Zoom25
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2011
- Posts
- 2,742
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I finally got to try the Bose 700 out today at the Bose Store and the Sony XM3 at Best Buy, so two different (acoustical) areas. They were occasionally also playing subwoofers at the Bose Store. Tested with my 320 kbps offline tracks of Spotify Premium with iPhone 6+. I spent 20 minutes listening to both. Some impressions:
- The Bose 700 feels really solid. From pictures, I thought both would roughly be the same in feel with their metallic feel, but Bose felt premium and SOLID. The Sony felt more plasticky in how the hinges and ear cups felt when moved and interacted with. Sony has discrete clicks on the headband hinges so you know exactly how much you have to do on both sides to be equal. With Bose, you have to eye the rod displacement since it's fluid. OCDs will prefer the Sony.
- The plush Bose ear cups are deeper while the Sony's were shallower and I did touch the driver, but still no problem on either model.
- By the end of the listening session, the earpads on the Sony were definitely moist and I was just standing there. It was -5 outside today. I am not sure how these will be when it's 20+ degrees celsius outside in the summer and walking around. Bose didn't get sweaty.
- As far as active noise cancellation went, with both audio playing or not, I think the Sony was the winner. It got rid of nearby speech really well.
- With the active noise cancellation at 10 on the Bose, I did feel this pressure increase inside the headphone. Surprisingly, I didn't remember that from my QC 35 II audition in the past. The Sony's also didn't have that.
SQ:
- This is the main attribute for me (in addition to ANC). Better voice call and multi device support or EQ support are secondary things.
- I didn't have either Sony's or Bose apps installed so I assume no further EQ was being applied. All EQ was off in Spotify app and without any normalization.
- Sony's sounded more closed in, boxier, one note type bass whereas Bose had better instrument separation, better clarity and the bass was decent. From all the reviews I read, I thought the Bose would be bass light, but that wasn't the case. The bass level wasn't to the level of Sony's. The Sony's somewhat reminded me of the classic Beats.
- HOWEVER, I felt there was something off with the vocals on the Bose with the hole in the upper region. It felt consistently noticeable with various female voices. With my QC 35 II audition in the past, nothing stood out and it was alright sonically. A sonically "meh" audition is actually a good thing as far as the SQ bar on ANC headphones are concerned. With the 700's, that voicing response just stuck out.
- The Sony's felt low-fi in comparison, but somehow less fatiguing due to the smooth voicing of the vocals and top end. I don't know if the bass overtime will become problematic on the Sony. The Sony's also had better noise cancellation.
- I may have to revisit the Bose again. Aside from that gap in the upper region of the vocals which can make it sound off and artificial, it's a solid headphone. I don't care if a headphone sounds away neutral or artificial, provided it doesn't get fatiguing sonically. I'm wondering whether that happens quicker on the Sony or Bose or which I can EQ easier.
- Recap: Sony's sounded more lofi and boxy (through my old iPhone and AAC?) but smoother in the mids and treble. Let's see if the bass becomes a problem. Bose is more clear from top to bottom and open sounding, but the vocal voicing might get fatiguing in the long run. There is something in particular that just sticks out with the Bose since it's otherwise well balanced.
I am not fully satisfied with either headphone and their asking price, but will have to decide on one with the upcoming deals. Still haven't fully made my mind as there are things that I like and dislike about both. I feel confident with my listening session and what I got out of it from the Sony session. The Bose audition I'm still having second doubts about. I know the faults of the Sony's and I think I can live with them sonically. With the Bose, part of me is thinking to see if I still feel that way about the voicing a second time.
- The Bose 700 feels really solid. From pictures, I thought both would roughly be the same in feel with their metallic feel, but Bose felt premium and SOLID. The Sony felt more plasticky in how the hinges and ear cups felt when moved and interacted with. Sony has discrete clicks on the headband hinges so you know exactly how much you have to do on both sides to be equal. With Bose, you have to eye the rod displacement since it's fluid. OCDs will prefer the Sony.
- The plush Bose ear cups are deeper while the Sony's were shallower and I did touch the driver, but still no problem on either model.
- By the end of the listening session, the earpads on the Sony were definitely moist and I was just standing there. It was -5 outside today. I am not sure how these will be when it's 20+ degrees celsius outside in the summer and walking around. Bose didn't get sweaty.
- As far as active noise cancellation went, with both audio playing or not, I think the Sony was the winner. It got rid of nearby speech really well.
- With the active noise cancellation at 10 on the Bose, I did feel this pressure increase inside the headphone. Surprisingly, I didn't remember that from my QC 35 II audition in the past. The Sony's also didn't have that.
SQ:
- This is the main attribute for me (in addition to ANC). Better voice call and multi device support or EQ support are secondary things.
- I didn't have either Sony's or Bose apps installed so I assume no further EQ was being applied. All EQ was off in Spotify app and without any normalization.
- Sony's sounded more closed in, boxier, one note type bass whereas Bose had better instrument separation, better clarity and the bass was decent. From all the reviews I read, I thought the Bose would be bass light, but that wasn't the case. The bass level wasn't to the level of Sony's. The Sony's somewhat reminded me of the classic Beats.
- HOWEVER, I felt there was something off with the vocals on the Bose with the hole in the upper region. It felt consistently noticeable with various female voices. With my QC 35 II audition in the past, nothing stood out and it was alright sonically. A sonically "meh" audition is actually a good thing as far as the SQ bar on ANC headphones are concerned. With the 700's, that voicing response just stuck out.
- The Sony's felt low-fi in comparison, but somehow less fatiguing due to the smooth voicing of the vocals and top end. I don't know if the bass overtime will become problematic on the Sony. The Sony's also had better noise cancellation.
- I may have to revisit the Bose again. Aside from that gap in the upper region of the vocals which can make it sound off and artificial, it's a solid headphone. I don't care if a headphone sounds away neutral or artificial, provided it doesn't get fatiguing sonically. I'm wondering whether that happens quicker on the Sony or Bose or which I can EQ easier.
- Recap: Sony's sounded more lofi and boxy (through my old iPhone and AAC?) but smoother in the mids and treble. Let's see if the bass becomes a problem. Bose is more clear from top to bottom and open sounding, but the vocal voicing might get fatiguing in the long run. There is something in particular that just sticks out with the Bose since it's otherwise well balanced.
I am not fully satisfied with either headphone and their asking price, but will have to decide on one with the upcoming deals. Still haven't fully made my mind as there are things that I like and dislike about both. I feel confident with my listening session and what I got out of it from the Sony session. The Bose audition I'm still having second doubts about. I know the faults of the Sony's and I think I can live with them sonically. With the Bose, part of me is thinking to see if I still feel that way about the voicing a second time.