Huge Comparison of [almost] all the Best Bluetooth Headphones - post your own comparisons here

[elektron]

 
Has anyone jumped on the LDAC train?

 
I did last year and haven't looked back.  I'm using the MDR-1ABT with a Sony Xperia Z5-series phone.  This has prompted me to start a collection of hi-res FLACs and DSDs, which I never thought would happen because 1) we bluetooth people have become content with AptX being the apex of wireless fidelity and 2) until fairly recently I thought that hi-res audio was the latest snake skin oil pushed through a co-conspiracy between record labels and the audio equipment industry (this may still be true to a degree).
 
However, since then I have seen (or rather heard) the light.  Although, it has to be said that only certain albums benefit from hi-res treatment - think classical, jazz and other meticulously recorded and mastered acoustic releases that don't suffer from the 'compression disease'.
 
As much as I enjoy Muse's new album, I just couldn't hear much, if any, difference between the 320kbps MP3 and the 24 bit 96 khz versions.  At the other end of the spectrum, there are such gems as the DSD of Lenonard Bernstein's Mahler's Symphony (recorded live, all the way back in 1979!).  I thought it sounded amazing via AptX in MDR-1RBT MK2, which arguably have slightly better upper mids than MDR-1ABT (put poorer bass), until heard it via LDAC and was just floored by the clarity and definition of the dozens of instruments, especially in some incredibly complex passages where there was a heck of lot going on.
 
What's even more surprising is that the little LDAC-compatible speaker I recently got (Sony SRS-X55), also sounds incredible with hi-res material, which I didn't expect at all!  I have demoed it to quite a few non-audiophiles, who were blown away not only by the sound-to-size ratio of this little guy but the impressive audio quality - people (myself included until recently) just aren't used to that sort of fidelity from wireless audio.
 
IMHO, what Sony have done with LDAC is nothing short of a technical miracle and is the biggest breakthrough in wireless audio in years.  Unfortunately, many see it as just another marketing acronym alongside the likes of DSEE and ClearAudio+.  And while the others range from 'meh' to interesting, LDAC is the real deal.
 
If you're interested in understanding more about what's behind LDAC, this article I found last year is probably the best explanation I have come across to date.  Kudos to the persistent journalist.
 
http://www.avhub.com.au/news/sound-image/what-is-sony-ldac-and-how-does-it-do-it-408285

 

[Techfixation]

I just meant that the M&D MW60's are not bass-head bass-heavy. That's not to say they aren't damn fine headphones and capable of pleasing many who are not bass heads...and who can afford them

To be fair they'd have to be pretty damn perfect for me to warrant spending that much! Which would include comfort and signal performance which I heard from several people, isn't ideal. I'm sure they're a great set of cans, and they certainly look fantastic, but unless they were significantly reduced I'm afraid I'll be giving them a pass!

 

[marcx987]

wondering if anyone has done a comparison between the akg y45bt vs the y50bt
As they are both the same price on akg us site and  wondering if sound different from each other..
 
also anyone try the Meelectronics wave. They arent bad for budget level headphones. Although bass isnt as powerful as it could be bu they are very comfortable.
 
and im going to guess the only place to order the xyz headphone divine is from there us site. no amazon or anything?
 
Also question about the dap that is can be bought. I already use a sound blaster e5 for a dac on my pc would getting the version with the dap enhance the combination anymore or should i just go for the regular headphones

 

[Sonic Defender]

 
Also question about the dap that is can be bought. I already use a sound blaster e5 for a dac on my pc would getting the version with the dap enhance the combination anymore or should i just go for the regular headphones

The only thing the DAP contributes is the Bluetooth transmission so if doesn't support say apt x it doesn't matter if the headphone does. Beyond that, nothing, all the work is done on the headphone itself so the headphone is the biggest consideration.

 

[Sonic Defender]

   
I did last year and haven't looked back.  I'm using the MDR-1ABT with a Sony Xperia Z5-series phone.  This has prompted me to start a collection of hi-res FLACs and DSDs, which I never thought would happen because 1) we bluetooth people have become content with AptX being the apex of wireless fidelity and 2) until fairly recently I thought that hi-res audio was the latest snake skin oil pushed through a co-conspiracy between record labels and the audio equipment industry (this may still be true to a degree).
 
However, since then I have seen (or rather heard) the light.  Although, it has to be said that only certain albums benefit from hi-res treatment - think classical, jazz and other meticulously recorded and mastered acoustic releases that don't suffer from the 'compression disease'.
 
