening to music whilst played down in bed. I know you mentioned the lack of eq adjustment but for me not a problem at all I only ever want treble and bass , I own a old technics separate system that only had this system and thats never ever been a issue
Let me educate on most important factors when buying a headphone. 1. By far Sounds Quality 2. Battery life. 3. Comfort and fit. 4. ANC/Ambient and Mic. 5. Price 6. Features usability and codec support. 1 most important, followed by 2,3, and 4. This is for most average consumer. And for you not to include the momentum 4 in that list is criminal lol. Momentum 4 easily ● Top 2 in sound quality, ● Has the BEST battery life by far ● Top 2 in Features after the Sony ● Best price for its class ● Anc/Ambient is very good just not as good as Sony,Bose or Airpdd Max. ● Very great comfort and fit, although i prefer Bose but better than Sony with its tiny head band ● Mics definitely above average. ● Great codec support and usability. ● And its definitely definitely better than the Xm5 outside of ANC. I have tested a couple of them. So your list is 🗑 without Momentum 4. Simple
The best sounding headphones in the world aren’t much use if they are too uncomfortable to wear!
@robgretton3721 So which one is not comfortable to wear ? M4's ?
That would depend on head size and shape
Really depends on your specific use case whether that is commuting, sports, work or gaming. Comfort and fit basically matters the most followed closely by sound. Even the best headphones on the market are useless if they’re too heavy, have bad clamping force or just a straight up bad design and materials.
@Yu7Zi Any one spending over $350 on a headphone 🎧 is basically for the reason i told and majority is according to the order of importance i placed
I've been using the Skullcandy Crusher Wireless (not the Evo), but I want a modern upgrade. I'm on my 2nd pair of these Crushers and the plastic joints just don't hold up after a year (I also sleep in them a few times a week). I want something with metal joints that won't fail me, with a similar form factor and focus on bass performance.
Im the same as you I love my skull candy bass and I wanted to upgrade while keeping amazing bass and I’m not sure what’s the best option
Still loving your ranking system super helpful with picking out the best features I prioritize.
Thank you!
What would be a great headset for working out? I’d be curious on your thoughts. Earbuds always fall out unfortunately and I prefer the better noise cancellation in over ears
The problem with over ear headphones is they almost all don’t have any sweat or water resistance - you could probably get away with it (loads of people do) but it would be unprofessional of me to actually recommend a pair for the gym that aren’t protected. If you still want to, I’d go for something with good comfort for gym use
Nice one👌 I have an issue with my Sony headphones with comfort, after some time(~less than 1h) it becomes unpleasant on the top my head😅 Is there a huge gap between the s2e and the xm5 regarding sound quality?
Oh trust me, the s2e are a whole other level when it comes to sound quality compared to Sony
It's interesting, you're not the first to say about the comfort at the top of the head - that's why I wanted to mention it specifically this year (although I find it fine myself). As for the sound quality difference...I agree with the other reply...different leagues!
@@insidetechltd So the S2e has better comfort and better sound, when compared to the XM5? Why does the Sony get 2nd place for comfort then? Great video by the way - thanks for all the hard work that must have gone into this video.
Great video as always, how would you say the Beoplay H95 compares to the Mark Levinson 5909 or the Focal Bathys or the Sennheiser Momentum 4's? I know you showed off the Focal Bathys and mentioned Mark Levinson as well and by reading some other comments here I see that you think the Bathys has a comparable sound quality to the H95 but I don't know what your opinion is on the Mark Levinson or the Momentum 4s. Also will you be making an earbud video this year? I'm wondering what this year's winner will be in terms of sound quality and how that would compare to the H95's as well because I hear that wireless IEMs have equal sound quality to wireless over ear headphones. I know last year you crowned the Beoplay EX as the sound quality winner and I wonder if those still hold up and if they're equal to the H95 or even better than them in terms of sound quality in your opinion.
Thank you. So Focal are very close to the H95, but don't have quite as rich a low end. That's the defining audio characteristic that puts the H95 on top. They each offer better instrument separation and a more distinctive bass response than the 5909. Momentum 4 sit behind these 3 and don't quite have the same refinement and clarity (but certainly offer better sound : cost value). Yes there will be an earbuds awards video in a couple of weeks time - gathering the finalists at the moment. The earbuds don't really compete with the high end headphones. You can't get the same sense of soundstage with in ear designs. It's a completely different experience though and difficult to compare like for like
hello mate, im looking for a headphone purely on sound quality, battery life, and deceny enough comfort. I know the momentum 4's fall behind on anc, build quality, etc, but are they a viable option based on the qualities i look for, and enough to edge the xm5?. Great video as always, cheers
Thank you! For sound quality and battery: definitely yes. Comfort is more subjective. For me the XM5 are much more comfortable because they've got a really light clamping force. Momentum 4's is considerably tighter. But Sennheiser also has thicker padding and some users complain about Sony's headband padding, so you may find the comfort is fine either way. I would still call the Momentum 4s 'comfortable'
@@insidetechltd thanks!
