Note: This video was filmed a while back and the materials B&W provided for the PX7 S2 at that time stated those headphones only supported Bluetooth 5.0. Their materials have since been changed to reflect the correct Bluetooth 5.2, but there's no way I can edit this video unless I take it down completely. So I apologise for the incorrect info regarding the Bluetooth version for the PX7 S2!
Thank you for this comparison. You assured me that I made a good decision because I've already bought PX7 S2 because of its fantastic sound. ANC is also very good even though this is not the most important for me. I agree that you have to go to the store to try headphones before buying. I wanted to buy B&O HX, but I had to change my decision because this type doesn't fit in my head. And also because of touch control. PX7 S2 has button control, which is much better. It might be good to mention the type of control in future comparisons.
Thanks for watching! Some things had to give since the video was already quite long. For a more detailed look at each headphone, I linked the individual reviews!
@@Audiofied I’m in the apple eco system I have AirPods Pro’s right now . But between the m5’s and AirPods Pro max as far as comfort and value which one is the one to get.?
@@Johnmims65 The XM5 is lighter and more comfortable on the head, so if you're planning to use them for long flights etc, they probably will be a better choice
Excellent! I’ve watched a tonne of review videos on RU-vid and you’ve reached International standards in terms of your review style, quality of audio/visual, organization of your content, analysis and your own opinion. Well done!
Good presentation! Very professional! I really appreciate the high frequency test. The advice to try-before-you-but for fit is absolutely true. I bought a set of Audio Technica headphones that were a but too small and made my ears ache after about 20 minutes of wearing.
The PX7s have worked amazingly for me when it comes to gaming and listening to game OSTs which are mostly instrumental. I think the word is separation when you really hear more detailed instruments in the background. I did have to turn up the treble about 2 levels on it though. So far they’ve been comfy for me for doing a few hours of gaming and no issues at all with the ANC. The sound is nice and pure and the bass doesn’t muddy the track like most headphones but at the same time still has a nice kick. I’m not sure if it’s just me but plugging it directly into a device using the cables provided seems to increase the sound quality as well! Man, we need wireless earbuds that can be turned into wired buds too.
I really liked the video and how the testing was conducted with only one suggestion: when comparing the transparency mode, you assume we know how the environmental noise actually is and it's hard to tell which one is more close to the real thing but it looks like the AirPods Max do sound more natural
Thanks for the video Cheryl! Just one piece of feedback - it'd be better if we got to hear the source track as well (from the source, not recorded from the audio device) so we have a 'control' to compare against. Also, do you have the playlist of songs you used for the sound tests? Thanks and cheers!
Great video, I used WH-1000XM3, they're amazing, but they not so compact as TWS and no any IP rating, sold em and bought WF-1000XM4. They way better for me
Hi awesome video, congratulations! I'm looking forward to buy one of these headphones and i'm leaning towards the bose qc45. Besides their excellent comnfort i've heard that the new firmware update really got them ANC and sound quality improvements. Did yout contemplate it in this video? Thanks
So if i have an iphone i cant use the sony mx5? Bc i want to buy a new headphones and i have 456€ for the buy and idk what to buy. Ofc i want the airpods max but i dont have the budget for that and i don’t want any airpods pro.
All of them except the AirPods Max work fine on PC, but I'd recommend looking for one with multipoint connectivity in case a call comes in on your phone so you don't have to scramble to switch source.
Having issue with my airpods max pro for pc keeps cutting off using bluetooth and they dont have passive wire mode. Wanted to use as a gaming headset so I have to get sony
do the Sonys reach higher volume overall? or are they just louder at the 50% point? and if they can reach higher volumes than the others, can they also reach volumes higher than the Sennheisser Momentum 4?
Comfort-wise, I think the QC45 was the most comfortable, with the XM5 and the Px7 S2 coming in second. Nothing hurts after a long period of time, but the AirPods Max is heavier on the head, so it gets a bit tiring!
