What You Get

Look & Feel

It’s very hard to beat B&W when it comes to aesthetics. The PX7 S2e just looks so classy sitting next to any pair of headphones, let alone the M4U. You get a lot more striking color variations on the S2e, with the forest green and ocean blue being two of my favorites. The M4U only has black and brown, but for them, it’s less about the aesthetic and more about the gyro-action ear pads. This is one of the only advantages the M4U has over the S2e in terms of design. You can achieve a good seal with more flexibility, but the S2e isn’t any less comfortable in comparison.

Design & Functionality

You’ll find both headphones use 40mm dynamic drivers, but they use different diaphragms and components. The PX7 S2e has a bio-cellulose diaphragm, while the M4U has an ABS + Polycarbonate housing. Neither set of headphones gets particularly loud, but the M4U gives you a bit more headroom to play with than the S2e. Both of these headphones feature noise-canceling, with the S2e being slightly stronger than the M4U. They also both have companion apps, but they’re very different from each other. The S2e is much more simplistic, while the M4U has “RoomFeel,” and a personalized EQ that requires a hearing test. In terms of functionality, the only feature I prefer on the S2e is the wear sensor that automatically activates play/pause when you take the headphones off and put them back on.

Bluetooth & Battery Life

Neither the M4U nor S2e features anything too out of the ordinary in terms of Bluetooth capabilities. They both offer different kinds of aptX CODECs and have fast connections. You won’t see anything crazy in terms of battery life either, with the S2e giving you only five more hours of playtime than the M4U.

Soundstage

Both of these headphones showcase similar abilities in their soundstage and imaging. Neither headphone will give you the greatest width, but their stereo fields are completely intact. Everything will sound like it’s happening inside your head, but both headphones do a good job of articulating space and localization. Comparing the two results in more similarities than differences, but I feel separation is better on the PX7 S2e. There’s more blank space for the sound to play with, however, the M4U might have better depth with its more decipherable layers. The PX7 S2e feels more like the complete stereo image, but the M4U goes a bit further with its non-linearity, adding a bit more dimension to the sound.

Low End

Their respective EQ settings strongly impact the bass section of these headphones. With their natural tuning, you won’t find them lacking impact. They both have a thick tone that feels meaty and satisfying. There is a great texture to both of their sound signatures, with the PX7 S2e featuring the most bloom. The M4U appears more direct in comparison, but they both have balance and accuracy too. You might not get as much of a significant lift from the M4U without EQ or the personal sound test, which is a characteristic that comes naturally to the PX7 S2e.

Mids

You’ll find more fullness in the midrange with the M4U than you will with the PX7 S2e. That’s not to say that the PX7 S2e doesn’t have anything resembling fidelity in the mids. The M4U just provides a lot more weight to the frequencies compared to the S2e, giving notes a lot more definition. With the S2e, the mids have minimal gain but still take a clear shape in the frequency response. Both headphones treat musicality with realism, doing vocal performances great justice.

Highs

If you’re not looking for a treble extension, avoid both of these headphones. Both the M4U and S2e have crisp high frequencies that have bright textures. I don’t mind this response, and both headphones treat their high-frequency content well. Everything is easy to digest, making the sparkling timbre more enjoyable to listen to. The S2e feels the smoothest of the two, while the M4U has the most energetic sizzle, but I don’t find either response very tame.

Summary

The PSB M4U MK II and the Bowers and Wilkins PX7 S2e have similar sound signatures but are ultimately two very different sets of headphones. With the M4U, you get a much more complicated headphone due to its features, and that can work for and against it. You may prefer the simpler design of the S2e, with its superior functionality, ANC, and build quality. However, when it comes to sound, what you may prefer becomes more complex. I think I prefer the depth of the M4U overall, but the S2e isn’t far behind.

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e and PSB M4U MK II are available at Audio46.

The post Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e Vs PSB M4U MK II Comparison Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What You Get

Look & Feel

Both of these headphones have the classic Sony look to them. They both carry a solid color, with a plasticky build that’s lightweight and compact. The XM5 is a bit lighter, but the ULT WEAR folds inward like the older 1000x models used to do. Despite some of these differences, these headphones are very similar in terms of comfort. While the ULT WEAR has a tighter, more secure fit, they can both be worn for many hours without causing extra pressure or fatigue.

