Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Philips Fidelio X2HR

Comfort: I wear these for hours straight and haven't found them uncomfortable or heavy. Software Support: Not terrible but not great. For some reason, the "Headphone Connect" app (which is used to more finely control and configure these headphones) is only available on your phone; there is no desktop version. Within the app you can change the equalization profile, change what the general purpose button does (Google Assistant or Noise Cancellation mode), and update the firmware (UI for doing this isn't straightforward and buggy)

I actually consider this headphone to be a little bit more comfortable off the bat just for my head shape and size, but not everybody likes the comfor...

And the ANC (active noise cancelling) was AMAZING. I could be sitting right next to a whole house fan and not hear it. I was blown away. RANGE: Twice during the day I tried walking around while on a call

Amazon is really trying to push me to review these for their noise cancellation. Seeing as how they have no NC, I'll get that out of the way first. If you're looking for convenient, small, Bluetooth, bass-heavy headphones, these are not for you. Go check out the Sony WH-1000XM4's, those will blow these out of the water for those features

So my first pair of headphone I got were the beats wireless studio, I recently decided it’s time for an upgrade and I had bough the Sony WH-1000XM4 and I love the wireless and battery life about it. I also like the noise canceling but once I started listening to it more I could tell they sounded ok but I wanted better sound. What are the best sound quality headphones for under 400$?

The much wider soundstage felt more natural, whereas the 58x sounded like the vocals were in your head. These headphones also made the 58x sound a little veiled or slightly muffled. The only kind of music I preferred the 58x to is when listening to songs where I want the vocalist to be the focal point and the instrumentation to fall back in the background. The 58x was more intimate but less 3D

So I currently own a pair of Bluetooth Sony WH-1000XM4's that I mainly take with me to work and just wear at all times of the day when needed. Noise cancelling is excellent on them and the audio feels so close, intimate and clear, from YouTube videos to music. They might be the best headphones I've ever used.

I was about to send them back because I already have Sennheiser HD 560 S headphones, which are wired and with which I am very happy. The only reason I bought these was because they were the only open back Bluetooth (sort of) headphones I could find below a whole lot of dollars. Since I can get a dongle to make them wireless, AND because, as much as it PAINS me to say, I actually like these better, I decided to keep them. They are almost as comfortable as the Sennheisers and a little louder so no amp is necessary for me

These are by far some of the most comfortable headphones I've ever used. The noise canceling is top notch in every environment I've needed to use them (mostly the office with an open concept, and airplane travel), which means I can listen to music or other content at a reasonable volume with full clarity. Having them paired to my computer and phone at the same time is a great convenience that will be a requirement when I replace them eventually. I use them for ~8+ hours a day, Monday - Friday, with minimal ear fatigue

I can wear them in a slightly alternate way where the band is more on the back of my head which lets me wear them for much longer but I almost returned them due to the comfort issue. Overall, I’d honestly recommend the 50mm version because it looks like it would have better comfort, but if you think this one would fit well for you it’s a good headset upgrade.

However, at a price point of $500 Canadian (with all these issues) I can't say they're the best at this time. So if you're thinking of buying these XM4's, my advice would be to just wait it out. Let Sony roll out a few patches, while you stay current with these threads to see if any actual improvements are made. Thanks for taking the time to read

Philips Fidelio X2HR. These are really fantastic for the price, and if you want open back, this is the way to go, especially for someone like you who doesn’t care about the little nuances. These have a big soundstage, great low end, its not super emphasized, although it is above neutral, but for someone like you it will most likely sound balanced to your ears.

It appears that it would protect the headphones and hold up well with travel. A 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable is included

I watched a number of reviews on these headphones, including some from some really serious audio files, and they give it good marks. Now, I'm cheating...