[SQ13]

T&A recently relessed the Solitaire T, the most expenive of the lot. there are some initial views and comparison with the ML in another thread.

 

[LoryWiv]

On the other end of the spectrum has anyone had an opportunity to hear the new Grado wireless, GS100X? Would love to know how it stacks up sound-wise to the more expensive options. Likely some trade offs and specificaaly it does not appear to be noise-cancelling, but for mobile listening at home / work, but may still be a good value.

 

[Burakk]

T&A recently relessed the Solitaire T, the most expenive of the lot. there are some initial views and comparison with the ML in another thread.

I recently got Solitaire T. It's more audiophile oriented article. I wouldn't recommend for commuters. Buggy and not user friendly gestures, overall transparency, app has not yet been published, lack of multipoint etc. Soundwise, it's probably one of the best. BUT!! We all have numbers of alternatives to listen music here in head-fi world. I expect more user friendly article and better user experience form a BT HP. Any buyers should consider this.

 

[levito]

@Maukey I just read your review, it's excellent and I have to say that I agree on pretty much everything for the headphones that I have tried, which are the Momentum 4 and 3, PX7 S2 and the first generation, and the XM5. I also tried other cans in that price range and below, like the XM4, Technics EAH-A800 and some Bose.

I ended up upgrading from my PXC 550 to the Momentum 4. But I also had a very hard time figuring out if I should get those or the PX7 S2 instead. Very similar in overall sound quality but different in character. But I prefer a more analytical sound, good soundstage, and I found the sub bass of the M4 very impressive and fun. I think the M4 sound a little more special and the PX7 S2 more usual but natural. Also, I preferred the PX7 S2 for comfort a little and for its style, but the M4's features matched better with what I need (also use them for Zoom calls a lot, and I like the quick attention mode for traveling).

But Sound quality needs to be good, and that's why the others were no option. Here are my quick impressions why they were no option for me:
- Momentum 3: Sounded very good, almost as good as the Momentum 4 and PX7 S2 to my ears, but the upper bass boost was sometimes distracting. Seemed like I would often have to adjust it to play well with the current song. Also too bulky for traveling (although I love the design), bad ANC and even worse battery life
- PX7 first generation: The treble... Ouch! Sometimes it's so piercing that I'd have to rip them off of my head! When it's not in the mix, they sounded great, with lots of detail and soundstage and a nice balance with a good amount of bottom end. But as soon as there's that treble region in a mix, it's ruined.
- XM5: like you said, too dark and veiled, after EQ pretty nice but still lack of detail, also no air and narrow soundstage. Good for on the go, not so much for at home.
- XM4: way too bassy, too dark, a hole in the upper mids which made the treble above it sound strange. I didn't try to EQ them. Also didn't fit my ears well.
- EAH-A800: somehow similar tuning as the XM4, but way more refined and not too dark. Good soundstage, nice detail. But the bass is slow and undefined, like there's a bit of reverb on it, and the upper mids are recessed and lack energy, making music sound distant.
- Bose: The good thing about them is the overall balance of bass, mids and treble. But not a lot of details, narrow soundstage, lacks punch and definition in the bass, uneven upper mids and treble, which makes them sound pretty artificial and cheap. But the comfort and usability of the QC is unmatched, and good ANC, so still a solid pick if you don't need the best sound quality.

 

[Soundizer]

Edit (07/26/2021) - Added the Sennheiser Momentum 3 I picked up last week at a discount.

Edit (03/30/2022) - Added the Mark Levinson 5909.

Edit (03/30/2022) - Updated the entire post to account for the headphones I've added since the original post. Also added a personal favorites section to show which headphones I'm currently using and enjoying the most.

Edit (08/24/2022) - Added Master & Dynamic MW75 AMG Edition and Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2

Edit (09/06/2022) - Added the Sennheiser Momentum 4 and Sony 1000XM5. Removed the PX7 and Momentum 3 as they are now replaced by the newer, and in my personal opinion, improved models. Removed the NAD Viso HP70 as it has been discontinued. Also changed all the rankings after more experience with each of these.

Edit (11/13/2022) - Added the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and Focal Bathys. Modified all sections to account for these added headphones.

Edit (11/20/2022) - Updated the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 Sound Quality after more experience.

So, over the past few years I've tried almost every wireless bluetooth ANC headphone known to man. In that time I developed a few personal favorites that at different times I would praise/recommend here on Head-Fi. With the popularity of the AirPods Max, I've had a few members private message me asking me to compare various headphones to the AirPods Max or even the B&O H95. Due to the fact that I only had in my possession the B&O H95 and AirPods Max, I could only compare off of memory. Well, a couple of months ago I decided to pick back up 3 of my older favorites in the B&W PX7, Dali iO-6, and NAD Viso HP70 so that I could see how they all compare to each other. Figured I'd make a thread giving my thoughts on how they all compare and which is my personal favorite after weeks of going back and forth.

