Prime Day Bluetooth Headphones

monquixote

I've just started a new job working from home and I'm planning to treat myself to some Bluetooth headphones.

Given that it's Prime day I've been scanning the options.

My criteria are:

• Closed back
• Bluetooth, with wired fallback
  
• With microphone for calls
• Comfortable
• Great sound quality
  

I don't want Beats or Bose as I don't really like the brands so that suggests:

B&O - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bang-Olufsen-Headphones-Cancellation-Transparency-Black/dp/B078HSVK7M?ref_=Oct_DLandingS_PC_10d57cfd_14&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&th=1

V-MODA - https://www.amazon.co.uk/V-MODA-Crossfade-Wireless-Over-Ear-Headphone/dp/B015R7AGHC?ref_=Oct_DLandingS_PC_6fc58791_22&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

Sennheiser - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-Special-Wireless-Headphone-Cancellation-Matte-Black/dp/B07CKT8Z57?ref_=Oct_DLandingS_PC_77304e43_34&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

Sony - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-MDR-XB950N1B-Cancelling-Extrabass-Headphones-Black/dp/B01N5MQX4N?ref_=Oct_DLandingS_PC_77304e43_25&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

B&W - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bowers-Wilkins-P5-Wireless-Ear/dp/B00Y0Q9LFU?ref_=Oct_DLandingS_PC_77304e43_36&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

What would you get?

monquixote

A bit of research suggests the Sony will be no good as they are super basy.

RaymondLin

If you are going up to £200 + with the B&O then.....Sony WH 1000 XM3, hands down and pretty much everyone online agrees.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-WH-1000XM3-Wireless-Cancelling-Headphones-Black/dp/B07GDR2LYK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=29NK51YUW929D&keywords=sony+mx1000m3&qid=1563274446&s=electronics&sprefix=Sony+MX10,electronics,162&sr=1-1

fields5069

I don't have any of those, I have a pair of Philips SHB8850NC. They're noise-cancelling but I've never used that feature. They got a good write-up in What HiFi, and they're around £90.

revsorg

These are the Amazon price histories for those five pairs of headphones - helps decide whether they are really good deals:

B&O | V-MODA | Sennheiser | Sony | B&W

monquixote

RaymondLin said:

If you are going up to £200 + with the B&O then.....Sony WH 1000 XM3, hands down and pretty much everyone online agrees.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-WH-1000XM3-Wireless-Cancelling-Headphones-Black/dp/B07GDR2LYK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=29NK51YUW929D&keywords=sony+mx1000m3&qid=1563274446&s=electronics&sprefix=Sony+MX10,electronics,162&sr=1-1

You make an extremely valid point.

If I do go up to that price point I should probably consider going for the Sony ones instead.

If I'm closer to the £100 - £150 mark then I'm a big fan of B&W and Sennheiser although I've seen one review where the B&Ws were criticised for shitty Bluetooth.

RaymondLin

monquixote said:

RaymondLin said:

If you are going up to £200 + with the B&O then.....Sony WH 1000 XM3, hands down and pretty much everyone online agrees.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-WH-1000XM3-Wireless-Cancelling-Headphones-Black/dp/B07GDR2LYK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=29NK51YUW929D&keywords=sony+mx1000m3&qid=1563274446&s=electronics&sprefix=Sony+MX10,electronics,162&sr=1-1

You make an extremely valid point.

If I do go up to that price point I should probably consider going for the Sony ones instead.

If I'm closer to the £100 - £150 mark then I'm a big fan of B&W and Sennheiser although I've seen one review where the B&Ws were criticised for shitty Bluetooth.

You get what you paid for.  The Sony pretty much the standard when it comes to wireless closed headphones.  I got the mk1 and it's that good I don't feel the need to upgrade, the mk3 would be the same.

monquixote

revsorg said:

These are the Amazon price histories for those five pairs of headphones - helps decide whether they are really good deals:

B&O | V-MODA | Sennheiser | Sony | B&W

That's very helpful.

They all seem like genuine good deals.

