Sony - XB950B1 Extra Bass Wireless Over-the-Ear Headphones - Black

What's in the box ----------------- 1. Headphones (MDRXB950B1) 2. charging cable 3. 3.5mm audio cable 4. Instruction Manual Fitting ------- i have a large head, it fits me very well and it has a good adjustable band just like any other headphones and you can adjust it as fits the best. I have worn this for hours without any strain on my ears (i watched Narcos on Netflix on a marathon stretch, no fatigue or strain, good fit!!) Sound ------ i tested this on a variety of conditions, lets divide the listening into broadly 2 categories Music - i listened to the following songs on Youtube 1. Cavin Harris - This is what you came here for 2.Charie PUTH - we dont talk anymore 3. The chain smokers - Closer just to make sure i listen to a variety of songs with different beats in it. The Bass is really really good. I also have a SONY MDRZX770BT and this things blows the 770BT out of water. However, i do feel that the treble or high frequency response on 770BT is a Tad better than 950B1 but overall the 950B1 sounded better. There is also a BASS EFFECT button, which on activation says "BASS EFFECT IS ON" , i think i rather have a tone than someone saying that the bass boost is on, but i did not find it annoying. I also tested it by activating the BASS EFFECT button on the songs and wow what a difference, i felt like i was in a dance club. Tremendous amount of BASS, so much that i had to reduce the volume from the level at which i was listening without having the BASS EFFECT ON. Also, with the BASS EFFECT ON, the bass is not muddy but a nice thumping one, you will enjoy RAP/Dance numbers well with the BASS EFFECT Being on. Movies - As i was saying earlier, i was watching NARCOS on my Fire tablet paired with the MDRXB950B1 and i also compared it with the SONY MDRZX770BT, i enjoyed the effects much more on the MDRXB950B1 Range -------- I also tested the range on the headphones, i could walk away 30 feet and could still hear the sound without any interruptions or did not have the sound cutting out, this was done only for testing purpose, but you would not really walk too far away from the source Bluetooth Calling ---------------- I checked out the MIC feature of the headphones but i did not find it much useful, the other person could not hear me properly , not sure if i was talking too slow but i would not use it for calling Noise Cancellation ------------------ Note, this headphone does not have an active noise cancellation feature, it only passively blocks the noise, but the padding on the headphones are really heavy and does a very nice job in blocking the noise, so much that my family members had to talk in sign language when i am watching or listening to songs using this headphones. Battery ------- I did not get an opportunity to fully run out the battery yet, it is rated at 18 Hours of battery, i had used it for about 10 hours and still going strong, so i assume it should satisfy the 18 hour rated life for battery, you can charge it with any compatible charger that is a micro USB. although the packaging comes with the cable, there is no power adapter and i did not think it is needed because every house must have about 10 micro USB chargers at the least with so many devices such as tablets, phones which require charging. this also comes with the audio cable, so you can connect it to your device just in case you run out of battery