First I need to make a few points:

1) I'm not a graph person. My opinions are based solely on what my ears hear and what I personally like. I will do my best to explain what I hear and how it aligns with my preference in sound quality using as few words as possible. I don't claim to be the best at verbalizing what I hear, so pardon me if I occasionally use terms in the wrong manner.

2) My preferred sound signature tends to lean toward a punchy, vibrant bass with some impact. Not overly done or loose/sloppy, but definitely present. I'm not sensitive to highs, so I don't mind a little elevation/sparkle up top if it's not overly done or harsh. My ears have a tendency to be more sensitive to harsh upper mids as opposed to highs. I can appreciate a warm/dark or neutral headphone as long as the tonality is tasteful to my ears.

3) I have an honorable mention that I know is a favorite for some on here but are not my favorite. The Shure Aonic 50 are probably the most analytical wireless ANC headphones out right now but don't have enough bass for me and the sound changes too drastically when you switch on ANC. Now it's been a while since I owned the Aonic, so this all could've very well been fixed in a firmware update.

4) I'm mainly in the Apple ecosystem so all my testing is done on iPhones, Macs, and iPads, with the exception being my Surface Pro 8.

5) I will rate on 4 categories, Sound, Convenience/Features, Comfort, and Overall, as these are what I consider the most important. I stay away from build quality as that in my opinion can only be truly measured in time. Just because one headphone is plastic and the other is metal doesn't necessarily mean the metal headphone's build is better as the plastic headphone could very well last longer which to me says better build quality.

Let's begin.

Sound

1) Focal Bathys - I honestly thought it would be a while before another wireless anc headphone would match the 5909 when it comes to the combination of soundstage, accuracy, and tone. Boy was I wrong, and it only took about a year. Upon first listen, the Bathys instantly impressed me and it took less than an hour for me to see that I prefer the Bathys to the 5909. Now I'm not saying it's a night and day difference between the two, and I can easily see some preferring the 5909 to the Bathys. Both headphones are class leaders in soundstage, detail retrieval, and tone in my opinion. So what is it for me that allows the Bathys to surpass the 5909? First, and most important for me, the Bathys get a great deal louder with my Apple devices than the 5909. For my ears, there are times where the 5909 at full volume aren't loud enough Second, while both soundstages are wide and deep for what they are, the Bathys has this unique 3D like presentation to it's sound. It reminds me of the Dali iO6 in this regard but to a greater degree. And finally, the bass is slightly bigger on the Bathys which I prefer. Neither are bass monsters, but the Bathys ever so slightly more emphasized bass is definitely noticeable when doing things like watching movies and/or gaming. The Bathys taps into the fun side of listening a little more than the 5909. I will say that the mids and highs are slightly more resolving on the 5909, but not enough to where it overrules the 3 advantages the Bathys have for me. The Bathys highs still have great resolution, they're just a little smoother in texture to my ears. The mids on the Bathys slightly takes a backseat to the rest of the spectrum, but still sound natural and never gives me the feeling that something's missing in the range. I can definitely see those who are maybe classical music enthusiasts, and need every bit of accuracy and resolution, preferring the 5909. It just isn't my preference.

2) Mark Levinson 5909 - Like the Bathys, this headphone has taken wireless anc listening to another level. It's extremely detailed and has class leading resolution. This title use to go to the Dali iO-6, but the 5909 has taken it up another notch in my opinion. When listening to the Dali side by side with this headphone, you immediately notice more detail and more spaciousness to the sound of the 5909. Just a very well done tuning. The Levinson company says this is a Harman tuned headphone, but to my ears and from what I remember of the AKG K371, this is a little more dynamic than that headphone which I'm ok with. The bass is definitely harman like, but this headphone has a slight treble push and brings more detail than what I've heard of harman influenced heaphones. When you first get the 5909, it can come across as bright. I've never been one that's big on burn in, but to my ears, this headphone has gotten better with time. Over time the highs mellow out a bit and the bass becomes ever so slightly more full. So if you're interested in this headphone, my advice would be to give it time, or, run a 100 hr white noise through them if you find the treble too forward. Also, this headphone sounds excellent passively, something not many wireless noise cancelling headphones can claim. The bass response is the only thing that takes a hit when using it passively. The only negative I have with the sound is that I wish they were a little louder.