Design & Functionality

The XM5 and ULT WEAR have two different drivers. With the ULT WEAR, you get a bigger dynamic driver that is supported by Sony’s Processor V1. This is all to help that headphon’s bass properties, as the XM5 is only 30mm in comparison. All of the extra features that you expect from Sony still exist with both headphones though, including their industry leading noise-canceling technology. Other features like 360 Reality Audio will allow you to listen to both headphones with spatial audio, provided that you are subscribed to a service that offers it.

Bluetooth

Both the XM5 and ULT WEAR offer stable wireless connections supported by Bluetooth version 5.2. They both offer the LDAC CODEC and have multipoint connection.

Battery Life

The ULT WEAR surprisingly has a much better battery life than the XM5. A 30 hour battery life for the XM5 was solid when it launched initially, but since then more inexpensive headphones have beefed up they playtime. While it depends on the amount of features in-use, the ULT WEAR should last you around 50 hours of playtime, which is much superior to the XM5.

Soundstage 

With both headphones, you’ll get the most out of the soundstage if you can use them with 3D Audio. Listening to the ULT WEAR and XM5 with spatial audio increases the immersion that the built-in soundstage can bring. However, when listening in standard stereo, the ULT WEAR has more of an advantage over the XM5. This might be surprising to some, but switching between both headphones reveals that the XM5 feels a bit constricted in comparison. Some of the bass extension features on the ULT WEAR can impact its spatial imaging, but the scope of the sound is still more apparent than it is on the XM5. These headphones will perform similarly when listening through 360 Reality Audio though. The soundstage and imaging take on a whole new depth where everything appears more like a precisely placed object.

Low End

Usually, this is where the XM5 thrives compared to most other Bluetooth headphones. The thickness and customizability of the lows are still some of the XM5’s best attributes, but bass richness is the ULT WEAR’s entire MO. The reason the ULT WEAR exists is to be the bassist headphone that costs significantly less than the XM5, and it definitely succeeded on that front. While the XM5 has body and resonance, the ULT WEAR is thunderous and cinematic. It feels more artificial than the XM5, but it’s more fun. Both headphones create this pool of bloated low frequencies that result in boominess, but the ULT WEAR takes better advantage of its timbre that way.

Mids

Neither the XM5 nor the ULT WEAR have the midrange as their strong suit. The unfocused mids have always been a personal gripe of mine with the XM5, but I find it more forgivable on the ULT WEAR. Both headphones feature major recession in the mids, but the ULT WEAR feels less hollow to me somehow. With EQ, the XM5 can sound clearer than the ULT WEAR though. You can reduce some of the cloudier low mids and make some space for the mids to balance out the sound profile, which is easier to do on the XM5 than on the ULT WEAR even though they both use the same in-app EQ.

Highs

The treble is where the XM5 is the clearest winner. While the ULT WEAR doesn’t falter too much in the highs, the XM5 is much more articulate in comparison. There’s more room for the high frequencies to develop naturally, and it’s much more responsive with EQ. The XM5 delivers much more height and clarity to the sound signature, while the ULT WEAR just smooths them out so as not to get in the way of the more dominant frequency areas.

Summary

While you can never go wrong with a pair of wireless headphones from Sony, the ULT WEAR and XM5 are very different headphones for two very different prices. They carry many of the same features, but they still serve different functions. The ULT WEAR is a bass machine, and while it’s incredibly fun to listen to, the XM5 gives you a bit more detail to bite on in terms of fidelity. This mostly has to do with the upper-mids and highs being better, but the sound signature is also more natural in comparison. Your decision will come down to price and how important bass response is on your preferred sound profile. Otherwise, everything else that’s great about Sony headphones exists with both products.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 and ULT WEAR are available at Audio46.

The post Sony WH-1000XM5 Vs ULT WEAR Comparison Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What’s in the Box?

Battery – Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Vs. B&W Pi7 S2 Comparison Review

I wanted to get the simplest stats out of the way first. Simply put, the Momentum’s battery life and charging case are by far and away superior to the B&W. At 30 hours of playtime with the case and 7.5 by themselves, the Momentum 4 has some of the best battery life in this quality range. Compare this to 5 hours for a single charge and 16 with the case for the Pi7 S2. When you couple this with the fact that the Sennheisers have a quick charge option (1 hour in 8 minutes of charge), it’s clear these are the best battery option.

The 9.2mm dynamic driver and balanced armature in the Pi7 sound fantastic for a bluetooth earbud. The sacrifice with this is that they demand a lot of power for a wireless device. This means that although you’re getting great audio quality, you’re going to have to sacrifice battery life if you get these.

