The quest for good over the ear bluetooth headphones. Sub $600

[slw206]

Hello, I am currently in the market for a GOOD set of over the ear BT headphones. I currently have an older set of Bose headphones (corded) and a set of Sennheiser HD650 from like 2010(corded). I live in an apartment and work odd shifts so to be courteous to my neighbors when they sleep and I am off shift I use headphones but I am tired of the cords. I listen to TV, music from spotify, and game with headphones several hours daily (gaming headphones taken care of with just a set of Logitec wireless Pro X2).

I would like to stay under $600. I would really like open back since they are much cooler to wear but they seem to be rare other than much cheaper headphones. Some of the headphones I have been considering are the Sennheiser Momentum 4, the Bose Quiet comfort Ultra, the Apple Airpod Max, and there are a few others I have seen but these seem to be my top 3 ATM. If there was a viable way to convert a set of wired open back headphones into wireless with some adapter that i attach to the headphones I would even consider that as long as they were still comfortable to wear.

Hoping someone may have some recomendations from people since I am no expert and I really cant seem to find good honest reviews. If I need to step up my price range I can if I can find something that really fits the bill. Thanks for reading and for any suggestions.

 

[Somafunk]

The new Sennheiser HD630 seems like the obvious choice, thread on here regarding it and check out the reviews on YouTube

 

[slw206]

The new Sennheiser HD630 seems like the obvious choice, thread on here regarding it and check out the reviews on YouTube

Thankyou for the reply. Never saw these in all my searching. Just wish they were open back but i guess i cant have it all.

 

[Somafunk]

Thread here just in case you haven’t found it

Sennheiser HDB 630

Don't see a thread for this yet but reviews are dropping on Youtube. Anyone pull the trigger on one yet? Bit spendy. https://www.sennheiser-hearing.com/en-CA/p/hdb-630/

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[slw206]

Thread here just in case you haven’t found it

Sennheiser HDB 630

Don't see a thread for this yet but reviews are dropping on Youtube. Anyone pull the trigger on one yet? Bit spendy. https://www.sennheiser-hearing.com/en-CA/p/hdb-630/

www.audiosciencereview.com

Thankyou.. I am watching some YouTube videos on them at the moment.

 

[kemmler3D]

Welcome to ASR! I agree that the HD630 appears to be the can to beat for wireless ANC headphones, but if you really want to do open back, portable wireless transmitters definitely exist, but for the most part you'll need to carry the receiver around in your pocket and still plug the headphones into it (TWS adapters for over-ear headphones seem to be pretty rare), so at that point you might as well just use your smartphone.


Since wireless headphones are meant to be used on the go (usually) open-backed ones seem to be a fairly empty category...

There is also the whole TWS category, and in theory you can buy really good IEMs and then use wireless adapters with those, but that category seems quite iffy and immature to me.

 

[slw206]

Welcome to ASR! I agree that the HD630 appears to be the can to beat for wireless ANC headphones, but if you really want to do open back, portable wireless transmitters definitely exist, but for the most part you'll need to carry the receiver around in your pocket and still plug the headphones into it (TWS adapters for over-ear headphones seem to be pretty rare), so at that point you might as well just use your smartphone.


Since wireless headphones are meant to be used on the go (usually) open-backed ones seem to be a fairly empty category...

There is also the whole TWS category, and in theory you can buy really good IEMs and then use wireless adapters with those, but that category seems quite iffy and immature to me.

Ya, I know i am looking for the holy grail. When I travel I have 2 different sets of beats ear buds since they take up no space. I am on the move but its usually just in my apartment which is why wired became annoying. I really dont need the ANC inside my home and open back are just more comfortable IMO. Will still be ordering a set of these HDB630 most likely since they fit 95% of what i am looking for. May need to upgrade my Iphone soon so i can use that dongle. Mine is still a lightning connector.

 

[SuicideSquid]

My wife has a set of Sony WH-1000XM4 and honestly the sound quality with ANC off is terrible. With ANC on it's listenable but not great, but they are very comfortable and the noise cancelling is the best there is.

The Sennheiser looks to be about twice the price but pretty much guaranteed to have better sound quality and looks like it supports lossless wireless audio using the included dongle which is snazzy.

 

[Gary_G]

Focal Bathys (Black Silver)

Over-ear wireless Bluetooth® noise-canceling headphones

www.crutchfield.com

 

[just1n]

'UGreen Max5c: $25 NC Headphone Review'
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ds/ugreen-max5c-25-nc-headphone-review.58627/

If you download the app and set them to the “Jazz” preset.

