Recommend Some Headphones? (1 Viewer)

Moxie Mike

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I had these for a while but yesterday they broke* irreparably. I liked them so I am bummed - sound quality and features were great but durability was an issue. So it's time to upgrade.

Last night I bought the Bose QuietComfort 35 ii and picked them up locally this AM... after trying them out they are OK but I'm not impressed for $300. The sound quality is just alright and the volume doesn't go high enough. So I'm going to return it I think.

So I'm looking for suggestion on a pair of over-ear headphones. Requirements are good mic, long battery life, quick charging time, easy BT connectivity (the Bose requires an app, which I also don't care for), comfort/durability, and of course good sound quality and volume.

Taste in music (if it matters) is primarily heavy metal (Slayer, Pantera, Cradle of Filth) with some regular rock (Foo Fighters, RATM, Ghost) and some occasional pop (Lady Gaga, P!nk). Also, sprinkle in some Eminem here and there for good measure.

Thoughts? $300 is the most I care to spend.

*No, I don't want or like earbuds.
 
How long did you have the Sonys? If it were me, I'd probably rebuy those...

What was the durability issue? Are you rough on headphones? How long do you use them in an average week?

I just got tired of the charging and recharging and picked up a set of wired earbuds... I'll still use wireless when needed, but when I can go with wired earbuds, I'll be doing that.
 
I stopped by B&H in NYC and tried on every good pair and honestly felt that the Bose QC 35’s were far and away the most comfortable. I use AirPods generally, but use the Bose at my desk and when traveling and in either circumstance comfort is paramount because I am wearing them for a long time. The sound seems good to me but I am no audiophile and I have not felt the volume limitations you mention.
 
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Not sure if you saw but could be a good starting point https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/headphones.42072/

I didn't I'll check it out. Thanks.

These are what I use almost daily. The battery life is great. The sound is good. I'm not an audiophile though. To me they're well worth the savings. I've wore them doing about every activity you can think of and they've held up.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NM3RSRQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_dLy5EbSRZ0SW6

Thanks I'll take a look at those.

How long did you have the Sonys?

I bought 3 sets of them 4 or 5 yrs ago... my wife and teenage daughter broke theirs within 2 yrs... mine broke yesterday. They had a poor design where the plastic swivel that contained the over-ear part wasn't very strong and would snap... I actually broke mine about 6 months ago but I was able to repair them with epoxy... but they broke irreparably this time around.

I'm not rough on them... they were just poorly designed. I actually liked them a lot fragility issues notwithstanding.

I'm not a brand loyalist... the Bose had like 4.9 stars out of 700+ reviews on BB's website and the price point was fine... so I ordered them without a lot of comparison shopping or review reading.

Thing is... a lifetime of heavy metal has definitely left me with some damaged hearing. So what's acceptable to most people will be insufficient for me.

I stopped by B&H in NYC and tried on every good pair and honestly felt that the Bose QC 35’s were far and away the most comfortable.

They're very comfortable... more so than the Sonys I had.
 
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Check out the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0, should fit all your requirements.
We have 2 of them for years now without an single issue, even with my kids using them.
Very good sound, instant bt connection, any imo one of the best looking ones out there. Very durable battery and fast charging as well, although I actually don‘t keep an eye on that, as I charge over night and switch between in ears and them when playing long tourneys.
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-M..._r=YW6888KJ7BFGWA9257K8&qid=1592131393&sr=8-4
 
I switched from Bose to Sony when they upgraded the WH-1000XM3

this X 1000

im a closet audiophile. After watching a bazillion reviews on YouTube, talking to friends, and then going into a brick and mortar store for a test of my own, i settled on the Sony’s and couldn’t be happier. Mine have been super durable, taken with me in backpacks during flights/travel and tossed around from bedside to mowing my lawn. I don’t wear them around my neck, like one of the cool kids (nor do I abuse them), but I’m not overly gentle with them Either.
SQ is superb (Reviewed higher than the Bose), and comfort is top notch (on par with the Bose). Battery life is insane, and I can get through an entire trip to Vegas and back without recharging the batteries. Every minute of the advertised 30 hours...

go with what you like, but I’d recommend the Sonya with confidence.
 
Beats Studio 3 wireless - https://www.apple.com/search/studio3

Cons
Sound not audiophile accurate
Cheap plastic feel
Not great aesthetics
Outrageous list price

Pros
Battery lasts 40 hours when paired to Apple devices!!!
Comfortable over-ear design
Fast charging
They make music sound good
Noise canceling (can be turned off)
Quick pairing with Apple devices
Bluetooth but can be used with included wired cable
Available used for under $100
 
Just curious, you mention the Bose QC require an app in regards to Bluetooth? I don’t need an app for my Bose QC to connect to other Bluetooth compatible players. They connect just as easy as anything else. What app are you referring to?
 
Just curious, you mention the Bose QC require an app in regards to Bluetooth? I don’t need an app for my Bose QC to connect to other Bluetooth compatible players. They connect just as easy as anything else. What app are you referring to?

It's not a requirement to connect to a device... from what I can tell the app doesn't do shit except for offering various noise cancellation levels and allows you to program one of the buttons on the device to one of a few mostly useless options. The Sony @Trihonda suggested also has an app that seems to control EQ and some other stuff... I think that's the one I'm going with. I can always return it again if it doesn't work out.
 
These are what I use almost daily. The battery life is great. The sound is good. I'm not an audiophile though. To me they're well worth the savings. I've wore them doing about every activity you can think of and they've held up.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NM3RSRQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_dLy5EbSRZ0SW6
Thanks for posting this. Not sure how I missed it when looking for lower priced BT headphones. I have several other Anker Soundcore products and love them.

THESE have been my leading candidate. A little more expensive, and THOUSANDS of great reviews. But Damn! They be big, clunky and Fugly! Those Soundcores are much sleaker.
 
Thanks for posting this. Not sure how I missed it when looking for lower priced BT headphones. I have several other Anker Soundcore products and love them.

THESE have been my leading candidate. A little more expensive, and THOUSANDS
The Anker ones are nice I can't say anything about the ones you linked.
 
I’m surprised no one as mentioned the Audio Technica ATH-M50 headphones. These are regarded by many in the music industry as one of the best studio monitor and DJ phones. The isolation from outside noise is fantastic, sound is great, and the price is quite reasonable in comparison to others in its class. I have had a set for the last 10 years and will buy nothing else.
https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50xBT-Wireless-Bluetooth-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR86/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=audio+technica+ath-m50x&qid=1593538045&sprefix=audio+technica+ath&sr=8-3&th=1&psc=1
 

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