The Panasonic Technics A800 has very good sound and ANC and it's general volume and bass volume is much stronger and powerfull compared to Sony MX4 or Bose QC45. But to listen my favorite music genre electronic music and techno i prefer to use the Panasonic RB-M700B because they have somethning the A800 and other expensive head phones on the market does not have at the moment: A Bass reactor vibration system ! I really love the bass reactor vibration system very very very much !!!! It feels like you have a 2.1 subwoofer hifi system. Panasonic Technics A800, Sony MX4, Sony WHXB910N, Bose QC45 feels more like an 2.0 weak bass hifi system without any subwoofer. For a very very very noisy ambient or music without any bass (for example old music) the A800 is the best. So I change my headphones depending on the situation. I use public transportation and have a very noisy neighbor that is the reason I own the Technics A800 and the Bose QC45 (only to watch TV and video games but not music). For music I use my 3 pairs of Panasonic RB-M700B. I hope Panasonic will continue to offer and develop headphones with bass reactor vibration system because I can't listen to techno and electronic music on head phones without a bass reactor anymore. The Sony MDR-XB950N1 Extra Bass head phones from 2017 have a bass reactor vibration system (my first head phones i had with a bass vibration system) but the new Sony WHXB910N Extra Bass from 2021 don't has a bass vibration system anymore imo.
Nice review. The Airpods Max are hideous looking, just like Apple's earbuds. They have solid ANC and sound but they are heavy and expensive. The Sony's have touch controls which is a deal breaker for me. It comes down to the Bose QC45 and the B&W PX7 S2. I'm torn between the two but leaning toward the QC45's for their light weight and comfort. The one thing I will say is they all sound very good. I think whichever one you buy you will be happy with the sound so it comes down to comfort, ANC and the controls.
Very informative, especially because of included sampling. One question though: is the ear pressure the same in all of them? My QC 35 seems to have a lot of it, so I'm ready to jump the ship and am leaning towards XM5. Thanks so much.
Glad the video helped! I'm not sure if you're referring to the pressure from the ANC or the pressure from the headphones (clamping force), but I will say that the ANC pressure from the XM5 is relatively high. The QC45 were the most comfortable both from the clamping force and ANC pressure standpoint, although I'd say the XM5's clamping force is just right as well.
@@Audiofied Thank you for your reply. Yes, I was referring to the ANC pressure. So, XM5 isn't as comfortable as I thought; it's good to know. Thanks so much.
@@sene8675 Unfortunate side effect of the super effective ANC from the XM5s I guess! Personally, doesn't affect me that much, but some of my colleagues are unable to use Sony headphones because of the pressure
Are the Airpods Max really the best for me as an iOS user? I really want to buy the xm5 but i dont know how big the difference ist between the xm5 and the AirPods Max for an iPhone / iOS user.
Listen to the sound and ANC tests for both in the video! Honestly, I'd say the ease of use with an iPhone is the main factor for the AirPods Max. Especially if you're gonna get an iPad or Mac computer, the auto switching etc is really very handy
@@Audiofied Another key aspect of the AirPods Max is the spatial audio which sound quite good and it's only available in the Apple ecosystem, so if you use everything from Apple, you can get the most of them. Sound quality wise, the B&W and closely followed by Apple and Sony XM5.
Thank you for great review with useful explanations. What would you recemmend for me if I am using iPhone but I like px7 s2 sound? Of course I like much Airpods Max sound as well but here the price is almost double here. Best regards from Poland.
airpods max no doubt if you have ipad or iphone the spatial audio feels magical no joking. sony xm is also great but the spatial audio only works in few specific apps
What do you mean the bose has a tighter bass? I've been hearing that the qc45 has flat bass, is that the case even after you've moved the bass all the way up in the EQ?