3) Bowers & Wilkins PX8 - I don't have much to say on this headphone as you can read what I wrote about the PX7 S2 below to understand most of my thoughts on this headphone. The PX8 is a more detailed, resolving, cleaner PX7 S2 to my ears. It pretty much has the same characteristics as the PX7 S2 in being a big, fun, live concert type headphone, it just does it in a more grown up way. I will say that I personally put the PX8 a tier below the 5909 and Bathys when it comes to pure sound quality, something that's not very popular on the PX8 thread . I just feel those 2 headphones are more resolving, accurate, and detailed. One negative I have noticed in the sound of the PX8 is that when watching movies or gaming, it sometimes can be hard to understand the dialogue. Due to the thickness in the high bass/low mids, it sometimes can interfere with voice clarity for me. Despite that one flaw, these are excellent sounding, musical headphones. There are many who prefer the PX8 to all others on this list and I can definitely understand why.

4) Dali iO-6 - This headphone has a very natural, musical sound to my ears. It has excellent resolve and tone. It's only bested by the 3 headphones above it. The one catch with this headphone is that it's the most dependent of all the headphones listed on getting a proper fit/seal. I never could understand how people found this headphone too trebly with no bass. Repurchasing this headphone and spending more time with it I learned that it does not play well with glasses. If you wear glasses, you will either need to leave ANC on to help correct the broken seal, or you'll need to remove your glasses. With the round earcups, head/face shape alone can mess with the seal. A broken seal almost completely alleviates the bass leaving a trebly, borderline harsh sounding headphone. I'm lucky enough that these fit me perfectly. With the proper fit/seal, these have excellent natural bass that really reverberates. The mids are very natural and clear, and the highs are slightly accentuated which for me gives a nice airy feel. I love how the sound has an almost 3D like feel to it. This is one of the most addicting wireless anc headphones I've had the pleasure of owning. Just really a joy to listen to. It's only the seal and fit that can be a problem, otherwise, they are excellent sounding wireless anc headphones.

5) M&D MW75 - This is a V Shaped headphone with great tonality. Very musical with plenty of detail and deep, punchy bass. It's dynamic and energetic, perfect for modern music, while still handling softer genres like classical and jazz with a respectable candor. This headphone is in my opinion, the most fun headphone on this list. It uses the same type of driver as the 5909 and is very similar in tonality, it's just tuned differently. While it's not as resolving as the 4 above it, its overall bass is bigger than all 4. To my ears, it's the best bassy headphone on this list. Also, similar to the ML 5909, it sounds excellent in passive mode. In fact, I'd say it's the best when it comes to keeping a consistent sound signature no matter the mode.

6a) B&W PX7 S2 - B&W hit it out of the park with this headphone in my opinion. It takes what the PX7 did and cleans up the treble while adding a little more resolution and detail. It's a warmish neutral headphone with a little emphasis throughout the bass range. It's midrange is lush, and it's treble is a little reserved, but very smooth and easy on the ears. It's a very natural listen while also keeping most of it's fun, big sound the PX7 is known for. I can see many preferring this sound signature to every headphone on this list. I LOVE it for gaming and movies, just as I did the PX7. The only reason it's ranked 6th on this list is because the headphones above it all offer more detail and resolution, however, they all cost much more than this headphone.

6b) Sennheiser Momentum 4 - I honestly spent a god awful amount of time going back and forth between this headphone and the PX7 S2. I think they are both the two best sounding headphones in their class and price range. The Momentum 4 to my ears are the Momentum 3 with a slight reduction in warmth, and in mid and high bass, but a slight increase in resolution and detailing. It's bass seems more focused on the sub bass frequencies now. It's substituted just a little of the Momentum 3's fun for more accuracy and detailing. It has the third best natural soundstage on this list, only bested by the ML 5909 and Bathys which costs about 3 times as much. When compared to the PX7 S2, I'd say the Momentum 4s are a little more resolving and detailed, and has a deeper bass. The PX7 S2 has a more full sound, with more warmth, and a punchier bass. To my ears, the PX7 S2 is the more musical, creative headphone. Brings more of a freshness to my music. I would give the Momentum 4 a slight edge when it comes to accuracy. I consider the Momentum 4 tied with the PX7 S2 when it comes to sound quality. It's all in what you prefer. I personally enjoy the PX7 S2 more, but that takes nothing away from how great the Momentum 4 sounds. As a matter of fact, along with the PX7 S2, I'd say these give you the best bang for your buck out of all the headphones on this list.

8a) AirPods Max - These are slightly warm headphones with an excellent tuning. The sub bass is the star of the show with these. You won't find many wireless ANC headphones that display a sub bass this deep and clean. Pretty fun headphone as well. If you have access to Apple's Spatial Audio, there's no headphone on this list that can do movies better. The weakness is it lacks a little in clarity when compared to the headphones ranked above it. I feel the PX7 S2 and Momentum 4 both sound a little more natural and less digitized which is why they are ranked higher. The AirPods Max do resolve a little better than those 2 though. These are pretty much neck and neck with the Momentum 4 and PX7 S2.

