Tried the XM5s multiple times and I really don't gel with the sound they make. Noise cancelling is very good, fit is fine. Construction feels a little cheaper and thin due to plastic (they remind me of wearing higher end earmuffs), but but A-B with Sennheiser 450BTs and the Sennys just sound better while being cheaper and older, with slightly more comfortable earpads! Sennys are not perfect with ANC/amp noise but still pulled ahead in music. Build quality on the Senny is better too. Same with comparing SQ to my modded IXOS DJ1002s. No comparison as they are wired but overall I was disappointed with the SQ on the XM5. My 2c of course, many love the sound, but for me they just sounded muted and lacking 'fizz' and sparkle. Like they are playing in a hallway or something, it's weird. Sound stage is also quite dead for me. Maybe it's just demo units in shops? I don't know! Not all are the wired demo types that I've tried, e.g. some are as you would buy normally. But I've used them on my own AptxHD phone with high quality sources and they were disappointing still.
I like atmosphere and liveliness in headphones and they just did not deliver there. I have some very challenging audition tracks though that many systems struggle with (Hi-Fi guy as well for nearly 2 decades), detailed Symphonic Black metal compositions really show the weakness to me. E.g. Sirius - Aeons of Magick etc.
I like atmosphere and liveliness in headphones and they just did not deliver there. I have some very challenging audition tracks though that many systems struggle with (Hi-Fi guy as well for nearly 2 decades), detailed Symphonic Black metal compositions really show the weakness to me. E.g. Sirius - Aeons of Magick etc.