Tighter as in quick and responsive, well-controlled. I wouldn't say it's very flat, there's a very slight boost, but it's certainly not to the level of other headphones that you hear like the Sonys
HOLY SHIT FINALLY A NON BIASED VIDEO WHERE THEY DONT TRASH THE AIRPODS MAX IN THE FIRST 5 sec. IM TRYING TO COMPARE IT TO b&w but since my airpods max died and im looking to buy a new headphone i have very little frame of refrence , i only had the airpods max and the sony’s . Since most of the videos say that ANY HEADPHONE SOUNDS BETTER THAN THESE when they compare it to some other headphones it is very hard to determine if the guy is biased or not. You vid was quallity , i would like it twice if i clould.
Thanks for the kind words! I think a lot of people trash the AirPods Max simply because it's an Apple product. It's honestly not that bad (sound quality + ANC), even though it is quite overpriced!
Do you plan on comparing the Technics EAH A800? I am wandering when it comes only to sound quality how would they compare to the rest of the similar priced headphones.
Heya, sorry, I didn't have the EAH-A800 on hand for this video. I'd say in terms of sound quality, the EAH-A800 would be behind the PX7 S2 and AirPods Max for me!
I disagree. I have a iPhone 13 Pro Max 📱 and the Sony XM5’s are much better for my iPhone. I don’t care about spatial audio. Not impressed. Sony is louder, more bass, the mids, highs, and lows are stellar. The 🎤’s are great. Which makes for great calls. The noise cancellation is industry leading like it says in the box lol The best overall ANC headphones 🎧 on the market 🔥 hands down!!! I love Apple, but there is no justification for the hem to be $550 or $449 like they are on Amazon right now. They should be $350. They are not better than Sony in anyway. Except for build quality and transparency mode. That’s not enough for people to buy them. I’m sorry. I’m being brutally honest here people.
Thanks for your opinion Brandon! Like I said multiple times in the video, audio is subjective. What sounds good to you might not sound good to others. Glad you love your Sony XM5s though, I did say they're the best for ANC :)
I always had bright or flat headphones like AKG, and even Grados. When i heard the XM4 from a sibling I was impressed, very fun to listen to. I have ear fatigue from all that listening and that warm sound really helped my ears. I have the Beoplay H95 as my main wireless headphones not very fun but it's metalic sound makes it unique giving to someone. Im currently looking for the XM5 or Momentum 4 as my main warm sounding headphones.
@@alexsmith1207 yea, I still prefer xm4! I brought airpod max and after a couple of days i returned it.. and for xm5 i don't impressed and the headband i felt pressure on my head and is a nono just like the max and both are damn heavy!
Very nice presentation and comparison. I would be interested on your opinion in regards to stage comparison between AirPods Max and B&W PX7 S2, when playing lossless spatial audio songs from Apple Music.
@@Audiofied compared to the mic quality of galaxy buds2 pro? Not a fair comparison, I understand but can you at least help me out on this. I'm looking for something with a good call quality. Both the over ear xm4 and the buds2 pro are in the same price here.
@@kjg_95 Then I'd say definitely go for the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for mic quality. Are you using a Samsung phone? If yes, then it's even more of a no-brainer
Wow im surprised you don't have more subs, this is really well presented. For the XM5s, are they comfortable to wear with glasses? I've seen that glasses-wearers get quite uncomfortable after extended use. Thanks!
Thanks for the kind words James! They're not too bad really, but I think a factor is that my head isn't too big/wide either, so the arms of my glasses don't get pressed into my head with the headphones. For people with wider heads, it might become a problem, but the clamping force itself for the XM5 isn't big at all
Can you add the 5909s to this comparison. Would love to know how their sound quality stacks up against the px7 s2, anc against the xm5 and comfort against the Qc45. Thanks a lot for these crisp and concise videos
Hi, can't do that unfortunately, as I've returned the 5909 a while ago. I'd say the sound quality is better than the PX7 S2, but the ANC isn't as good as the XM5, and definitely not as comfortable as the QC45.