8b) B&O H95 - This headphone is very similar to the Dali with the difference being that it's treble is a little less emphasized which some may prefer, and the bass isn't as impactful and 3D like, although it has a VERY nice sub/mid bass. These are non fatiguing and very easy to listen to, perfect headphones for sitting in a recliner with a glass of Scotch. If I had to pick a weakness, it's that these can sometimes come across as boring, and the treble doesn't sound as natural as I would like. I have my moods where I want more fun from them. I pretty much consider these tied with the AirPods Max. It all depends on whether you want more clarity and accuracy in the H95, or more fun and warmth in the AirPods Max. I personally prefer the latter.

7) Sony 1000XM5 - This is the most consumer oriented sound on this list. A very in your face sound. Has the typical Sony house sound. Big bass, warm mids, and a treble roll off. A very easy listen. The EQ in the app works really well. You can actually EQ these to sound at the same level as the PX7 S2 and Momentum 4 although it still won't sound as natural.

Comfort

Note: I have pretty small ears so most headphones are comfortable on my ears. I'm more sensitive to the pressure on top of my head. My narrow, long head helps me avoid clamping pressure. Pretty much all of the these headphones are comfortable for me and I can wear them all day. I am really nitpicking just to give a ranking

1) Sony 1000XM5 - For my ears, these are the most comfortable. Very light clamping pressure and very light on the head. Feels like pillows surrounding my ears.
2) ML 5909 - Very comfortable. Love the feeling over the ears and on the head. Distributes weight really well.
3) Momentum 4 - Nice size ear cups that sit comfortably over the ears. Feels light on the head with a light clamping force.
4) Focal Bathys - Spacious ear cups, acceptable clamping force. I have no problem wearing these all day.
5) Dali iO-6 - These feel light on the head. Perfect clamping pressure. Can be problematic if sensitive to round ear cups.
6) B&W PX8/PX7 S2 - Very close in comfort to the top 5. After going back and forth, these come in 6th due to stronger clamping force. However, they do feel the most secure on my head. No problem wearing these all day
7) B&O H95 - Has a really snug, comfortable fit. Really fits my ears well.
8) AirPods Max - Has the least amount of pressure on top of the head due to the netting material on the headband. I love this
9) M&D MW75 - I would say the biggest knock on these for many will be the comfort. They have a pretty high clamping force and pretty small ear pads. They almost feel like on ears. I can see people with bigger ears than mine having issues if they're sensitive to the on the ear feel.

