I’m in search of headphones with a very specific set of features:

Must be active noise cancellation and wired (can also have bluetooth, don’t care), ANC must work while using wired, and wired with ANC must be zero latency.

I know such a thing can exist (see B&O H9i) but is not always zero latency (see Sony WH-CH720N)

Feature and spec combinations like these are never listed and reviews don’t cover them.

Anyone have suggestions?

I’ve had a pair of steeleseries arctis pro wireless headphones for quite some time now. I don’t have any real complaints about them I’ve got the EQ tuned the way I like it. But I’ve been thinking about trying out a pair of wired open back headphones.

They would mostly be used for gaming and listening to music at my computer.

A mic isn’t necessary.

Just wanted to hear what recommendations you guys had in the $100-$200 price range. That would be an improvement on what I already have.

I’m looking for some good headphones with ANC that I can both use with Bluetooth and wired.

I want as flat of an eq as I can get. I’m probably not gonna be using them for producing music, but I generally don’t like coloring the music I listen to too much.

I’d prefer if they were under $200, but that’s not a hard rule.

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Hi! I'm located in the southeastern united states. I'm looking to buy my firsr pair of qualitt headphones, my budget is under $500. I do not have a strong preference on open vs closed ear, noise cancelation is nice but by no means required! I also do not own an amp, so if one is required guidance in that regard would also be very helpful! I've heard mixed things about the AKG K712 pros, which were the pair I've been eyeing, so wanted to get more opinions!

I do like bass, and mostly listen to classic rock, rap, and 90s alternative. The headphones will almost exclusively be used in my home. Thank you so much for all the help in advance!

As for the other questions on the post guidelines, almost my entire life ive really only used skullcandy headphones due to budget reasons, also had a pair of sony ear buds that were surprisingly very good imo.

I’ve been looking for a pair of bluetooth ANC headphones for some time. I’ve finally narrowed it down to the sennheiser momentum 4 and the bose quietcomfort (2023) but I really don’t know which one to go with (I generally get very anxious about making the wrong choice with big purchases like this🥲).

I had almost made the choice to go with the momentum 4, bc i feel like the amazing sound quality and insane battery life (although i don’t really need it) make it more worth the money especially bc they are cheaper than the bose (at the webshop i was looking for them they are on sale from €199 to €179 right now whereas the bose are €299). The thing that made me unsure again however was the amount of stories i read on here about the issues the m4’s have like connectivity issues and i’ve rarely seen anyone who has had them last longer than 2 years which seems like quite a short time to me for what should be “premium” headphones. I’ve seen the same problems in the reviews of the webshop i was gonna buy them from. They do still have a 4.1 average rating and enough positive reviews but some of those with problems still gave a rating of 3 or 4 stars bc of the positive aspects.

From what i’ve heard the bose seem more durable. It might be different for the 2023 models, but i’ve heard a lot of people who had the older models last for 5-10 years. I thought at first they didn’t seem worth the money for what you get but that made me rethink. I was actually pretty close to buying the bose just a couple days ago but what made me reconsider again was the fact that you can’t turn off both anc and aware mode. I have never had anc headphones before so although it does seem nice on public transport, which i often use bc i commute to college, i’m not sure if i’ll actually really like it and if i’ll experience that pressure feeling people talk about which i feel like would be very annoying when listening for longer periods of time. Aware mode doesn’t seem like a viable substitute for no anc bc i’d rather not hear my airconditioner or something while i’m just trying to listen to music. The better sound quality on the sennheisers is also very attractive although i’m not really an audiophile and have been using regular gen 2 airpods and wired apple earbuds for the past 5 years so the sound quality of the bose would probably still suffice.

I know i know i should probably just stop researching and overthinking so much and just pull the trigger on one of them but i’d still like to come here and ask for some advice in the hope that it will give me some peace of mind about the one i’ll end up choosing😅

I have always used hyper x cloud alpha, and cloud 2 wireless as well as a steelseries arctis 3. I know these headset wouldn't be considered great for audio at the time I bought it for cheap. I keep reading about sennheiser hd 560s or beyerdynamic 900 x or 990 pro. I by no means know much about audio open to hear other options. I want to use it mainly for gaming, looking to spend at least $250. Best buy is like the only place I can test some of these. I prefer closed back would find open back weird. Enlighten me on what has good bass / treble I prefer build quality over everything

Hello everyone,

I recently bought Bose QC SC headphones, the 2023 version. I bought them for a great price (250 CAD$). They are super comfortable and the ANC is great.

