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Off-Topic => General Discussion => Topic started by: DeletedUsermNqGIiIuGy on April 19, 2020, 10:20:39 PM

Title: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: DeletedUsermNqGIiIuGy on April 19, 2020, 10:20:39 PM
I thought there was a thread on this already but might be thinking of one from the MI site?

So I've been given a budget of 300 euros to pick out any pair of headphones I want for work. 

I've been looking around online, reading reviews and what not for a pair of noise cancelling ones and the best by far seem to be the Sony WH-1000XM3 @ 290 yoyo's

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-WH-1000XM3-Wireless-Cancelling-Headphones-Black/dp/B07GDR2LYK  (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-WH-1000XM3-Wireless-Cancelling-Headphones-Black/dp/B07GDR2LYK)

Any comments on them, good/bad/indifferent?

Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: pete on April 19, 2020, 11:27:12 PM
I have the original Sony WH-1000X since they came out. Would highly recommend. Great sound, comfortable, noise cancelling is great for the open plan office I'm in.
Great for long haul flights too, you can plug them into the entertainment thingy and then turn on noise cancelling,
Battery life is great too.

I can only imagine the WH-1000X M3 are that bit better all round.

Think they are pretty much considered best at what they do.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Ducky on April 20, 2020, 12:18:22 AM
Bought them at Christmas for myself (€269 in Curry's) and I fucking love them. Sound, build, features, usability, they're honestly my favourite headphones in over 20 years of geeking out over headphones.

The battery life is effectively as advertised (30 hours, with ANC turned on) once you tweak a few settings (the main one is one of those "upscaling" tricks that to my ears does nothing bar skim five hours off the battery). It's got a USB C connection (you get a cable in the box but it's about 10cm long) - I plug it into the same charger as my S8. You can effectively go from flat to fully charged in about an hour. The only caveat there is you can't use them while they're charging and you don't get a power brick included, but you can get a few hours of use out of a few minutes of charge. Worst comes to worst they come with a 3.5mm double-sided male cable, so you can just use them as a regular set of passive, wired headphones.

They're comfortable as fuck too, I've worn them all day with no issues, certainly lighter than some hi-fi headphones I've owned. They're heavy duty plastic (apparently the older models had metal in the headband but this really added to their weight) and so far seem sturdy and well built. You get a hard carry pouch that has space for a few cables and the headphones. I wear glasses with chunky arms and they don't cause any bother. They fit me good and sturdy but don't clamp excessively (I have the Sennheiser BT4.40 as well and they feel like having your head in a vice).

There's only a few physical buttons on them. The biggest thing to get used to is skipping songs, by swiping the right earcup (you can swipe up and down for volume too but I just leave the headphones at max and control volume via the source). It's a bit fiddly at first, but super handy when you get used to it. If you cover the right earcup it will almost totally mute the audio you're listening to and use the noise cancelling mics to feed in audio around you, so you can quickly do that if you need to talk to someone briefly, cross the road, etc. There's no delay when you lift your fingers off as you're returned to the listening instantly. One of the early issues reported with the set is that extreme cold apparently plays havoc with the touch controls - they apparently calibrate the touch panel to whatever the ambient temperature is when you turn them on, so the issues arose with folks turning them on indoors and then going outside into the freezing cold. I personally never experienced an issue with this and they've included a toggle in the app to disable the touch controls entirely if you prefer.

I've not tried them on Windows yet, but there's an app for them (and other sets) on Android called "Headphones Connect". There's a whole suite of options in it for different things; loads of different noise cancelling levels, an optimiser for 3D audio, an optimiser for noise cancelling, your normal and atmospheric pressure, the touch panel toggle, what your ANC button does, a robust graphic equaliser, connection codec choice.

It supports the most common Bluetooth codecs - SBC, AAC, aptX, aptxHD, LDAC. I stick with SBC as the lower overhead allows you to use the app's graphic equaliser and the (imperceptible) drop in quality vs. one of the "better" codecs is more than worth it to EQ them via the app. I'll post a link that deep dives on Bluetooth codecs below if you fancy the read.

If you're buying them now they're probably gonna be on firmware 4.1.1 out of the box. This apparently neutered the noise cancelling. They quickly pushed out an update (v.4.2.2), that's what I'm using and it's bang on. You can confirm the firmware version and update through the app.

