WH-1000XM5

* My budget is upto 165 usd but the cheaper the better, also i live in qatar * im not sure what tonal balance im looking for as this is the first audiophile headphone im buying but i think im looking for a wide soundstage along with accuracy * i will use it at home primarily also i wear glasses if thats relevant * i own a beats solo 3 and its okay i guess? i dont think i know enough to tell if its good or bad so judging by the post i guess its pretty obvious that im not really an audiophile. But i do want some good headphones that go well with 1. singleplayer gaming (expedition 33, elden ring, sekiro etc) 2. fps gaming (primarily apex legends but will try other competitive games like marvel rivals, valorant etc) 3. music 4. ps5 (optional but preferred) * i was looking at buying the [sennheiser hd 560s from aliexpress](https://ar.aliexpress.com/item/1005012094051112.html) but im not really sure if thats legit. Also i dont know if the hd 560s is good for singleplayer gaming i only know that its good for competitive gaming * if needed i can try to buy a apple dongle type c to 3.5mm or a jcally jm6 pro otherwise i will just plug this straight into my laptop hp victus 15 * also its important that the headphones must be from the brands mentioned as my parents dont trust other brands :/ * im fine with closed back as well as long as it fits what im looking for other options i have seen and am curious about are : Sony WH-1000XM5 (xm6 is a little too expensive), sennheiser momentum 4 headphones

**Budget and location** \- US - prefer under $350, will go as high as $500 for something really exciting **Source/Amp** \- HiBy R3Pro II -- it can do 480mW @ 32Ω from the balanced 4.4mm jack, so it can drive pretty beefy headphones as long as I can get a balanced cable for them. **How the gear will be used** \- Primarily in my open-plan workplace, exclusively for listening to music -- I have dedicated gear for conference calls. I don't need/want a mic or ANC but I'm hoping for good passive isolation and great sound, and I need something with minimal sound leakage so I don't drive my desk neighbor nuts. **Preferred tonal balance** \- I prefer a warm sound signature and tend to find too much treble really grating. **Preferred music genres** \- Bit of everything. Classical, alt rock, classic rock, pop, 80s rap, folk... you name it I'll listen to it. **Past gear experience** \- I have an old pair of Master and Dynamic MH40s that I love. Unfortunately they're REALLY uncomfortable for all-day wear cos they're heavy as hell and the earcups are a hair small for me. Before I got those I tried the ATH-M40x and I *loathed* them. Something about the treble I find upsetting, and also they have an infamously tight clamp and I have a big head. Right now my work daily drivers are Sony WH-1000XM5s and they're perfectly decent, but I don't love having ANC on all day long and I'm wondering if I can do better with wired cans. At home I have Hifiman Sundara 2020s and I like them a lot as long as I'm using them with an amp, but they're open back so not good for the office. **Anything else?** \- I unfortunately have an issue with my ears that means **IEMs are not an option right now**. I know I'm not going to get ANC-level isolation, but I find ANC is not great at cancelling out the sounds I find most distracting at my job (mostly coworkers talking loudly). I'm open to the idea that I can't do significantly better than the Sonys I'm already using in my price range, but I'm interested in hearing about any good options. I haven't paid much attention to audiophile headphones in the last \~5 years. What I'm considering: * Fiio FT1: These seem like the obvious pick. Have the build quality issues been resolved? * Focal Azurys: If these cost half as much as they do I'd buy them in a heartbeat. If it's worth it I can probably find them used/refurbished in my price range, but I don't want to spend that much unless they're actually better for me. * AKG K371: A little worried about build quality? * Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO X: I like these in theory but I worry about the sound signature -- I keep seeing the treble described as "bright" and "piercing", which I tend to dislike. * Sennheiser HD 620S: I wear glasses, and apparently that really messes with the fit on these.

My Situation: I’m looking for a pair of high-end wireless headphones for everyday use (commuting, office work, walking). I’m currently debating between the Sennheiser Momentum 4, Sony WH-1000XM5, and the Bose QC Ultra. My Priorities (In order): 1. Battery Life / "Less Charge": I hate charging things constantly. I need something that can go a long time without dying on me. 2. Sound Quality: I want them to sound great for music. 3. Call Quality: I take calls in somewhat noisy environments (office/coffee shops), so the mic needs to be solid. 4. ANC: Needs to handle office chatter and commuting noise well. My Dilemma: * Sennheiser M4: The 60-hour battery is huge for me, and I hear the sound is the best. But I’m worried about the ANC—specifically, does it actually block out office voices? Also heard about some connection bugs/firmware issues—are those still a thing in late 2025? * Sony XM5: Everyone says these are the kings of ANC and Calls, but the 30-hour battery feels low compared to Sennheiser. Is the comfort actually an issue for long sessions? * Bose QC Ultra: I know these are comfortable, but the battery life seems the weakest of the bunch. The Wildcard: Someone also recommended the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 because of the 100-hour battery. Has anyone actually used these? Are the ANC and calls good enough to compete with Sony/Bose? Question: Based on my need for low maintenance (battery) but good call quality, which one is the safer bet? Is the Sony mic/ANC worth the drop in battery life compared to the Sennheiser? Thanks! #

This is the first time I am buying a closed back headphones without the consumer sound ANC set up (used a Sony 1000XM5 for about 5600 hrs and finally the driver started dangling in my left ear side) and I am pleasantly impressed with the Azurys.. I bought this one and FiiO FT1 at the same time and wanted to test both and keep one of them. I love the fit in my ear from the Azurys better than FT1 (may be due to my oval head shape) and also the lightness of Azurys on my head. Soundwise I felt that FT1 was not bad when compared to Azurys but a but toned down bass in Azurys suits my listening taste better... I am revisiting all my favorite songs and it is a pleasant surprise to keep finding new instrument notes in all of my favorite tracks that I never heard before... 6 hrs into listening with this I am returning my FT1 mainly due to fit preference and the lighter bass on the Azurys... How is you all's experience with this one? Edit: using it out of the box without tuning with a Qudelix 5k.

Hi all, I need some help choosing my next pair of headphones. I’m open to either over-ear or in-ear options, provided they are wireless and offer top-tier sound quality. My library is a bit of a mix; I listen to a lot of EDM and rap, but I also enjoy classical and rock. I’ll be using them for general listening, traveling, and working out, so they need to be versatile. Looking forward to your recommendations! FWIW, I’m coming from the Sony WH-1000XM5s.