As much as I enjoy Muse's new album, I just couldn't hear much, if any, difference between the 320kbps MP3 and the 24 bit 96 khz versions.  At the other end of the spectrum, there are such gems as the DSD of Lenonard Bernstein's Mahler's Symphony (recorded live, all the way back in 1979!).  I thought it sounded amazing via AptX in MDR-1RBT MK2, which arguably have slightly better upper mids than MDR-1ABT (put poorer bass), until heard it via LDAC and was just floored by the clarity and definition of the dozens of instruments, especially in some incredibly complex passages where there was a heck of lot going on.
 
What's even more surprising is that the little LDAC-compatible speaker I recently got (Sony SRS-X55), also sounds incredible with hi-res material, which I didn't expect at all!  I have demoed it to quite a few non-audiophiles, who were blown away not only by the sound-to-size ratio of this little guy but the impressive audio quality - people (myself included until recently) just aren't used to that sort of fidelity from wireless audio.
 
IMHO, what Sony have done with LDAC is nothing short of a technical miracle and is the biggest breakthrough in wireless audio in years.  Unfortunately, many see it as just another marketing acronym alongside the likes of DSEE and ClearAudio+.  And while the others range from 'meh' to interesting, LDAC is the real deal.
 
If you're interested in understanding more about what's behind LDAC, this article I found last year is probably the best explanation I have come across to date.  Kudos to the persistent journalist.
 
http://www.avhub.com.au/news/sound-image/what-is-sony-ldac-and-how-does-it-do-it-408285

I find this somewhat problematic as there is no easy way to do any blind listening tests to confirm the Sony magic. I am a Sony fan, but I am always skeptical about these miracles. Not to be unkind, but you need to be aware that what you are hearing could be real, but it is also possible to be confirmation bias. Most people are sure that their brain is different than everybody else and the same rules that govern perception and experience don't apply to them, but science has demonstrated the notion of expectation bias beyond a doubt so it always needs to be considered.
 
I also think it is very possible to have some DSP involved on the headphone that takes certain important frequencies where a great deal of musical information is found and tweak them to sound better. Still, I'm not saying any of these things are for sure what is happening with you, but try to stay objective and realise there are other alternative explanations for what you are experiencing beyond a magic created by Sony. With that in mind I also have to acknowledge it is possible that Sony did create a superior technology. ​
 
Edited: corrected a misconception I had about NFC and Bluetooth, my bad.

 

[turbobb]

@elektron - thx a bunch for your input re: LDAC. Having been disappointed by poor aptX implementation (on earphones only, not headphones which I've had good experiences with a few), I've been looking at LDAC but sadly the only earphone that I'm aware of that supports it will be their h.ear in. I'm not a fan of the neck band style and would prefer something like Jaybird's X2. Hopefully they'll release other earphones in the future w/LDAC. Will also be looking to pick up their new MDR-100ABN so I have an headphone option for LDAC as well.
 
Given the Z5 also supports aptX, are you able to force it to connect via aptX vs. LDAC so you can A/B the two?

 

[Giogio]

  I just want to say that I think the XTZ Headphone Devine's have wonderful speakers--with or without the Dirac

Did you receive them? Did you?!

When you are ready with more testing (with and without Dirac) post your impression on the Divine's discussion thread!
 

Originally Posted by elektron /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 I'm using the MDR-1ABT with a Sony Xperia Z5-series phone.
MDR-1RBT MK2, which arguably have slightly better upper mids than MDR-1ABT
Unfortunately, many see it as just another marketing acronym alongside the likes of DSEE and ClearAudio+.

Same setup I will use for my review. Just, Z5 Compact.
Can you bring the ABT to the level of the RBT on the upper mids, with some EQ?
ClearAudio+ is quite cool. Kind of EQ preset imo, lot of highs. Pity that on my Z1 was not possible to use ClearBass nor EQ together with ClearAudio+. For me ClearAudio+ was waaaaaaaaaaay too light on the bass.
I wonder if we will ever see real Wi-Fi headphones. That would be lot of info which can be transmitted, and would be compatible with any device, no need to pay anything to Aptx, no need to pay rights to Sony for the LDAC (supposing that in a future they will open the technology to other Companies. Otherwise for me it's useless), no need to have extra chips etc.
 

