Shure AONIC 50 -

[ryanmatic]

Great set of thoughts. They will get even better once you go over 100 hours or so. I have been running them wired on the home systems headphone amp. For what they are, they are the cream for me, but I haven't heard the Dali's.

Thanks! Good to hear their sound develops with more play time (similar to what jetpacksam said too). I'm looking forward to trying these wired with a better source this weekend to see how much improvement I can notice. Was also a bit interested in the Dalis but ended up avoiding them after reading enough comments mentioning the somewhat harsh highs—I'm a bit treble sensitive and figured that could give me trouble. Anyway, if you do spring for them, I'm curious to hear how they compare.

Question on that bag you posted. Do these fit? If so, is there any room for any of the cables? Thank. I was about to buy a $10 waterproof drawstring bag on Amazon for travel.

Mostly well! Here are some comparison photos. The aluminum arm hinges don't quite clear the sides of the case, but because of how soft it is, I don't think that'd be a problem. The case is definitely taller since the ear cups don't need to fold down, but that also makes putting the headphones away substantially easier compared to the stock case.

 

[ryanmatic]

One other thoughtful design detail worth mentioning about these headphones is their treatment of audio prompts. The voice prompts are clear and sound actually human, and their volume can be adjusted via the app. Even better, you can use the app to swap voice prompts with soft tones, which really makes the powering on and off experience nice and smooth.

The PX7 is the only other headphone of the group I mentioned above that actually does this right, in that the voice prompts sound great and are adaptive based on what you're doing (for example, if you press the ANC button once, the voice says "Noise Cancelling: High", and if you press it again within a few seconds, follows with just "Low"). By comparison, the XM3 voice prompts sound super artificial (though they can be disabled) and the MW65 ones are loud and sound like they were recorded with budget earbuds in a tunnel. For most folks this may not be that important in the grand scheme of things, but I appreciate that Shure took the time to get this detail right.

 

[pilgrimbilly]

Thanks! Good to hear their sound develops with more play time (similar to what jetpacksam said too). I'm looking forward to trying these wired with a better source this weekend to see how much improvement I can notice. Was also a bit interested in the Dalis but ended up avoiding them after reading enough comments mentioning the somewhat harsh highs—I'm a bit treble sensitive and figured that could give me trouble. Anyway, if you do spring for them, I'm curious to hear how they compare.

Mostly well! Here are some comparison photos. The aluminum arm hinges don't quite clear the sides of the case, but because of how soft it is, I don't think that'd be a problem. The case is definitely taller since the ear cups don't need to fold down, but that also makes putting the headphones away substantially easier compared to the sto

 

[pilgrimbilly]

So many of you think we have a big case.. Behold the Nightowls behemoth.

Had a 3 night trip recently, and packed toiletries, underwear, 2 shirts, 2 T-shirts, a Kindle, my SR15 and of course the Nightowls into this baby!

 

[ctsooner22]

Audioquest didn’t really make the Nightowl to be a travel can. Heck the case for my ZMF’s are also very large as was the case for my Stax Lambda Pro's from back in the day (aftermarket of course). I get your point though . these are all large cases. I like that nylon one a lot though. Protects and isn't that much larger than a bag would be I guess. Thanks to all of you guys for sharing. The Nightowl one does put it in perspective though. .

 

[TYATYA]

In fact, saving EQ settings on the headphones makes them persistent irrespective of player or source.. I can actually understand that to be somehow reassuring that picking up your headphones whenever you like, using them with whatever device you like all while them having the same sound siginature across the board..

But in my case for instance I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ that doesnt offer APTX-HD, only APTX. My FiiO M15 player has all HQ codecs, but only has Android 7.0. So my go-to player doesn't even have access to the ShurePlus Play app.

And in this case because of the different codecs, the Shure Aonic 50 already sound different on both .. It'll be difficult trying to figure out one overall EQ setting to match both devices.. In that case I'd rather have the player allow me to adjust the EQ settings, and not a headphone app that is not available on all devices..

Believe me: bluetooth codecs does NOT make the difference what you heard on your SR25 and Glx note10!
You can confirm by comparing to another dap with aptX - same as glx note10 - to verify.
Theory (?): Wireless cans are sounding source's quality independence.
Actual : Wrong!!!

Addition: Different between sources are found when using a same wire headphone, then the similar thing are found on a bluetooth heaphone. That is true.

 

[angelom]

Thanks! Good to hear their sound develops with more play time (similar to what jetpacksam said too).

Mostly well! Here are some comparison photos. The aluminum arm hinges don't quite clear the sides of the case, but because of how soft it is, I don't think that'd be a problem. The case is definitely taller since the ear cups don't need to fold down, but that also makes putting the headphones away substantially easier compared to the stock case.

