• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Best Audiophile Bluetooth headphones Topic

metasharp

Active Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2022
Messages
120
Likes
70
Hello,

I thought it'd be nice to a a summary of the available products and information we have or lack.
I didn't mention below headphones that are most certainly not qualified to be the best. If I forgot anything, please mention it.

Model (candidates for best)Price (2nd hand)Audio Science ReviewOther Technical ReviewsComment / Other links
Apple Airpods Max629€Amirm 2021-08-08Rtings 2021-09-17
Bower & Wilkins P7(200€)TopicRtings 2016-08-08
Bower & Wilkins PX7 / Carbon269€Rtings 2019-11-01
Bower & Wilkins PX7S2429€
Bower & Wilkins PX8 / 007699€ / 799€Topic
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95899€
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX499€
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal499€Rtings 2021-05-04
Beyerdynamic Amiron / Copper555€ / 699€Rtings 2020-03-09
Bose NC700275€Amirm 2021-07-01Rtings 2021-10-29Best microphone?
Bose QuietComfort 35 II350€Amirm 2021-02-21Rtings 2020-11-26
Bose QuietComfort 45275€TopicRtings 2021-11-11
Focal Bathys799€Topic
Hifiman Ananda-BT789€Rtings 2020-09-03
Hifiman HE-R9 Bluemini849€
Mark Levinson N°5909999€Amirm 2022-06-27
Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless249€TopicRtings 2019-10-21
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless430€Rtings 2022-10-07
Sony WH-1000XM3(200€)Rtings 2020-11-13
Sony WH-1000XM4330€Amirm 2021-01-26Rtings 2022-11-01
Sony WH-1000XM5400€Rtings 2022-06-17Best noise cancellation

I'll update the thread given provided links or the ones I find.
Any comment or link is welcome. :)
 
Last edited:

staticV3

Master Contributor
Joined
Aug 29, 2019
Messages
7,534
Likes
12,001
Sony WH-1000XM5 | Best noise cancellation
neither rtings' nor 0dB' measurements agree:
Screenshot_20221104-120826_Chrome.png bd6cabfae326e0fedbfe113936e92ba2.png
 

Vacceo

Major Contributor
Joined
Mar 9, 2022
Messages
2,633
Likes
2,751
It would be interesting to add the Bluetooth headphone adapters.
 

r042wal

Active Member
Forum Donor
Joined
Aug 20, 2022
Messages
188
Likes
199
Location
Ontario (Canada)
I did not know words like 'Blue Tooth' and 'Noise Cancelling' could be in the same sentence as 'Audiophile' or anyone serious about their quality of their music :)
 
OP
metasharp

metasharp

Active Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2022
Messages
120
Likes
70
Interesting, I'd update the topic but I don't have the edit button anymore.
I'll created a new topic with updated content from your comments from time to time. :)
 

staticV3

Master Contributor
Joined
Aug 29, 2019
Messages
7,534
Likes
12,001
I did not know words like 'Blue Tooth' and 'Noise Cancelling' could be in the same sentence as 'Audiophile' or anyone serious about their quality of their music :)
ANC increases SNR which in turn increases audio fidelity. :)
 
OP
metasharp

metasharp

Active Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2022
Messages
120
Likes
70
My B&W PX7 don't suffer in terms of sound quality from activating ANC.
But those aren't HiFi since they have too much bass.
However we could still collectively identify the best models out there given the BT encoding and ANC constraints it puts on.
For sure one would be better than others.
 

r042wal

Active Member
Forum Donor
Joined
Aug 20, 2022
Messages
188
Likes
199
Location
Ontario (Canada)
ANC increases SNR which in turn increases audio fidelity. :)
Outside yes if that's your thing, but in my livingroom where my gear is, I can't buy into that line of thought. Sorry.
 

AdamG

Proving your point makes it “Science”.
Moderator
Forum Donor
Joined
Jan 3, 2021
Messages
4,636
Likes
14,918
Location
Reality
Interesting, I'd update the topic but I don't have the edit button anymore.
I'll created a new topic with updated content from your comments from time to time. :)
If you become a Donor at any level you get unlimited editing of posts. Without the Donor hidden bonus you get 24hrs to edit posts. In my opinion the unlimited time to edit is worth the entry price. Just FYI.
 

usersky

Active Member
Forum Donor
Joined
Jan 20, 2020
Messages
259
Likes
383
I did not know words like 'Blue Tooth' and 'Noise Cancelling' could be in the same sentence as 'Audiophile' or anyone serious about their quality of their music :)
I totally think some bt/nc headpones can and do beat some horror-show "high end" ultraexpensive failures. You should try with a bit of on open mind. Perhaps a Hifiman Deva (pro) with BT module? You'd be surprised.
 
OP
metasharp

metasharp

Active Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2022
Messages
120
Likes
70
I read the Hifiman BT module being horrible and having a lot of of/off signal issues.
 

usersky

Active Member
Forum Donor
Joined
Jan 20, 2020
Messages
259
Likes
383
I read the Hifiman BT module being horrible and having a lot of of/off signal issues.
Not my experience (Samsung, LG phones, DEVA non-pro module, LDAC) . The only evident downside compared to other BT implementation is shorter battery life (but than can be explained by larger curent required by the planar HP).
 
Last edited:
OP
metasharp

metasharp

Active Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2022
Messages
120
Likes
70
I'm talking about the

HIFIMAN BLUEMINI R2R Bluetooth-module

 
OP
metasharp

metasharp

Active Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2022
Messages
120
Likes
70
Just listened to Focal Bathys at Paris Audio Video Show 2022 today... Wow. I really need to listen to 5909 and PX8 as well to decide which is the best to my ears.
 
OP
metasharp

metasharp

Active Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2022
Messages
120
Likes
70
Headphones reviews links :
 
Last edited:

oleg87

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2022
Messages
302
Likes
540
Location
California
I did not know words like 'Blue Tooth' and 'Noise Cancelling' could be in the same sentence as 'Audiophile' or anyone serious about their quality of their music :)
As long as BT only supports lossy audio, ok sure, but why not noise cancelling (aside from audiophile-OCD "my bits are being altered" concerns, which seems like a rather odd concern at the transducer level)? Even in a pretty quiet home environment (good) ANC usually lowers the noise floor. I think an ANC headphone that sounded great and supported non-lossy connections would be a pretty terrific audiophile product.
 

Jimmy

Active Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2018
Messages
255
Likes
167
I agree with the Aonic 50, soundwise it's one of the best available BT headphones, in my opinion still not as good as a decent open back, for example, but good for what it is.

I'm curious about the upcoming Audeze Maxwell, more of a gaming headset than a portable device, but it has great autonomy (80 hours), and seemingly new planar drivers, so it may be a good choice if weight and portability are not key factors.
 
OP
metasharp

metasharp

Active Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2022
Messages
120
Likes
70
Top Bottom