Thanks for the great effort, though I miss the momentum 4! I hopped to see it in these selection
They're literally in 9th place and would definitely rank higher for a lot of people - it's all about priorities. They featured last year, but i've since tweaked the algorithm for ranking as I get feedback about what people and (myself prioritise), change the weightings for the categories and also account for new updates...this year they narrowly missed out in the end!
What's the name of the headphones near the bottom right of the screen at 0:10-0:12? With a slight bronze/golden rim around the back of the earpieces. I don't believe it was among those reviewed in the video. Thanks!
Those are sen momentum 4s special edition black and copper
Exactly ^
Any recommendations for px7s2e, how do they pair with iPhone/apple music ?
They work great with an iPhone and Apple Music 🤷♂️
Hi! great video! i just wantet to ask wich headphones you would recomend that has good trancparency mode, but also has a comfort similar to the oiginal mdr-1000x? (ive heard that the xm5 has thinner ear paddings, wich wouldnt work to well for me since i have glasses. sorry for my bad english!
Thank you! To be honest with you, Sony's transparency is the best by far. If you're concerned about the padding thickness with the XM5, you should consider the XM4. The performance is almost as good, just with a slightly different design which includes thicker padding. I would personally say the XM5 are fine for glasses wearers - but it's subjective!
@@insidetechltd thank you!
@@insidetechltd Ive heard that the xm4 and xm5 has a tendency to break, do you know anything avout this?
The build quality is good. If you treat them well, they will not break. It's as simple as that 🤷
@@insidetechltd oki, il try
Which do you think is better value or which would you choose between soundcore space one vs q45?
I've got a post on the community tab detailing all of the differences!
This video is absolutely fantastic, thank you! Given my frequent business travels, I prioritize headphones that offer both comfort and excellent sound quality. Since I spend a lot of time on business calls, having a reliable built-in microphone is essential, although I'm open to using an external one if needed. While the Bose QC headphones are impressive, their microphone performance falls short. Could you suggest any alternatives that meet my requirements?
Yes, I think Sony’s WH-1000XM5 would be great for that use case
@insidetechltd thank you for the quick reply. I will look into getting a pair this week
Which one of the cushion did you buy that fit on the Sony because I don’t see the headphones as an option when I look at the pads on the website
I can see lots of them on Amazon 🤷♂️
I'm content and happy with souncore q35 & q45 and space one headphones. (I actually like them because of comfortability, sound/LDAC and ANC/battery life).
Nice 👍🏼
I wanted to get the 45s for the gym and the allotment - is the anc good for blocking out gym noise - particularly loud music?
@es4666 The q45s have better ANC than the q35s. I still prefer the q35s for sound and several other features, though.
Excellent comparison, taking in all the factors and features. Helped me to finalise xm5. For me anc, mic quality, comfort are top priority. Transparency mode is extra for me. 40 hrs battery life is enough for me. And finally the sound quality is good in all of them.
Thank you very much!
I have found that sound clarity can get even better for the XM5`s if you load in the Harman-profile for XM5 in the Wavelet-app. This becomes a new underlying baseline or EQ which is tuned in towards the Harman standard of neutrality for headphones. Then you can add the usual EQ you prefer on top of that in a different EQ-menu. Highly recommended to test, the app`s free. Just remember to default the EQ-settings in the Sony Headphones app first to get a true experience of the Wavelet Harman-profile.
Didnt want to do endless researching, so based on that video I bought B&W bc of great sound and reasonable price. ONe thing for sure I can say, they're soo loud on max setting 😨
Hey, i wana ask when the top budget headphones of 2024 video will be made, im in the market right now and wana make sure i get the best value as there are many new headphones releases, and want ur in depth opinions on them. Thanks!
I usually drop them in summer time, but i'd be open to doing it sooner! What budget would you want for it?
Do you have an in-deptg review of B&O H95?
No, only what's covered in this and last year's Awards videos
Hm I came across this video today, and the xm5 comes by as a dated hardware for me, but seemingly, xm6 would not be releasing in 2024 though, although there is a different model called ult900n coming Sept or earlier. Should I wait for that, or just settle with xm5 in your opinion?