 

[Somafunk]

U

space. I am on the move but its usually just in my apartment which is why wired became annoying. I really dont need the ANC inside my home and open back are just more comfortable IMO

Could always try the Sennheiser HD490 and buy a Qudelix 5k BT dongle (best dongle imho) then you have open back with your choice of PEQ (the Qudelix from the 3.5mm output can power the HD490 fine), to up the sound quality even further if you buy a new iPhone with USB C, then add in the Queststyle Dongle Pro to upgrade your Bluetooth signal, that’d be quite a pimp system………I may even try that myself as I have all the above except the £100 Queststyle Dongle Pro

Qudelix-5K Bluetooth DAC AMP

Qualcomm QCC5124 Bluetooth Dual ES9219C SABRE HiFi® DAC 3.5mm Unbalanced 2.0V RMS 2.5mm Balanced 4.0V RMS aptX Adaptive, LDAC, AAC, aptX-HD 6 ~ 20 hours battery time USB DAC 96KHz / 24-bit 20-band Double Precision PEQ/GEQ High Sensitivity 3-D LDS Antenna Qualcomm® cVc™ noise cancellation High...

www.qudelix.com

Questyle QCC Dongle Pro Lossless Bluetooth Transmitter

Questyle Shop provides Questyle HiFi products. High-tech lossless audio system with perfect sound aesthetics and convenient listening experience. Questyle M15 Questyle M12 Mobile HiFi DAC/ amplifier. Questyle CMA15 CMA12 CMA400i Desktop HiFi DAC/ amplifier.

questyleshop.com

 

[slw206]

U


Could always try the Sennheiser HD490 and buy a Qudelix 5k BT dongle (best dongle imho) then you have open back with your choice of PEQ (the Qudelix from the 3.5mm output can power the HD490 fine), to up the sound quality even further if you buy a new iPhone with USB C, then add in the Queststyle Dongle Pro to upgrade your Bluetooth signal, that’d be quite a pimp system………I may even try that myself as I have all the above except the £100 Queststyle Dongle Pro

Qudelix-5K Bluetooth DAC AMP

Qualcomm QCC5124 Bluetooth Dual ES9219C SABRE HiFi® DAC 3.5mm Unbalanced 2.0V RMS 2.5mm Balanced 4.0V RMS aptX Adaptive, LDAC, AAC, aptX-HD 6 ~ 20 hours battery time USB DAC 96KHz / 24-bit 20-band Double Precision PEQ/GEQ High Sensitivity 3-D LDS Antenna Qualcomm® cVc™ noise cancellation High...

www.qudelix.com

Questyle QCC Dongle Pro Lossless Bluetooth Transmitter

Questyle Shop provides Questyle HiFi products. High-tech lossless audio system with perfect sound aesthetics and convenient listening experience. Questyle M15 Questyle M12 Mobile HiFi DAC/ amplifier. Questyle CMA15 CMA12 CMA400i Desktop HiFi DAC/ amplifier.

questyleshop.com

Thankyou for this extra info.. I am definitely ordering the HDB630's but I am just waiting a bit. Never like ordering something that's brand new before others find all the issues. I am definitely going to look into this setup you posted for a set of wireless open back. Wonder how it would power my old 650's. I am not being cheap but i rarely use them and if i could somehow make them useful I would not have to toss or sell for pennies.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

I was surprised by the SQ of my closed back Cleer Enduros (with the built-in EQ). YMMV

 

[Multicore]

Audeze Maxwell has been discussed here and some people rated it very highly.

 

[kemmler3D]

Focal Bathys (Black Silver)

Over-ear wireless Bluetooth® noise-canceling headphones

www.crutchfield.com

Despite the appearance these are closed back.

 

[thewas]

Audeze Maxwell has been discussed here and some people rated it very highly.

Great tuning, but it should should be said that since its actually a gaming headset it doesn't have ANC, so might be not a good choice for people who want to use it at noisy places or travelling.

 

[Bugg100]

If there was a viable way to convert a set of wired open back headphones into wireless with some adapter that i attach to the headphones I would even consider that as long as they were still comfortable to wear.

Qudelix 5k @$109(US) is what I use for this use case.

It is easy to do a loose "figure of 8" wrap for your existing Sennheiser cable and use the built in clip, or use a Velcro cable tie, to attach the Q5k and cable bundle to the headphone itself.... It is a great solution, and affordable.

If you like it, the hd650 should be pretty easy to mod the cable or pay someone for a custom cable.... 6 to 10 inches will get the Q5K mounted.