Features and Convenience

1) Sony 1000XM5 - These are hands down the champs of features. This is my favorite travel headphone. Tied for 4th with the Dali iO-6 and PX8/PX7 S2 for battery life. The best app, ANC, and phone call quality on the market. When on the phone, you can be standing in the middle of a construction site and the person on the other end will think you're in a library. It's app based EQ is hands down better than the others on this list and works really well. Speak to chat, which is the ability to start talking and have the headphones automatically pause your music and turn on transparency mode, works well in a work environment. Quick attention, which is the ability to temporarily turn on transparency mode by placing your hand over the ear cup, is very convenient. I could go on all day on the many features, but for the sake of time I won't. Most know about all the features this headphone offers, but if by chance anyone has questions, feel free to reach out. This headphone is in a league of it's own when it comes to features.
2) B&W PX8/PX7 S2 - Excellent app. Love the ability to manage your bluetooth connections in the app. Makes it very easy to connect to multiple devices without digging through settings. Other headphones in this list can now do this as well, but I give B&W the credit because they were the first I saw do it. Solid phone call quality. Tied for 4th in battery life with the Dali iO-6 and Sony 1000XM5. AptX Adaptive for Android users. There's a simple EQ in the app which is an added feature over the original PX7. However, the biggest, and honestly my favorite feature on these headphones, is the ability to keep a bluetooth connection while using them with a wire. This is so big if you use them for gaming or movies on your TV. If I get a call while gaming, I can hear the ringer and answer my phone without having to take the headphones off. LOVE THIS FEATURE. Another cool feature worth mentioning is that the app will stay connected to the headphones wether you're connected to your phone or not. This is also an underrated feature seeing as how most wireless headphones rely on app features to get the most out of them. This also gives this headphone an advantage when managing bluetooth connections. Say you're connected to your TV and Laptop, you can still manage your connections without having to be connected to your phone. Also, the PX8/PX7 S2 is currently tied for second with the AirPods Max as my favorite travel headphone. My biggest gripe is that you can't use these passively. I don't count this against it too much as headphones like the 1000XM5 and Momentum 4 can be used passively but they sound horrible. As I'm sure you can tell, this headphone has a couple of my favorite features. If it's ANC and call quality were better, they'd be ranked above the 1000XM5 for me.
3) B&O H95 - Excellent app that includes a simple EQ that saves to the headphones. Multipoint bluetooth, dials for different levels of noise cancelling and transparency, excellent call quality, and the 2nd best battery life behind the Momentum 4. AptX Adaptive for Android users. Biggest flaw for me is you can't manage bluetooth connections from the app. I no longer own these so that may have changed with a firmware update.
4) Momentum 4 - Very good ANC, transparency mode, and phone call quality. Like the PX7 S2, can manage multipoint bluetooth connections via the app. The best battery life currently on the market for a wireless ANC headphone. Also has a simple EQ. App is still a little sluggish when compared to others on this list. Also, unlike the PX7 S2, you have to be connected to your phone to use the app. ApX Adaptive for Android users.
5) ML 5909 - Very good ANC. It's Transparency Mode is only bested by the AirPods Max and Focal Bathys on this list. Phone call quality is excellent. Excellent battery life, only bested by the Momentum 4 and B&O H95. Simple, easy to use app. Has the best Codec support on this list with LDAC, AptX Adaptive, and AAC. The only knock is these are big headphones and I personally wouldn't commute with them. I know many wouldn't mind the big size since they perform so well, but I prefer headphones like the Sony 1000XM5, PX8/PX7 S2, AirPods Max, M&D MW75, and B&O H95 for travel, and I have to consider that a big part of owning a wireless ANC headphone.
6) Focal Bathys - I debated putting these above the 5909. The Bathys have a better transparency mode only bested by the AirPods Max, and it has a better in app EQ only bested by the 1000XM5. The reason I put it below the 5909 is because the 5909 has better codec support, slightly better phone call quality in noisy environments, and the Bathys are missing a passive mode which is huge for many. If the battery dies the Bathys don't work.
7) M&D MW75 - Pretty much shares the same features with the ML 5909 except with a worse battery life, worse call quality, and no LDAC support. I do prefer the look of these over the ML 5909. A little more travel and commute friendly in my opinion.
8) AirPods Max - If you're in the Apple ecosystem, these are better than every headphone on this list. However, I know that's not the case for everyone so I'm trying to be fair in my assessment. If in the Apple Ecosystem you get Spatial Audio and seamless device switching between all your devices. It also has the 2nd best ANC, and the best Transparency Mode of the bunch. Call quality is very good. The reason I'm putting it below the others is because if you're not Apple, you lose the Spatial Audio and multipoint device switching, there's no app, and AAC is not as good on Android.
7) Dali iO-6 - No app. Average ANC and Transparency. Average call quality. This is a barebones headphone that you're strictly getting for sound.

Overall

1) B&W PX8/PX7 S2 - If I could only own one wireless ANC headphone, this would be it. Has a very natural, unique, big sound. Excellent comfort for me, excellent battery life, very good ANC and transparency, and solid call quality. Excellent for at home use or travel. If your budget allows get the PX8, if not, the PX7 S2 is a great choice and is arguably one of the greatest values in wireless anc headphones.
2) Sony 1000XM5 - If this headphone had the sound quality of at least the PX7 S2, it would be the holy grail of wireless ANC headphones in my opinion. Its features are unmatched, has the best ANC and call quality on the market, and has an excellent battery life. Honestly it's sound is it's Achilles heel. Although it doesn't sound bad, it's a step below every headphone on this list with its stock EQ and tonality. Now if you EQ it, you can get it close to the level of the PX7 S2 and Momentum 4 in tuning with the only drawback being that it sounds a little more digital than those. Other than that, you have to respect what Sony has done with this headphone.
3) Sennheiser Momentum 4 - If the App was more stable on iPhone, and the ANC was a little better, these would be tied with PX8/PX7 S2 for the top spot. As far as value goes, this is arguably the best on this list at the US retail price of $350. It's sound quality punches well above it's weight when it comes to wireless ANC headphones, it has excellent comfort, and it's battery life is unmatched.
4) Focal Bathys - The best sound quality of the bunch in my opinion, excellent battery life, excellent transparency mode, excellent in app EQ, and very good call quality. The reasons I don't rank it higher overall is because although its case is travel friendly, it's not my favorite looking headphone for travel and commuting due to its size. Also, its ANC is fairly mediocre compared to the top choices. These are important factors when choosing one single do it all wireless anc headphone. However, if sound quality is priority, and you don't mind having more than one listening device, I'd recommend getting this and either the AirPods Pro 2 or Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 and getting the best combination of sound and portability that money can buy .
5) B&O H95 - Excellent features, a very clear and neutral sound signature with a little bass push, excellent battery life and call quality, very good ANC and transparency modes. Very good for travel and commuting.
6) AirPods Max - If fully in the Apple ecosystem, I rank this headphone right behind the PX8/PX7 S2. Excellent features, ease of use is unmatched, excellent combination of ANC, transparency, and call quality. The best headphone on this list to commute with if in the Apple ecosystem due to all the features like "Hey Siri", reading and sending texts without touching your phone, etc. Its only issue is a very mediocre battery life.
7) ML 5909 - If I were getting a wireless ANC headphone for mostly home usage, this would be it. Sound is unmatched when compared to any of the headphones on this list outside of the Focal Bathys. It works in passive mode and sounds very good doing it. It's honestly the first wireless anc headphone I feel I could give up my wired options and be perfectly ok with it. The only reasons I have it below the others is because of lack of travel friendliness with the huge case and big size, and because of the price. In my opinion, with the PX8 and Focal Bathys existence, these are not a good value.
8) M&D MW75 AMG - If these were more comfortable, they would be ranked higher. It's similar to the ML 5909 in features and tonality, but with a more exciting sound that gets louder. Works well as a travel/commuter headphone as well. Tied with the PX8/PX7 S2 as my favorite looking headphone currently out.