If you want headphones now, I wouldn't wait for the promise of future tech. Buy what you need for the job right now. We have no idea when an XM6 might arrive. And even when it does, another newer model will be planned. You can't wait forever 🤷
I notice the Senn momentum 4 are no longer on your list, why not?
Good question! The Momentum 4 were literally the 9th-placed finish for me. If you look at sound quality alone, they'd definitely make it. But when you consider the other factors too (even putting the most importance on sound quality) they're narrowly beaten by soundcore overall. Definitely still a great option though and one of my favourites!
@@insidetechltd oh ok ok. Yea i just bought the momentum 4 for their sound..wonderful. I dont care about the othe things although they're pretty good to me.
@@insidetechltd thank you for responding and your insight.
They sound great but it's a shame they don't fold, same for the Sony's...
If I compare the Momentum 4 with for example the Bose QC regular, I enjoy the QC sound better, for example, I don't have to crank the volume to almost max to feel impact on the bass, the Momentum 4 is comfortable but is too big in some areas, I still use the Momentum 4 a lot but some headphones just do things better than others, still, for me, my daily drivers are the Bose QC and the Momentum 4.
Please which overall is a better head phone from sound core, the space one or space Q45 cause I was genuinely surprised it wasn’t in this video
It's the Q45 overall. But I have a direct comparison detailed as a community post comparing the two - there are reasons that Space One might be considered better still
Hello, after so many videos i can't be sure what to buy for budget around 400$, did you tried Audeze Maxwell to compare with this headsets?
No - that's more of a gaming headset only
@@insidetechltd I would like to know if headset can be better in your category... just because is a mix between categories.
Is it ok to buy xm4's this year. i heard its anc is better than jbl tour one m2 and senheiser but it would have been an easy option to choose the xm4 except for the fact they are 4 years old. What do you think? Should i buy xm4 as they are on a great deal in amazon. Please reply fast as i dont know when the deal might stop.
Don’t worry about how old it is. Still a great pair of headphones. If you want them…go for it!
Thanks! 😊
Question sir, Is the px7 s2e good for long flights ? Despite that the ANC ranked lower in comparison to the others ? Or should I choose the sony xm5?
Sony is obviously better for long flights, but Px7 S2e still a very good option! If you're flying very often, you probably want something lighter than the S2e, but they'll do the job as well
lack of wearing detection is a feature as far as I'm concerned everything with it loves to pause for no damn reason.
I’ve worked in recording studios for over 15 years and this topic is always discussed without a comprehensive approach to what makes something “sound good”. The headset is just one piece of it. A foundamental part is the Signal that comes out from your music device (smartphone, laptop etc) with a major role played by the audio interface. You have to think about it similarly to what a video interface works with a gaming monitor. You can buy a top gaming monitor but if your pc is 10 years old you still won’t see good graphics. Now you have to consider most smartphones and even how music is mixed for spotify is specifically directed to cheap devices and headsets, eg. full of mid frequences. This means the music, the platform and most devices are not designed (or capable) to fully leverage the capabilities of a high end headset. You are consequently wasting your money because there won’t be huge differences in the oversll experience between these headsets and a 50€ one. You want a really good quality? buy a good audio interface like apogee ones (eg for apple), a studio headset like beyerdynamics (a brand that specializes in this) for half of the price and much better quality (steel arch instead of plastic). Do you need a headset for your smartphone ~ then anything above 100€ is a waste
If you get a chance, please test out the new Sennheiser Momentum TWS 4 and compare them to the 3's? Thank you.
Already got them ordered 👍🏼
Inability to turn ANC off on the Bose QC Ultra is what led me to ultimately return them. I dont always want the cabin air pressure effect on my head, especially in quiet environments when I don't need (or want) ANC anyway.
Another excellent video. Thank you.
Thank you!
Havr there ever been a pair of headphones that gave the Beoplay H95 a run for their money luke the T+A Solitaire T or the Mark Levinson 5909?
