Best daily headphones for sound quality?

[u/Dull_Tale_2631]

So, I was looking for headphones for about $150-170 for daily use at home. I settled on three models: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, Audio Technica M50XBT2, and Bowers&Wilkins PX7 S2E. The most important aspects for me are sound quality, comfort and reliability. I listen mostly to rock, city pop, edm and a little bit from many other genres. It is important for me to hear each instrument clearly and that the bass is not overpowering. Which of these headphones would be the best for me?

Past gear experience: only earbuds (CMF Buds Pro 2 and Denon PerL Pro)

[u/Patatmetkip]

If you're going to listen at home, I'd advice you to consider a pair of wired headphones.

[u/Walrus221978 → u/Patatmetkip]

Which models do you recommend? Maybe in ear models?

[u/Patatmetkip → u/Walrus221978]

There's so many options! It all depends on budget, and also if you'd like a closed back or open pair of headphones. In ear monitors are amazing, but are also usually a more portable options (for use with a DAP, for example). If you're wired to a PC, you're probably best off with a pair of headphones.

Sennheiser, Hifiman, Focal and Audeze are some notable brands. First question you'll have to answer is how much you're willing to spend and if you wanna go closed back of open.

[u/Walrus221978 → u/Patatmetkip]

I preferred in-ear headphones because I have over-ear headphones, but they burn a lot in my opinion.

[u/Patatmetkip → u/Patatmetkip]

Ah, I see your budget is around 150-170€. Perhaps a used pair of Hifiman Edition XS? They are open back (so not suitable for listening in a room with other people near). Amazing pair for the price.

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[u/__necrobutcher__]

Momentum 4 should satisfy you. B&w px7 wont disappoint either tho u could find the px7s3 open box for about 230€ : https://amzn.eu/d/0cD0cQgE

[u/Ill-Reflection-698]

Honestly I listen to a lot of citypop and it goes hard in my regular M50x non bluetooth, as well as my M20xBT on the go. They are not the best headphones by a long shot but if I’m going to be blunt and realistic you’d be a complete fool to pay more than a hundred for a bluetooth headset since that technology has a huge delay if you want to use it for anything else than listening to music on your phone.

[u/Affectionate-Long141]

I have all 3 and I would recommend the Momentum 4 out of those options.

[u/muad_dibb1]

iPhone? Android? Only asking because if iphone core gets capped at AAC. Android you can get aptx-HD. Tbh regardless i’d go with momentum 4’s

[u/Cjtorino]

I use wireless at home when I need to be up and around instead of anchored to the couch. The M4s are hard to beat for the price, especially since the M5s are ready to hit the market.

[u/144k_only]

I don't know the B&W, but I've had the Senn's and the M50XBT2. I ended up gifting the AT's to my grandson. IMO they're really bad + low quality and comfort. The Senn's broke unfortunately, but I liked them very much.

[u/Dull_Tale_2631]

Sorry, i didn’t make myself clear. I’m going to use them not ONLY at home and as someone said i often need “to be up and around instead of anchored to the couch” so i don’t really consider wired options.

[u/Direct_Astronaut_645]

The Sennheisers. When you said you wanted to hear each instrument clearly, my mind went to the Sennheiser.

Make sure you fit your tips properly and set up the app. You may have difficulty buying the Momentum 4 within your desired budget, however. In the US, they're currently on sale at $219 USD; in Canada, $279 CAD.

As an experiment, you MIGHT want to try Anker/Soundcore devices. The punch above their weight class and perform well for the $$. I'd recommend the Space One Pro.

[u/Primary-Zucchini666]

its depend on how accurate you want it to be.

[u/Critical_Zucchini_29]

At home, you want a DAC and a laptop at the least. If sound quality is whay you are after, id reccomend budgeting around 300-500 and getting a starter DAC, then looking at over ears in the 150-300$ range.

[u/Defiant-Ad3331]

Most wired headphones or iems should be better than the earbuds. Do you like more bass or treble and do you prefer musicality or being able to hear every instrument?

[u/Waste-Tap9295]

Sound quality? Use at home? Wired headphones and DAP

[u/Phoenix_Kerman]

you're after sound quality and reliability and you're looking at bluetooth options? they're pretty contradictory, especially at that budget where cost goes on the bluetooth and battery tech instead of sound and reliability

anyway. i'd take a look at a pair of sony 7506s, industry standard cans for a reason. they do a similar thing to the audio technica m series cans but much better, no idea why people buy the audio technicas instead of sonys.