Bluetooth

The most important improvement Sennheiser made between the Momentum 3 and 4 is the inclusion of Bluetooth 5.4. Auracast Bluetooth allows users to share their signal wirelessly. Both of these earbuds include aptX lossless CODECs for android users.

The B&W Pi7 S2 still supports Bluetooth 5.0 and a plethora of aptX CODECs. Regardless of this, the earbuds were able to pair almost instantly. I didn’t experience any signal loss in with them while listening. Although they function without a problem, I wanted a more updated Bluetooth from the second iteration of the Pi7. At $399, I was expecting newer Bluetooth from Bowers & Wilkins. For this reason, I have to go with the Momentum 4 in this field.

Look and Feel

I can’t tell you that I have strong feeling about either one of these earbuds appearances. Although I think they both look great, the main difference between these are the hard edges and circles on the Pi7 S2 and the smoother look of the Momentum 4. The Sennheiser option fits a little better in my ear, but this is relatively subjective considering all of our unique ear shapes. I get a good seal from both eartips. The Pi7 S2 feels marginally heavier, however they both weighed in at 6 grams per earbud on my scale. The main selling point of the B&W is how vibrant the colors look. The understated visuals of Sennheiser gets beat out by the Pi7 S2, but with styling so similar, it really isn’t too far behind.

Design and Functionality – Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Vs. B&W Pi7 S2 Comparison Review

There’s a lot to be excited about in both of these headphones. Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 retains the same True Response dynamic driver from older models. What has changed are the microphones that enhance Bluetooth and increase call fidelity. The Sennheiser app offers the option of 20 different unique EQ settings for different locations. The EQ itself works relatively well, and I didn’t experience distortion from boosting certain frequencies. You’ll also be able to customize touch controls in the app. Some say the ANC isn’t as good as the Sony WF-1000XM5, but i actually prefer how subtle the Momentum’s ANC feels.

The Pi7 S2 sports a dynamic driver with balanced armatures. These sound fantastic, bringing a lot of focus and clarity to the sound. The ANC isn’t bad, but it isn’t something to write home about either. I wasn’t able to hear many things peeking out from outside of the listening environment, but it’s not as clear as the Sennheisers. Super fast and responsive touch controls make these extra useful for listeners on-the-go. The lack of EQ options puts them far behind the Momentum 4 in terms of customizability. However, many listeners who don’t bother with EQ settings will not notice this.

Soundstage

Some Bluetooth headphones have a characteristic closeness and shortness in their soundstage. For a longtime this has been a problem that high-end companies have tried to work against. Recently, staging has improved significantly in a lot of flagship models, and both of these are no exception.

The best impression I have of the Pi7 S2 comes in its wide and holographic soundstage. For a TWS earbud, these sound rich, wide, and vertical. Textures pop through relatively clearly and I’m getting a good depiction of the stereo image. Sounds can be localized and close but also wide and inundating. I wouldn’t say that these feel totally natural, there is some added reverb for depth in them. It isn’t very noticeable unless you’re paying close attention. “Wormtamer” By Grinderman swirled away from my ears impressively. There’s a satisfying verticality to the sound, but it’s much wider than it is holographic.

The Momentum 4 offers a similar width that’s truly impressive for a TWS earbud. “Allison” by Slowdive was decadent and wet sounding. The hazy “soft-focus” effect on the guitars in this track washed over my ears as if I was listening to waves crashing along a shoreline. There’s slightly less width than the Pi7, but it’s very marginal. The verticality is similar from these, but what is different is how localized the stereo image was. I genuinely think that if you got the EQ flat enough, you’d be able to pan a mix with these earbuds.

Although I prefer the soundstage of the Sennheisers, I have to admit that the Pi7 S2 has the widest stage from any TWS earbud in the field. I say this because I like how localized the image is, and I’m not a fan of added reverb on listening devices. Despite this, B&W has mixed the reverb so it isn’t egregious. For this reason, I have to choose the Pi7 S2 because of how impressive it’s staging is.

Listening Impressions – Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Vs. B&W Pi7 S2 Comparison Review

Lows

The focus of the B&W Pi7 S2 is it’s low end. There’s a ubiquitous boost to the bass frequency spectrum. The most spectacular part of the sound signature has got to be it’s pumping sub-bass. There’s got to be elves powering these drivers, because I’ve never heard so much ‘boom’ from a wireless device except for maybe the Focal Bathys. In this light, the sub-bass feels magical in the way that it can thump. It can be overpoweringly warm when songs are mixed with way too much bass, but generally they’re pretty fantastic in elevating the bass volume. Contrastingly, live performances which characteristically have less bass are really enhanced by listening to these.