The only complaint I've seen about their overall quality is they're not the best for phonecalls - I've not actually used them on a call yet, so don't know (might ring one of the lads tomorrow for the craic to try it out! :laugh: ).

Personally, the only thing I'd add to them is waterproofing.

This is an interesting read on codecs!

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.habr.com/en/post/456182/&ved=2ahUKEwisoMfIyvXoAhUlUBUIHbCIDgUQFjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw0431L28Ze86Cx1812UxSS3
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: DeletedUsermNqGIiIuGy on April 20, 2020, 08:16:29 PM
Good stuff, will probably go with them if thats the case. The tests for noise cancelling with them sounded unreal and although im working from home they will be great to block out the little shits running around outside the house while Im trying to do said job and when back in the office.

Will have a look at that article, cheers lads
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: DeletedUsermNqGIiIuGy on April 25, 2020, 11:32:58 PM
Arrived today, great choice tbh

Incedently when I set the app up it was plugging the3 apps out atm that support the 360 reality audio, so said id just do a free trial of one of they aren't cheap.
Went with nugs.net as it was primarily live concerts. It's 24.99 a month  :-[ but the trials has been upped I'd say to attract more people, it's currently 90 days free so going to check through it.
Came across an Alice in Chains concert (Layne years), its unreal quality and performance.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Ducky on April 26, 2020, 02:48:56 AM
I haven't actually touched the 3D Reality thingy! Must give it a gawk.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Giggles on May 19, 2020, 07:19:50 PM
Managed to nab a second hand set for 200 squids, only used once. Should arrive soon. Happy days! The reviews seem fairly spot on.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: DeletedUsermNqGIiIuGy on May 19, 2020, 08:46:55 PM
Quote from: Giggles on May 19, 2020, 07:19:50 PM
Managed to nab a second hand set for 200 squids, only used once. Should arrive soon. Happy days! The reviews seem fairly spot on.

They are so good, the noise cancellation is insanely good.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: astfgyl on May 20, 2020, 12:39:49 AM
Quote from: Giggles on May 19, 2020, 07:19:50 PM
Managed to nab a second hand set for 200 squids, only used once. Should arrive soon. Happy days! The reviews seem fairly spot on.

Don't touch them if anyone else touched off them
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Giggles on May 20, 2020, 09:48:05 AM
Ok dad.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Ducky on May 21, 2020, 11:07:05 AM
Giggles, did you catch ear-AIDS from the headphones? 🤔

I'm so used to the noise cancelling on these I kinda take it for granted. Sometimes I think "does it really block out that much noise?"... so I turn off the ANC for about and the answer is "yes, yes it blocks that much" :laugh:
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: H on May 21, 2020, 01:48:39 PM
I have these headphones. Love them!
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Giggles on May 26, 2020, 04:50:00 PM
They're fairly tasty alright! First time I've ever used a set of high quality headphones and also the first time I've ever listened to Bolt Thrower  :abbath:
Cheers Ducky for the write up which persuaded me to get them. I've downloaded the app but I haven't had a gawk at it yet.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Ducky on May 26, 2020, 07:17:40 PM
No worries, glad you like them! 😀

Get on the app if you're using the SBC codec - the graphic equaliser is tops, the amount of different sounds you can squeeze out of it is amazing. It's that level of customisation that really elevates them for me.

I was properly impressed with the connection today as I had them on upstairs, forgot the phone,  went downstairs to the kitchen and then the stairhole with no drop in connection.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: H on May 26, 2020, 09:10:44 PM
Only fault I'd say is not being able to disable the ear controls. They're kinda annoying at times if you accidentally cup it with your hand and it mutes or sometimes  in the gym (back in the day when when we could go to gyms) I'll accidentally tap it and it pauses....things like that. I'd rather be without those and just control from the phone.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: DeletedUsermNqGIiIuGy on May 26, 2020, 09:28:03 PM
Quote from: H on May 26, 2020, 09:10:44 PM
Only fault I'd say is not being able to disable the ear controls. They're kinda annoying at times if you accidentally cup it with your hand and it mutes or sometimes  in the gym (back in the day when when we could go to gyms) I'll accidentally tap it and it pauses....things like that. I'd rather be without those and just control from the phone.

Yeah it would be good if you could turn that off and on via the app at least. I'd say my only minor issue with them.

I need to spend some time working on a better sound through the EQ though
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Ducky on May 27, 2020, 12:22:16 AM
Lads ye can disable the earcup controls via the app...