  wondering if anyone has done a comparison between the akg y45bt vs the y50bt.
and im going to guess the only place to order the xyz headphone divine is from there us site. no amazon or anything?
Also question about the dap that is can be bought. I already use a sound blaster e5 for a dac on my pc would getting the version with the dap enhance the combination anymore or should i just go for the regular headphones

I will compare Y45BT and Y50BT in a week or two.
Yes one of the peculiarities of XTZ is that they cut costs by eliminating intermediaries (like resellers, Amazon, distributors, etc). I find it a good idea. Don't you?
DAP stays for "Dirac Audio Processor", and is a software provided by Dirac, where the Filters with Frequency and Impulse response correction are loaded.
You definitely need it (if you listen to music from your Computer. For Android or iOS you do not need the extra DAC, you just need the free of cost App).
What your DAC can give you I do not know, but it surely can NOT give you an Impulse and Frequency correction for the Divine.
Divine without DAP = a normal good Bluetooth Headphone.
Divine with DAP = an excellent WOW Bluetooth Headphone.
 

  The only thing the DAP contributes is the Bluetooth transmission so if doesn't support say apt x it doesn't matter if the headphone does. Beyond that, nothing, all the work is done on the headphone itself so the headphone is the biggest consideration.

On the following smiley I am the one on the left and you the one on the right:

Unfortunately although being on the right you are wrong.
The DAP has nothing to do with the Bluetooth connection. That happens via the Headphone.
The Divine are not like the Parrot Zik. The Zik have internal DSP due to a special (and much more expensive) chip. The Divine cut costs by using an external (software) DSP.
XTZ is considering using the way of the Zik for the next (over ear) model of DSP enhanced Headphones, so that people will have DSP also when listening to Spotify or TV or whatever.
 

are you able to force it to connect via aptX vs. LDAC so you can A/B the two?

Good question, I wanted to ask the same.
@elektron, could you do the A/B?
I will do it too and we can compare our impressions.

 

[turbobb]

  I will do it too and we can compare our impressions.

Great, looking forward to your impressions as well!
 
Cheers,
Tim

 

[Sonic Defender]

   
On the following smiley I am the one on the left and you the one on the right:

Unfortunately although being on the right you are wrong.
The DAP has nothing to do with the Bluetooth connection. That happens via the Headphone.
The Divine are not like the Parrot Zik. The Zik have internal DSP due to a special (and much more expensive) chip. The Divine cut costs by using an external (software) DSP.
XTZ is considering using the way of the Zik for the next (over ear) model of DSP enhanced Headphones, so that people will have DSP also when listening to Spotify or TV or whatever.
 

I don't think we are talking about the same thing. I was simply saying that if the DAP doesn't have a Bluetooth chip to transmit the signal then there is no Bluetooth connection. How is that wrong? So you are saying that a DAP without a Bluetooth transmitter can talk to a Bluetooth receiver in a headphone? I don't think that is what you mean, but if I was wrong that would be what you are saying. So again, my point remains in order for a DAP to participate in Bluetooth communication, it must have the ability to send out a Bluetooth signal. Is this not the case?

 

[Giogio]

  would getting the version with the dap enhance the combination anymore

 

  I don't think we are talking about the same thing. I was simply saying that if the DAP doesn't have a Bluetooth chip to transmit the signal then there is no Bluetooth connection.

I think we may have interpreted @marcx987's question differently.
It appears like if you believe he was asking if the DAP would improve the Bluetooth connectivity offered by the DAC (confusing similar terms which have nothing to do, DAC means Digital Audio Conversion, for who may not know it).
I believe that he was asking if the DAP would improve the sound quality, as the use of the word "enhance" shows to me.
 
And correct me if I am wrong but I think you still did not understand that DAP is a software (most specifically, the Dirac software for Desktop. DAP cannot be referred to Android or iOS), and cannot "have a bluetooth chip".
The Transmitter and the Receiver have a Bluetooth chip. They send the signal. The DAP does not send any signal, it only applies a filter to the sound before the transmitter sends it.
You said "The only thing the DAP contributes is the Bluetooth transmission". I do not see how the DAP would contribute to the Bluetooth transmission. What did you mean?

 

[Sonic Defender]

   
I think we may have interpreted @marcx987's question differently.
It appears like if you believe he was asking if the DAP would improve the Bluetooth connectivity offered by the DAC (confusing similar terms which have nothing to do, DAC means Digital Audio Conversion, for who may not know it).
I believe that he was asking if the DAP would improve the sound quality, as the use of the word "enhance" shows to me.
 