The Momentum 4s aren’t as bass heavy as the Pi7 S2, but they can come close by boosting low frequencies in the app. There’s a flatter ‘v-shape’ to the frequency response which slopes down throughout the low end. There’s an adequate amount of sub-bass, but it will not thud in the same way that the Pi7 can. Considering you cannot EQ the B&W, this gives the Momentum it’s own advantages. This bass signature in my opinion is way more versatile, and with the app customization, you’re able to shift the bass response song to song. If you want a bass heavy earbud, you can come relatively close. Bassheads will prefer the Pi7 S2 over the Sennheisers. Fans of a flatter response will enjoy the Momentum 4 much more.

Mids

There’s enough mid sharpness in the Pi7 S2 to keep details and focus in the sound signature. At the same time, the huge bass punch does extend into the lower mid-range. Although songs have a great warmth, there’s a little bit of muddiness in certain sounds. I wouldn’t say that all elements are effected negatively by this low mid bump. Shimmery voices on tracks like “Shining Star” by Smerz are given just enough roundness to enhance a bright and loud mix. At the same time, I can’t call the mid presentation too inspiring. It seems as if it was tuned to give enough detail without being drowned out by bass sounds.

Similarly, the mids on the Momentum 4 aren’t the focus of the sound signature to me. The ‘v-shaped’ frequency response slopes down more subtly than it does on Pi7, meaning you get a much flatter mid response from these. A slight boost at 1k made them sing a lot more in this range. Voices, guitars, and synths all come alive from only a 2dB increase. That being said, I did want a little more from this range out of the box. It’s not lacking focus, but music sounds much cleaner with this slight adjustment.

Highs

Treble on the Sennheiser Momentum 4 is definitely pleasant. It isn’t too bright, but there’s enough presence and brilliance to give sounds a great shape. Cymbals are able to ring and chime well, but these don’t really feel sharp. Voices and cymbals also don’t have sibilance issues. There’s enough airiness in the timbre to make listeners feel like they’re getting an even display of the mix. The treble is a little flatter than the bass here, but louder than the mids. I gave the EQ a 2dB attenuation at 4KhZ. That brought the earbuds to the next level for me. Jazz took on a totally new character, as the ‘chicks’ of a rolling hi-hat became that much more apparent.

I wanted more from the original Pi7 in terms of treble. B&W has definitely done this with the S2. Brightening up this bass-boosted earbud has given sounds a little more air, but really hasn’t taken away from the signature response of the headphone. Listeners can expect a subdued yet noticeable presence. If you like very bright sounding earbuds, I wouldn’t say that these are for you. On the other hand, there’s enough attack to give a dark sound more glassiness. Higher frequencies can at times be overtaken by the thudding bass, but this happens much less often than it did on the first version.

Summary

Fans of different sound signatures will absolutely have strong feelings when choosing between these 2 TWS earbuds. The B&W Pi7 S2 has the strongest bass out of any TWS on the market right now, a great soundstage, and a noticeable look. The Momentum 4 on the other hand has a superior battery life, Bluetooth support, and a nicer presentation of the mids and highs (in my opinion). Although both of them have some great features, I have to chose the Sennheiser Momentum 4, for it’s ‘v-shape’ response and EQ customization. If you’re a basshead who doesn’t want to fuss around with attenuation, the Pi7 S2 will undoubtedly be a better option for you.

Get the B&W Pi7 S2 and Sennheiser Momentum 4 at Audio 46.

The post Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Vs. B&W Pi7 S2 Comparison Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What’s in the Box – Focal Bathys vs. Sony WH-1000XM5 Comparison Review

Look and Feel

My most notable takeaway from the Focal Bathys is how durable they feel. I’m not trying to backhandedly call these heavy. The materials feel durable and luxurious. At 350g, the Bathys is comfortable, light, and luxurious. Priced at $699, the feel is top of the line in the wireless over-ear field. After hours of testing, I didn’t have any issues with comfort and didn’t experience any fatigue from listening to them. I hate to bring up such a subjective reason but I absolutely hate how the headphones look. The open-back grill design looks like some sort of dermatological disease rather than a headphone chassis. Something happens in my head when I see these that just makes me itch. In total, these are excellent feeling headphone with a comfortable design.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 has impressively simple aesthetics which blow the looks of the Bathys out of the water. I personally own the previous Sony model (WH-1000XM4) that had problems with the headband durability. Sony has addressed these issues with their newly designed soft-fit leather, bendable headband, and stepless sliders. Sony has a different approach in comfort. Instead of utilizing plushy expensive materials, they have reduced the weight to only 250g. I was impressed with how light and comfortable these headphones are. The materials don’t feel as high-end as the Bathys. Keep in mind that at $398, you’ll able to purchase 2 pairs of Sony’s for a little more than 1 pair of the Bathys.