Focal Bathys came very close. There are even some aspects I prefer with the sound. But the H95 low end is richer and that's what gives them the edge
Wonderful video! I'm a bit sorry I only found it now after I bought my headphones, but the algorithm keeps recommending me reviews/channels. Subscribed in any case since this seems comprehensive, and liked the different ratings if you value different things. I ended up with buying the Bose QC Ultras as I saw them go on sale (here in Mexico) and they where essentially the same price as the Sony's. Working from a home office with young kids means ANC is very welcome and fully agree with the comfort/ANC rating on these. I'd owned a few other ANC headsets but these are far and away the best ones. I'd had some 1st gen QC35 and while they where ok, the multipoint implementation was so annoying, and it kept having connectivity issues w my laptop. I then got some (1st gen) Shure Aonic 50. I'm happy to see the second gen adresses some of my main gripes with them (call quality + more software flexibility), though ignore others (ANC being not that good). Living in Mexico my main gripe is kind of unexpected: replacement ear cushions. Wicked Cushions is available here and they're my go to brand for my QC35s (which my wife uses very happily in combination with Airpods), and it was a factor for when I just made my change to the QC Ultras. The Shure's replacements are not sold by them, and for the longest of times I just couldn't find ones. Finally I got some generic ones, but they seem of poor quality, and they let a lot of sound in, there's very very little difference from activating ANC and turning it off, as you guys pointed in that the ANC isn't too good and they seem to do most of their isolation passively. I'll keep them as "normal" headphones since the sound quality really is good and very neutral. That + being able to be used "wired" is great.
Thanks a lot! Good to hear from someone who's used Wicked cushions too
I have a questions as i can see from your video u know so much headphones.I have a brother in my room with me and others can hear him with my current headphones so i want to know a good set or wired or wireless headphones or earbuds that have good noise canceling so others dont hear him(he is like 2-4 meters from me).If anyone elese reading this comment know i would love to hear your opinions.Thank you!
It sounds like you're after headphones with good isolation tech during calls. You said 'others' can hear your brother, so rather than good noise cancelling headphones or earbuds, you'll want good noise cancelling during calls. My current mic quality winners in the earbuds awards do this well, if it's earbuds you're after. As for over-ear headphones, JBL's Tour One did a really good job of isolating other background noise during a call. Always bear in mind that someone sat only a few metres away from you may still be heard through any pair of headphones though
Not a bad list but I gotta say I'm shocked the Bathys didn't make it. If I had to make a list of say my top 5 in general it would be Mark Levinson 5909, Focal Bathys, Sony WH-1000XM5, T+A Solitaire T, and B&O H95 probably in that order
Yeah of course everyone's personal list will vary. Mine would look a lot closer to that if I chose by sound quality only - those options (except Sony) all have that as a main strength. Let down in other areas though: Focal's ANC, mic quality and comfort all placed outside the top 15, for example. So most of those didn't make the Top 8 for me
I cannot seem to find an old school Hifi Headphone ( good Quality) without a battery inside so it light weight, since It draw power from a 3.5mm and I could plug it in to a adapter USB-C ( Iphone 15 Pro).
Philips fidelio X2HR
Hello, may I ask? I would like to buy a top model of headphones mainly for listening to music but also for casual use (KZhead, netflix, etc.) at home for PC and mobile, so ANC is probably not a priority. I was considering the WH1000 XM5 (or waiting for the new xm6 model) but what I found out from various videos, from the sound side, they are not nearly as good and there are better variants such as the Px7 S2e (Px8 are already expensive for me). I just don't understand that they don't have spatial audio. It's important because I'm currently using airpods for 2022 for music and the difference is quite noticeable there (both for music and movies). So is it an important factor or not? I don't know much about it.
Well personally speaking I would say no, Spatial Audio is not important. I think it diminishes the sound quality experience. But if you enjoy it, go for a pair that supports it! I’d personally rather not have Spatial Audio and have superior sound quality, but you should decide which is more important to you
Really great video! I’m nearly convinced to get the B&W Px7 S2e myself. Just one thing holding me back. I really need good ANC for commuting in trains since they are quite noisy. Currently I’m using Sony WH-1000XM3, how does the ANC compare to these ones? It really feels like only bose and sony can nail the ANC which is quite annoying tbh. Probably too many patents in their name.
Thank you! I honestly think the ANC is fairly comparable with the M3. And when you factor in playing your music as well...I don't think the difference is significant anyway. If you're looking to get a noticeable improvement with the Px7 S2e though...I would say: don't expect one. You're right that the Bose and Sony latest flagships are a step up and you would certainly notice the improvement there. But I think if you like the Px7 S2e anyway, there are still reasons to get them! They're gonna sound a lot better and the build is gorgeous
@@insidetechltd I want to get the B&W because of better sound, so yeah, thank you :D
The main reason I chose the Bose QC Ultra vs Sony XM5 was because the Sony just felt very cheap compared to the Bose. They barely stayed on my head or had a seal around my ears. I also found the touch feature more convenient where Bose located it rather than Sony. Appreciate your vid, it helped me narrow my options lol
Glad I could help!