Connect them, open the app, go to "system" and there's a toggle called "touch sensor control panel".
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: astfgyl on May 27, 2020, 12:34:26 AM
Quote from: Giggles on May 20, 2020, 09:48:05 AM
Ok dad.

Well if you simply must touch them after anyone else possibly might have, make sure you have all of the correct PPE on before you do... and if you aren't home straight after the disco you are fucking done for
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Ducky on May 27, 2020, 01:10:49 AM
Funnily enough, the concept of a silent disco is cool, but sweaty headphones worn by lots of different people isn't.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: DeletedUsermNqGIiIuGy on May 27, 2020, 01:26:54 AM
Quote from: Ducky on May 27, 2020, 12:22:16 AM
Lads ye can disable the earcup controls via the app...

Connect them, open the app, go to "system" and there's a toggle called "touch sensor control panel".

Yup just saw that hah
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Ducky on May 27, 2020, 02:22:38 AM
To be fair it wasn't always there, they added it in update. Pure handy for having a hat on over them.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: H on May 27, 2020, 12:27:55 PM
Oh nice one, didn't realise they'd done that update. Cracking, cheers.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Giggles on May 27, 2020, 03:03:22 PM
Has anybody used the 360 Reality Audio?
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Kurt Cocaine on May 27, 2020, 04:17:49 PM
Quote from: Giggles on May 27, 2020, 03:03:22 PM
Has anybody used the 360 Reality Audio?
This is the best one I've found so far....

https://youtu.be/0_elSRslZJs
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: DeletedUsermNqGIiIuGy on May 27, 2020, 04:26:57 PM
Nugs.net app has a 90 day free trial which has 360 songs on it.  Not a huge selection of those but still interesting to test.
Sign up then cancel a few mins later as its quite pricy otherwise.
Listening to ain't no sunshine by bill withers in it is great.

Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Carnage on July 06, 2020, 05:26:08 PM
Any opinions on these particular headphones from you more savvy heads than me? I can't justify spending a  fortune on headphones but these are pretty affordable, just wondering woukd they be any good, or has anyone used them?

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/audio-and-headphones/headphones/headphones/sony-wh-ch700n-wireless-bluetooth-noise-cancelling-headphones-black-10178525-pdt.html#wrapper
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Ducky on July 06, 2020, 07:29:10 PM
Not tried those myself, but I'd definitely trait WhatHiFi's opinion on things.

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sony-wh-ch700n
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Carnage on July 06, 2020, 08:33:56 PM
Cheers for that, sounds like I could do a bit better, I might keep looking.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Kurt Cocaine on July 06, 2020, 09:06:11 PM
Quote from: Carnage on July 06, 2020, 08:33:56 PM
Cheers for that, sounds like I could do a bit better, I might keep looking.
Man, save up some more and buy the Sony headphones this thread was started for. They really are that good,. My mate has a set and they're the bees knees. They'll be my next purchase once my current over ear NCs pack in.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Carnage on July 06, 2020, 09:26:10 PM
All I'll use them for is with my iPod, which I don't use all that much anymore, so €200+ is just not worth spending TBH.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Kurt Cocaine on July 06, 2020, 09:49:25 PM
Quote from: Carnage on July 06, 2020, 09:26:10 PM
All I'll use them for is with my iPod, which I don't use all that much anymore, so €200+ is just not worth spending TBH.
I highly recommend Sennheisers then. Always great value for money and top quality product.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MSZSL4I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YX4aFbYNFX6F7

If you're on a budget then these Cowin E7s are a great piece of kit. I have them almost 4 years now and and use them for travelling and knocking about working around the house. Great battery life and comfortable too.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01JLIY9LM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_W24aFbY8GHJ15
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Kurt Cocaine on July 06, 2020, 09:54:26 PM
Here's the Cowin E7s at an even cheaper price (also on Amazon).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FX8P6WK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_l84aFbSV7G82Z
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Ducky on July 06, 2020, 10:09:08 PM
Quote from: Kurt Cocaine on July 06, 2020, 09:49:25 PM
Quote from: Carnage on July 06, 2020, 09:26:10 PM
All I'll use them for is with my iPod, which I don't use all that much anymore, so €200+ is just not worth spending TBH.
I highly recommend Sennheisers then. Always great value for money and top quality product.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MSZSL4I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YX4aFbYNFX6F7

If you're on a budget then these Cowin E7s are a great piece of kit. I have them almost 4 years now and and use them for travelling and knocking about working around the house. Great battery life and comfortable too.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01JLIY9LM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_W24aFbY8GHJ15

I have the 4.40BT (the Sennheisers minus noise cancellation) and they really aren't great. No warmth to the bass at all, max output wasn't great and they were so tight on your head it was like wearing a clamp.