In terms of look and feel, I undoubtedly have to chose the Sony WH-1000XM5. Although the materials don’t feel as good as the Bathys, what sways me in that direction is the heinous look of Focal headphones. I’d say that the WH-1000XM5 isn’t as comfortable at first try. Yet after hours of use, the reduced weight makes them ultra-easy to wear.

Bluetooth and Battery

The Sonys supports bluetooth 5.2. There are standard SBC codecs and LDAC for lossless streaming. I had no trouble with dropouts while testing them in multiple locations and they were easily able to pair. At 30 hours of battery life and 3 hours of charge in only 3 minutes of charging with an additional USB-PD compatible AC adapter, these have a great battery life.

Focal’s Bathys have a similar battery life at 30 hours with ANC on, 35 with the cable attached, and 42 in DAC mode. 15 minutes of charging will allow you to get 5 hours of playtime. They support bluetooth 5.1 and have SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, and aptX codecs. I didn’t experience any dropouts while using the Bathys, and they paired within 2 seconds of turning them on.

With stats so similar in the bluetooth and battery field, it’s hard to pick a winner between the two. Marginal differences between both make picking one over the other feel disingenuous. For this reason, they are tied when it comes to bluetooth and battery.

ANC

Both the Bathys and XM5 have industry leading ANC which is highlighted in different scenarios. Sony utilizes the QN1 processor for it’s noise cancellation. 8 separate microphones for noise cancelation means that this iteration of the 1000X series blocks out more highs and mids than any other model before. While listening, I can confidently say that Sony is the best in the field at blocking noise out from the listening environment. A quick walk through the NYC diamond district (one of the busiest areas in Manhattan) left me with a lasting impression. I was only able to hear sirens and horns while listening to music. That being said, I could notice a drop in fidelity with ANC on. They don’t have the loud characteristic “whoosh” sound like some cheaper models have. There is a lot of boxiness I get in the mids when compared to having the ANC off.

Focal takes a more transparent approach in their ANC when compared to the XM5. It’s “whoosh” is slightly more noticeable, but this has less of an effect when interacting with the drivers. There’s virtually no drop in audio quality with the Bathys’ ANC on. With this in mind, there is a little less noise cancellation when compared to the Sony QN1 processor.

I can’t tell you that the Bathys is far behind Sony in noise cancellation, and the reality is that the XM5 is 1A while the Bathys is 1B. Ultimately choosing ANC will come down to preferences and the user’s needs. If you’re constantly listening in noisy public environments, you’re better off with the WH-1000XM5. If you’re after transparent ANC which maintains audio quality, the Bathys makes more sense. As a discerning audiophile, I have to go with the Focal. If I needed to block out as much noise as possible, I’d go with the Sony WH-1000XM5.

Soundstage – Focal Bathys vs. Sony WH-1000XM5 Comparison Review

Sony’s soundstage isn’t as straight forward as being wide OR holographic. Although these things are true, the information that’s being processed will have a huge impact on the final listening experience. Sony’s “360 Reality Sound” and “Dolby Atmos” compatibility allows Tidal users to get the full experience from the Sony soundstage. Listening to “Virgo” by Meshell Ndegeocello demonstrates the verticality of the soundstage, as well as the width and trailing dynamics Sony has designed. The harp sound is able to rise vertically as if it were flying away from you. Sounds can feel like their traveling above or behind my head with tracks optimized for Dolby Atmos. With the popularity of high-fidelity streaming, the list tracks is growing everyday.

Simultaneously, the width feels a bit artificial at times, supplementing reverb to adjust for the closed back design. As wide as Dolby Atmos can be, tracks without this optimization still feel ‘in my head’. The stereo image is localized and fits each part in the separate drivers accurately. It takes the edge over the Bathys in terms of verticality, but not much else.

The Focal Bathys has a truly wide soundstage. Bluetooth headphones with naturally wide soundstages are like bigfoot sightings. For each claim that somebody has spotted one, there are numerous dissenters who argue it’s impossible to find. In my opinion, the Bathys has the widest soundstage of any wireless headphone I’ve heard. Reverb trails run away from your ear with musicality while remaining precise enough to not feel muddy. There is a natural feeling width which doesn’t add supplemental reverb. Each part is placed accurately, and there’s very little to be offended by. The Bathys clears the WH1000XM5 in soundstage.