My Personal Favorites and the ones I use the most as of 11/13/2022
1. Focal Bathys
2. Bowers & Wilkins PX8
3. Master & Dynamic MW75
4. AirPods Pro 2

Its not clear purely on sound quality which you rank best:

“Focal Bathys - The best sound quality of the bunch in my opinion”

“ML 5909 - If I were getting a wireless ANC headphone for mostly home usage, this would be it. Sound is unmatched when compared to any of the headphones on this list outside of the Focal Bathys.”

thank you, please could you elaborate purely on sound performance?

 

[Blinxat]

Selling a PX7s2 in Europe if anyone is interested.

https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/bowers-wilkins-px7s2.37313/

 

[Maukey]

Its not clear purely on sound quality which you rank best:

“Focal Bathys - The best sound quality of the bunch in my opinion”

“ML 5909 - If I were getting a wireless ANC headphone for mostly home usage, this would be it. Sound is unmatched when compared to any of the headphones on this list outside of the Focal Bathys.”

thank you, please could you elaborate purely on sound performance?

Purely on sound quality I have tiers for wireless ANC Headphones. My tiers are as follows with Tier 1 being the best, Tier 2 second, and so on. Headphones in the same tier come down to preference on if you'd prefer one over the other.

Tier 1: Focal Bathys and ML 5909
Tier 2: B&W PX8, M&D MW75, Dali iO6
Tier 3: B&O H95, Apple AirPods Max, Sennheiser Momentum 4, B&W PX7 S2
Tier 4: Sony 1000XM5/4, Bose 700/QC45/QC35, and a bunch of others.

This is all just one man's opinion though. I know a few who feel the B&O H95 sits on the same throne as the Bathys. I just don't feel the same.

When ranking overall I take into account the entire package since that really matters in a wireless anc headphone. I also take into account that many people only want and need only 1 wireless anc over ear headphone. I rank the PX8 1st overall because in my opinion it's the best overall package when you include sound quality, features, battery life, comfort, build, and portability. My personal preference is the Focal Bathys and a set of AirPods Pro 2 or Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II to go with them for the portability factor. I'd happily travel with the Bathys, it's just not my preference to commute with.

 

[Soul_Viper]

Purely on sound quality I have tiers for wireless ANC Headphones. My tiers are as follows with Tier 1 being the best, Tier 2 second, and so on. Headphones in the same tier come down to preference on if you'd prefer one over the other.

Tier 1: Focal Bathys and ML 5909
Tier 2: B&W PX8, M&D MW75, Dali iO6
Tier 3: B&O H95, Apple AirPods Max, Sennheiser Momentum 4, B&W PX7 S2
Tier 4: Sony 1000XM5/4, Bose 700/QC45/QC35, and a bunch of others.

This is all just one man's opinion though. I know a few who feel the B&O H95 sits on the same throne as the Bathys. I just don't feel the same.

When ranking overall I take into account the entire package since that really matters in a wireless anc headphone. I also take into account that many people only want and need only 1 wireless anc over ear headphone. I rank the PX8 1st overall because in my opinion it's the best overall package when you include sound quality, features, battery life, comfort, build, and portability. My personal preference is the Focal Bathys and a set of AirPods Pro 2 or Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II to go with them for the portability factor. I'd happily travel with the Bathys, it's just not my preference to commute with.

really awesome work mate, I've read very carefully all the reviews posted by you and other guys here, so let me congrat you all and give you my thanks!!

by the way, I'm sad to say that now I'm even more confused in my searching of my "perfect" pair of wireless headphones hahah

Let me explain a bit: some weeks ago catched a bargain of a pair renewed sony xm4, however a few days later I "discovered" the awful work done with the bt codecs on windows 10 as it is impossible to get nice audio quality while using mic... and there is no solution "apparently" as far as I know

The only way to solve the problem is going wired.... so sad but unless buying a wireless mic don't see any solution for that. So the option that comes to my mind is to use the v-moda boom pro wired when gaming + discord (only 10% of my total usage). However I turned back them to amazon and my search continued...

