Best Premium Headphones 2024 [Tested & Compared!] - AirPods Max vs Bose vs Sony vs Sennheiser..

[@MikeOBrienMedia]

DISCOUNT AFFILIATE LINKS ↘ SONY WH-1000XM5 👉 mikeobrienmedia.com/WH-1000XM5 SENNHEISER Momentum 4 👉 mikeobrienmedia.com/Momentum4 BOSE Quietcomfort Ultra 👉 mikeobrienmedia.com/BoseUltra Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e 👉 mikeobrienmedia.com/Px7S2e APPLE AIRPODS MAX 👉 mikeobrienmedia.com/AirPodsMax

[@jonathanbarnes7641]

How do these compare to these two: 1)Mark Levinson No. 5909 AND the 2)FOCAL - Bathy’s Headphones

[@wagiqwq]

Hi Mike... Where's Focal Bathys???

[@rizzay1]

So I guess beats studio pro aren't good enough to be up here?

[@jsfbay1]

Thanks for such a thorough review. Thank you very much. To others reading this, just substitute your own score for sound quality and design/controls if you are uncertain what to buy (cross off price if that's not a factor too.) In other words, pick the categories that are most important to you and ignore or rank other categories lower. Best of all, go try them for yourselves, because sound quality is very personal, as is comfort (another category you should rank for yourself.) Mike: I realize you have a bunch of categories already, but another to consider is maintainability (or pick a different word), meaning can I buy new ear cushions? New head band? For me, I've owned Sony and Sennheiser corded headphones, and I could buy spare parts for the Sennheiser for everything. I can buy replacement ear cushions for the Sony's. It's a fairly minor point, but it could mean the difference between $20-$30 vs a new pair of headphones. Also, are all these multipoint Bluetooth (I assume)? And if anyone reads this far, if sound quality is your #1 priority, and you don't need to make phone calls, you should be shopping for headphones with a cord. Just saying, no matter how good these wireless cans have become, dollar for dollar you'll probably pay less for better sound quality this way.

[@milanesatm]

Hey, the price part ends at 26:48 😃

[@miggyyusay]

I am one of those people that bought and returned/sold nearly each headphone on this list to see what was the best, and the Momentum 4 also came out as a clear winner for me. Very happy with this pair!

[@59erUlli]

Owner of the Momentum 4 (in jeansblue for 258€) since one week! Thank you for this Review. It's a great Headphone!

[@JaNNeX1234]

You have no Problem with the unbalanced Sound of the Momentum 4??? If you Listen to Bass heavy music mine were defentliy louder on the right earcup. I could even flip the Headset around to see if my ears are not "broken" and you could clearly Tell that the sound and Bass Power is not the same on both earcups. So i returned them and went for Sony.

[@miggyyusay]

@@JaNNeX1234 i don’t notice an imbalance on my unit, and i do know the difference, as the bose QC45 I had before did have an imbalance. Maybe you should have asked for another unit?

[@bfife22]

I wanted to love the Momentum 4's but they hit a pressure point behind my ear and I couldn't avoid it. Loved the sound out of the box and they were built well. Just shows how much of these categories are subjective and it's best try all of them out like you did.

[@Kakita23Kagadon]

@@JaNNeX1234according to a lot of people there’s a 50/50 chance you get good balanced pairs or bad balanced pairs, it’s a quality control issue

[@general.malaise]

I love the Momentum 4s and generally the Sennheiser sound signature. I was able to get them on sale for $199 around Black Friday, which is an actually deranged deal for what you get.

[@malthus101]

they will break.

[@ysryashraj]

Yeah agreed. Momentum 4's are really good sounding headsets. Was using Sony XM4's before and sound quality wise the Momentum 4's are one of the best, if not the best sounding headsets I've owned!

[@humoody]

can you compare to me sennheiser vs BW?

[@NoHiro-qc4dv]

I hate that it only uses one button for everything. Having to hold to turn off when it should just be a recessed switch is frustrating. The app is pretty bad, and the touch controls are too sensitive. Don't get me wrong, great sound profile, and love a lot of the features but some design choices are massively frustrating and it builds up. That's why I'm on this video looking for a better alternative.

[@KingKikikoi]

Returned mine I hate them. They steam up in the ears so bad even with gentle walking it’s unwearable

[@factmeee]

buy headphones from a company who makes audio devices

[@YevErofeev]

Real

[@TiredMikee]

Technically, all of these companies make audio devices 😂

[@GBJ1993]

YES!!! Companies that make sound reinforcement equipment for venues! They do a better job with audio quality in their products.

[@Cucumber877]

Actually goated comment

[@User-hl9yk]

All of them except Apple are deep into audio and sound. Some of them even are all about audio, it is like saying buy clothes from a clothing store. Either this is a jab at apple or i’m missing somerhing here

[@ScaldingCold]

Went with the Bose Ultra since ANC, comfort and transparency were the most important things for me. Also like that they fold up and fit into a small, hard case and they sound very good to my ear. The multi-point works well with my phone and any other device, however not quite so seamless when paired with my laptop and TV together. It typically wants to stay paired with the TV and oftentimes won't switch back to my laptop. One small thing is that you need to watch how you handle them or you might end up getting your fingers pinched in the moving parts. Overall happy with them, but nothing is perfect.

[@lemonking3644]

I went with the Bose Ultra as well. The spatial audio is so AUDIO CHANGING🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@harrywang6792]

How's the noise cancelling?

[@yirehyoon6316]

@@harrywang6792 anc is noice cancelling and its the best you can get

[@janaw469]

@@harrywang6792Very good!!

[@blitz14u]

I had issues with the quality of material used for the bose ultras. I ended up returning them.

[@alejandroelcid]

I keep on hearing about how great the microphones on AirPods/Pro/Max are but I just don't hear it; the voice sounds too compressed and inconsistently sibilant, if that makes sense. I did expect Bose to perform better than it did, I do agree that based on this series of tests both Sennheiser and Sony were the best. Based on my own experience Sony's WH-1000XM series are easy to recommend, the times I have been on a plane all sounds (low rumbling to voices) were cut off. I will also agree that the AirPods Max are a strange set as they don't offer any real value unless you are deep in the Apple ecosystem; even then they are too overpriced.