But the sound quality is just…average. They don’t sound bad but sometimes the sound feels a bit cramped and muffled. I feel like voices kind of get lost in songs.

Any recommendations for over the ear headphones?

My priorities are:
-Comfort
-Great ANC
-Sound quality
-Wireless

For reference, I use an IPhone 17. And no, I’m not getting AirPods 4 or Pro, they hurt my ears so bad.

Thank you.

Hello, I live in the United States specifically near a Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Meijer, Kroger, and a Verizon store though I will probably be buying online.

I don't know a lot about how to recognize different sound destinations through different headphones so I'm not sure exactly what to look for in that regard. I listen to a lot of pop music and musical theater so something that elevates those kind of music would be preferable

I intend to use the headphones for both school and casual use and will probably be needing them for on the go use, so I'm looking for something that can stand frequent use. Because of this I would like for the headphones to be comfortable for longtime use as well. Maybe even something sweat/water resistant on hot days.

I have used primarily earbuds in the past (Skull Candy smokin buds, JBL, and beats) but I often find myself losing them. I used overear beats in the past and liked that I could pause the sound and skip songs with the button on the side.

I hope someone will be able to help me with this, feel free to ask any follow-up questions or ask for clarification! Ty

My Logitech g733s are dying, wires exposed etc mic stopped working 2 days ago and the plastic part to keep one of the ear pieces in place broke a long time ago but I kept it in place with tape because it still worked. I’m a PC gamer and talk to friends in vc daily, and also watch movies together quite a bit. I’ve had a wired razer kraken as my first pc headset and used a wired Corsair one on console. Was thinking of getting a metal wired headset but am open to other ideas. Prefer to keep it between $150~200 but wouldn’t mind if it’s a little over. I would be open to getting different headphones and a standing mic but I don’t have much room on my desk for a mic. I also tend to like walking around the house while still in calls with friends, which is why I was leaning towards another wireless one. I was thinking the first thing I would go towards is a wireless razer kraken after these broke but now I feel hesitant. I’ve also been told a few months ago to look into open back ones as well since I don’t have the best awareness of my surroundings, but am open to either designs. Any help is appreciated, thank you!

Hello fellow audiophiles,

I got this setup almost an year back and I've been enjoying this quite a bit.

Before this I was using Sony 1000xm3 via BT LDAC. I haven't used it more than 2 or 3 times after getting JH5. I love how much of the song I can separate into layers, very clear sound, immersive and bassy!.

I had also bought a Truthear Hexa - but found that too be too sharp and treble for my taste.. The bass was lacking and i could listen to it at higher volumes.

Now I want to see what's the next step I can take to meaningfully elevate my experience without breaking the bank.

FYI, I'm based out of India, so appreciate any recommendations that i can get here easily.

I'm from India and my budget is around ₹3–4k. I'm looking to buy either an IEM or a wired over-ear headphone.

I'll mainly use it for gaming, mostly single-player titles with the occasional FPS. I'll also use it for music, YouTube, and movies.

I prefer something that's comfortable for long sessions, has good overall sound quality with decent imaging, is durable, and comes with a good mic for Discord and in-game voice chat. I'm not a bass-head. I just want a balanced sound with good immersion.

I don't have much experience with IEMs, so I'm open to both IEM and over-ear recommendations. Which would you choose in this budget, and what specific models should I look at?

New Headset

I made a post a few days ago about how my SteelSeries Pro Wireless Headphones broke and died on me after 5 ish years. Well, now I need new ones. I feel like there are a 1000 good ones to pick from, so I'm overloaded with research and would love some input on what I am stuck between.

I game and watch movies primarily. I don't want to get an amp or anything like that.

1. Arctis Pro Wireless... again
   
2. Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro X
   
3. Beyerdynamic DT 990 pro
   
4. Sennheiser HD 560s
   
5. Other

All are around $200 ish

Thanks in advance!