I think I'm only person in this thread that comparing 2 pairs of sa50, one with 142 hrs and the other a new pair. I saying this before in this thread I don't hearing a difference in the sound comparing both headphones (https://www.head-fi.org/threads/shure-aonic-50.931134/page-12#post-15708654). I think people usually wishing for burn-in differences in headphones and earphones when the reality is that is psychological effect, and the research showing that.

Speaking now about the photos of the case you're posting, I think is very thick and a problem for travelling. When I looking at the photos I think I preferring travelling with the original shure case.

 

[ryanmatic]

I think I'm only person in this thread that comparing 2 pairs of sa50, one with 142 hrs and the other a new pair. I saying this before in this thread I don't hearing a difference in the sound comparing both headphones (https://www.head-fi.org/threads/shure-aonic-50.931134/page-12#post-15708654). I think people usually wishing for burn-in differences in headphones and earphones when the reality is that is psychological effect, and the research showing that.

Oops, I missed that, thanks for sharing.

Speaking now about the photos of the case you're posting, I think is very thick and a problem for travelling. When I looking at the photos I think I preferring travelling with the original shure case.

Yep, the case I posted pics of is a fair amount thicker than the stock one, and doesn’t really have room for cables.

 

[WDitters]

Oops, I missed that, thanks for sharing.

Yep, the case I posted pics of is a fair amount thicker than the stock one, and doesn’t really have room for cables.

These are pictures I received from Accessory House Global of their DN8PRO. Perfect fit.

(Regular version, not the XL and not the 2XL. No rattling or moving around the case whatsoever.. And if you check on Amazon, all DN8PRO cases are identical.. The additional brand indications are just to support searches. All DN8PRO are identical.. Just make sure you get the regular one. I have the XL which perfectly fits my Denon AH-D9200, but is too big for my Shure)

 

[ryanmatic]

Thanks for the tip, just looked the case up on Amazon. I may pick that one up for a better fit.

Also now I kinda want to swap my ear pads with the brown ones They look really nice!

 

[jetpacksam]

I think I'm only person in this thread that comparing 2 pairs of sa50, one with 142 hrs and the other a new pair. I saying this before in this thread I don't hearing a difference in the sound comparing both headphones (https://www.head-fi.org/threads/shure-aonic-50.931134/page-12#post-15708654). I think people usually wishing for burn-in differences in headphones and earphones when the reality is that is psychological effect, and the research showing that.

I know what I hear and that is the point of music isn't it..To my ears, going back over 40 years, every pair of non iems I have used has improved at some point over the first 200 hours of use. And these were no different. Could it be placebo? Sure, not arrogant enough to think my ears are that great. That said, not everything can be measure in/on a audio spectrogram.

Regarding the case, IMO you aren't really going to find one that is any less bulky, based simply on the form factor.
These are on the larger end of the portable head phone segment. If you look at what other companies have and the examples posted here, these really are not that much larger, the shape is off because they do not fold.

 

[Kalli]

Great set of thoughts. They will get even better once you go over 100 hours or so. I have been running them wired on the home systems headphone amp. For what they are, they are the cream for me, but I haven't heard the Dali's.

From my inexperienced point of view the DALI's are also quite nice, but a bit sharper in the treble region and in general a bit less "analytic" (if that makes sense).

I was about to buy a $10 waterproof drawstring bag on Amazon for travel.

Can you link that please. Just to get an idea what it looks like.

Could it be placebo?

I think it's mostly about the ears/brain getting used to a specific sound signature while listtening to it for an extended period.

 

[tiagopinto]

Mine just arrived yesterday and they’ve only been off of my head a couple of times since then Here are some first impressions.

(For context, I consider myself to be a bit of a pocket audiophile in that I really love music and appreciate dynamic and engaging sound, but portability is also super important to me. Wireless sound quality has gotten so good as of late that I don’t really spend much time with wired headphones anymore, and I appreciate decent ANC as it completely elevates listening when on the go. Suffice to say on paper the Aonic 50 appeared to be about as close to my ideal headphones as possible.)

• They sound really, really nice. They’re full, natural, and still quite engaging. The low end is plenty thick when it needs to be but as has been said before, these don’t inject bass on their own. I haven’t found myself wanting more low end thump.
• Layering, separation, soundstage… it’s just delightful. Because of how balanced everything else, I find myself instinctively following specific instruments and details much more easily than with other wireless ANC headphones.
• ANC is good and doesn’t hugely affect sound quality. I tested the Max setting earlier today at home with the window open and a leaf blower outside, and it made the din sound quite a bit quieter and more distant. That’s a sound range that’s beyond ANC’s typical target but nonetheless it worked well, and I didn’t notice any cabin pressure effect either.
• These things are somewhat big and kind of heavy, but surprisingly comfortable when worn. The headband is one of the most comfortable I’ve ever experienced because of how plush and large it is. I also really like the size and feel of the earpads.
• The build quality is pretty high—these feel fairly durable, probably in part due to their heft when held in-hand.
• The case is so large and cumbersome it feels like a bit of a joke. I have a firm nylon case I picked up a while back that these mostly fit inside (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XKQN2RX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00) that I’ll be using for now.
• The tactile buttons feel nice and solid and the ANC switch (which I find myself taking off the headphones to adjust) is actually a nice confirmation that whatever mode I set it on is the mode it’ll stay in.
• No issues with pairing whatsoever. Paired with my phone, tablet, watch, and computer in the span of about 2 minutes. Love the automatic multipoint connection to my phone and tablet.
• The app is fine, and pretty clear. The media player can’t play parts of my library due to how Apple Music/iCloud Music Library work, but that’s not a huge deal to me. Maybe in some circumstances I’d want to EQ the sound but I haven’t experienced those yet. FWIW I do completely agree that being able to set an EQ to the headphones would be incredibly useful on iOS in particular, but again, it’s not something I’m missing right now.