[@AndrewUKLondon]

I've got the Apple airpods pro 2 (and several other earbuds). I find the microphone quality excellent, especially in outdoor conditions where my Sonys suffered badly, my earfuns aren't great in comparison, my Edifiers fail abysmally and others do so-so (though I like my Bose NC 700 for comfort and usability). With the apple airpods pro 2 transparency and noise cancellation is great. Audio for music is very good too (used the options under accessibility). And where the airpods leave all the other earbuds I've had behind is the usability and pocketability. Using them with android and iOS devices. My favourite for long battery audio quality are the Status Between ANC. But call quality, transparency and noise cancelling don't match the airpods pro 2 (nor usability and pocketability).

[@alejandroelcid]

@@AndrewUKLondon That is part of what I mean. The few times I have tried the AirPods/Max I was never blown away. I just don't get the hype. To paint a picture, in terms of pocketability, the Linkbuds S are just as compact and even something like the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC has a slim enough profile for my pockets. Sound quality, the AirPods/Pro don't outdo the Moondrop Sparks; again, in my own opinion. If we are just talking about the headphones in this video I find the XM5 to be the most versatile. They are light, they sit better than the AirPods Max (the bottom pole of the ear cups pressed too hard on my head), I have access to all functions, the ANC blocks all sound, and I can use them passively. That is not to say that the AirPods Max are bad, or that any other headphone in this video are bad. If you enjoy them great, but again I just don't get (hear) the hype and there seem to be better options; for their price the APM should be punching way above the rest. Again, that is just my opinion, I have only seen this type of hype online. I see more people walking around, enjoying, SkullCandy or JBL headphones. On a final note, that is also the beauty of all of this. We hear different things, enjoy different headphones, and have different opinions. Thanks for sharing your opinion with me.

[@AndrewUKLondon]

@@alejandroelcid thanks for your reply, that's great. You're absolutely right, we hear things differently, have different preferences, priorities, head shapes, hearing...! It's great that we have a range of options and can say what we find works for each of us:). And just to add, I have the Sony wfxm3. They're going strong, and it's handy having NFC pairing on them!

[@drrider100]

Yea, the Max's lag in this section. But their air pods are on point.

[@IMHO88-dm1xf]

I disagree, I think the Bose Ultra is the most versatile, looks the best and premium build quality (white and sandstone colour) and - they fold up and the case is very portable. There's a connection reliability issue with the Sennie and the Sony doesn't have Aptx and is made of cheap plastic...

[@suchitedits000]

You need to add one more Category. :) Sound leak . Some headphones like WH100XM4, the person who is sitting next can easily hear or may be enjoy as same as the person wearing it. The sound is not enclosed in, its like playing on a Bluetooth speaker

[@cyanedavis]

Yeees nobody ever talks about sound leak

[@Buggy_The_Spy_69]

Good idea

[@nuggetfresh9641]

Yeah you right. Sony would lose and bose would win

[@realali93]

@@nuggetfresh9641sept their mic quality is shit and came in last Bose should be ashamed since their charging that much Sony wins again

[@TheMigoMan]

Very good hint! Didn’t thought about as an in ear user. How loud are guys hearing ur music? Because I wouldn’t turn them as loud, so I’m thinking about ignoring sound leak.

[@mav1701]

I've got my Bose QC Ultra paired with my PC and my phone. It automatically switches to the phone if I get a phone call without me having to push a button, and then back to my PC if my phone isn't playing any sound. It definitely seems to prefer the phone, giving it priority if it's playing any sound, but I don't have to push any buttons.

[@GlassHouse80]

That wasn't the case on the Ultras that I had (before I sent them back). I had to press a button on the headphones to switch between the two devices, which took 2-3 seconds to do. I replaced them with the Sennheisers and that has true multipoint connectivity where as the Ultra's do not.

[@mav1701]

@@GlassHouse80 I totally believe you, as I've seen others say the same. I don't know why mine is working the way it does. Could have been a firmware update, I guess? I also have Bose Music installed on my phone, if that makes any difference. If I get a phone call while I'm listening to something on my computer, my computer goes mute for like half a second and then I hear the sound from the phone.

[@carlb9599]

@@GlassHouse80considering switching my QCU for the momentum 4. Are you happy with the change? What did the Bose have that you wish the sennheisers had too? Thanks

[@GlassHouse80]

@@carlb9599 There's only two things the Bose do better. ANC and comfort. Everything else the Sennheisers are better. In terms of sound there is no comparison between the two, the Senny's are in a different league. I was really disappointed with the Bose. I am really happy with the Senny's.

[@user_z01]

​@@GlassHouse80those are two very crucial characteristics if you're a heavy user though. Also, mine switch off whatever I'm listening to, to my phone for a call without any button press as well - so you must have been shafted with a lame early firmware that wasn't updated until you switched.

[@cmykimberly]

I got the momentum 4 and have used them for a month now... I will keep them but I'm not 100% satisfied. The ANC isn't as good as i would like, i bought it so i didn't have to hear my coworkers talking and unfortunately have to bump the volume up past what i would like to block them out. The cups having a full 180 free spin i actually find quite annoying when off the head as its easier to get the right and left cup mixed up, I've since started paying more attention to the 3 raised plastic bumps which indicate the left ear. The cups aren't super comfortable for me, my ears get hot and my head just feels heavy and uncomfortable after awhile but tbf since this is my first set of headphones i think I'm just sensitive to the feeling of headphones. I wish they had more tactile buttons with an actual purpose, the one button they have is for pairing when held down or asks for voice assistance when i tap which i have 0 interest in. The swipe controls are intuitive but i have tapped by accident a lot, it would be nice to turn it off and have the choice of more buttons. Battery life is an absolute winner and sound quality is brilliant so for those 2 reasons i am keeping the headset... Oh and the carry case and cables are great too.

[@cmykimberly]

OK so I'm 3 months in now, i have gotten more used to them. Wearing them because i want to is a much better experience than work of wearing them because i feel like i have to. The right ear being touch controlled is still annoying by false touches but I'd rather have it than not. You also need to turn the headset completely off to use the jack... Which is weird so when your gaming wired you can't use the mic. Battery life still excellent tho and ANC honestly works well in most situations, just that darn office when i notice it 😂

[@polly4531]

@@cmykimberlylooking forward for the next update. I like your review.

