Question about wireless or wired headphones

[josveland]

Hello everyone! I'm forced to replace my Beyerdynamic Lagoon ANC headphones because original replacement parts are no longer available in Europe (the non-original ones I can find are of poor quality), and the ear and headband cushions are worn out.

In any case, I've used the Lagoons 80% of the time at home, in situations where I didn't mind having a wired connection (in fact, I usually use a wired connection because the sound quality is significantly better than Bluetooth). I can disregard the remaining 20% because it's generally been in situations where I'd normally take my AirPods Pro 2, as they're more convenient to carry around (they fit in my pocket) than over-ear headphones.

With this introduction, I'm trying to make it clear that I really don't care whether my new headphones are wireless, portable, foldable, or have noise cancellation... because they're for home use. Although they should be closed-back, since I've never owned open-back headphones, if they let in too much sound, they're useless to me. Of course, being able to get up from the table or sofa without taking off my headphones, or not having to carry my phone around, are features I appreciate, but it depends on the price.

Based on these considerations, I can't find any articles comparing top-of-the-range wired and wireless headphones (within the same price range). For example, for wired use, what about Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 or Beyerdynamics T5? These two models sell for around €750 in Spain. What about the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Sennheiser HD 660S2? Around €480. What about Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 or Sennheiser HD 600? Around €380.

The question is, at the same price, will wired headphones sound significantly better, or will they sound similar?

Main uses: streaming movies, TV shows, and music (Apple Music or Spotify Lossless), gaming on Nintendo Switch 2 and PC. Sometimes I'll use them directly to the TV/PC/Switch 2/iPhone 11 Pro Max (with the Lightning-to-3.5mm jack adapter) and sometimes connected to a Denon AVR X3700H AV decoder (6.35mm jack input; in this case, Apple Music can only be output via AAC).

 

[Al ears]

There are plenty of wired portable headphones out there.
Every headphone I have is wired for a reason.
I don't need noise cancelling efforts and I cannot carry anything with an internal battery when at work.
Wireless headphones require a DAC of some sort in the loop as far as I am aware so, potentially, wired headphones should sound better but not all modern phones or devices can accept a wired connection.
I really liked my B&W headphones but apparently they are no longer making wired headphones so will have to look elsewhere for a suitable replacement.

 

[josveland]

EDITADO:
What I want to know is what price range for wired headphones would correspond to, for example, the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, speaking exclusively in terms of audio quality.

 

[Gray]

I'm trying to make it clear that I really don't care whether my new headphones are wireless, portable, foldable, or have noise cancellation... because they're for home use.

Then if I was you, it would have to be wired - more choice of makes and models - including the latest Beyer models (since that's the brand you're used to).

If sound quality is your number 1 priority, then comparing models yourself is essential.

The prospect of long, trailing cables across rooms put some people off of wired headphones.
But extension cables clipped neatly around skirting boards (if necessary in thin trunking) is so unobtrusive, you don't even know it's there.
Plug into fixed socket(s) behind listening chair(s) 👍

 

[Al ears]

Lo que quiero saber es a qué rango de precios de auriculares con cable correspondería, por ejemplo, a los auriculares Sony WH-1000XM6 hablando exclusivamente de calidad de audio.

and in English???

 

[Jasonovich]

There are plenty of wired portable headphones out there.
Every headphone I have is wired for a reason.
I don't need noise cancelling efforts and I cannot carry anything with an internal battery when at work.
Wireless headphones require a DAC of some sort in the loop as far as I am aware so, potentially, wired headphones should sound better but not all modern phones or devices can accept a wired connection.
I really liked my B&W headphones but apparently they are no longer making wired headphones so will have to look elsewhere for a suitable replacement.

Give planars a shot AI, you won't be disappointed ☺️

 

[Jasonovich]

Lo que quiero saber es a qué rango de precios de auriculares con cable correspondería, por ejemplo, a los auriculares Sony WH-1000XM6 hablando exclusivamente de calidad de audio.

Don't you love Google translate 😁

What I want to know is what price range of wired headphones would correspond to, for example, the Sony WH-1000XM6, speaking exclusively of audio quality".

 

[Al ears]

Give planars a shot AI, you won't be disappointed ☺️

I don't, at the moment, feel the need to replace my current headphones but planars may be on the cards in the future. For home use at least.

 

[josveland]

Then if I was you, it would have to be wired - more choice of makes and models - including the latest Beyer models (since that's the brand you're used to).

If sound quality is your number 1 priority, then comparing models yourself is essential.

The prospect of long, trailing cables across rooms put some people off of wired headphones.
But extension cables clipped neatly around skirting boards (if necessary in thin trunking) is so unobtrusive, you don't even know it's there.
Plug into fixed socket(s) behind listening chair(s) 👍

Thanks a lot, Gray, but I'd appreciate it if you could explain why you'd choose wired headphones.

Of course, I'll try several models before choosing. That's what I did before buying the Lagoon headphones (which, by the way, I still love and wouldn't trade if it weren't for those damn ear pads), and that's what I'm doing now. I've already tried the Momentum 4 (I liked the sound, but they were heavy and the headband wasn't comfortable), the Bose QC Ultra (incredibly comfortable and the sound was decent, but they didn't blow me away), and just yesterday I received the Sony WH-1000XM6 (a great deal at €281; I've only been able to try them for an hour, and at first glance I liked the sound and they felt comfortable, but I need to test them much more. The app seems a bit rubbish... not very intuitive, but that hardly matters to me).