(I'd actually stick them in the post but they've been subjected to my ear AIDS).
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Carnage on July 06, 2020, 10:50:32 PM
 :laugh: Thanks (I think?), but if I do buy, I'll get something decent. I'll probably end up spending the money anyway, and if I do I'll go for something that's worth spending on,(the OP ones sound very good, but £250 is out of the question for all the use they'll get) - I got a bluetooth transmitter for my Ipod recently, and it's very good apart from the fact that it eats the battery (gone in 3-4 hrs. max) so they'll probably be wired more often than not. I might just get wired ones, though the wireless ones would be handy for watching movies or telly late at night.

That site is a handy one for reviews though, I appreciate the link.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Ducky on July 06, 2020, 11:30:43 PM
No bother, it's a good site for sure, can lose a chunk of time trawling it. If you go with a wired set you get a lot more bang for your buck.

Thomann have a good selection, bit of a sale on at the minute too.

https://m.thomann.de/ie/headphones.html

If you really want to dig your heels into tech reviews/ratings, rtings.com is a rabbit hole and they're the go-to site for finding things like ideal picture settings on your TV.

https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Carnage on July 07, 2020, 02:22:40 PM
Might have a winner here, affordable but seemingly decent:

https://www.whathifi.com/news/sony-wh-ch710n-headphones-bring-smart-noise-cancellation-to-lower-price#xenforo-comments-112554
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Carnage on July 11, 2020, 03:26:49 PM
Went for those in the end, €124 with free delivery (£30 delivery from Amazon, that's with Prime! Fuck off), so we'll see how they go.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Ducky on July 11, 2020, 05:17:32 PM
That delivery price is fucking nuts! Amazing there's still no .ie Amazon site.

Pretty sure those headphones support the Headphones Connect app, so download that and give it a whirl with them.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Carnage on July 11, 2020, 05:33:36 PM
Sound, I'll give it a go. Got them from https://northxsouth.ie/ in the end, decent deal. It'd make a man wonder why he's paying for Prime.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Ducky on July 11, 2020, 07:35:47 PM
I love the app, really improves the functionality of these yokes.

Decent site that, a lot of the hear would be over €50 anyway, so that's sweet for shipping... Honestly I'll only use Amazon if I can't find whatever I'm looking for elsewhere.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Carnage on July 11, 2020, 09:08:52 PM
Yeah they were £99 on Amazon, which was pretty good - compared to €159 from Curry's, for instance - but the shipping put the kibosh on that.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Carnage on August 29, 2020, 12:59:09 AM
Quote from: Ducky on July 11, 2020, 05:17:32 PM
That delivery price is fucking nuts! Amazing there's still no .ie Amazon site.

Pretty sure those headphones support the Headphones Connect app, so download that and give it a whirl with them.

Finally got around to downloading that app, it does nothing, won't let me past the bluetooth settings page. Uninstalled.

It's annoying as the max. volume on the headphones is set infuriatingly low. Just about enough for most things but on certain albums where they're mastered low (Rust In Peace, for example) they're just too quiet to listen to.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Carnage on November 21, 2020, 01:23:24 AM
The OP headphones have gone down in price a bit, as a newer variation has been released, just in case anyone's in the market. Might upgrade from the ones I bought after christmas - they're fine but basic, the volume issue I mentioned being the main bugbear, I assume an app-compatible set would let me workaround it.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Carnage on January 21, 2021, 10:13:35 PM
OP headphones are on sale now from Harvey Norman, €249 if anyone's interested:

