So disclaimer first: I am not an audiophile, I’ve never owned a pair of overhead headphones and I am coming from AirPods Pro.
I’ve had these for over 24 hours now and used them a lot in that time, wanted to give my thoughts if any one else was considering them or on the fence.
First let me give you a quick overview of the type of content I’ve been listening to
I’ve used them: working at a desk, cooking in the kitchen, in bed and at the gym.
I’ve listened to:
1) Best of Rock 1984: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXbeU15XEtkjO?si=_gBh6By5TsKW0OGZhket9w
2) Blond by Frank Ocean:
3) Jazz Classics: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXbITWG1ZJKYt?si=pH4ORF7WThatmOdZpmEJcA
4) Lost Girls by Bat for Lashes:
5) Christmas Coffeehouse: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXb7KOnsvmh8V?si=u_E0PLMBTaW3p7BX90E6gQ
I’ve watched:
- 2 hours of YouTube
- an episode of Mandalorian
- Sky News
I upgraded from the AirPod Pros because I found in ear eventually too invasive to wear for long periods of time. They were great for sound and obviously given the size very convenient.
So now that’s out of the way.
INITIAL THOUGHTS
when I first put them on I noticed just how heavy they were, not neck breaking by any means but I definitely felt like something was on my head and I thought they’d be getting returned soon after, but I stuck with it and after about an hour it was fine, I got used to the weight and no longer an issue. But if you are moving from in-ear, earbuds or lighter headphones do bear it in mind.
The sound is really brilliant, I thought the Pros were brilliant for sound and I suppose for in-ear that is still the case, but I think the Pros lean more towards cleaner vocals sacrificing how clear instruments should be coming through. The best way I can describe it, is it sounds fuller. Each instrument and each vocal comes through with more clarity. I’ve listened to Blond several times a year since it has come out, but I listened to it this morning and picked up on sounds and lyrics I’d never noticed before.
Sitting at my desk after 10 minutes I’m lost in the music, the noise cancellation does such a good job of blocking outside noise, it offers such good escapism. They are comfortable on the ears, plenty of space and I wish I jumped on headphones sooner.
I know they aren’t sweat or water resistant but I took a calculated risk and went to the gym with them. I did a 5km run and completed it with the headphones. I took my Pros just in case they were too uncomfortable but they did the job perfectly. Initially during a warm up I was aware of a “thump thump” from my feet and the treadmill but when I got into the jog, turned up the music, I couldn’t hear a thing and in the 30mins it took me to complete the 5km they were comfortable throughout, again pure escapism to the extent the run was over sooner than expected. There is little movement on my head and if anything it reinforced my posture so I was always looking ahead. The Pros for me were too fiddly, they would stay in my ear, then when I got warm or breathing in and out the jaw movement would force the Pros to come loose, very frustrating so happy that I don’t have to worry about that anymore.
Moving around the house, like for cooking, I found the headphones fine, I don’t notice wobble on the top of my head or weight issues and can comfortable cook up a meal and wear them throughout.
A lot has been said on the case, and I was very vocal about it. I still think it’s stupid, bad design and not very friendly. In practical use though, I don’t think it’s going to be a big issue. I took them to the gym and chucked the case in my bag, didn’t think about it once throughout the workout and I carried them in the case to my car. The headphones in the case will lie flat in a bag, and I don’t know about anyone else but isn’t having a square case going to take up more space in a bag? I genuinely don’t know but it was a thought I had.
Overall I hate the case, but it shouldn’t be a deal breaker.
Lots of reviews about spatial audio so I don’t need to speak too much about it, sounds great watching Mandalorian and it really is an experience when the sound moves around you. It doesn’t sound like sound is coming into each ear it sounds like the sound is coming from the front of me. I hope that makes sense, but it is a great effect and I think once people sit and watching something with spatial audio they will appreciate the feature.
I am wearing these headphones as much as possible, to make sure it is the right purchase for me and I am leaning towards a yes. Despite initial reservations about the weight, they are a great set of headphones. I listen to music all the time in my day so having a pair of great headphones that I can take around with me is important.
I’m hoping to see my friend over the weekend to compare with Sony XM4.