[@WuTangWax]

I just love this comment 😂😂😂

[@vokso11]

I tried them all, and for me, the best value is the Sennheiser Momentum 4! I love them so much that I got two (one black and one blue). The sound quality is so good that it always makes me smile.

[@MikeOBrienMedia]

Yeah I always smile when I listen to high quality music through them too

[@Kiddingyoumust]

I love them as well, but I do found the app to be pretty weak.

[@vokso11]

@@Kiddingyoumust What I noticed in general is that we love to have a gazillion features but in reality, we use a few...

[@P0wer2R0ll]

Hello. Do you think the black model will have better durability than the blue model for long term use? I found a deal for both models around 270 in my country.

[@vokso11]

@@P0wer2R0ll Personally I have been using the Sennheiser Momentum 4 since it came out, no issue whatsoever: Choose whatever colour you like the quality is the same . Since I have both, my suggestion is to pick the blue one, it's less common than the black or white one.

[@Thugpug-lp5qz]

You have to mention the cabin pressure from the anc, this is something thats sadly forgotten very much but is very important.

[@sharpsbattle]

Do you have any experience on which headphones in this list have the least cabin pressure?

[@mareksvrcina5279]

​@@sharpsbattle From my Reddit "research" it seems to me that it's those which are on the lower side when it comes to the strength of isolation caused by ANC. And that actually makes a lot of sense.

[@sharpsbattle]

@@mareksvrcina5279 Thanks. That makes sense to me as well.

[@ladymonja]

Is it bad to have the pressure?

[@Thugpug-lp5qz]

@@ladymonja personally, it just makes you feel like theres something constantly pushing something against your ear which gets annoying with time

[@pabiroansfamily796]

Finally...this is what I want comparisson for a few hadphones...thank you...

[@Phillid4e]

Very happy with my B&W Px7 S2 (non "e"). Sound quality ist definitely above the M4 and XM5. M4 are a bit more comfortable but clamp force of the B&W should decrease by a certain amount and then they are perfect for me. Got the B&W for 199€ which was a no brainer.

[@michaelalmaraz3750]

Agreed

[@singlepanic]

Can't love 'em more since april as well. The perfect pair. At least, for me. Absolutely no compromises to cope with. Except, maybe, the price: they were nearly twice as much as my bidget. But the moment I put them on...

[@tsunamipapi173]

B&W got shafted here.

[@cli6389-p4k]

Got my wife the B&W for Christmas. Paid $199. They're awesome. Love them!

[@josephgittos3787]

@@tsunamipapi173 agree so many others say great things about these headphones , and yes they do have a usb c that as a headphones 3.5 on the other end

[@ak_hoops]

I must say. Just had a 7/8hr flight and I was genuinely amazed at the battery life and especially the comfort of the Bose QC Ultra. Even temperature wasn’t a problem for most that time. So glad I got them. So far at least.

[@maddisonsina]

They are freaking great. I love my Bose headphones.

[@dantucsonaz712]

How are they when it comes to aircraft such a small twin engine planes? My Bose ANC 7 produce annoying crackling noises when taking off and landing. Frankly I would rather hear the aircraft engines over the crackling. I know, I could always turn off the ANC during take off and landing which is something I already do. And also I’m sure I’ll be told to simply take the headphones off and takeoff if I would rather hear that sound. That’s not in the interest of what I’m saying. I would like to find a pair of ANC headphones that can handle such audio frequencies and also sound relativly decent. I’m no self proclaimed audio file so there you have it.

[@CatGamer29]

Do you think the ultras are much better than the normal ones because I want to buy the normal ones

[@josephgrimes8395]

I enjoyed this video. I was very impressed the way you broke down all the nuances of each set of headphones. It definitely helped me with my purchase decision. I always enjoy your videos and thank you for keeping me informed.

[@bramschonewille482]

I went with the Momentum 4’s, the sound quality is amazing. When you’re not listening to music/podcast the ANC is great, but not perfect. But with music/podcast on, it works perfect. The difference in sound quality between the Momentum 4’s en the Sony XM5’s was too big to oversee. I’m genuinely happy with my M4’s, they’re amazing. Thanks for the vid, really helped me make the decision. Note: Of course the ANC on the Sony’s are better, but unless you’re wearing your headphones all day without actually using it what it’s made for (playing music or podcasts and such), the Momentum 4’s are the better choice.

[@hill1652]

I have the M4 too. Listening to Sony and Bose, the Sennheiser was much more neutral and clean, not boomy nor bass heavy. To me they were truer to the music Agree on the ANC, certainly not the best but when you have music or other content on, the noise disappears.

[@PurushNahiMahaPurush]

Someone people use these headphones just to remove outside noise when they are studying or working. I do that for work because I sit in an open office that is above a CNC machineshop. So there is quite a bit of noise sometimes when the machines are going full on. Everyone has different priorities but I'm really tempted to get the M4 now. I've seen nothing but praise abouts its sound signature and its ANC is good enough. How is the transparency mode and mic? Does it work good for meetings? IMO transparency mode is equally important as mic when it comes to taking calls because you should be able to naturally hear yourself when talking.

[@sincitysinnermike]

I went with the QC Ultra since I use my headphones primarily on airplanes and ANC was the highest priority.

[@allyjhughes]

Putting B&W last for sound quality is absolutely wild...

[@venny4905]

This man doesn't know anything about audio, why put them last when of all those they are the ones with the best audio

[@youssefsuhail3500]

Lmao this dude put the best sound quality in last insane probably cause it has the flattest eq

[@sathira_anuk5179]

​@@venny4905 nah , M4 sounds better

[@josephgittos3787]

yep agree some people dont understand what a good sounding headphones should be, he probably thinks beats are good too 😂

[@josephgittos3787]

just another thing to say B&W headphones sound even better once you break them in

[@jpskillern]

Got the Momentum 4 before Christmas at Best Buy for $199. The blue ones were their deal of the day. Absolute steal. Very impressive sound.