Listening Impressions – Focal Bathys vs. Sony WH-1000XM5 Comparison Review

Lows

With each of the brand’s companion apps, users will be able to customize each headphone’s EQs. For this reason I have to preface that I’m judging these right out of the box with the wired connection, ANC off, and without the app EQ.

Sony and Focal both emphasize low end when tuning the sound signatures. The WH-1000XM5 has a round and cracking character with their lows that are able to pound through their drivers. The bass on the Sonys are undoubtedly boosted further than the Bathys. Techno music like “Control My Body” by Barbara Lagos thumps harder than many more expensive headphones. Simultaneously, quieter music can have a little too much warmth in this range. If I was using the app, a drop in the 400-600Hz range would have cleaned the bass response up dramatically. Loud 808s and kicks have a dynamic wholeness that makes me feel like I’m in a dark club with an inundating sound system. If you’re a “basshead”, this sound signature will leave you impressed.

The Focal Bathys isn’t as ‘bass-boosted’ as the WH-1000XM5. They have a flatter bass response which subtly shelves up between 100-200Hz. With that in mind, they don’t have the same warmth that extends through the low-mids. My ears find them more versatile in the bass response because of this. At the same time, they don’t “thud” in the same way as the Sony headphones. Although techno, EDM, and hip hop don’t sound as palpable, acoustic music doesn’t have the muddiness I found in the WH-1000XM5. I’d personally take the Bathys due to it’s versatility. If my taste was focused on big bass, I’d chose the WH-1000XM5.

Mids

I’m a pretty picky listener when it comes to mids in a headphone. Low mids create mud and grit which are nice in certain quantities. High mids create sharpness and edge to my ears.

The Focal Bathys has a wonderfully flat mid response that has a slight boost in it’s upper midrange. Vocals, guitars, and synths all pop with clarity while maintaining the body of the sound. “A Tempting Pain” by Portrayal of Guilt feels sludgy in the best way. The guitars and snare sound heavy and oppressive, while the vocals sit as menacingly as a gargoyle above a cathedral. Vocals in almost all music (aside from very low or high pitched vocals) have a beautiful shimmer which is undoubtedly enhanced by the sound signatures focus on upper-mids.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 aren’t as flat in their mid-range, but they’re relatively close. There’s that bump in the low-mids I mentioned previously which adds a little too much grit to my ears. To reiterate one more time, these headphones would benefit greatly from a 2db duck between 400-600Hz in the app. Right out of the box, the XM5 has a mid quality that can be boxy at times, especially when listening to poorly mixed tracks. There’s the same high-mid boost that the Bathys has, but it’s balanced with low-mids unlike the Focal. Simultaneously, clean mid-focused sounds can be warm and musical when they’re in the sonic forefront. When comparing both of these headphone’s mids, my preference is for the Focal.

Treble

While both of these headphones lean closer towards warmness than brightness, there’s a nice presentation of the highs that adds enough clarity to the sound signature. Sony’s WH-1000XM5 are bright enough to bring out cymbal sounds. Crash cymbals sing through the mix with clear balance. Because of the booming lows and shimmery highs, I really enjoy drum sounds (electronic and acoustic). There’s a great bump to the presence in the XM5 that’s expertly tuned. Brilliance above 5kHz which can add unwanted sibilance isn’t too overstated. I’m getting all of the high end information I want, without all the uncomfortable sharpness I hear from bright headphones.

There isn’t as much brightness in the Focal Bathys, but I wouldn’t call these dull sounding. There’s enough definition to give sounds shape and character, but there isn’t enough to put treble sounds in the front of the mix. There’s a great faintness to cymbals and high synths that albeit can leave me wanting more on certain tracks. At the same time, this treble ducking leaves a lot of room for bass and high-mid information. I don’t feel like the vocals are fighting for as much space on these headphones. With that said, I have to choose the Sony WH-1000XM5 for their treble response.

Summary

It’s very difficult choosing a winner in the Focal Bathys vs. Sony WH-1000XM5 comparison review. Although I like the highs, lows, soundstage, and ANC of the Bathys, the treble, looks, and value for money that the XM5 makes them an exciting pair of headphones. I feel like a broken record by restating this, but the Sony’s would benefit immensely from a slight duck in the low-mids. For that reason, I’d choose the Sony WH-1000XM5. Aside from soundstage, the XM5 comes very close to the Bathys in a lot of areas, while being a much better value for money.