Been looking for shure aonic 50, crossfade wireless codex edition, b&o, ath-m50xbt2, bose, momentum, B&W, etc

Recently also bought V-Moda Crossfade wireless 2 codex but these were not too much comfy for my ears (specially compared with xm4) and also the passive isolation is not good enough... so very likely I will turn them back too

IMO what I want it's pretty simple, I need a pair of bluetooth ANC headphones with the option of using them sometimes wired with v-moda boom pro, so 3,5 mm is mandatory just as the possibility of turn on ANC when I use them wired.

Main usage will be 75% gaming in computer (sometimes will need discord + gaming) and the rest watching netflix, spotify and few times spotify/podcast on my android phone.

And now for finishing this loooong text, just say that I priorize comfort>sound quality>anc and only will use them at home.

P.D: don't want to spend more than 600€ so been thinking about taking momentum 4 (300€)/dali io6 (300€)/B&W PX7 S2 (385€)/B&O HX (500€), help me decide please!! I don't have music stores on my city to try them and amazon will ban me if I buy and return more tech

 

[Maukey]

really awesome work mate, I've read very carefully all the reviews posted by you and other guys here, so let me congrat you all and give you my thanks!!

by the way, I'm sad to say that now I'm even more confused in my searching of my "perfect" pair of wireless headphones hahah

Let me explain a bit: some weeks ago catched a bargain of a pair renewed sony xm4, however a few days later I "discovered" the awful work done with the bt codecs on windows 10 as it is impossible to get nice audio quality while using mic... and there is no solution "apparently" as far as I know

The only way to solve the problem is going wired.... so sad but unless buying a wireless mic don't see any solution for that. So the option that comes to my mind is to use the v-moda boom pro wired when gaming + discord (only 10% of my total usage). However I turned back them to amazon and my search continued...

Been looking for shure aonic 50, crossfade wireless codex edition, b&o, ath-m50xbt2, bose, momentum, B&W, etc

Recently also bought V-Moda Crossfade wireless 2 codex but these were not too much comfy for my ears (specially compared with xm4) and also the passive isolation is not good enough... so very likely I will turn them back too

IMO what I want it's pretty simple, I need a pair of bluetooth ANC headphones with the option of using them sometimes wired with v-moda boom pro, so 3,5 mm is mandatory just as the possibility of turn on ANC when I use them wired.

Main usage will be 75% gaming in computer (sometimes will need discord + gaming) and the rest watching netflix, spotify and few times spotify/podcast on my android phone.

And now for finishing this loooong text, just say that I priorize comfort>sound quality>anc and only will use them at home.

P.D: don't want to spend more than 600€ so been thinking about taking momentum 4 (300€)/dali io6 (300€)/B&W PX7 S2 (385€)/B&O HX (500€), help me decide please!! I don't have music stores on my city to try them and amazon will ban me if I buy and return more tech

Hi. Thanks for the compliment, I really appreciate it.

As far as recommendations go, many of the newer wireless ANC headphones will not be possible as most now use a USB-C to 3.5. I will say, without knowing your sound signature preference, to give the Dali iO-6 a try. They are definitely simple ANC headphones; they don't even have an app, you have to go to their website to do firmware updates. But as far as comfort and sound quality goes, they're in my top 5 of all the wireless anc headphones I've tried. During my time with them, I used them for gaming with the V-Moda Boom Pro Mic quite often.

 

[Soul_Viper]

Hi. Thanks for the compliment, I really appreciate it.

As far as recommendations go, many of the newer wireless ANC headphones will not be possible as most now use a USB-C to 3.5. I will say, without knowing your sound signature preference, to give the Dali iO-6 a try. They are definitely simple ANC headphones; they don't even have an app, you have to go to their website to do firmware updates. But as far as comfort and sound quality goes, they're in my top 5 of all the wireless anc headphones I've tried. During my time with them, I used them for gaming with the V-Moda Boom Pro Mic quite often.

thanks for your quick answer, I really appreciate it!

yeah, I saw your recommendation about Dali, I did not even know about them and then I've been reading and there are so many possitive reviews and feedback of customers

however is it possible that u forgot to give them a final rank in overall area in your first post?

I wear glasses by the way, so that is my main concern about the Dali, but is it true that I don't have usually any problem with headphones due to my glasses. My biggest annoyance has been always the pain in the top of my head due to the clamping force.