[@Tyler_ThaTruth]

wait what? man I wish I saw that deal

[@nikitaramazanov7192]

What about comfort ? Do your ears get too hot and sweaty while wearing them ? Or all good

[@chisyt]

How comfortable are they and how are they holding up 5 months later?

[@FigureTube-bq7we]

@@chisyt I have used them for about 8 months, and they hold up pretty well. I don't like the headband, feels uncomfortable. The earmuffs get easily wet from sweating but generally, they feel comfortable and have a good battery life

[@Jigglexphysics]

Just got that sale tonight- and it ends tomorrow lol

[@karma.Probably]

If you want headphones for both music AND making phone calls, which ones would be recommended to try? Every pair I’ve purchased is either good for phone calls but terrible for music or great for music but terrible phone calls. Which pair would be best for BOTH?

[@rendyjansen]

Thanks for the overview! I like how you included the scorecard at the end, allowing us to tally on the metrics we personally prioritize

[@MyBleedingInk]

Just watched it all, thanks for doing this. So I love all the features on the Sony, but ultimately I think comfort, how long you can comfortably have them on, is most important. From what I watched here, Bose is the way to go for comfort?

[@LiL13izzy7]

If comfort is your thing, the Bose is definitely the one for you. I went into a best buy and tried on the Bose Quiet comfort Ultra, Airpods Max, and SonyXM5, and each one has it's pros and cons. Airpods and Sony definitely were heavier than I expected. Bose is light, and felt better.

[@ladymonja]

And nc is better

[@GlassHouse80]

I'm really happy to see some honesty amongst KZbinrs. Over the Christmas period, I bought the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra, sent them back, went into a local Sony shop to try the Sony XM5s, and nearly bought them but ended up buying the Sennheiser Momentum 4s and they are the best headphones out of the three. Sound wise they are so much better than the other two. The Ultra's sound is really, really disappointing. I will say the Bose are the comfiest, but they are not worth anywhere near the price. The apples are a waste of time, it amazes me people are buying them, they also went back when they first came out. Great review!

[@zebobm]

Regarding comfort, between the Momentum M4 and Bose Ultra, which one is the easiest to wear for several hours?

[@Sayid.M]

@@zebobmI own the M4 and XM5’s. They both are very comfortable and I use them both for hours without fatigue. The XM5 ear cups are shallow and the Momentum 4 has deeper ear cups so if you have bigger ears then this will be a better option. I think the Bose is similar but they have a looser clamping force than sennheiser so I assume they would be the best for comfort. Momentum 4 noise cancelling is not as good as the M4 but audio quality is a bit better.

[@picanha694]

Sennheiser is more expensive than the sony in my country

[@alexcooper2603]

@@zebobm I had the sonys and they broke, so i got the M4s and honestly for my (relatively large) head they are horrendously uncomfortable to the point I am sending them back. Will be probably be trying the bose next as after dealing with Sony and their warranty I won't be getting more from them, even if they were very comfortable for me.

[@GlassHouse80]

@@zebobm The Bose are easily the comfiest and have the better noise cancelling. I use mine for music though, so it comes down to what you want, The Sony's are good at everything, but not the best at anything in my experience. My advice: If you want great sound and battery life, get the Sennys. If you want comfort and noise cancelling but don't care about sound, get the Bose. If you want something that is good at all of the above, but doesn't excel anywhere get the Sony's.

[@menachem711]

Great video as always. I think you missed the Commute feature which turns off the front mics and drastically reduces the wind noise on the Bose Ultras when outdoors. That was the big gripe people had with the QC 45s and they fixed it with the Ultras and the new QCs. Although I do wish it would activate it automatically without having to remember to change the mode when getting an outdoor phone call.

[@LEPNinja87]

+

[@abhinrsv]

I have the old QC35 II and there is a simple trick for the wind noise problem. Simply use the noise cancellation on "low" :)

[@Forgotten-Myth]

That was great video thanks for all the efforts, I have one question, there some reports about connectivity on M4s, did they fix the problem on app update or not ? I would be happy if you inform me of this😊

[@lovelyhippo7826]

I have heard of those issues as well, and it happened to me once in the first month or so of wearing it. The fix was simply reinstalling the app, and I haven't seen the issue in the ~8 months since then.

[@xdbasura]

Around April of 2024 they did an update for their firmware, completely gets rid of those connectivity issues.

[@Gravage]

I have both the Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose QC 35. I have found over time that touch controls just don't work for me. As much as I love the Sony line and as good as they sound, the frequent accidental touches and missed commands drive me crazy. I think I'm always going to have to have physical controls on my headphones.

[@MikeOBrienMedia]

Yeah physical buttons are less glamorous but more reliable in my opinion. And the physical on/off switch on the B&W is something I wish others would copy

[@JayJay-jx3zg]

I have the xm3’s. Same complaint. I bought the Senn M4’s and haven’t looked back since. Way more responsive touch controls and so much better sound and mic quality.

[@WhatTheFragrance]

@@MikeOBrienMediasurprised the b and w came last in sound, only seen things say they are way better than the Sonys. Maybe they need breaking in

[@Gravage]

@@MikeOBrienMedia Physical on/off switch is a MUST. I hate holding down the power button and waiting for the light to blink. And if it's bright outside, you can't even see it half the time.

[@daghtus]

​@@MikeOBrienMediaI own old B&W PX headphones and their physical buttons are a blessing indeed. I just recently purchased B&O Portal for my PC and the touch sliders are driving me crazy. I also own Sony WH-1000XM4 and while the touch controls is not a disaster, I still strongly prefer physical buttons.

[@tsunamipapi173]

Have the PX7 S2E and it's been spectacular. I tried all the others in store and none could match the sound quality, build quality and looks. It's just the total package. To each his own, but the S2E was just a tad bit underappreciated here.

[@nikhil9558]

Even i tried everything mentioned in the list, but when it comes to sound quality B&W S2e takes the win hands down!!

