I’m swapping my Sony wireless headphones for a wired pair from Beyerdynamic - here’s why

By Andy Madden
published

It's time to sacrifice some convenience for extra quality

Sony Wh-1000XM5 and Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X
(Image credit: Future)

It’s easy to overthink things in the world of hi-fi. When you’re surrounded by products on a daily basis and you’ve spent hundreds of hours in test rooms over the years, you sometimes find yourself looking for complicated answers to problems that aren’t really there. Take my recent adventures in the world of headphones.

I spend a lot of time in the company of some of the best wireless headphones on the planet. In particular, I’ve been using the Sony WH-1000XM5 a lot recently. Partly because I’ve been away on holiday and wanted quality and convenience, and partly because I use them in the office to cut out background chatter.

But I’ve been looking to mix things up recently…

Less convenience, more quality

Sony WH-1000XM5, Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X and DT700 Pro X

(Image credit: Future)

I’m willing to sacrifice a bit more convenience in the search of extra quality. Not that the Sonys aren’t great at what they do - they’re arguably the best wireless headphones you can buy right now at their particular price point. But when I’m at home, I don’t really need wireless. I don’t need powerful noise-cancelling because I’m not having to combat train noise, roadworks noise and the other bits of daily life you’d rather mute. I also listen to a decent amount of hi-res music too, something that wireless headphones can’t really handle properly. Wired headphones aren’t limited in the same way. 

And, you have to appreciate that being masters of wireless audio also comes with a degree of compromise. When pricing and speccing the headphones, some of Sony’s budget has to go on internal components that carry out Bluetooth, noise-cancelling and help with other features that you don’t have to worry about with a traditional wired pair.

Wireless antennae, ANC (active noise cancelling) circuits, microphones, Bluetooth receivers, amps and DACs are nowhere to be found on a pair of traditional wired over-ear headphones. Manufacturers only have to concentrate on the mechanical workings which means they can really focus all their spending on using the best music-playing components possible. This is a big advantage when you’re looking for the best sound possible.

This is why, in real terms, wired headphones can offer outrageous value for money when you compare the cost of a good pair to the amount you’d need to invest in a proper hi-fi system with separates. As I’ve reminded myself recently, all you need is a source that’s capable enough to drive them and you can get some truly breathtaking results.

Close-backed or open-backed?

Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X and DT 700 Pro X

(Image credit: Future)

So, what are the headphones I’m taking for a spin? Well, I’ve been trying not one but two options from the same stable. In fact, the only thing separating them is a single element of their design.

I’ve been pitting the Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X against their DT 900 Pro X siblings. The main difference between the two is the fact the 900 are open-back, while the 700 are a closed-back design. You’ve got practical matters to think about here.

The 900 leak more sound, but their presentation is more spacious, with voices a particular highlight. The 700 sound a little more solid in the bass but you do miss that extra level of openness. I’ve learned there’s no right or wrong answer (I’ve actually settled on the 900 for now) but I’ve also learned that you don’t need to plug them into a headphone amp/DAC to get hours of musical enjoyment.

I plug them straight into my laptop (in this case a MacBook Pro) - no worrying about sample rates, no checking over my MacBook’s MIDI settings. They really are just plug-and-play. And they sound fantastic.

Sensational value

Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X and MacBook Pro

(Image credit: Future)

They’re both billed as ‘premium studio headphones’ and while detail-hungry audiophiles will be impressed by the level of resolution on offer, listeners who just want their headphones to entertain won’t be disappointed either.

The Beyers are also supremely comfortable, with soft padding that gives them a slipper-esque comfy feel when they’re on your head. Long listening sessions are dispatched with ease, which is just what I want when I’m settling in for a writing marathon. They’re also very easy to drive so you don’t need to fear going down the plug’n’play route as I have - they partner effortlessly with my MacBook Pro.

Sure you could spend thousands on high-end audiophile headphones or a new hi-fi system but you’ll be amazed at what wired headphones can deliver for the price of an Award-winning wireless pair.