For example, I've had a v-moda m100 long time ago, then philips fidelio x2 and then my old favourite cans were the B&W P7 wireless in terms of audio quality - not in comfort, and in fact the P7 were for me an all-round product with nice bass (gaming its more enjoyable with bassy cans u know) and excellent soundstage for my ears. I remember having a B&O H7 too and I really really loved them, I think even more than the P7 but my memory is not good enough to be more exact now.

Momentum 4 is not possible to be used with the boom pro mic? It is within my actually top 3 headphones in terms of quality/price/comfort/sound. Other big contender is the PX7 S2 as I guess the comfort would have improved from my old P7... and the third the B&O HX, as I've seen it's not quite different from H95 and is a lot cheaper compared to his new brother

On ther other hand I've been paying attention to another thread talking about Audeze purely wireless gaming headphones and Audeze just have shown today his new top cans in this area: audeze maxwell. But it weighs 490 gr.... I can't believe that number when I saw it!

 

[Maukey]

thanks for your quick answer, I really appreciate it!

yeah, I saw your recommendation about Dali, I did not even know about them and then I've been reading and there are so many possitive reviews and feedback of customers

however is it possible that u forgot to give them a final rank in overall area in your first post?

I wear glasses by the way, so that is my main concern about the Dali, but is it true that I don't have usually any problem with headphones due to my glasses. My biggest annoyance has been always the pain in the top of my head due to the clamping force.

For example, I've had a v-moda m100 long time ago, then philips fidelio x2 and then my old favourite cans were the B&W P7 wireless in terms of audio quality - not in comfort, and in fact the P7 were for me an all-round product with nice bass (gaming its more enjoyable with bassy cans u know) and excellent soundstage for my ears. I remember having a B&O H7 too and I really really loved them, I think even more than the P7 but my memory is not good enough to be more exact now.

Momentum 4 is not possible to be used with the boom pro mic? It is within my actually top 3 headphones in terms of quality/price/comfort/sound. Other big contender is the PX7 S2 as I guess the comfort would have improved from my old P7... and the third the B&O HX, as I've seen it's not quite different from H95 and is a lot cheaper compared to his new brother

On ther other hand I've been paying attention to another thread talking about Audeze purely wireless gaming headphones and Audeze just have shown today his new top cans in this area: audeze maxwell. But it weighs 490 gr.... I can't believe that number when I saw it!

Well, what do you know, the Dali isn't listed in the Overall anymore . Thanks for catching that, I removed it on accident. I can tell you it's last as an overall recommendation simply because it lacks pretty much any features outside of the basics. The ANC is pretty mediocre as well.

The Momentum 4 is 2.5 to 3.5 if I remember correctly. The Boom Pro wouldn't fit. The PX7 S2 is USB-C to 3.5 so that wouldn't work either. Your headphones have to have a 3.5 input on the headphone for the Boom Pro to work. Now there may be adapters that work, I've just personally never tried or even looked for that.

 

[Soul_Viper]

Well, what do you know, the Dali isn't listed in the Overall anymore . Thanks for catching that, I removed it on accident. I can tell you it's last as an overall recommendation simply because it lacks pretty much any features outside of the basics. The ANC is pretty mediocre as well.

The Momentum 4 is 2.5 to 3.5 if I remember correctly. The Boom Pro wouldn't fit. The PX7 S2 is USB-C to 3.5 so that wouldn't work either. Your headphones have to have a 3.5 input on the headphone for the Boom Pro to work. Now there may be adapters that work, I've just personally never tried or even looked for that.

mmmm this is bad so, so apart of the Dali u don't remember any other headphone compatible? thanks mate

 

[Maukey]

mmmm this is bad so, so apart of the Dali u don't remember any other headphone compatible? thanks mate

The original B&W PX7, Sony 1000XM5, NAD Viso HP70 (Not the most comfortable for some and very hard to find now), PSB M4U MKII. Those are the few off the top of my head. All of which I've used to game and some point in time.

 

[Derivative]

If I understand correctly, in your view the Sony XM5s have the best ANC?
I'm looking for a pair of good ANC HPs for the daily commute to work. Ditched my XM4s last year for IEMs but they can't hack it on London's extra noisy tube... so back to ANC it is.

 

[Maukey]

If I understand correctly, in your view the Sony XM5s have the best ANC?
I'm looking for a pair of good ANC HPs for the daily commute to work. Ditched my XM4s last year for IEMs but they can't hack it on London's extra noisy tube... so back to ANC it is.

Yes. Them alongside the AirPods Max. Even though I don't have it in my comparison, the Bose QC45 is very good as well. We're talking strictly noise cancelling.