[@youssefsuhail3500]

Yep, I tested px7 vs AirPods and xm5 they wayyyy cleaner sounding but this guy needs to get his ears checked lol

[@alexander2576]

I've chosen B&W PX7 S2e over all of the others listed here. Clearest sound, next level 👍

[@_RJ_Z]

Sound quality depends on what you like… i have had B&W since the plugged ones, and those where the days! Had the PX when Apple decided to kill the jack. Then i went from B&W to B&O. And now i have the AirPods Max, and the only thing i can say that is i miss the USB C on the others! AirPods Max is great overall!

[@spread888gospel]

Hi, how do they pair with iPhone apple music ? Do I need to use them wired ans use some special streaming platforms to make them sound good ?

[@Ryantagcoffee]

Missing the focal bathys though, arguably the actual best one - but still great vid!

[@kylewatts9187]

I totally agree with you

[@abrahamroberts2040]

I landed on the Bose QC ultra and Apple Airpods Max. I couldn't decide between the two so I kept both. I took the Sonys back because they just felt cheap to me and I didn't like my ears pressing against the mesh in the cups. however, the Sony xm5 earbuds are my favorites for noise cancellation!

[@jenni4809]

I’m trying to decide between these two as well. I’ve had my AirPods Max for a couple of years but have found them exceedingly uncomfortable to wear now that the mesh on the headband has stretched. But the sound quality of the Bose just doesn’t compare 😭

[@dcrteddy]

Great video but I'm still rocking my Sony WH-1000XM3 since it's still working perfectly fine.

[@Blakholet]

Brokie

[@ver.m1llion]

@@Blakholet u one helluva sad guy

[@Blakholet]

@@ver.m1llion brokie

[@ver.m1llion]

@@Blakholet corny ahh ngga

[@SourStrawberrys]

I think the xm4s are the sweet spot

[@RozetteSaaangs]

Super thorough! Thank you!

[@TheSpartan21029]

I currently own a pair of the XM5s and think if they had a little more physical presence in its bass, they would be perfect headphones for me.

[@AlexK-ov9ov]

eq?

[@TheSpartan21029]

@@AlexK-ov9ovYeah i played with EQ and current have the clear bass set to 8. For me after 8 the bass loses some of its physical presence and can interfere with other areas of sound so 8 is good. I still think they are fantastic headphones and are the best pair of headphones of I’ve owned.

[@jennifercastro8154]

8:20 did not know this! This is SUCH a cool feature to have ugh thank you for mentioning it! I didn’t see this in the instructions 🤩

[@TheTae310]

I had 3 of these sony senn and the max i kept the Senn easily over the others the sound is next level

[@Rondoe21]

i got the sony xm5 with the amazon ear pad replacements and it was the best money i ever spent. i never take them off and i use them to study and game so they're on my head 10+ hours. i do eventually want the airpod max

[@kamranurrahman6434]

I heard if you switch out the ear pads the ANC quality reduces though

[@ladymonja]

​@kamranuimrrahman6434 im curious too. Because bose fit is just way better than sonys which makes me feel like nc would be better for Sony if they had different ear pads

[@Rondoe21]

@@ladymonja I’m just now seeing this but I’ve been using my xm5’s with these replacement earpads for over a year and I don’t see a difference in the nc. When I rewatched the ad for the earpads they said it’s the maximum distance it could be without affecting the devices functions. Everyone that ask me about these headphones almost immediately love it when they try it on. I still forget they’re on my head and I have a sweat cover that I use when I go running. I always recommend a refurbished version since they are pricey.

[@ladymonja]

@@Rondoe21 thank you very much for the information!

[@xezo7491]

Could you share a link to the ear pads?

[@fbhistoriador]

What a great review! Thank you very much. Liking and sharing!

[@zehahaha603]

What about Bang & Olufsen’s H95 or Focal’s Bathys?

[@lucienseddon5452]

I ve bought the Sony a month ago now and wow fr I m really impressed ! I listen a lot of techno/ house and rap music and it is just perfect for this style of music . The bass are just too good I can t live without it

[@keithcannon3682]

I am looking to upgrade my headphones. The xm5's seem to be the logical choice here. I am a huge basshead and I typically buy skullcandy crushers. I had the old anc first and loved them but eventually theu died. Next I got the crusher evo's. These were definitely a step up. The anc on the first pair sucked. I mean...it might as well have not been a feature. I liked the evo's better because they didn't even bother with anc. When my evo's started getting some wear I decided to go to the crusher anc 2's . Wow! I don't know what happened but these had some serious problems. With anc on it seems like the microphones are picking up the bass and trying ro dial it back. So then there is a struggle between the music your playing and the anc. Absolutely terrible. I returned them and am back to my old evo's that are starting to show their age. So...since I am a basshead the Sony's are the only ones in this group that are known among bassa aficionados. Theu appear to have the most features and good anc. I think I'm pretty sold on them. Have you ever tried the skullcandy crusher line? Thanks

[@smilee7338]

​​@@keithcannon3682 maybe im a bit late for u but if u like the Bass of the skullcandy evos u would be disappointed with the xm5's bass, they have a great bass for me but WAYY less than the evos

[@Mark-eh3mv]

Would have liked to see the WH-1000XM4 in the comparison. Still trying to figure out whether to buy the 4's or 5's for my SO

[@optimusprime1598]

Go with xm5...

[@NewAb22]

@@optimusprime1598 The XM5 is the best but the XM4 is still an excellent option and real close in sound quality.

[@ladymonja]

​@optimusprime1598 why? They arent so differently

[@bloopjohnc]

@@ladymonja I find the xm4s to be more comfortable and fit better.

[@ladymonja]

@bloopjohnc thanks man^^ bought the bose qc quiet a month ago from eBay cheaper and I really like them!

[@joshuajones4689]

Probably a dumb question, but where do Beats Studio pros stack up compared to these? Looking for a headphone for travel, music quality and working out sometimes

[@chocolatewheelchair]

People seem to hate those headphones

[@turtlebot323]

@@chocolatewheelchairreally I’ve seen a bunch of positive things about them?

