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

[Sonic Defender]

  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!

LOL, okay, now I feel better. I thought you were just enjoying using the baton on me! I'm not sure if people also use DAP to refer to the players themselves, seems reasonable that they might. Those damn acronyms will always get you in the end.

 

[1wyseman]

  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!
 
 

 
See PM from 3/16 (Venting)

 

[Giogio]

   
See PM from 3/16 (Venting)

ok, you got them.
Cool
I got the MW60 today. The MDR-1ABT are here, the V-Moda Crossfade Wireless too.
I have enough for tomorrow.
 
I will have a look at your PM.
 
Cheers

 

[Sonic Defender]

I was really ready to grab the new Sony with LDAC, but I have a few reservations about it. First, it is the same housing and driver as far as I can tell in the 100AAP (hope the model number is right). So the tuning will be the same nothing new to hear I'm guessing. As well, I am concerned as it has digital NC that I can't tell if it can be defeated or is it always on? Does anybody have any further information on these factors?
 
Edit: Another HUGE limit as I see it, assuming I'm correct here, is that both the source and receiver must be LDAC enabled which I take to mean these suggested transmission rates claimed by Sony are only achievable with Sony sources so we need to stop using our phones and purchase a Sony DAP. Not sure if that is correct, but if so that would really suck.

 

[Giogio]

  I was really ready to grab the new Sony with LDAC, but I have a few reservations about it.
 
Edit: Another HUGE limit as I see it, assuming I'm correct here, is that both the source and receiver must be LDAC enabled

Which one did you want to pick?
 
Yes, both devices must support LDAC, like with all codecs (SBC, AAC, APTX, Aptx Low Latency) and other stuff (Class 1 or 2 etc).
So, yes, you will either have to buy the very expensive Sony Walkman or change phone ans take one of the Z5 series.
Which any audio lover would do if the difference in sound is really notable. But is still sucks.

 

[Sonic Defender]

Sony is out then. Why would I purchase and carry around an additional device (given that we carry our phones regardless of music) simply because Sony wants to be Apple? First, until there is some kind of study that can demonstrate in blind listening tests that LDAC actually sounds better (I don't believe in high resolution personally) I am skeptical that increasing the sampling rate actually results in better sound. I did a decent 7 subject multiple trial blind test between 320 mp3 and the lossless version the mp3 was made from and nobody could detect the mp3 at greater than 50% (guessing).
 
So Sony wants us to believe that a higher sampling rate yields miraculous, audible sound quality advances? Show me the proof I say. And I take this in context of a company that promoted an audiophile micro SD card. My take on this LDAC is that if the only thing it offers is uncompressed files at higher sample rates there seems to be little evidence it can make an audible difference beyond the power of suggestion. Now I might be missing something and or over-simplifying things, but if in a nutshell this is what LDAC is all about I think it is more smoke and mirrors.
 
Although this isn't without confounds, when I listen to the H7 wired I notice no improvement or loss in sound quality versus Bluetooth so at least in that flawed comparison sample rate wasn't such a factor that in and of itself it could make a significant difference. Anyway, kind of glad as I can look at a few other options now.

 

[Giogio]

I do not believe in abstract talking either.
That's why I got the Sony to test with a Z5.
Anyway I have no Hi Res music nor am I interested in trying that for now.
What I will test is the other supposed advantage of LDAC: it can transmit more data than Aptx and other codecs. So, in theory, a Flac should sound "better" with LDAC.
I doubt an Mp3 would.
But yeah, a very well made Mp3 may be difficult to discern from a flac for most people on most devices.
Anyway you would not need to carry an extra device. You just need to change phone

 

[Sonic Defender]

 
Anyway you would not need to carry an extra device. You just need to change phone

Changing phones is expensive, I just bought my G3 so that would be crazy.

 

[Giogio]

We are crazy, aren't we? Who else would collect headphones?
 