And here are some quick comparisons to other wireless ANC headphones I’ve tried.

• B&W PX7
  These have been my daily drivers for a while now; I enjoy their cinematic sound, fantastic ANC, and stellar build quality and design. That said, their frequency response is quite sculpted and frankly too bass heavy a lot of the time (and unexpectedly sibilant on some songs). I prefer how my ears just disappear into their vacuous ear cups, and I think their physical design is more impressive, but sonically the Shures cater much more to what I’m looking for. Additionally, it’s nice to be able to drive the Shures completely passively, which continues to be impossible with B&W ANC offerings.
• Master & Dynamic MW65
  Tried these recently and returned them a few days later. They’re exquisitely built and their design walks a fine line between being modern and timeless, and I liked their sound quality as well. However fit was a bit issue for me; they felt much more like on-ear headphones than over-ear ones. As a result, ANC suffered and produced a weird pressure-fluxuating experience when walking. The soundstage on these was also fairly congested given how small the earcups are and how warm the tuning was. I don’t listen to music very loudly but even these were at 50 to 70% of my max device volume most of the time. Felt like a bizarre combination of concessions for what are (I think) the most expensive ANC headphones out there.
• Sony XM3
  The king of ANC and comfort is also one of the most frustrating sound signatures to wrangle effectively. Using the Sony EQ I was able to get a tuning that I enjoyed but something about the drivers just presented instruments, layers, and details in a very congested way. To me, these do not compete musically with the PX7s and are absolutely miles behind the Shures.

Suffice to say, I think my search for Really Really Good Wireless Headphones has finally come to an end I hope Shure continues to support these headphones with meaningful app and firmware improvements, and that folks who demand more from wireless ANC headphones give them a try. To me, so far, they’re game changers.

This is a very good post and very encouraging. I just hope the EU distributor can get these to me ASAP.

 

[angelom]

I know what I hear and that is the point of music isn't it..To my ears, going back over 40 years, every pair of non iems I have used has improved at some point over the first 200 hours of use. And these were no different. Could it be placebo? Sure, not arrogant enough to think my ears are that great. That said, not everything can be measure in/on a audio spectrogram.

Regarding the case, IMO you aren't really going to find one that is any less bulky, based simply on the form factor.
These are on the larger end of the portable head phone segment. If you look at what other companies have and the examples posted here, these really are not that much larger, the shape is off because they do not fold.

I comparing 2 identical pairs, one after 142 hrs and I'm not hearing a difference. In my experience of 30 years approximately I don't hearing burn-in difference, and I'm sure is psychological when people saying burn-in is making a (big) difference. The reality is that even one pair new or with 1000 hours can sound different not because of the burn-in but because of other reasons. For example, sometimes our ears preferring more loud volumes and other times not and this is depending in the time of the day and how much noise and the volume we hearing before in the day. Sometimes we aren't receptive to the music and even a very good pair of headphones isn't sounding very good in some instances. Is proven fact that the auditory memory of the people is very bad even only after a few minutes (not even hours or days) of listening.

If some people wanting believing in burn-in this is ok, no problem. The problem for me is when people insisting in audio forums that this or that headphone is needing 100, 200, 500 hrs, etc for sounding good and telling other people they must waiting 100's of hours for the sound 'opening up', for more/less bass, for more/less treble, for more/less mids, for more big soundstage, etc.

 

[plakat]

If some people wanting believing in burn-in this is ok, no problem. The problem for me is when people insisting in audio forums that this or that headphone is needing 100, 200, 500 hrs, etc for sounding good and telling other people they must waiting 100's of hours for the sound 'opening up', for more/less bass, for more/less treble, for more/less mids, for more big soundstage, etc.

Exactly my thoughts as well. Let's not bog this thread down with discussions regarding burn-in. If the driver were to change, and I initially liked the sound (as with the Aonic 50) it would have a good chance to loose this signature. And no, it did not change, I still like it very much. Of course I learn more about its signature over time, currently contrasting it primarily with a JBL Club One. The Shure offers an interesting balance between a rather linear signature and a quite lively character. Really like it. I also like it's stable Bluetooth connection, not a single problem on that regard so far.