Please could you review the cmf buds pro?
Sure!
I wish momentum 4 was included as that's always in the list of contenders when considering which one to buy. Even if it meant having 9 headphones in the video. Hoping for a comparison with it included.
It’s in last year’s video! Any questions about them though just let me know
@@insidetechltdI do have a question regarding the XM5’s and the M4’s. I heard a lot say that the M4’s sound better than the XM5’s and I don’t doubt that but is the difference really night and day where the XM5’s do sound “muddy”? I’m having a dilemma since I do love really good audio for headphones but design wise, I prefer the XM5’s. What’s your thoughts on it?
Well sound is subjective so everyone will have their own opinion and also preference for how a headphone sounds. But if anything I would say the XM4 is the "muddier" one of the two. It's slightly more bass heavy than the XM5, but they are very close in terms of quality
@@insidetechltd I see, thanks for the feedback.
I already have the WH-x1000m4. Are the 5's that much of an upgrade or not at all?
I wouldn't say so. You should only be upgrading if you're actively unhappy with what you have. Identify what's wrong with it and see if the new model fixes that. What's wrong with your 1000XM4?
I had a little accident and they got banged up so now I'm deciding to get another exact pair and especially because it's like $210.00 brand new where I am. @@insidetechltd
Difficult one to say - because you might place value in having something 'new' and 'different'. It might not feel as good getting the same pair again. However I wouldn't say there's anything truly compelling about the M5 over the M4. The sensible thing to do is get the cheaper M4 model (but it's the boring option too). They also have a couple of advantages over the new model like thicker headband padding and a foldable design - that might make them more worth it!
Definitely! I honestly like the design of the 4's over the 5's. That's just me. I also prefer the thicker headband than the rather skinny one on the 5's.@@insidetechltd
Heyy man my budget is 400 dollars and im waiting for xm6 do you have any idea when its gonna launch and updates bout momentum 5?
I would say buy the thing you want now. If you wait for the XM6 or Momentum 5, then as soon as you buy it there will be an XM7 and Momentum 6 coming. There will always be new tech. I wouldn't personally wait just for the sake of it - and no, not heard anything about either of those coming out any time soon
How about this list I came up with: Sony WH-XM5, B&O H95, Dali IO-12, T+A solitaire T?
Sounds like a list that focuses on luxury models with Sony thrown in as well
@@insidetechltd ofc, given the price point, it may be on the higher end, but it doesn't really correlate with the quality itself, since may reviewers claim that Sony's anc is unparalleled by even some of the more expensive alternatives. so I was wondering, from the list above, what would be the best all rounder, apart from pricing, that covers bases like anc, transparency, audio quality, build quality, and others.
Might as well include the Sennheiser momentum 4, focal bathys, px8 too
I've told you what i'd personally give as the best all rounder: Sony. These videos specifically cover all of those aspects you mentioned, and from my testing Sony comes out on top
great videos as always. Highly detailed information. Very in-depth. 👏
Thanks a lot!
What do you think about Skull Candy crusher evo headphones?
Good for bass headphones...not much else. They're fine...there are just better options all round imo
Wow the production of this video is off the charts - much appreciated!
That’s great to hear, thanks a lot!
@@insidetechltdhow is the bowers and Wilkins 7 s2e better sound compared to shure gen 2??
Good camera and white table yeah.
excelent video! thanks!
Thanks a lot!
Just got the Sonys Today, was not going to buy any but the store was closing and it was 260$ so I got em and just hoped they where good. Guess it was a good pick 😁
Great video! Simple question, if i want to buy a 150$ dollar headphone, which one? 1 recommendation ! Thanks
Thanks! Soundcore Space Q45 is the best at that price
Thanks for the video need something to replace my beloved 10+ year old Jabra Revo 😢.
Disappointed the Sennheiser Momentum 4's weren't included, they easily still make it in the list of best headphones and I recommend them to anyone that looks at getting the most value of their money at their category/price, including the Soundcore Space Q45's which at their price are king. For the reference of the viewer, they'd probably be a 4th spot in this list. They'd be 2nd or 3rd in controls, 4th in build quality, 4th in comfort, and for sound quality they'd be beaten only by the H95's, and it would be a close fight between them and the Px7 S2e for the 2nd/3rd spot. They fall behind in ANC and Transparency but they are not necessarily bad just not at the level of Bose and Sony. Mic quality is fine, mid of the pack, and sound leakage is fine, probably in the mid rank in these categories if squeezed in this list. Also, for the new connectivity category to rate them would be very subjective, but they'd probably be through the last spots, since some people have issues with the headphones disconnecting while some not.