Get the Focal Bathys and Sony WH-1000XM5 at Audio46

The post Focal Bathys vs. Sony WH-1000XM5 Comparison Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What You Get

• ULT WEAR Headphones
• Connection Cable
• USB Cable
• Carry Case

Look & Feel

The ULT WEAR doesn’t seem too out of the ordinary from what you’re used to seeing from a pair of Sony headphones. They have a nice compact design with the same swivel fold design that the 1000X series had before the XM5. Its plastic build is acceptable for the price, especially since the ULT WEAR is made from recycled plastics. Nothing about that makes these headphones feel cheap though. If it’s better for the environment and still comfortable to wear then there’s not much to criticize.

Design & Functionality

Almost all of the Sony staples are here, including the industry-leading ANC technology and 360 Reality Audio. The ULT WEAR focuses a lot on its driver though, sporting a 40mm dynamic unit supported by Processor V1. This special component looks to extend the headphones’ bass capabilities for a deeper and more powerful performance. There’s even a dedicated button for its intended response that plays a cinematic effect that indicates when it’s been activated. The ULT WEAR also has touch gesture functions that are very sensitive and consistent. I found swiping up and down for volume control very handy, as well as holding one side down to soften the sound and hear your surroundings.

Bluetooth

The ULT WEAR supports Bluetooth version 5.2 and LDAC. It’s a very stable connection and I did not experience any dropouts with it. This is also a wireless headphone with multipoint, so you can connect two devices at once with it.

Battery Life

While most features are activated, the ULT WEAR can sustain a 30-hour battery life. However, that can increase to a maximum of 50 hours depending on if ANC is consuming the battery.

Soundstage

Sometimes, Sony’s Bluetooth headphones can feel constricted without 3D, but the ULT WEAR doesn’t give me that impression. The left and right channels have a genuine wingspan, keeping most sound elements from appearing too congealed in the mix. Using the ULT bass boost does solidify and reduce some of the spatial imaging, but not in a manner that’s too destructive to the integrity of the soundstage. The soundstage and imaging will be clearer without the ULT feature though. Separation and layering are easier to make sense of and show off some surprising depth. Everything appears more live and open than usual, it almost makes the ULT WEAR not need 3D audio.

Low End

The entire reason for this headphone’s existence is its bass response. This isn’t trying to be the most detailed or revealing bass. Instead, the ULT wants to be the most exciting bass you’ll hear over a pair of Bluetooth headphones. It definitely succeeds in that, providing a consistently thunderous bass response with ULT active. The bass becomes so exaggerated that you can feel the earcups begin to vibrate. It all comes across as very artificial of course, but it doesn’t matter all that much considering how much fun this signature can be. The low-end isn’t actually reaching down into infrasonic frequencies to make the headphones vibrate, but the effect is still enjoyable to hear. Its thumpy tone is easy to be engrossed by, especially with the ULT’s thick pool of resonance. This does create some notable fog that bleeds into the low-mids, but that’s what you sign up for with the advertised sound signature.

Mids

Despite the domination of the bass with no EQ, the mids don’t falter too much. There’s going to be some recession in this v-shaped signature, but elements don’t get relegated to the background. Everything is bloated in the low-mids with ULT activated, but without it, the mid features a fine surface of clarity that brings everything forward. It feels lifted to avoid appearing hollow in the mix, and it benefits a lot of performances through the headphones. Some instruments do come across as muffled though, even when they still have volume. Vocals have plenty of room to feel as loud as they should be. They are well projected, but the upper-mids don’t possess that extra detail that underlines them.

Highs

There isn’t a lot to discern from the highs, but they aren’t completely cut out of the mix. The height of the frequency response does exist in the sound signature, and it helps bring out cymbals as best as it can. However, the response is very restrictive even when there’s clarity. You get a general sense of the treble without it being very expressive. Everything comes across smoothly though, with a surface-level tone that’s easy to consume.

Summary

I’m happy with what the ULT WEAR is, and how well it executes everything it wants to do. The ULT WEAR sets out to be an affordable bass machine, and that’s exactly what it is. It’s also paired with great noise-canceling, responsive control, and a slew of features that you can only experience from Sony headphones. This is a steal for less than $200, making it one of the best non-1000X options from Sony’s Bluetooth lineup.

The Sony ULT WEAR is available from Audio46.