https://www.harveynorman.ie/tvs-headphones/headphones/all-headphones/noise-cancelling-headphones/sony-wh-1000xm3-wireless-noise-cancelling-headphones-black.html
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Kurt Cocaine on January 21, 2021, 10:24:05 PM
I love my over ear headphones but these noise cancelling Sony in ear jobbies are absolutely where it's at. My missus got me them for Christmas and I honestly haven't even touched my over ear headset since. I honestly can't believe the sound that comes out of something so small. The depth of the bass too.....
Highly recommended, and at £150, a snip....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07T2FGG2Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_84FcGbNZ7XY7A?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Carnage on January 21, 2021, 10:58:26 PM
As much as I'd love a pair of those, I know at least one would fall out and go down a drain or something.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Kurt Cocaine on January 21, 2021, 11:25:49 PM
Quote from: Carnage on January 21, 2021, 10:58:26 PM
As much as I'd love a pair of those, I know at least one would fall out and go down a drain or something.
Ah no man, they're Sony. Put them in, twist into place and all systems go! They really do tick all the boxes.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Carnage on January 22, 2021, 12:45:41 AM
I have wonky ears, in-ear ones are always falling out. Grand when I have a beanie on but since I got the headphones I think I've used my in-ear ones once.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Caomhaoin on January 22, 2021, 06:08:47 AM
Got the bird a set of Sony Wh something or other for the birthday the other day. I've already used them more than her, amazing difference after a lifetime of buds.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Kurt Cocaine on January 22, 2021, 07:42:26 AM
Spending good drinking money will get you nowhere fast Caomhaoin lad....
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Black Shepherd Carnage on December 02, 2021, 11:05:55 AM
Ordered myself a pair of Beyerdynamics on Black Friday (paint the devil on the wall!) that arrived this morning. Sounding sweet as a frickin' nut. DT990 Pros, came to me recommended by a few home studio heads, and a couple of hours in, loving the sound, and especially the space of them. So, if anyone's looking for summit' at the moment, you can order direct from them too, no middle man.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: son of the Morrigan on December 03, 2021, 01:56:00 AM
Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on December 02, 2021, 11:05:55 AM
Ordered myself a pair of Beyerdynamics on Black Friday (paint the devil on the wall!) that arrived this morning. Sounding sweet as a frickin' nut. DT990 Pros, came to me recommended by a few home studio heads, and a couple of hours in, loving the sound, and especially the space of them. So, if anyone's looking for summit' at the moment, you can order direct from them too, no middle man.

What kinda money we talking about for them boss?
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Black Shepherd Carnage on December 03, 2021, 09:22:49 AM
129
The Sennheiser they're replacing were 100 quite a few years back, but there's far more than 30 quid in the difference listening experience wise.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: The Butcher on December 03, 2021, 10:12:43 AM
Still have my ATH-M50X from 6 years ago, only now is the fabric starting to tear off them. Got them for 90 sterling on amazon uk. Love them - Seem very comparable to the DT990 Pros BSC is mentioning and the same price range, just depends on your preference for closed back / open back headphones.

Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Black Shepherd Carnage on December 03, 2021, 11:45:11 AM
I've always preferred open back personally, plus since I use them mostly at night (mostly), I unfortunately have a moral obligation not to be completely isolated from potential night terror screams (from the wee lad, not the missus!).
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: open face surgery on December 03, 2021, 12:13:20 PM
Been meaning to pick up a pair of the ATH-M50x for years. Is there more isolation from open back?
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: The Butcher on December 03, 2021, 12:20:53 PM
The ATH-M50x are closed-back while the DT990 pros are open, just looking at both specs now, the DT990 pros definitely edge it with the sound. More sound leakage and less noise isolation with the open back design with a wider, brighter sound while the ATH-M50x are darker sounding.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Black Shepherd Carnage on December 03, 2021, 12:30:07 PM
That was what struck me the most when I first put on the DT990s; the roominess and air to the sound of them. Personally, a colour I love.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Jward on September 25, 2025, 11:23:19 AM
I'm looking for new headphones, & would appreciate some advice.

Currys have these:
 SONY WH-1000XM4    €229
 SONY WH-1000XM5    €319
 SONY WH-1000XM6    €469

I don't wear headphones outside, as I prefer to hear what's around me, & not end up under a car or tractor!
I might wear the ANC ones when cutting the grass though.

I'll be using them when sitting down listening to music (when the rest are gone to bed).
I might start using them for the telly (when late).


https://www.whathifi.com/headphones/wireless-headphones/sony-wh-1000xm6-vs-wh-1000xm5

I'm thinking SONY WH-1000XM5.

Has anyone gone from 1 to the other?

EDIT:
Do headphones come down much for Black Friday?
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: StoutAndAle on September 25, 2025, 11:58:01 AM
Quote from: Jward on September 25, 2025, 11:23:19 AMI'm looking for new headphones, & would appreciate some advice.

