Am I trying to find something non existent?

Headphones Headphone Discussion / Help
1

After years with my Hifiman HE400i 2020, I just don’t use it that much because I find it too heavy and I’m tied to the desk.

So Im planning to get a wireless on ear or over ear headphones. I just don’t like in ear stuff as I never like how it feels in the ear.

I’m really focusing on comfort now as I found when I focus on the music, the uncomfort is extremely amplified and I am so uncomfortable until I can only listen for short sessions. (I feel my 400i is extremely heavy, I didn’t know I couldn’t stand the weight as I never got to try anything remotely heavy before)

I also learnt that I like V shaped, closed back and hate manually adjusting EQ as I can never get it to sound right. It just sounds wonky all the time and unnatural. I found that I need bass l but not too much like the Sony wireless stuff.

I wanted close back as it just sounds different and I prefer it. Also alot less outside noise.

I’m referencing my Sony WH-CH400 sound profile as the “Sony sound” which is perfect for me just abit too bassy.

My current criteria:

  1. Must be comfortable and Light (like gaming headset comfortable and weight)

  2. Over ear/on ear, closed back

  3. Wireless and compact (don’t like Bluetooth recivers like BTR5 as I want something standalone)

  4. V-shaped

  5. Around $300

I found some stuff that I might probably fit me:

  1. THX Drop panda

Quite abit overpriced for me and not alot of bass. Have to tune it manually and not sure if it will sound good after tuning.

Also seems to be even heavier than my 400i by 5 grams.

  1. Sony WH-1000xm4

Has that Sony bassyness that is too much but I actually don’t really mind. Can tune it abit too.

And might not be super comfortable due to headstrap design.

  1. Audeze Penrose

I heard gamers say they are not super comfortable? But it’s compared with the Steelserise stuff which is super comfortable.

The tuning I don’t think I will like it and I don’t think I’m able to tune it to my liking. Otherwise it’s a perfect buy for me.

Also it’s just abit lighter only, he400i 370G , this 320G

  1. Audeze Mobius

Might be perfect due to warm sound signature but have to find deals.

And even heavier than penrose at 350G

2

Sennheiser PXC 550-II. Very light. Pretty neutral but still V-shaped. Only problem is they don’t get very loud. But very nice sound. Good value at $175.

Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless. Punchy bass. V-shaped sound. Maybe a bit heavy, though. Pricey at $300.

AKG N700NCM2. Comfortable. V-shaped. Light. Tuned fairly close to Harman curve. These probably would be your ticket, and they cost around $150.

Good luck.

3

@pk500
Oo, very cool. Will check it out.

Do you know anything about how detailed they are? Comming from a HE400i I might over expect stuff abit.

4

AKG 371/361 BT.
Bose QC35/45?

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5

Ok, will check them out :+1:

Edit: Yeah, abit underwhelming but it does fit the price.

6

know you said standalone but some people do the true wireless Bluetooth adapters for IEM’s and slap them on headphones (like the Fiio UTWS5 and a 2 pin or mmcx to 3.5 adapter) think Zeos did a video on it

7

@CTOXmas
Would like to do that, but its abit jank. I can velcro it as bluetack is abit jank but its annoying to remove to charge.

8

Well, none of them will compare to the 400i because you’re comparing a wireless to a wired headphone. Plus 400i’s are planars, and all of these wireless are dynamics. So, there will be a sonic difference.

Of the three I mentioned, the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless probably is the most detailed. But it’s also the most bassy and V-shaped. Not a ton of mids, which is ironic for a Sennheiser headphone. The Momentum 3 Wireless is perhaps the most consumer-oriented can I’ve heard from Sennheiser – targeted at the masses, not audiophiles.

If I was in the market again for wireless over-ears, I’d either go with the PXC-550 II’s or the AKG’s.

The PXC’s lack a bit of volume and are a bit bass-lean compared to the other two, but they probably have the closest to an audiophile sound signature. Plus they’re VERY comfortable, second only to the Bose QC 35 among wireless over-ear cans I’ve tried.

The AKG’s have the best overall sound signature of the three. They’re also the cheapest. But their ear cups are a smidge small, so fit could be an issue for some people. Their ANC also isn’t great, if that feature matters to you.

Good luck.

9

Don’t expect the AKG K361/371 BT to be mirror images of their wired counterparts in terms of sound.

I tried the AKG K371 BT, and they sounded veiled and gauzy as hell. Very disappointing. The AKG N700MCM2 are better wireless over-ears from AKG.

10

Agree. I never understood how wireless adapters are a bonafide solution for people who want wireless headphones.

Wireless adapters still have wires, so they’re not TWS. They’re just WS. :slight_smile:

I’m a big believer in horses for courses. If you want wireless headphones for the convenience and ease of use of no wires, then go completely wireless. If you want headphones for critical listening or seated listening at home, go with wired.

Everything else is some sort of compromise, IMO.

11

Maybe the final UX3000. They are cheaper than your budget. I think that they check all of your boxes. I don’t know about their tuning. Might look some reviews, or just buy somewhere with a good return policy.

In terms of sound quality Zeos said that it was his preferred option, but take that for what is worth it. In my view that means that, at last, they might not be bad. Other than that, it’s just preference.

12

Not totally correct but I get your point. There are things like the Deva Pro BT module that are TWS, with the option of going wired also.

There is also the possibility of a fixed 3.5 to 3.5 connector that allows you to connect things like the Go Blue directly to the cup, although this only works on headphones with cable entry on one side.

13

Oh, thank you for your detailed overview of these headphones.

Yeah I think I found what I’m looking for, the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless. Bassy, more detailed, recessed ish mids and a V- shape.

Yeah I’m not going for a audiophiles sounding headphone as I realized I don’t like it. I ended up pressing both the gain and bass boost button on my IFI Zen DAC which boosts the high end and boost the bass. Making it a V- shape so I can even listen to it.

Stock for me is just extremely underwhelming, it’s like everything is paper thin and ultra delicate. I cannot imagine how the Hifiman Sundaras sound. Maybe I don’t have high resolution files to play which causes this issue.

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14

Oh cool, will check them out. I missed quite alot of z videos as those are 4:3 and I hate it.

Just saw it after searching.

15

Yes, good point about the Deva Pro. Other TWS cans like some of the Sennheiser’s and Bang & Olufsen’s can run wired, too.

As I said, I’m just a horses for courses kind of audiophile. I want full TWS for TWS applications and wired for everything else. :slight_smile:

16

No apologies needed, dude. All that matters is what YOU like.

And if you’re looking for a V-shaped, consumer sound signature in a TWS over-ear can, you can do a LOT worse than the Momentum 3 Wireless. They’re among the very best in that market niche.

The only reason I didn’t keep mine was that they were a bit too V-shaped for me, as I prefer more of an audiophile sound signature. Plus the cups weren’t quite deep enough for the odd, protruding pinnae of my right ear.

Enjoy your Momentum 3’s. They’re built like tanks, so you should enjoy many years of sonic bliss with them!

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