Anyway, you can sell your G3.
But before you do, wait for my tests.
For now I can tell you that, testing without LDAC, they are very nice, natural, balanced, pleasant.
Not much personality. Which may be good for some people indeed.
But, I doubt you would like them. They do not get loud. Not as you want.
And the bass, well, I do not remember, where you a bass lover?
They are quite mild on bass. And do not do much more when EQed I am afraid.
But they do sound good. I like them.
 
On the contrary the V-Moda are boosted in the bass and can get loud, more or less as loud as the WS99BT.
But, nope, they are not so good. The bass is very limited. It is boosted out of the box, but can't get any additional push without immediately distort. It actually often distorts even without EQ, it is blurred and uncontrolled, not precise, not clean.
The overall sound is a bit constipated, somehow compressed, and a bit aggressive, but some people would want that.
I would say perfect for people who listen to rock and other things which need some power, and who do not like to use EQ.
 
The MW60 sound imo much better than the V-Moda. I like them. I have only the problem that my head is not very big, and they do not seal enough around my skull, so that when I move my head the pitch of the bass changes. Same problem I had with Urbanite XL Wireless and some more....
Their highs are rolled off, the difference with the WS99BT is clear.
I like the way they sound. Warm, clean. They look very nice to me, feel nice, are not big at all (actually, maybe some people with large ears may find their earpads a bit small maybe).
 
These are just first impressions. So, are subjected to change.

 

[Sonic Defender]

  We are crazy, aren't we? Who else would collect headphones?
 
Anyway, you can sell your G3.
But before you do, wait for my tests.
 

Selling the G3 would result in a huge loss, so much so that it would be stupid to do so, and it doesn't sound like the Sony would work for me anyway as I do like bass north of neutral. That is one of the things I really like about the H7, despite having prominent bass, like the WS99, it still sounds natural, fast, and balanced.

 

[Giogio]

  I do like bass north of neutral.

I did not understand that.
 
Btw it was not meant seriously, selling the G3.
Although I would do it, loss or not, IF I would be SURE that it would give me the sound I want, more than what I have.
 
When you feel ready, AND when you have tested the WS with the HM5, you are welcome to say your thoughts about H7 vs WS vs XTZ.

 

[Sonic Defender]

  I did not understand that.
 
Btw it was not meant seriously, selling the G3.
Although I would do it, loss or not, IF I would be SURE that it would give me the sound I want, more than what I have.
 
When you feel ready, AND when you have tested the WS with the HM5, you are welcome to say your thoughts about H7 vs WS vs XTZ.

Bass north of neutral means slightly elevated bass. Yes, after I send back my current WS99 due to the USB flap issue, I am extremely likely repurchase it again.

 

[8BitKid]

For anyone interested, I just got the following from Definitive Technology:
 

I spoke with the lead engineer on this project and he provided the following info.  
The Symphony 1s do not support AAC but do support SBC. We are talking transmission protocol and not what can be decoded by the phone. 

The symphony 1s also support Apt-x and Apt-x Low Latency for a higher fidelity Bluetooth connection.

 
I guess the reviews are wrong... Bit of a disappointment for iOS folks. I am definitely interested in possibly jumping into LDAC with a new DAP, portable speaker, and the IEM's and over-ear noise-cancelling cans. This would primarily be for travel, commuting, since I use my ER-4's when I'm at work :-D

 

[Giogio]

Yeah, the Momentum too, Aptx and no AAC.
Well, the V-Moda AAC+ and no Aptx.
But, they do not sound nowhere as good.
What sound do you look for?

 

[8BitKid]

I tend to like a pretty even sound. Right now my main headphones are both IEM's from Etymotic: the hf5's and the ER-4's.
 
I want a pair of Bluetooth over-ear headphones mainly for commuting, when I tend to get all of my wires tangled. I have a pair of Sony MDR10RBT's that get the job done, but do sound muddy. The fit is good, however. I also did find the MW60's a bit small for my ear size. I am worried that the newer Sony ABN's ear pads will be similar in fit to the MDRXB950BT, which squished my ears as well. I'd be willing to try the 1ABT's, but don't love touch controls... However, I am curious about LDAC, and would be willing to make the investment.