MORE:

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Andy Madden
Andy Madden

Andy is Deputy Editor of What Hi-Fi? and a consumer electronics journalist with nearly 20 years of experience writing news, reviews and features. Over the years he's also contributed to a number of other outlets, including The Sunday Times, the BBC, Stuff, and BA High Life Magazine. Premium wireless earbuds are his passion but he's also keen on car tech and in-car audio systems and can often be found cruising the countryside testing the latest set-ups. In his spare time Andy is a keen golfer and gamer.

6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Robster
    I've always believed that mobile phone companies like Apple and Samsung moved to wireless and ditched the earphone socket as there are much greater profits to be made. Also, look at Apple Airpod advertising where the subjects fly through the air. That you can't do that with wired earphones is the only advantage the advertising executives came up with. Wired earphones often state the frequency range, whereas Bluetooth ones don't for the simple reason that Bluetooth has a very limited data throughput, hence the continual need for greater compression technologies.
    Reply
  • manchester-man
    Robster said:
    I've always believed that mobile phone companies like Apple and Samsung moved to wireless and ditched the earphone socket as there are much greater profits to be made. Also, look at Apple Airpod advertising where the subjects fly through the air. That you can't do that with wired earphones is the only advantage the advertising executives came up with. Wired earphones often state the frequency range, whereas Bluetooth ones don't for the simple reason that Bluetooth has a very limited data throughput, hence the continual need for greater compression technologies.
    I'm going to politely disagree with you. I have wired headphones I use when I'm at home and I love them but wireless when on the move is much more convenient. Back in the wired mobile headphones days there were countless times I sat down and pulled a wire out or it got wrapped around something or caught on something. You have to keep your phone a certain distance from you which would mean leaning towards the credit card machine for Apple / Google Pay on the 1m long cables most wired headphones suitable for mobile have. All little things that collectively make them a pain over time.

    Yes, wired headphones sound better but if that engrossed in audio on the move that you can notice the difference or care about it then you're likely to be a hazard to yourself and others.
    Reply
  • Gummibando
    Why would you need to check MIDI settings?

    IMHO, a great convenience/portability/quality "middle ground" option for wired headphones is the Qudelix 5K USB/Bluetooth DAC. Connects to your computer via USB and to your phone via BT. The accompanying app even supports pEQ headphone correction via the massive AutoEq database.
    Reply
  • Hifiman
    Why not try the Sonys with the supplied wired connection? I use the XM3s this way when I am at home and while the different sound profile needs the Mojo 2’s EQ to be used, it sounds superior to wireless to me.
    Reply
  • Mr_Build3r
    manchester-man said:
    I'm going to politely disagree with you. I have wired headphones I use when I'm at home and I love them but wireless when on the move is much more convenient. Back in the wired mobile headphones days there were countless times I sat down and pulled a wire out or it got wrapped around something or caught on something. You have to keep your phone a certain distance from you which would mean leaning towards the credit card machine for Apple / Google Pay on the 1m long cables most wired headphones suitable for mobile have. All little things that collectively make them a pain over time.

    Yes, wired headphones sound better but if that engrossed in audio on the move that you can notice the difference or care about it then you're likely to be a hazard to yourself and others.

    The original comment mentioned the wireless convenience you just did, just a lot more exaggerated. That doesn't mean the headphones jack needed to be removed for it, but everyone chose to copy Rotten Fruit Company's "courage" to make it inevitable.
    Reply
  • Mr_Build3r
    The only time I go with wireless nowadays is when I can find it for cheap. Wireless earbuds are very convenient, but not worth the $100+ when they become useless bricks, so I buy old stock when I can. Wireless headphones are a different story for me. Unless your apple and remove the headphone jack with zero USB audio support on a pair of flippin' headphones, they have potential. My main issue lies in the tuning never being what I want (I'm a weirdo that really wants neutral).

    I use a pair of AKG N90Q and would love for there to be a wireless version as it's sound and tuning matches a lot of my "audiophile" grade wired headphones, while giving me that sweet noise cancelling and even wired spatial audio. But unfortunately AKG is wasted by Harman and Samsung nowadays and no other company has given me that same appeal on paper (although I do want to give Bower & Wilkins a try with their more competitively priced px7).
    Reply