MDR-XB950N1

"I'm very impressed with the sound quality especially the bass boost since I tend to listen to my music with more bass anyway."

The sound quality is highly praised for its powerful bass, which is a major draw for hip-hop and EDM fans, though it can be overwhelming for some.

"In beginning i had some issues with performance when having it on my head... after using it for a time the issue with having them on for long times vanished..."

Initial comfort is noted as good, with some users experiencing earcups shifting over time, but overall it's considered comfortable for long listening sessions.

"the battery life suffered by only 1 hour through those eight years of use, the headphones still sound great..."

Users report excellent battery life, with minimal degradation even after many years of use.

"Unfortunately, the plastic broke around 3 years ago and I couldn’t repair them..."

The build quality is a significant and recurring issue, with numerous reports of broken hinges and plastic failures, leading to a very poor long-term durability.

"Mic quality is not the best, i had issues every time i tried to use these to talk that i was lagging when i talked or them hearing my voice 2 seconds after i have said something."

The microphone quality is consistently described as poor, with users experiencing lag and difficulty being heard.

"The newer N1 model adds the ability to adjust your sound with the app, and save that EQ signature to the device."

The ability to adjust sound via the app and save EQ settings is a highly valued feature, though some users experience minor connectivity quirks like hissing with ANC on.

"The Sony MDR-XB950N1 is a fun-sounding headphone that emphasizes bass above all else. If all you want is skull-rattling bass, you’ll love them."

The sound is heavily bass-focused, which can be fun for certain genres but leads to rolled-off highs and recessed mids, making other genres sound dull or muddy.

"The earcups and headband are padded in plush leather which make them extremely comfortable to wear for extended periods."

Users consistently praise the comfort, citing plush padding and an enveloping fit that makes them suitable for extended wear.

"Sony estimates the battery life to be roughly 22 hours, but your results will vary with your volume levels, as well as your usage of the Bass Effect button and the noise-canceling circuitry."

The battery life is generally considered good, with estimates around 22 hours of playback, meeting user expectations for long listening sessions.

"Last week I rotated the left cup and held it to my ear to listen to something without putting them completely on. The cups on these phones rotate so that they can lay flat for easier packing and also for “DJ” style listening. A little while later when I went to put them on, I noticed one of the arms that held the left ear cup was broken."

While some reviews mention sturdy construction with metal sliders, a significant concern is the fragility of the headphone arms, with reports of them breaking easily and not being covered under warranty.

"The mic offers reasonably good intelligibility. Using the Voice Memos app on an iPhone 6s, we could understand every word we recorded, however, we occasionally heard artifacts that are pretty common when using wireless mics (as opposed to inline mics on audio cables)."

Call quality is described as reasonably good with intelligible speech, though occasional artifacts common to wireless mics are present.

"For the money, Sony's MDR-XB950N1 disappoints by omitting multipoint Bluetooth pairing and auto play/pause when taking off the headphones."

The headphones offer customizable bass and sound modes via an app, but lack essential features like multipoint pairing and auto play/pause, and full control requires a mobile device.

"The 950 N1s have 40 mm drivers that do a great job with bass even with the bass effect turned off the bass is tight and Punchy without sounding boomy"

The sound quality is highly praised for its deep, powerful, and adjustable bass, though some users note a slight lack of clarity in mids and highs when the bass is heavily emphasized.

"I find these extremely comfortable to wear I can easily wear these all day long for Comfort I don't think it gets much better than this"

Users consistently describe the headphones as very comfortable, lightweight, and suitable for all-day wear due to soft ear cushions and minimal clamping force.

"battery life on the 950 N1 is slightly improved here over the previous model here you'll get up to 22 hours with noise cancellation and extra base enabled"

The battery life is consistently reported as excellent, meeting or exceeding the advertised 22 hours even with ANC and bass boost enabled.

"overall the build quality is topnotch"

The build quality is generally considered good and solid, with a mix of durable plastic and a metal headband, though some concerns exist about the longevity of plastic components and hinges.

"Call Quality is great too calls come through clear and the caller on the other end couldn't tell I was using a headset"

Call quality is reported as great, with clear audio for both the user and the person on the other end, who often couldn't tell a headset was being used.

"NFC here for quick pairing so if you've got an NFC enabled device just a quick tap will pair otherwise Bluetooth pairing is quick and easy and Bluetooth performance is great too"

The headphones offer solid Bluetooth connectivity with good range, NFC pairing, and a useful companion app for sound customization, though some find the app's EQ options limited.