Blackbooks

I've had a set of Lindy headphones for about 18 months...I like them...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/LINDY-BNX-60-Bluetooth-Cancelling-Headphones-Black/dp/B01AAGIKCI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

As they are over ear headphones, I find them really comfy to wear for long periods and the sound is more that acceptable when noise cancelling is active.

monquixote

On reflection @RaymondLin is right so I've ordered the Sony WH 1000 XM3

I've never regretted buying the best of anything and I really do care about audio quality.

RaymondLin

monquixote said:

On reflection @RaymondLin is right so I've ordered the Sony WH 1000 XM3

I've never regretted buying the best of anything and I really do care about audio quality.

You won't regret it.

Long battery life, comfortable, USB-C, good features, quality construction, fantastic sound and best noise-cancelling tech.

monquixote

RaymondLin said:

monquixote said:

On reflection @RaymondLin is right so I've ordered the Sony WH 1000 XM3

I've never regretted buying the best of anything and I really do care about audio quality.

You won't regret it.

Long battery life, comfortable, USB-C, good features, quality construction, fantastic sound and best noise-cancelling tech.

I was sorely tempted by the B&W, but there are various reports of them having issues with intermittant Bluetooth and I find those kind of problems incredibly irritating.

RaymondLin

monquixote said:

RaymondLin said:

monquixote said:

On reflection @RaymondLin is right so I've ordered the Sony WH 1000 XM3

I've never regretted buying the best of anything and I really do care about audio quality.

You won't regret it.

Long battery life, comfortable, USB-C, good features, quality construction, fantastic sound and best noise-cancelling tech.

I was sorely tempted by the B&W, but there are various reports of them having issues with intermittant Bluetooth and I find those kind of problems incredibly irritating.

If you want the audio clout by branding, then B&W will edge it for their reputation, if you want objectively the best headphones then the Sony wins.

MattBanshee

I have both the Sony XB950 and the Sony CH700, and having now seen that you've ordered the WH1000, you have absolutely made the right choice. I couldn't afford them but wish that I could; I tried them out and they are absolutely top notch.

mrkb

What are considered the best in ear Bluetooth phones? Don’t mind a short cable to an over neck battery if needed. Any recommendations?

MattBanshee

mrkb said:

What are considered the best in ear Bluetooth phones? Don’t mind a short cable to an over neck battery if needed. Any recommendations?

The brand new Sony ones got a 5-star review in What Hi-Fi.

Edit - WF1000XM3

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sony-wf-1000xm3

RaymondLin

MattBanshee said:

mrkb said:

What are considered the best in ear Bluetooth phones? Don’t mind a short cable to an over neck battery if needed. Any recommendations?

The brand new Sony ones got a 5-star review in What Hi-Fi.

Edit - WF1000XM3

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sony-wf-1000xm3

This would be my choice.

ThePrettyDamned

Slightly on topic, slightly off, but does anyone find that Bluetooth headphones with apple devices fall out of sync with video? Never happened on android but on the ipad it does.

Those Sony phones are ace. I am not magically gifted with hearing, and at 28 years old I suspect my ears are already far beyond their best, but I tested my AKG c50bt against those Sony ones and the Sony ones were more comfortable (which is saying a lot, I can wear my AKGs all day) and the sound was better - and in a world of rapid diminishing returns, that says something. 

monquixote

Got them yesterday

You didn't lead me wrong

djspecialist

I bought a pair of Sony WH-1000 XM3 a couple of months ago.  Brilliant.

Before buying, I tried these and the Bose QC35-ii side by side.  Both had excellent sound reproduction, but I found the Sonys more comfortable. (I have somewhat big ears; YEMV.)  USB-C charging is handy too.

I mainly use them in a (large, open plan, increasingly noisy) office. While their real strength is blocking out continuous background noise, they do a very decent job of muting nearby conversations.

A couple of weeks ago, I traveled to Asia for business and wore the cans for the entire flight. While reading my book, I kept the noise cancelling on with no signal. What an amazing difference - I felt a lot fresher than usual on arrival.

Highly recommended - I should have bought a pair years ago.

monquixote

Yep, I've had mine for 4 months now.

Use them everyday for work and really glad I bought them.