I'm thinking SONY WH-1000XM5.


EDIT:
Do headphones come down much for Black Friday?

I have heard very good things from 2 people I know about the Sony WH-1000XM5 - both in terms of noise cancelling and sound quality.

Caveat - both people who have told me this do not listen to metal. One lad is into indie and ambient, the other goes only as heavy as '70s rock.

I got a pair of Sonos ACE as a gift last Christmas - they sound fantastic, the ANC is top notch and they can handle anything that I listen to but they are really only 100% useful if you already have other Sonos products so that you can tap into them - i.e. switch from the speakers to the headphones if you're watching TV or want to listen to something different to another use on the same set.

Sonos make very good products in terms of hardware build quality but their software and customer service are fucking infuriating. 


EDIT: In terns of your Black Friday question - you may get some sort of deal then but Amazon are doing one of their Prime fuckology sale events at the start of next month so you may get a deal on the Sony item then too.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Ducky on September 25, 2025, 12:00:13 PM
I briefly had the XM4 last year but went back to my trusty XM3. They're far, far too sibilant/harsh in the treble range. No amount of EQ'ing (using Wavelet and Poweramp Pro) could change that. Found them to be unlistenable.

The hinge seems to be a regular failure point on the XM5, with the caveat that god only knows what lads/lassies online are subjecting their units to.

XM6 in a few years will probably be my XM3 replacement.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Jward on September 25, 2025, 12:57:59 PM
Quote from: StoutAndAle on September 25, 2025, 11:58:01 AM
Quote from: Jward on September 25, 2025, 11:23:19 AMI'm looking for new headphones, & would appreciate some advice.

I'm thinking SONY WH-1000XM5.


EDIT:
Do headphones come down much for Black Friday?

I have heard very good things from 2 people I know about the Sony WH-1000XM5 - both in terms of noise cancelling and sound quality.

Caveat - both people who have told me this do not listen to metal. One lad is into indie and ambient, the other goes only as heavy as '70s rock.

I got a pair of Sonos ACE as a gift last Christmas - they sound fantastic, the ANC is top notch and they can handle anything that I listen to but they are really only 100% useful if you already have other Sonos products so that you can tap into them - i.e. switch from the speakers to the headphones if you're watching TV or want to listen to something different to another use on the same set.

Sonos make very good products in terms of hardware build quality but their software and customer service are fucking infuriating. 


EDIT: In terns of your Black Friday question - you may get some sort of deal then but Amazon are doing one of their Prime fuckology sale events at the start of next month so you may get a deal on the Sony item then too.

Cheers.

I listen to ambient & '70s rock too.
I suppose it's hard to get headphones that will suit all styles.

I reckon I'll need to take a few for a 'test drive' in-store.

Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Jward on September 25, 2025, 01:15:59 PM
Quote from: Ducky on September 25, 2025, 12:00:13 PMI briefly had the XM4 last year but went back to my trusty XM3. They're far, far too sibilant/harsh in the treble range. No amount of EQ'ing (using Wavelet and Poweramp Pro) could change that. Found them to be unlistenable.

The hinge seems to be a regular failure point on the XM5, with the caveat that god only knows what lads/lassies online are subjecting their units to.

XM6 in a few years will probably be my XM3 replacement.

Cheers for that.

Sibilance would do my head in, but I don't notice it too much tbh.
I have hearing damage, more with the higher frequencies, 3kHz to 8kHz, so I mightn't have to worry about it too much  :-X
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: open face surgery on September 25, 2025, 02:33:25 PM
I had a pair of XM3s for a few years but they broke earlier this year. Got a pair of OneOdio for 100e as a replacement. I hate them everyday.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: open face surgery on September 25, 2025, 02:33:57 PM
Good to hear about XM4 cause I was gonna go for them soon.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Jward on September 25, 2025, 11:30:20 PM
I could do with these now!

I'm in a different gaff atm, and tip-toing around the fcking volume.

I would like to stick an emoji on that, but Christ Almighty
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Sworntothecans on September 25, 2025, 11:56:35 PM
I'm currently using those Sony WH-CH520. It's their entry level one but the quality and battery are savage.

Little bit plastic-y in terms of the band but otherwise punch above their weight for €50. Plus you can tweak them via the app.