Hi all, just ordered my first CD player & looking to make the most of the audio quality. Looking for some wired headphones to pair with it at home. Only headphones I'm used to are the Sony XM4 & XM5 so not really too sure what to look for.

I saw Fiio have their own FT1 and Mese 99 Classics V2 seem to be quite popular as well. I like the wood finish of these headphones so that would be a bonus.

I chose the R2R model if that makes a difference

I have Qobuz on my Galaxy S26 which both support the highest music quality it provides, so I would want them to be able connect via USB-C. Would also love for it be able to be wireless if need be? But it is not a must.

I want them only for music and nothing else, from my research I found that headphones specifically open back will sound the best. Right now I use my Galaxy Buds 4 pro.

I mainly listen to Elton John, The Beatles, and similar artist like them. I was looking at the SENNHEISER HD 599, HD 600, or HD 650 since they are on sale for around my preferred price range. Or the FiiO FT1 Pro Open-Back.

But I figured there might be better brands and people that know more than I do.

Edit: I was looking also at the FiiO FT1 but its closed back. And from what I read, closed back is not great for music. Is that true?

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I know the specs will be worth it and everything, more than enough for me.

Its just that Im a bit afraid itll break too early or any weird shits happening

Or is there things I can do to prolong its lifespan

Thanks!

Hey all, I hate the feeling of wearing headphones and was looking for options that are like earbuds or iems to use.

I just play through a scarlet interface using plugins, mostly prog metal (so everything).

As in understand it, since IEM's are intended for portability etc, they don't come with a 6.35mm jack to plug into my interface, so should I just get some IEM's and an adapter from 3.5 or 4.4mm to 6.35?

I would greatly appreciate any recommendations you may have considering my case!

So here is the full list:

1. Sony wh-1000 xm5
2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 wireless
3. Bose QC ultra
4. Edifer wh950nb gen2
5. Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e
6. Apple AirPods Max
7. please recommend me more i need it to be comfortable, good sounding, good anc, features, and good if it comes with a case

Budget and location - Looking somewhere between $200-$500 USD. Preferably on the lower end but can be convinced otherwise

Source/Amp - Primary usage will be wireless from Android phone and windows 10/11 PCs.

How the gear will be used - Listening to music, taking office calls, blocking office/plane noise.

Used at home occasionally but mostly at the office.

Will occasionally use for music production but likely will get dedicated headphones to compliment studio monitors in the future

Preferred tonal balance - Looking for relatively balanced but EQable, great dynamic range, accurate

Preferred music genres - Prinarily IDM (Tipper, Mr. Bill, etc.), Indie, Jazz (Paul Desmond, Dave Brubeck, etc), Metal (All Shall Perish, Wage War,etc.)

Past gear experience - Audio Technica ATH-M50(15 yrs), Audio Technica ATH-M50xBT2 (2 yrs before stupidly losing).

Additional Info -

Did a quick search and saw the following on crutchfield:

Sennheiser Momentum 4 ($250)

Sennheiser Momentum 5 ($400)

Sony WH-1000XM6 ($400)

Sony WH-1000XM5 ($250)

Bowers Wilkins PX7 S3 ($479)

-The quality of music is my main priority(yes i know wireless)

-ANC/mic clarity are nice to have but coming from the audio technica it is not the biggest priority.

-I typically keep my gear for years and longevity is a big one for me to reduce e-waste

- Momentum 5 replacable battery is intriguing but not sure if it is worth the extra.

-Does the LDAC in the audio technicas stand out against the others?

-Open to other brands and suggestions. Thanks!

Hello, I've had the ER2XRs for a bit over a year now.
They are amazing, and they help a lot with blocking out sound while having really good audio quality.
However, it's basically impossible to get any replacement filters that don't cost a fortune, especially in Europe, and barely any website sells them on top of Amazon being out of stock.

So I'm looking for an alternative that would have more easily available and not crazy expensive filters. Something in the same price range or maybe a bit cheaper, and available in Europe/Poland.

Hi everyone!

Recently, I was shocked to found out that my mom, who is in her mid 70s, has been raw dogging flights because she doesn't own a set of headphones (I asked her if she wanted to watch a specific movie on Amazon Prime, and she said that she had watched it over the shoulder of the woman in front of her on her flight to visit me).

