Honestly, AirPod Pro and AirPod Max are pretty well tuned and competitive for the price. I personally think you can get better, but I don’t think it’s a situation where any wired alternative is going to be some huge, night and day revelation. Personally I’d let him be if he’s not really...

Just FYI, both these things are already available from 3rd parties https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Boom-Microphone-Playstation-Controller/dp/B07W1G95PH https://www.amazon.com/NewFantasia-Compatible-Sennheiser-HD598SE-Headphone/dp/B0CLV9BC5D

Looking forward to some independent measurements, but the ones presented here look promising

To upsell the gullible or because competing products do so there’s a constant battle to fill out the spec sheet to match or one-up the competition

Personally, I pay almost zero attention when it comes to measurements on amps and DAC these days. Sure, 20 years ago when I got into this hobby there was some legitimately bad stuff out there, but solid-state gear in 2024? A lot of these measurements out there are measuring differences well...

I haven't personally heard their power amps, but having owned and auditioned many Schiit headphone amps and DAC over the years, that was my immediate thought when I read the title

The Amiron Home isn't wireless and the Amiron Wireless is a closed-back.

Dekoni Pads are live. Finally real leather https://dekoniaudio.com/product-category/brands/audeze/maxwell/

In addition to Grado, Hifiman and Sineaptic also make open-back wireless models. But there's less demand because open-back headphones tend to be for stationary situations, where wires aren't a huge inconvenience, while wireless tends to be for convenience during mobile listening, where open-back...

It's not really the recording quality that's the issue as much as the mixing and mastering trends in the 80s, especially in some genres. I'd go for something warm where the mids and highs aren't very forward, like the Amiron Home or Nightowl The 650s have some touchy areas in the upper mids...

You’re taking up as much space when I scroll as 3-4 other threads

No, it's like used cars, some models depreciate more than others, and if something is rare and in demand enough it may even be worth more than original MSRP. Your best bet on value would be to search here, eBay and other marketplaces and see what recent sold listings for the same item went for...

Sony LinkBuds (the original model, NOT the Linkbuds S)

I don't know that a simple, well-built switch is any more likely to break than a touch panel. I haven't had either break on any audio equipment (knock on wood), but I did have to toss a perfectly good printer recently when the touch panel failed.

Might have to cut some foam to fit perfectly, but otherwise I don't think you'd have an issue