Pretty different sound signatures, I'd say the Momentum 4 is more fun while the PX7 S2 is more analytical. Soundstage though, I think the Momentum 4 wins. Sound quality is pretty equal between the two I'd say. Can't speak to the mic on the Momentum 4 as I didn't get a chance to try it wired, but I know that the PX7 S2's mic doesn't work when wired and not turned on.
Is that so? The initial spec sheet the brand provided stated Bluetooth 5.0, and if you do a search on Google, the other media publications who did their reviews on embargo also state 5.0. Certainly very odd that the spec has changed on the B&W website.
i had the sony XM3 that i gave to my sister and the XM5. the XM5 just callapsed on my one day and stopped working so i have personal grage against sony's XM series. i'm looking into replacement and thought the PX7 S2 but a friend is firmly against this option as wilkins is a fashion brand and not an headphones brand from the start and urging me to go with the BOSE. he is against probably 99.99% of all bluetooth headphones out there accept one per that cost like 799$ and i don't have that budget so he recomended the BOSE as an alternative
The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless headphones are the best for jazz music, offering versatility and a premium listening experience with effective noise cancellation.
@@treasurem2491 Yes agree 💯 I have the XM4 and one of my friends have the xm5. I tried my friends xm5 few days ago. The sound is more clear and more open on the xm5s. The bass is more tight and controlled and punchy on the xm5s. Xm5 has less boomy bass.
I wish range was a concern for someone else besides me. I want to use with tablet(giant antenna wifi) & cut the grass/work in the yard. I live in a house Not built in the last two decades so heavy plaster walls are also a concern... for just me??? Even the sites that test wifi sometimes the 4.0 5.0 or 5.2, system, but NEVER test just list manufacturers wishful thinking specifications in range!!!
Yup, when they sent over the headphones and materials pre-embargo, their release said 5.0. Unfortunately, can't change a video like how articles can be changed :)
You can check out the sound quality comparison in the video! Personally, I liked it enough to buy a pair when the XM4 first came out, but there are better sounding headphones on the market now
SONY WH-1000XM4 sounds better... got more bass and treble... need them just for listening to the music VERY OFTEN and BASS & TREBLE are very important to me - is this a good choice?
@@Audiofied just a one short question - for everyday usage and just for a music listening (a real progressive music with a real good bass and treble - a sound quality and a noise isolation is the most important things) for about 6-8 hours a day - are the XM4's better ones? I will not need a headphones for any calls, just for a music... Need the best possible model to choose and I am stuck between XM4 and XM5... need to choose... in the shop was just a one model - XM5's and I've listenend on a FLAT EQ - what I've discovered - noise isolation is very good - not sure about the sound quality... these ar the most important things for me.... Need honest advice which model I must choose... just for everyday music listening... but need the best quality possible....
@@Audiofied Thanks for an answer - but this difference is very big? is it worth to pay +-200 EUR more for a new model? XM4 is now discounted, that's why I'm asking :) but - if if I will regret for a sound quality.... that's why I am not rushing.... need a professional advice from an experienced user who has used already the XM5 & XM4
I'm surprised by the way you have explained everything in detail & the most practical aspects. Your review is at par than many international youtubers with million+++ subscribers. More Power to you little brother. Love from India !
Unfortunately, when we were given the official specs at the start, it stated 5.0. Articles can be corrected, but videos can not, so we're stuck with me saying 5.0 in this video.
Would of been nice to have a mic test for all of them also . Still don't get why PX7 has better audio quality when the sound is like in another room that's flooded :)) . Thank you for the comparison , great work !
I must have very good ears, because to me the Sony XM5 is crap in the ANC department. It sounds almost like the old Bose QC35. Sony's XM4 and Bose's QC45 are much better in cancelling lows, mids and highs. By the way, the new Bose QC Earbuds II blows all of them outa the water in terms of ANC. They set a new standard for ANC, they are awesome.