First of all, great analysis and insights here! I would hope you don't actually feel 'disappointed' though because this is only my list after all! There's only such much you can be objective and so much of a headphone is down to personal experience and preference. As soon as you tweak the weighting you assign each category, the list can really change a lot. Take out ANC, transparency, mic quality and comfort and Sennheiser are one of the best out there. Amazing sound (especially for the price), fantastic control system and great build (love the fabric headband). They actually came in 9th overall and less than a single point separated them from Soundcore. It was unbelievably close. I tried a few variations on my ranking system before finalising the results (especially since Sennheiser made the 2023 cut) but there was no way to include them 'fairly' ahead of other entries. This is why I like to emphasise that it's all about what 'you' as the individual want from a pair of headphones!
Yep..i have the momentum 4s too. Great sound and ro me everything else is pretty. At least to me. Sound is number 1 for me
They sound great but it's a shame they don't fold...
Great video. Actually awesome video! While it’s good to see such a varying range of headphones making a final shortlist, I think the weighting on sound quality might not be quite enough if an excellent sounding headphone like the Momentum 4 aren’t making the final shortlist. It’s also important to say that the differences/deltas between each of the attributes can be negligible in actual use over a period of time. So a headphone that ranks in 7th place for a particular attribute, say comfort, vs another headphone that ranks 2nd for the same attribute might in actual use feel like they’re both high ranking or best among class for comfort. I think in certain cases where the deltas are so small for particular attributes, it’s just better to give fewer ranking tiers instead of splitting hairs. For example it may be better to have just 4 tiers for comfort, e.g. ‘among the best’, ‘better than average’, ‘average’, and ‘below par’. Or if this messes up the scoring system, just give the same points ranking, e.g. award 4 headphones a 1st place ranking for comfort, where the delta between them is more or less unnoticeable over a period of time. Please know that none of this is to criticise at all, I think the content, quality and concept of the video is truly outstanding. I love it! Just offering some hopefully helpful feedback that might be worth considering for a next end of year round up video. For what it’s worth, I own a Dali IO-12, a H95, a Momentum 4, and have heard the Bathys extensively over a long period of time, and in my opinion the Dali IO-12, while it’s premium on price, is truly special for sound quality. I wasn’t expecting it, but it blew me away! It’s also very comfortable and battery life is plenty. But it can also be used in many different ways, such as Bluetooth mode with ANC on or off, Passive wired mode, Active wired mode, etc. Just let me know if you want to borrow my set for assessment and comparison. I’m UK based and you’d be very welcome. Keep up the great work 🤩🎧👏
No you're making a very important point - one that I've spent considerable time pondering myself. Lets say you have 30 pairs of headphones and you score them all relatively for ANC. The one in position 30 is going to have a 'bad' score, because 29 others did better. Not because it's bad...but because others did better. You might still consider the ANC to be very good for that pair (this applies to all categories to varying degrees). So you need to be careful scoring simply like this. So I decided to make multiple ranking systems and use the information from all of them - one of which was a 5 star system. The multipliers (to account for a category's importance) were instead applied to a score from 1 to 5. This means that many pairs of headphones can score highly and eliminates the problem described in the first scenario. This obviously leads to its own problems where you get loads of headphones tied in the ranking system (so it's still important to ultimately compare directly and place one over the other). But actually, the list looked very similar to the relative ranking list (which gave me confidence that my weightings/multipliers were probably quite appropriate). Basically there is no 'one system' that works for everything. You ultimately need to assess individual cases and make logical decisions yourself if two headphones are ranked very closely. This is exactly why I haven't published my full ranking system...it's extremely complicated and involves multiple, ever-changing factors. I use that information internally as a guide for me to assemble and then present the information in videos like this - it relies a lot on my own experience and knowledge. This way I can keep the videos concise and give people the useful information they actually want. You're exactly right - when you find a pair of (obviously great) headphones that still aren't ranking high enough to what you think is logical...you might have your ranking system wrong. I did play around with it multiple times to have it make sense for Sennheiser's Momentum 4 (i'll continue to do so going forwards as well). But in the end...I think it does make sense. If I were to change it any more...it would be unfair on soundcore and others. I can't 'force' a pair to win just because it's popular or 'expected to win' or anything else...that introduces bias and makes the results pointless. Soundcore does enough good things to justify it ahead of Sennheiser in the end (as I said, they were less than a point apart). If you look at sound quality only, of course Sennheiser would make it. But I look at many factors, and comfort is a major one and that's ultimately what brought them down. Thanks for raising this point though, i'm sure others will have questions about this too!