[@wootuka]

Excellent review. I got both the QC Ultra and I just picked up the M4s. The sound quality is something else. An issue I have is that the QC dont fit well on my head and I find myself adjusting them constantly. The ANC being very powerful, gives me disconfort. The M4s are confy so far and if you get them on sale (lowest I've seen is $200) they are the best (Compared to Sony and B&W too). I appreciate Bose coming up with new codecs, but few phones can take advantage of this. The immersive audio in the QC is a novelty that I don't really use and the battery life is not that great. Sadly, I will return the QCU.

[@Blake00001]

Glad to see I am not the only one that could not stand the QC ultra cabin pressure sensation. Had to return them for that reason and because the headband was creaking when walking. Very annoying.

[@grace2727]

Thank you for sharing these reviews. I tried the Bose QC Ultra and Sony headphones today in the shop. I'm very impressed by Bose's Immersive Audio. The sound felt open and clear, making me feel very close to the singer.

[@marc-andrepaquin4409]

Nice review! I had the Momentum 4 but I had to return it twice because they had disconnection issue over bluetooth. They are instable. I went to the XM5 because they are software well designed.

[@hermanowski6905]

Then you for your review friend. I'm considering getting new headphones soon I've owned Sennheiser momentum 2 and 3 ear buds and i think I've decided to get the momentum 4 headphones. Love your content! You have a new subscriber 😎

[@robL1995]

Hi, i have a question: how would you rank the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 (they are in the sale at the moment and have about the same price range). I am very curious if it's worth considering.

[@AnimateTheWorld]

i got the Momentum 4 but after a month i returned them. Loved the sound and the ANC was good but the touch panel was so awful. it was so sensitive and annoying that i couldnt adjust them cause even my palm would trigger it. I did turn it off but even then it would still turn on if i closed the app or off/on headphones.

[@Zandaarl]

Thank you very much for the objective overview! ❤ I have been comparing reviews and specs for the past 2 months, trying to decide which headphones to get - but your comparison split into different (meaningful) categories, which many other reviews neglect, finally helped me decide. Hearing microphone examples was also very helpful. One thing I would wish was included though: how comfortable are they when wearing (sun)glasses. I haven't come across any reviewer talking/writing about it.

[@白泽-k2b]

I know！Sony xm5 and sennheiser 4is good. AirPods Max is pretty bad. I just have three headphones. I hope I can help you.😊

[@roymahendran8494]

This I very good and constructive review. Well done👏 I would like to have seen the technics A800 and the focal Bathys in this mix to compare higher premium headphones. What do you think of those compared to your list on this episode? Apart from that, great reviews

[@linksgarage1985]

Just ordered the momentum 4. Great video dude.

[@wonderofnature7510]

Bose are better, way better

[@icentuche90]

Thats a big lie​@wonderofnature7510

[@pierreguensleger2036]

No, it's not, but you could be your personal preference 🙌

[@panda1412.]

​@@wonderofnature7510 They only have better and anc and comfort.

[@SourStrawberrys]

​@@wonderofnature7510They're not.

[@Briwen2007]

Have any of you experience slight earaches from the vibration from the Momentum 4's? I try to get the vocals up a notch, but I struggle. The Bose QC Ultra vocals are amazing (since I needed that mid range vocals up there due to my hearing loss), but needs more bass. Comfort on both of those are amazing. I did own the xm4's for a week and music is amazing! but its band creates a bit sore spot on top of my head which sucks.

[@haleyhartmann5379]

Thank you for this detailed review! Would you recommend any of these for the gym & traveling?

[@Mr3121996]

Finally! Someone who recognizes how good the momentum 4's are!! I've tried the Bose, apple, Sony, focal, and beats, the Sennheisers are hands down the best sound quality👌. Apods max SUCK at sub bass😅just had to add that in there

[@jameshumiston9945]

I love my senheisers but the one thing i hate about them is if i wear them in the rain and throw a jacket hood over them, to protect me and them from the rain, the hood will play/pause music and generally fuck with the controls. The touch controls wont always detect my fingers. All in all the touch control sucks. The sound is amazing though

[@micperez819]

I hate touch controls too. I wish they would have just kept the buttons. I hate that all the manufacturers just copy each others designs instead of being original

[@davidjenkins20]

Great comparison video one of the best I’ve ever watched. You crushed it.

[@michaelklein23]

I feel like bowers and wilkins px8, focal bathys, mark levinsons and b&o h95 should’ve been included in the best premium category. That being said knowing that battery replacement will be either really difficult or impossible even it’s tough justifying their prices. If batteries were easily replaceable for all of them the px8 would’ve been an easy pick for me simply because of how sleek they are and how beautifully crafted they are all around

[@mickeytollison]

I can’t imagine a person buying a noise cancelling headphone and accepting poor noise cancelling which makes it seem really odd that your number one pick has poor noise cancelling by your own admission.

[@HerculePoirot-q7f]

That's me. I'm kinda between anc and a closed back with good passive noise cancelling. I'd only use them at home for more immersive gaming to not hear the controler clicking so much or the odd motorcycle outside. Very niche and kinda unusual though, I agree.

[@omniphore4913]

Sometimes the sound quality and overal use comfort are more important than how well they block sound. It's always preferential. Use the video to see which you'd want to try in a store, and jusdge for yourself

[@maaax1173]

This is not a noise canceling test

[@twb0109]

They’re not “ANC headphones”, they’re headphones with ANC.

[@flim-flammington]

Noise Cancellation is a feature, Sound Quality should always be king. But it also just depends on your use case, i personally would use it very rarely.

[@tannerwestermann3552]

Which ones would you recommend for the gym?

[@drbranto]

Nice review. However, weighting each of the categories equally does not seem appropriate to me. For example, I place Sound, Nose Cancellation, and Fit to be far more important than any of the other categories .... and by doing so, Bose QC Ultra win out by a country mile.

[@arvid8898]

that is generally why he ranked for each categories, because everyone has their own needs to prioritize which will make different output of "best headphones" on their own depending on their prioritized parameter.

[@ssjdavid]

He didn’t say each category is more important than the next. He broke it down in a way where you choose what’s best for your needs.

[@CaptChang]

Which one is best for big heads?