Feel free to ask me anything but hope this helps.
I’ve had these for over 24 hours now and used them a lot in that time, wanted to give my thoughts if any one else was considering them or on the fence.
First let me give you a quick overview of the type of content I’ve been listening to
I’ve used them: working at a desk, cooking in the kitchen, in bed and at the gym.
I’ve listened to:
1) Best of Rock 1984: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXbeU15XEtkjO?si=_gBh6By5TsKW0OGZhket9w
2) Blond by Frank Ocean:
3) Jazz Classics: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXbITWG1ZJKYt?si=pH4ORF7WThatmOdZpmEJcA
4) Lost Girls by Bat for Lashes:
5) Christmas Coffeehouse: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXb7KOnsvmh8V?si=u_E0PLMBTaW3p7BX90E6gQ
I’ve watched:
- 2 hours of YouTube
- an episode of Mandalorian
- Sky News
I upgraded from the AirPod Pros because I found in ear eventually too invasive to wear for long periods of time. They were great for sound and obviously given the size very convenient.
So now that’s out of the way.
INITIAL THOUGHTS
when I first put them on I noticed just how heavy they were, not neck breaking by any means but I definitely felt like something was on my head and I thought they’d be getting returned soon after, but I stuck with it and after about an hour it was fine, I got used to the weight and no longer an issue. But if you are moving from in-ear, earbuds or lighter headphones do bear it in mind.
The sound is really brilliant, I thought the Pros were brilliant for sound and I suppose for in-ear that is still the case, but I think the Pros lean more towards cleaner vocals sacrificing how clear instruments should be coming through. The best way I can describe it, is it sounds fuller. Each instrument and each vocal comes through with more clarity. I’ve listened to Blond several times a year since it has come out, but I listened to it this morning and picked up on sounds and lyrics I’d never noticed before.
Sitting at my desk after 10 minutes I’m lost in the music, the noise cancellation does such a good job of blocking outside noise, it offers such good escapism. They are comfortable on the ears, plenty of space and I wish I jumped on headphones sooner.
I know they aren’t sweat or water resistant but I took a calculated risk and went to the gym with them. I did a 5km run and completed it with the headphones. I took my Pros just in case they were too uncomfortable but they did the job perfectly. Initially during a warm up I was aware of a “thump thump” from my feet and the treadmill but when I got into the jog, turned up the music, I couldn’t hear a thing and in the 30mins it took me to complete the 5km they were comfortable throughout, again pure escapism to the extent the run was over sooner than expected. There is little movement on my head and if anything it reinforced my posture so I was always looking ahead. The Pros for me were too fiddly, they would stay in my ear, then when I got warm or breathing in and out the jaw movement would force the Pros to come loose, very frustrating so happy that I don’t have to worry about that anymore.
Moving around the house, like for cooking, I found the headphones fine, I don’t notice wobble on the top of my head or weight issues and can comfortable cook up a meal and wear them throughout.
A lot has been said on the case, and I was very vocal about it. I still think it’s stupid, bad design and not very friendly. In practical use though, I don’t think it’s going to be a big issue. I took them to the gym and chucked the case in my bag, didn’t think about it once throughout the workout and I carried them in the case to my car. The headphones in the case will lie flat in a bag, and I don’t know about anyone else but isn’t having a square case going to take up more space in a bag? I genuinely don’t know but it was a thought I had.
Overall I hate the case, but it shouldn’t be a deal breaker.
Lots of reviews about spatial audio so I don’t need to speak too much about it, sounds great watching Mandalorian and it really is an experience when the sound moves around you. It doesn’t sound like sound is coming into each ear it sounds like the sound is coming from the front of me. I hope that makes sense, but it is a great effect and I think once people sit and watching something with spatial audio they will appreciate the feature.
I am wearing these headphones as much as possible, to make sure it is the right purchase for me and I am leaning towards a yes. Despite initial reservations about the weight, they are a great set of headphones. I listen to music all the time in my day so having a pair of great headphones that I can take around with me is important.
I’m hoping to see my friend over the weekend to compare with Sony XM4.
Feel free to ask me anything but hope this helps.