@@insidetechltd Appreciate the time you took to respond as well as the original time to make a great and very helpful video. I’m really impressed with your work. And I take on board your comments and the challenges involved in creating a scoring system and can appreciate it may need consistent tweaking and playing around. It’s true that you can’t just force a product to win just because you want it to. Regarding a headphone’s comfort, there is a factor that is worth considering (one which may or may not feature in your scoring metrics) and it is how hot/sweaty a headphone can make your ears feel after a session of use. In a warm climate or on particularly hot days, I’ve found that some headphones which are typically regarded as very comfy can actually feel uncomfortable due to that extra humidity/sweatiness generated in the ear-cups. This is an area where e.g. the Momentum 4 does really well - I think Sennheiser put a lot of thought into the construction of the ear-cups and the choice of synthetic material used for the ear-pads is excellent in this regard. Thanks again and look forward to watching more of your excellent videos… 👏🎧👌
Thank you. Yes that's something I factor in too, not just the clamping force and pressure at the top of your head. I tend to just refer to the ear cup size and specify when they are large/deep/shallow etc. (this, along with the clamping force, relates to the ear warming). So it does go into the scoring metric even if I don't explicitly mention it in the video 👍🏼
Which ones would you say have the best sound but are the most bass heavy?
Maybe Shure's Aonic 50 Gen 2 - I say that because you have a lot of scope to boost the bass with the EQ settings. Otherwise Sony probably has the most bass-heavy sound
Vmoda crossfade?
Sennheiser accentums are pretty good for the price. Solid sound quality.
Agreed! One of the best for the price as well. I was slightly disappointed with the mic quality, features and the comfort though. Looks like the newly announced Accentum Plus will address this though, so i'll make a full review comparing those I think.
What is a “multipoint”?
Master&Dynamic wasn’t good enough for the ranking?
Not this year
Friend, tell me some headphones or a player with physical keys to rewind tracks 10 seconds forward or backward. and not just switching tracks forward back, do such things even exist?
Unfortunately I can't think of any that can do this
Hello, in your opinion, are all of these headphones better than the AirPods Max? This is the set that I currently have
I think they're better overall, but it depends on which aspects you're comparing. They're not better at connecting with Apple devices, for example
Fair enough, I’m just looking for something genuinely better, these are getting a bit old now.
@@sportscommentaries4396 The AirPods Max are older than all of these models. Newer doesn't necessarily mean better - this video is an objective view of the best wireless headphones available. The fact that the AirPods Max weren't reviewed should tell you something.
Yes the age doesn’t matter at all. When you say you want something “better” what are you looking to improve? What do you not like about the AirPods Max? You need to identify that first, and then you can see if there is anything that does those things better. There’s always going to be newer, “better” tech. Always. So I wouldn’t go chasing that just for the sake of it. Find something you actively dislike about what you have, then we can see what would suit you better 👍🏼
@@insidetechltd ah fair enough, the main thing that bothers me about them is the battery is now starting to get worse, I’ve had them for 3 years, so i guess age plays a tiny part of it. I also find that the noise cancellation is getting worse as time goes on. I don’t know if I’m better off getting a new pair, waiting for the second version, or just getting something completely new. I have every apple device there is basically so I’m leaning towards getting a new pair or the second version when they release.
Producer: Hey, how many headphones do you want to review? InsideTech: Yes
Great effort, though I would think it is better to rate the % point of each section and then aggregate the points rather than aggregating the ranking number.
That’s exactly how it works in practice. The aggregate ranking is shown to give people a quick and simple overview (with the actual results table shown later for those interested, to avoid confusion)
Love the channel and reviews but not the title. 2024 just started so much stuff is going to drop on the market soon. Looking forward to it especially the xMEMS technology. Thanks again much appreciated. 💯👍🇺🇸
I appreciate it! With the title though, if you think about the 2024 Oscars (which will be held in March this year), that's an awards ceremony looking back at the best films from the previous year. So I'm trying to follow a logical pattern for these awards videos. That's the main reason. But on a more simplified level, it's also just a video I've released on headphones in the year 2024. It would be outdated if I didn't have 2024 in the title. That's just my approach anyway. Thanks for the support!
@@insidetechltd- Then I think the more appropriate name would be, 2024 Headphones Awards...
Great advertisment for Paramore)), and nice comparison! Only lacking Shenhaisers...
Regular subscribers know my entire channel is one big advertisement for Paramore 😅 The Momentum 4 came super close this year, but they missed out by one place!