[@glebcreativ1]

B&W at last place for sound quality behind Airpods is insane, and I have almost all Apple stuff

[@maheshsrigiriraju8757]

Fantastic systematic review!👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽

[@Dr.HaroldShipman]

B&O H95 for me... Im glad i did geth them, The sound quality is better than anything I've own and the build quality is on another level! Plus, I got them for a massive discount during black friday!

[@PandasBacon]

They are not even remotely in the same pricerange tho. So cant really compare. They are good, yes, but, they cost a premium price aswell.

[@demetrizuev258]

Great video, but if you "tried them all" then - Focal Bathys - T+A Solitaire T - Dali io-12 - Mark Levinson 5909 - Bang & Olufsen H95 are somehow missing 😊 You should give this bunch a look if you want to make a comparison of the real premium TWS ANC cans

[@magdad.72]

I would have to sell my car to buy all of these 😂

[@BManningtree]

B&W have a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter! also rating their sound quality below the others, Bose especially seems questionable?

[@august6278]

yeah dude has bad hearing, bowers make best sound quality

[@jvyyyy222]

would you recommend the wh1000 xm5 for iphones? Even though they can't handle the elpac ?

[@camacarzie12]

Ive got both the sennheiser m4 and the B&W px7 s2 and i rarely use the B&W. The sennheisers sound way too good!

[@ygbes1239]

Very very good and easy to understand vid, good joh!

[@borgimplantdan]

Excellent review... I just got the Bose. It was smack dab in the middle. That balance is what I'm looking for. My big thing is sound cancelling, and Bose fits my ticket.

[@mukzz3381]

Why is apples transparency mode so good is there an actual reason behind it, even on AirPod pros, I’ve tried to find buds that match it but I can’t, the transparency literally feels like u don’t have headphones on.

[@geffcer7982]

Px7 S2e got bashed unfairly in my opinion, I don't see how anyone could put their sound quality to last place...

[@davidgriffiths7696]

Depends if they were sponsored

[@georgeapolo5211]

What do you think about the B&O beoplay?

[@ygbes1239]

Very very good and easy to understand vid, excellent job!

[@폴하준]

It was exactly the review that I wanted! Thank you so much. I got a lot of help. I subscribed!

[@KingObaeron]

I love the quality of this video. The shots, the script(?), the categorisations, the in-depth analysis of every compared aspect. Superb work, I’ve subbed!

[@Want300]

I like the Sony’s, but the lack of a slope in the ear cup bothered me. The mesh inside the cup pressed against my ear, which gave me ear fatigue earlier

[@ilyatelegin914]

I rarely leave any comments, but that's a great video that just made my life easier - now I just gotta find the 'momentum.' Again, thanks: great video, great setting/recording, fine phone metrics, great vocal quality - I know I'm not immortal, and I've appreciated every minute of my time spent with this piece of content❤

[@jatanpandya6295]

I watched this video and bought the Sennheiser Momentum 4. And I am so so happy. Thank you for this video. Buy the momentum 4 if you actually LOVE listening to music.

[@sao1393]

Great reviews as usual! You should do a review of the top Hi-fi Bluetooth headphones +700USD. Focals Bathys, Solitaire T1, Dali io12. It’s a new niche… pretty impressive.

[@jasperallen8479]

I have the focals and absolutely love them

[@JF-xq6fr]

Bought two pairs of QC Ultras made a month apart, and both have ridiculous quality control issues, esp for the cost. Both have / had clunks, squeaks, and creaking heard in both ear cups and headband. I dissembled one pair and applied silicone oil, silicone oil mixed with graphite and silicone spray at various points to get the mentioned issues fixed. Comfort is very good, ANC is exceptional and sound is very nice after proper EQ adjustments.

[@SushiPizza42]

Thanks for this video, great reviews, very objective. I owned the momentum 4s and really liked them, the sound quality and batter life was amazing. I think I'm going to try the Bose QCU next.

[@LiftsWithSanchez]

can you just me know which ones are better? i'm thinking about which one to buy out of the two

[@Iceify_]

I have had the momentum 4s for a year now. Unless you are traveling like crazy, you don’t need top tier ANC.

[@Anonymous4045]

How's the durability/battery after a year?

[@Iceify_]

@@Anonymous4045 ok a little update I accidentally spilled water inside one of the earcups. The headphones have now malfunctioned but I still couldn’t recommend them enough. The battery life is great 50-60 hours still and they are in great shape. No worn out leather peeling off etc

[@Dream99972]

@@Iceify_hey can i use them for workout too?

[@Iceify_]

@@Dream99972 yeah. Also another update, I actually opted with the Bose qc ultra as the replacement, I got them for 340 so not too much more expensive. Sound quality and ANc are top priority. I didnt consider the fact I have college coming up in a year so ANC is very important for me now.

[@michelplouffe7934]

Don't mention best premium if you are not including Focal Bathys. Never forget that more sound cancelling mean worst sound quality.

[@pasencoreunautre]

Very thorough review. One aspect which you didn't cover in your review and is very important for me is the sturdiness. My last two pairs of headphones (Sony WH-1000XM4 and WH-1000XM5) broke at the swivel point above the ear cups after 1 year and after 18 months of use respectively because I tend to fall asleep on the couch while still wearing them. Not limiting the choices to the ones in this review, which product(s), in your opinion, offer the best durability and price/performance ratio. Must be wireless bluetooth with ANC. I don't use them with my phone. I mostly watch movies and listen to music on my home cinema and my laptop.

[@markdavidmagat9866]

I daily drove the Sony WH1000M3s and never regreted it. Never went up to the 5s due to me using my headphones a lot and if they're not living on my head or at a charger, they're in my backpack and I liked the portability. But that isn't to say the 5s are bad just that I like the compactability better on the previous model. Now I use the Shure Aionic 40s and I'd give them a shot as well! Great headphones and go for like $250 but I got them during the holiday season for $100. And the sound is amazing, the features, not as in depth as Sony but all of the features are very useful and the noise canceling is actaully pretty good, great even. So yeah! Give the Shure Aionic series a try please!!!