And correct me if I am wrong but I think you still did not understand that DAP is a software (most specifically, the Dirac software for Desktop. DAP cannot be referred to Android or iOS), and cannot "have a bluetooth chip".
The Transmitter and the Receiver have a Bluetooth chip. They send the signal. The DAP does not send any signal, it only applies a filter to the sound before the transmitter sends it.
You said "The only thing the DAP contributes is the Bluetooth transmission". I do not see how the DAP would contribute to the Bluetooth transmission. What did you mean?

No, to me DAP means Digital Audio Player (this is the more common use of the acronym here anyway) such as ZX2, DP-X1 etc. So my response was essentially saying what you are saying, the DAP (Digital Audio Player) does nothing more than transmit a Bluetooth stream to a receiving device. I believe that the OP was asking about a DAP as a Digital Audio Player hence my response was in that vein. I think that most people on head-fi think DAP as a player and when thinking about signal processing they think of DSP. Frankly I hadn't really heard the acronym of DAP used as reference to something like Dirac before finding the XTZ web site. I'm not sure if there is any difference between DSP and DAP in terms of signal manipulation as I'm not very knowledgeable in that area.

 

[Giogio]

Also question about the dap that is can be bought.

 
 

   my response was essentially saying what you are saying, the DAP (Digital Audio Player) does nothing more than transmit a Bluetooth stream to a receiving device.
I believe that the OP was asking about a DAP as a Digital Audio Player
I'm not sure if there is any difference between DSP and DAP in terms of signal manipulation

Nope, I have not said that at all, not even closely.
First of all, the DAP (player) does not transmit anything. The DAC does. The DAP (player) plays the sound, the DAC transmits it to the Headphones (at least in his setup).
And I am not talking of transmitting a signal, I am talking of filtering it.
The OP may talk by himself but he mentioned buying. The only thing which can be bought separately from the Divine is the DAP (processor). I doubt he talks of a DAP (player) because the XTZ player is free of cost.
I think that as a rough simplification one could say that the DAP (processor) applies the results of the DSP.
Dirac use DSP to create the filters. The DAP is only applying those filters.
It is like creating an image of a disc vs mounting that image on a virtual device (I have Daemon Tools in mind). This example occurred to me as easy to understand (for whoever know Daemon Tools).
 
Cheers

 

[Sonic Defender]

   
 
Nope, I have not said that at all, not even closely.
First of all, the DAP (player) does not transmit anything. The DAC does. The DAP (player) plays the sound, the DAC transmits it to the Headphones (at least in his setup).
And I am not talking of transmitting a signal, I am talking of filtering it.
The OP may talk by himself but he mentioned buying. The only thing which can be bought separately from the Divine is the DAP (processor). I doubt he talks of a DAP (player) because the XTZ player is free of cost.
I think that as a rough simplification one could say that the DAP (processor) applies the results of the DSP.
Dirac use DSP to create the filters. The DAP is only applying those filters.
It is like creating an image of a disc vs mounting that image on a virtual device (I have Daemon Tools in mind). This example occurred to me as easy to understand (for whoever know Daemon Tools).
 
Cheers

Yes, when I go back and more carefully read the OPs question it is clear he was asking about the DAP software. Why I didn't really notice this is beyond me. I'm distracted by school work so that will be my excuse.... Anyway, I think you know when I say the DAP transmits the sound I am referring to the Bluetooth chip inside the Digital Audio Player. We were discussing two different things due to my error, but I do think you know that so correcting me by applying my answer to a question it wasn't answering is pointless. Of course given that I was completely wrong in what I was answering it stands to reason that my answer was wrong; however, my point was correct in that the Bluetooth chip is involved in the transmission of the signal to the receiving chip. That is all I was saying; I do know things are different with the Dirac DAP so no need to beat the dog with the baton.

 

[marcx987]

yea i was asking about the Dap = dirac audio.
and have  to wait for the headphone divine to come bak into stock. 5 weeks is the estimate.
 
also about the  mee wave as budget freindly option. if anyone has tested them. that has good ears

 

[Giogio]

Anyway, I think you know when I say the DAP transmits the sound I am referring to the Bluetooth chip inside the Digital Audio Player.

No I didn't, because I am not experienced with Digital Audio Players, so I thought that DAP as player was referred to a software (Neutron, Foobar, XTZ Player) and I could not understand what that had to do with the Bluetooth signal

As you see, everybody with his own field of expertise!