@@insidetechltd I'm new))
Welcome to the team then! 😄
If you take money and business goals out of all this, you win sennheiser momentum 4!
How do you connect the sonys when the plane doesnt have bluetooth?
You can use an aeroplane adapter. If you didn't get one in the box, they are cheap and easy to fine online
You left out the best 4 Bluetooth headphones available. The Focal Bathys, Mark Levinson 5909, T+A Solitare and the clear winner Dali IO12. Can’t take your list seriously without them.
I use my xm5 wired with the headphone ON it's sound more wide
Hey bro, my favorite headphones are the Dyson Zone! Why were they not included in your list?
Thoughts on B&W px8?
Essentially everything said about the Px7 S2e applies apart from the differences highlighted in this video. Last year's video features the Px8 if you're interested as well
@@insidetechltdI have a pair of PX7’s S2s and the build has been a problem. The adhesive holding the leatherette began letting go in less than 6 months. They look like hanging rags now
Will you do a true wireless earbuds vid?
Yes, it’s already scheduled 👍🏼
Hi, no edifier wh950nb?
No. Maybe in a video for best 'value' headphones, but not best overall
I like your indepth run down with the list at the end. It's tough to know if there is bias though. Soundcore on amazon has decent reviews, but they all say that it's specifically decent for the price point, which is cheap. Most people say these are heavy, but they got a 4th for comfort. Shure has a 3rd for build quality, but there are multiple reviews of these falling apart after 12 months despite the sound being stellar. Ive used the xm5, they are good when they work. I found them plagued with bugs, you can't set the ANC without the AI trying to adjust it, so when mowing the lawn these would go to transparent mode back to ANC. Momentum 4 arent on the list, but mosto ther people out these on par with Sony's. A lot of the other brands arent even mentioned for other reviewers.
Lmao im still in love with the Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2s. They're old now and getting very hard to find, but for the price...?!?! $150 headphones that were consistently rated against $400 Bose... and tbe back beats won several categories!! Lifetime i owned 3 or 4, and never paid over $80 new. Yesterday's Best deal ever!
Bose QC Ultra "slighlty bass heavy default soound" ? it's literally the opposite lol Also no Sennheiser M4s ? way better sound overall than most of these headphones
Sound is subjective, we all hear differently! Agreed on Sennheiser's sound quality - but the end summary explains fully how these headphones were ranked
Soundcore 45 are Giant Killers!!
Brilliant video 💗
Thank you 💚
did you accidentally use the wrong JBL model in this video? because the JBL Tour One M2 Wireless headphones i can get for $199 NZD ($118.35 USD) from multiple stores at the moment!!!
No, prices just fluctuate
Which one is the best for gaming ?
It depends, which phone do you have?
What about space one?
Fantastic for the price - reviewed them on the channel as part of the best headphones under $100
What is “talthru”?
Can I use these for Xbox
Why is the Technics "Overall ranking" at 8th but then the "Final ranking" (without price) at 4th?? The difference in these 2 ranking types was not stated.
This is specifically explained in the video. The 8th place finish is the relative ranking to each of other headphones in this video - it is the literal ranking of one headphone compared to another for each of the listed categories. The ‘final’ ranking is a weighted ranking system that prioritises specific factors that are generally considered more important. For example sound quality would be deemed more important than the sound leakage. The final ranking is therefore a fairer and more realistic ranking of the overall performance
@@insidetechltd I see. Maybe I missed this explanation in the video. Thank you for explaining!
Doesn’t make sense having XM5 whilst not having Senn’s M4… I wonder what you think M4 is missing vs XM5, Q45, Bose and many others. Spatial/immersive? These are gizmos masking the actual sound precision yet it’s sound good to the big majority of folks… thanks God Technics A800 made it!
I was under the impression people didn't really care about that. I personally put no weighting behind spatial modes whatsoever (and didn't when making this video). I took my own preferences and listened to as much feedback from the community as I could when assigning the importance for each category - no one ever seems to mention spatial audio so I left it out. I will say that Sony comfortably made the video though - huge lead over even the 2nd placed entry. For Sennheiser obviously sound quality is a major strength (I have them in 8th overall there). But the factors I think that brought them down were the mic quality, ANC performance and actually comfort. Remember that any headphones that don't make it aren't necessarily 'bad', but if other headphones beat them in these areas then they have to make it into the video ahead of them. Sennheiser narrowly missed out this year!
Where are the momentum 4
Just missed out this year
My favourite headphone is Mark Levinson N5909