[@Wayneman50]

I recently spent a good amount of time demoing the Bose QC and Sony XM4 AND XM5, Bose ultra are way over priced. The winner for me was actually the Sony XM4. I have a relatively small head and they fit very well and especially like the padding at the top. That is where the XM5 lost out, the top padding is poor so comfort wasn't nearly as good, As for the Bose, because of my smallish head, the Bose felt too big and not very comfortable. Another thing i did not like about the Bose is the Bass for fizzing at higher volumes where the sony's were smooth as silk and thumped appropriately. Granted i did not have access to the EQ settings on either pair. I found the Sony XM4 on sale(in black only) at Walmart for $242. This price beats the Bose which are on sale for $249. And, why no mention of Apple beats?? Best buy had no sennheiser phones to demo.🤔

[@yurii_2604]

Future update Apple just did nothing with Maxes only new colour and “new” charging port 😢

[@davidmmuench]

Awesome comparisons! Gotta question. Are you able to disable touch controls on either the Sony XM5s or the Bose QC Ultras?

[@DBaviation]

Yes

[@jsfbay1]

@@DBaviation Yes for both?

[@Mattijs89]

Normally I take your reviews quite serious, but since you rated the B&W last place, regarding sound... I'm questioning something, because I've tried them all and the PX7 S2e's are rock solid when it comes to sound. Definitely not lacking mids, as you're claiming. The Sony's are the worst pair here. Muddy bass, lacking mids, weird highs... these should definitely be last place. I'm not an audiophile, but in this category I think you haven't listened clear enough. Still... good review, but with the sound quality, I think the placement of the cans is not correct.

[@youssefsuhail3500]

Facts I also tested px7 vs AirPods and xm5 and it shat on them both, this dude needs his ears checked lol

[@SamClover]

I think the price on the Airpods Max is absurd. However, I do have an iPhone, an iPad and a Macbook for work and I would love a pair that can switch seemlessly between my 3 devices without having to repair, go in a menu or etc. Right now I own Sennheiser’s PXC 550-II which only me to switch seamless between 2 devices, so my iPhone and iPad and it works pretty well. I would rather have a pair that switches between 3 devices however, can the Momentum 4’s or the Sony’s do that?

[@ericfan9149]

My AirPods Max don’t pair automatically with my desktop (at least, not consistently). I usually have to go and manually pair them. Strangely enough, the Bose Quiet Comfort I owned previously would automatically pair with my desktop, once I had paired it once.

[@snotrod7]

I stumbled on this video, this editing is absolutely insane. Great job

[@vishakhasingh3517]

Seriously

[@emma_em_11]

MY ULTIMATE FAVES are BOSE QUIET COMFORT, but the speaker just went after 3 years. I'm thinking about replacing to a NEW pair of BOSE or a change to BOWERS and WILKINS or MARSHALL ones. This video will HELP, so THANKS!

[@bfife22]

Just picked up the QC Ultras after having the XM5s for a couple years. The XM5s were never comfortable to me, the headband caused a sore spot and my right ear hated how the drivers press against you because of the shallow ear cups. But I loved the sound when EQ'd and the mic was great. But the QC Ultras are so much more comfortable that I can't go back. Personally I prefer that they look less bulky on your head (The XM5's look sleek in pictures but not on your head), and the controls aren't any worse. If they were equal on comfort I would prefer the Sonys.

[@joshuagall7252]

The XM5s were released like 6 months ago, you haven't had them for a couple years lol. I honestly don't get why so many people feel the need to justify their purchases by lying about having bought other headphones first and returning them because yours are so much better. Just be honest and say you're happy with your QC Ultras, that's fine

[@BoyScoutr]

“The XM5s were released like *19* months ago”. FTFY

[@dobrecristianro]

Nobody seems to talk about durability. When I bought my Bose QuietConfort headphones I didn’t know that the leatherette or pleather headband is not replaceable and once that is starting to peel after 1-2 years, you can’t do anything about it. Same problem with almost all the headphones in this price bracket, excepting the Airpods wich don’t have a leatherette headband at all. If I had to choose now, I would pay the extra and go for the Airpods.

[@michaelsenkowsky4172]

Why is ANC almost always the first topic every reviewer jumps to and seem to put the most weight on during the review? I dont get it. I understand its a comparable talking point that can be more objective vs subjective, but i just do see why its been push as such an important feature. Headphones block out enough sound as is and having some ANC is nice but it shouldnt be more important tgat fit, comfort, and most importantly, sound quality IMO

[@natimber3040]

somebody has never tried studying in a dorm lol 😂

[@gaiusx287]

Probably cuz they want to save the good stuff for the end of the video lol

[@Tremonti4ever]

Does anyone know if there's a noticeable difference between audio via USB-C vs 3.5MM cable? Also can my iPhone 13 Pro Max listen to music via USB-C if I buy a lightening to USB-C adapter/dongle like you have to get to listen via the 3.5MM cable?

[@WORS06]

Tbh before I buy any Earphones / Headphones, I first watch your reviews on it. 🙌🏻

[@MikeOBrienMedia]

I appreciate your trust in my reviews!

[@WORS06]

@@MikeOBrienMedia 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@EthanFromLondon]

Great video, I especially love the colour grading and filming. Would you be able to a video explaining how you film, edit and what equipment do you use. The colours are crisp, nice wide aperture and sound quality is also great.

[@tots14521]

Sennhieser M4, best sound quality, best features plus premium look and built. Good to know this came in #1 on this honest review. Bravo!

[@rhoodj]

I am surprised 😮 I thought it was sony😢. Is Skull candy so bad?

[@skyhero1888]

Sony xm5 broke very quickly always on the same spot.

[@ritwik5774]

Thanks. For future videos could you add a "maintenance" section too to assess the availability of replacement parts/ spares, most importantly ear pads, and how the pads hold up over time.

[@jishnukanjilal8961]

I rock a pair of Sennheiser M4s. Given their price it’s arguably the best price to value product amongst the lot. Sure it doesn’t match up to the Sonys and Bose in ANC but is decent enough. The intuitive touch controls along with the amazing sound quality and recent improvements in its app through firmware updates makes it one of the best in the market in my opinion

[@jishnukanjilal8961]

But having said that I also agree they’re not the most comfortable pair of headphones especially with the heat build up around your ears as you wear them over long periods of time

[@Алексей-ц3о3ц]

buy white- black color? Who cool?