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sony-wh-ch520
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: 101_North on September 26, 2025, 11:08:14 AM
I can highly recommend the new B&W PX7 S3. You'd struggle to get better sound quality in that price bracket. There is a trade off that the ANC is great but not as good as the Sony's. Depends on what you need them for. I find the ANC absolutely fine for flights, work etc but the Sony's as definitely a shade better. Sound Quality though is unreal and well worth the trade off for me. Plus the build quality is a different league
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Ducky on September 26, 2025, 04:45:38 PM
Sennheiser Momentum 4 are supposed to have similarly amazing sound, with weaker ANC.

Bonkers 60 hour battery life on them too.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Jward on September 27, 2025, 11:37:20 AM
I picked up a pair of SONY WH-1000XM5 for €289 in Harvey Norman.
The price label was wrong; should have been €319, but he gave it to me for that anyway.

The songs on the demo station are fairly crap tbf, but didn't think the XM6 offered much over the XM5 (other than like €180!)
Probably too much separation for my liking.

I've the initial XM5 setup done now.
Playing around with the custom EQs.
It seems quite responsive for headphones.
I find the bass is always looking to creep in & overpower everything.

My go-to songs are Deep Purple.
Highway Star coming across nicely.
Perfect Strangers sounds great. Organ, drums, bass, guitar, vocals all given enough room - for a device shoved up onto your ears.
It'll never beat a room that can breathe with a handy setup, but this will do very nicely.

Fairly happy with them.

They probably need a bit of running in to loosen them up.

Will try the telly another time.
That'll be a different beast altogether.

Whether they are worth getting over the SONY WH-1000XM4 or the B&W PX7 S3, I have no idea.

It's all part of the fun I suppose!

PS The bass in Child In Time is very warm. Just toned it back a tad there now, & still sounding good.
Blackmore's guitar sound is very clear & raspy.
It's picking up the reverb on Gillan's voice too.
Will see how things pan out after a few hours of listening.

So far so good

8.5/10
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Jward on September 27, 2025, 11:39:04 AM
I must try them wired too.

I assume that's possible, but I think I've read that they aren't designed for that. Maybe the ANC has a say in that; or some chipset yoke
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Ducky on September 27, 2025, 02:07:09 PM
With my XM3 at least they don't run their audio via Bluetooth whizz-bang chip when wired, and sound like absolute rubbish as a result. Dunno if that's changed on newer models.

Glad you're enjoying them!
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Born of Fire on September 28, 2025, 08:09:04 PM
Had a pair of XM4 earbuds that I liked the sound on but the ANC ended up developing a fault that caused a constant kind of popping and crackling sound and when playing music it felt like one ear was blocked when ANC was on.

I was fine with using them with ANC turned off but then came the common battery fault in them where they would fail to reach full charge and one bud mightn't charge at all.

My old XM3 over ears are still going strong though.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Ducky on September 28, 2025, 10:36:35 PM
Yeah those issues put me off the XM4 buds. Have a pair of Jabras Elite Active 75t. They're absolute champs. Great job for the gym too, as they're sweat-proof.

Using my XM3 headphones right now. Probably one of the absolute favourite things I've ever owned. The day they pack in I'll be legitimately sad.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: open face surgery on September 28, 2025, 11:16:36 PM
I hear ya. I got mine for free and they were my first over ear headphones. I knew the fateful day would come, althought it still came as a shock, and I could never go back to my old life of aural peasantry.

Think I'm gonna try a pair of Seinheisser Monumentum 4s next.
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Born of Fire on November 12, 2025, 11:55:13 AM
Was in Harvey Norman over the weekend and tried on a few different headsets. Whatever music file they use in store makes all the super expensive headphones sound equally shit and lifeless  :laugh:
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Jward on November 12, 2025, 01:35:21 PM
Quote from: Born of Fire on November 12, 2025, 11:55:13 AMWas in Harvey Norman over the weekend and tried on a few different headsets. Whatever music file they use in store makes all the super expensive headphones sound equally shit and lifeless  :laugh:

:laugh:  :laugh:
Title: Re: Headphones - Sony WH-1000XM3
Post by: Born of Fire on November 13, 2025, 01:22:13 PM
My 1000XM4s are dead thanks to the battery issues. Left one won't turn on at all. So I'm looking around at what's available. Very.ie have Sennheiser Momentum 4 earbuds down to 179 which is seriously tempting. Anyone have them?