In the end, I don't have any technical knowledge about audio, so I'm just learning what I need and finding a combination I like within a certain budget. Therefore, considering that I'm barely using one of the features of wireless headphones, I'd like to know if sticking to wired headphones represents a real leap in audio quality or if they're comparable within the same budget.

In other words, and of course speaking generally, are wireless headphones around €300 equivalent to wired headphones costing €100? €200? €250? I don't mind paying €50 for the extra Bluetooth connection, but if it's more than that, I'd prefer to take a step up in audio quality.

and in English???

Sorry, Chrome automatically translates the website and I spaced out.

Give planars a shot AI, you won't be disappointed ☺️

Thank you for the advice, but could you elaborate a bit?

 

[Jasonovich]

Thanks a lot, Gray, but I'd appreciate it if you could explain why you'd choose wired headphones.

Of course, I'll try several models before choosing. That's what I did before buying the Lagoon headphones (which, by the way, I still love and wouldn't trade if it weren't for those damn ear pads), and that's what I'm doing now. I've already tried the Momentum 4 (I liked the sound, but they were heavy and the headband wasn't comfortable), the Bose QC Ultra (incredibly comfortable and the sound was decent, but they didn't blow me away), and just yesterday I received the Sony WH-1000XM6 (a great deal at €281; I've only been able to try them for an hour, and at first glance I liked the sound and they felt comfortable, but I need to test them much more. The app seems a bit rubbish... not very intuitive, but that hardly matters to me).

In the end, I don't have any technical knowledge about audio, so I'm just learning what I need and finding a combination I like within a certain budget. Therefore, considering that I'm barely using one of the features of wireless headphones, I'd like to know if sticking to wired headphones represents a real leap in audio quality or if they're comparable within the same budget.

In other words, and of course speaking generally, are wireless headphones around €300 equivalent to wired headphones costing €100? €200? €250? I don't mind paying €50 for the extra Bluetooth connection, but if it's more than that, I'd prefer to take a step up in audio quality.


Sorry, Chrome automatically translates the website and I spaced out.


Thank you for the advice, but could you elaborate a bit?

Ah, I was addressing AI Ears@ ☺️ but yes, if you have an interest in Planar Magnet headphones, there are various brands to suit your budget, Audeze, Meze, FiiO, Hifiman etc.
Worth exploring I think. It's a question of do I prefer convenience or sound quality, if it's the latter, go for wired.
There's very little close back or wireless headphone options with planars.
The Audeze and Meze don't have a budget line but Hifiman and FiiO offer affordable planars.

 

[Gel Man]

Hello everyone! I'm forced to replace my Beyerdynamic Lagoon ANC headphones because original replacement parts are no longer available in Europe (the non-original ones I can find are of poor quality), and the ear and headband cushions are worn out.

In any case, I've used the Lagoons 80% of the time at home, in situations where I didn't mind having a wired connection (in fact, I usually use a wired connection because the sound quality is significantly better than Bluetooth). I can disregard the remaining 20% because it's generally been in situations where I'd normally take my AirPods Pro 2, as they're more convenient to carry around (they fit in my pocket) than over-ear headphones.

With this introduction, I'm trying to make it clear that I really don't care whether my new headphones are wireless, portable, foldable, or have noise cancellation... because they're for home use. Although they should be closed-back, since I've never owned open-back headphones, if they let in too much sound, they're useless to me. Of course, being able to get up from the table or sofa without taking off my headphones, or not having to carry my phone around, are features I appreciate, but it depends on the price.

Based on these considerations, I can't find any articles comparing top-of-the-range wired and wireless headphones (within the same price range). For example, for wired use, what about Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 or Beyerdynamics T5? These two models sell for around €750 in Spain. What about the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Sennheiser HD 660S2? Around €480. What about Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 or Sennheiser HD 600? Around €380.

The question is, at the same price, will wired headphones sound significantly better, or will they sound similar?

Main uses: streaming movies, TV shows, and music (Apple Music or Spotify Lossless), gaming on Nintendo Switch 2 and PC. Sometimes I'll use them directly to the TV/PC/Switch 2/iPhone 11 Pro Max (with the Lightning-to-3.5mm jack adapter) and sometimes connected to a Denon AVR X3700H AV decoder (6.35mm jack input; in this case, Apple Music can only be output via AAC).

Why don’t you pick up the B&W PX8 headphones wired or wireless from Amazon Germany for €333 euros:

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Cancelling-Headphones-Bluetooth-Resolution-Microphone-black/dp/B0B33PXPJT/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2N7CSCLNZAU3C&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8IAbePd47kCT8iHzo3A_MwKCIkQNGKXFmSq88smUJlS4XK-p2f9p2MOXAh7pXDpQFreKRE13pMxrlKuxiilnAPGG9kv8fKSf2T9XC7eIR36LHxXopSTyRCo8ruA74waFPF8kZctxmkj7fsiqu7iRXCtLyndZSYJ_JoqdppVujCa8uPSypPKO7fYDJAPpFaCCjEW20zVbPo16rcWq-BJi-8aYnAIiMrJgk1UBOEJSTkM.kLA2a4S_1csBlUNuaMgG1_Zz7nXxIXBIqR03-fpnrw8&dib_tag=se&keywords=b%26w%2Bpx8&qid=1761908338&sprefix=B%26W%2B%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-3&th=1

Just use your Amazon Spain account log in.