The post Sony ULT WEAR Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What You Get:

Look and Feel

There’s one key difference when it comes to looks for the Momentum TWS 3 and 4. The new model now comes with splashier colorways. The TWS 4 can be had in the same graphite color as before. Or, you can get it in black copper or metallic silver. This is a change from the TWS 3, which comes in black, white, or graphite. 

In terms of feel, well, things are just about the same. We get the same build quality, design, and ear fit. But as the old saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. 

Design and Functionality

The Momentum TWS 4 looks to bring the product line into the future. This means new codecs that aren’t supported by the TWS 3, the most notable of which is support for aptX Lossless. Yes, that means that the new Momentum model sports Bluetooth 5.4 and Qualcomm S5 Sound Gen 2 with Snapdragon Sound. However, there’s a catch. Most phones don’t have Snapdragon Sound or play aptX Lossless yet, so this is essentially a future-only feature. That’s not a bad thing though. Once more phones are updated with the new audio processing, the TWS 4 will be ready to go, making these a bit future-proof. Other new codecs supported by the TWS 4 are LE Audio, LC3, AURACAST.

The TWS 3 shares in other codecs like aptX, aptX Adaptive, SBC, and AAC.

The TWS 4 also claims stronger Bluetooth connection using Front End RF tech paired with Sennheiser’s True Response technology. 

Both earbuds charge through their cases, with a USB-C port on the back of the case. Both cases also utilize Qi wireless charging to keep your desktop clean. 

However, the TWS 4 does offer a few battery improvements. For starters, the TWS 4 lasts for 7 hours of playback with 30 hours available when used with the case. This is a slight improvement over the TWS 3, which matches its 7 hours of playback but loses a couple hours when used with the case (dropping down to 28 hours). The TWS 4 also comes with a battery protection feature which regulates charging cycles, leading to a longer lasting product. 

Finally, the TWS 4 comes with a 6-microphone array for voice pickup as well as noise cancellation. This compares with the TWS 3, which only has 3 microphones. So noise canceling and voice quality should be improved on the TWS 4. 

Sound Impressions

The Momentum TWS 3 and 4 share similar sonic qualities. However I noticed some refinement in the TWS 4’s sound signature when doing A/B comparisons. Overall, both sets of earbuds go for a somewhat V-shaped sound signature. But the Momentum TWS 4 has a bit more balance and finesse when it comes to the mid range and treble. 

Listening to “Billions” by Caroline Polachek, the bass on the TWS 3 sounds strong and robust. But that deep bass impact comes with caveats. The elder Momentums have a bit muddier of a presentation, going for heft rather than pure detail. Switching over to the TWS 4, the bass is still there. However, it’s a faster, more punchy bass response that I happen to prefer. Testing these with Wilco’s “Jesus, Etc.,” I noticed cleaner bass response on the TWS 4, with bass notes better separated and more defined than the 3. 

When it comes to the midrange response, both generations sound pretty similar. At a glance, they present vocals as a little bit hollow. However, when comparing them side by side, the refinement on the Momentum TWS 4 becomes more apparent. Sticking with Wilco, the vocals, snare drum, and guitars all feel a bit better separated and smoother on the TWS 4, while I lost a bit more information on the TWS 3. Then on a track like Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So,” I could hear the TWS 4’s better handling of electric guitar distortion, demonstrating how much more information it could reproduce than the TWS 3. 

The treble is where I found the most significant difference between the two generations. The TWS 3’s high end feels laid back to the point of almost being hidden. Meanwhile on the TWS 4, treble is much more present. Cymbals shine through much more clearly and the top end of vocals are a lot more resolving. That said, the TWS 4 winds up sounding a bit shrill at times, while the TWS 3 is a bit more relaxing. 

The soundstage is about the same on each device. But if I had to split hairs, I would say the TWS 4 has a slightly bigger soundstage with better imaging. 

Overall, the TWS 4 bests the TWS 3 in terms of sound to my ears. However, if you prefer a laid back treble response and deeper bass, the TWS 3 may still be for you.

Summary:

The Momentum TWS 4 seems to overall be the better package when compared with the TWS 3. With a more refined sound signature and future-proof specs, the TWS 4 is a worthy upgrade to the previous model. 

You can pick up the Sennheiser Momentum TWS 3 at Audio46.com today. The Sennheiser Momentum TWS 4 is available for pre-order at Audio46.com starting today as well. 

The post Sennheiser Momentum TWS – Gen 3 and 4 Comparison appeared first on Major HiFi.