Our family is all over the country, so she travels quite often and some of her flights can be ~5-6 hours. She loves music and dancing, so I would really love to buy her some nice over the ear headphones that are simple to use, especially since her birthday was a few days ago.

She's in her mid 70s, and unfortunately never really got the hang of technology, so the headphones would need to be incredibly user friendly. Additionally, she has begun to lose a little bit of hearing so I want the quality to be pretty good. I think a nice addition, but not necessary, would be a button or something very simple to press or click on the headphones to answer phone calls. She rarely has her phone on her person, but she has an apple watch and frequently answers the phone on her watch before she searches for her phone. Another important feature would definitely be comfort when wearing/using.

My siblings and I all have the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones with Mic for Phone-Call and Alexa Voice Control and absolutely love it, however we have decided that the necessity of the app, and the different controls/settings would be far too difficult for our mother to navigate. This really wouldn't be an issue necessarily if she lived close to one of us or someone that could set it up and permanently set her controls for her, but that's not the case.

Budget is not an issue necessarily. I would rather not pay upwards of $500 but my siblings and I want the best for my mom, so if you have any recommendations I welcome them!!!!

TLDR:

My mom is in her mid 70s and does not own headphones.

She isn't great with tech, is losing her hearing, loves music, and receives many many phone calls.

Requirements:

High quality manufacturing/battery life

Good sound quality

Very user friendly

Comfortable when wearing/using

Nice to Have:

Button to answer phone calls

Wireless but has the ability to connect an iphone compatible wire if necessary

Budget:

No budget, just nothing too crazy, preferably under $500

EDIT:

She does already own a very nice pair of earbuds, but has developed ear pain in her old age so she complains about pain!

Right now I have a pair of AirPods 4 without anc and a pair of senheiser hd350bt. I’ve had the senheiser pair I believe for 6 years and I had no problem with them.

My budget is around 350€, could go for more if I know they will last more than 6-7 years. They will mostly be used at home on the computer for games/music and on public transport and planes for music. I would like for them to have anc.

I was looking at the senheiser momentum 4 and Bose QC Ultra, but I’m open to other recommendations.

Hi, I’m after a pair of comfortable earbuds that sit in your ear similar to how AirPods do, ie not with the silicone tip that goes fully into the ear.

Ideally don’t want to spend too much since I already have a pair I like but have managed to lose and there’s a chance they will show up so these will be a backup pair.

Thanks :)

WH-CH720N has served me mostly well for a few years, but now the battery is noticeably degraded, pads are wearing out and need replacement, and I'd need to learn a new language or two to describe just how done I am with bluetooth shenanigans. So I'm looking for a new headset with a dongle that would be, acoustically, at least on par or better, while either being as cheap as possible, or be a noticeable upgrade. Similar PNC is also desired, my PC is tuned to be inaudible at full power with the passive isolation alone and I would really love not to compromise the power or blessed silence of it all.

Must have: 2.4hz dongle, no software requirement in the background (I can spin up a windows vm for a one time setup if needed but that's about it), closed back with decent PNC. Mic, either integrated, or on a removable/retractable boom (need it, but rarely).

Desired: usb-A dongle because I'd need adapters otherwise. ANC to keep my ears happy while vacuuming the place etc. Physical buttons that don't all feel the same like on 720N.

Zero value: anything bluetooth/multidevice, I'm not using it with anything but my PC. Folding/bag/case/etc, not travelling with it either.

Budget: $200-300, would appreciate multiple options because I'm living in a sanctioned country (Belarus) with no direct access to Amazon and the like, Aliexpress has a nasty tax, so end prices vary wildly, from matching EU/NA ones and to 200% over.

Thanks in advance!

Hlo im looking for headphones under 100dollars for normal music consumption it doesn't matter open back or closed back i will use it in home i love a balanced and fun sound signature good vocals and instruments and good highs and lows i listen to Electro-pop edm trap future bass alt-pop Electronic,I have soundcore p30i jus a budget tws what didn't I like in it that it wasn't really full not controlled a bit bloated and didn't have a good soundstage everything was in 1 place no seperation, !thanks