The Sony MDR-XB950B1 is the latest update to the company's Extra Bass headphones replacing the original MDR-XB950BT headphones. The XB950B1 looks nearly identical to the original XB950BT and both weigh the same. (I happen to also own the XB950BT). The left ear cup has the power button, micro usb power connection, audio cord input, microphone, and the bass button which on the current generation is re-labeled as “bass effect” to highlight the ability for the user to adjust the bass settings on a scale of -10 to +10 using Sony's Headphones Connect app. The right ear cup has the volume control +/- button and the skip forward/reverse, play/pause/answer phone button. The MDR-XB950B1 is an over-the-ear headphone with very thick, soft, and comfortable earpads. I wear eyeglasses and the headphones do not press my frames unduly against my ears. I was able to wear the headphones for hours without discomfort. The metal headband is also well padded and did not feel heavy over my head. The headphones appear to have very good build quality and stretches well to accommodate various head sizes. Now onto why you're really here... my thoughts on the highly subjective sound quality. These headphones by their very nature, were tuned by the Sony audio engineers to not only emphasize the bass at their default settings right out of the box, but to kick it up a notch to knock you senseless when it's turned up. Audiophiles will hate the sound signature for its total irreverence for how the song was meant to be heard in the studio. Those who own the original XB950BT will recall the nearly identical sound signature which is deep bass with some mids, and muffled highs which don't seem to break through. However, I noticed in my testing of the XB950B1 that the vocals/mids were a little cleaner and that some of the highs did come through ever so slightly better. As I mentioned above, the way they are tuned from the factory, these headphones are not for the user who demands balance in the audio experience. They were clearly aimed at those who enjoy bass and a lot of it. Those who are seeking the well balanced sound spectrum with crisp highs and mids will be disappointed at first pass with these headphones, until they use an equalizer app to fine tune the higher end frequencies to bring out the highs which these headphones are very capable of and will reward you for doing so. I admit that I was initially dismayed by the lack of clear mids and clean trebles, but I started adjusting the equalizers and virtualizations that brought these headphones to life. Sony also acknowledges that some of us want more punchy bass and others want less by introducing the Sony Headphones Connect app which is available for free download from the Google or Apple app stores to allow users to adjust the level of bass to suit their musical tastes. The ability to adjust the bass from -10 to +10 is a welcome feature, and is the primary distinguishing feature between this second generation XB950B1 and the original XB950BT which only had a “bass boost” that went from extra bass to an insane amount of bass with no settings in between. Now that Sony has included the bass adjustment as an app, it should appease those on either side of the bass spectrum. The +10 bass setting will make the bass sound silly crazy out of this world, and the -10 setting will mellow the bass out a bit and bring you back down to earth. Additionally, the Headphone Connect app also allows users to select presets for outdoor stage, club, hall, or arena-style sound settings. I tried the different presets. They sounded okay, but I prefer to make my adjustments on a third party equalizer app. Here are some other things to take note of. I really wished Sony included a case to store the headphones. The headphones are bulky and the earcups only turn so that the headphones lay flat. Sony should have also designed the earcups to be foldable (like for the MDR-XB950N1) so that they can be easier to store and transport. The battery life is very good, lasting 18 hrs, which is the same as the original XB950BT. This latest iteration (XB950B1) of the headphones does not suffer from the faint, but audible rumbling/hissing noise that can be heard at low volumes that was found in the first generation XB950BT. This is a great improvement as I found the hissing noise be to very annoying. Finally, these are neither noise canceling headphones nor noise isolating. Don't let the thick padded ear cushions fool you into believing that they will eliminate any ambient noise. With no music playing, you will still hear your surrounding, albeit a little bit muffled. So in summary, for those looking to upgrade from the original XB950BT to the current XB950B1, the only real change is the freedom to make adjustments the bass via the Sony Headphone Connect app. The sound is very similar between the two. For those those who love bass, these headphones are for you! For those who are seeking their first purchase in the Sony Extra Bass line up, the XB950B1 is a superb choice since the bluetooth connection allows you to lose the wires and the app allows easy adjustment to the bass. And finally for those who are wary that the sound signature is too heavily tuned toward the low end frequencies will be reassured to know that the highs and mids will come through with proper tuning with an equalizer app. I highly recommend these headphones!

I received my XB950B1 headset through BestBuy's Tech Insider program on March 26, so I have used them for almost a month with the following audio sources before writing this review: - Motorola Turbo (XT1254) cell phone (Bluetooth mode and using the supplied 3.5mm Audio cable) - Motorola Turbo 2 (Bluetooth) - Microsoft Surface Book (Bluetooth mode and Audio cable) - Creative Zen Vision Media Player (Audio cable) PROS: There is a lot to like about this headset. 1. Although the headband is just a bit tighter than I prefer, the ear cups remain comfortable even after extended wear (more than 2 to 3 hours). 2. Multimedia Audio quality is in the "very good" to "excellent" range, as I expect from Sony products. 3. Sound quality during phone calls is also Good. Occasionally a caller mentioned that I sounded "far away" at their end, but this was not consistent across calls with those individuals, so phone reception at either end could be the culprit. 4. Battery life is excellent, and recharging is simple using the supplied 19.75" micro USB cable. I did not specifically test for the maximum run time provided by a full charge, but I was able to finish several sessions of 2-3 hours before deciding to recharge. 5. I really like the ability to use these as "normal", wired headphones using the 48" long, 3.5mm stereo audio cable. Of course, this method only allows for incoming audio (no microphone out), but you can charge the headset while listening if you use both cables. Be aware that plugging the audio cable into the headset automatically disconnected the headset's active bluetooth connection. So in "wired mode" the Bass Boost, Volume control, and other headset hardware controls do not work. 6. Bass Boost can greatly improve the sound of incoming Bluetooth audio that needs it, but I found that the headset drivers have excellent bass response, and I rarely felt the need to use the Boost. 7. This headset paired easily with cell phones and my MS Surface Book, and it remembers pairing info for up to eight devices. 8. I like the simple, clean look of this headset. Sony kept things classy, rejecting the fads of ridiculous, blinding, RGB LEDs for no good reason, and pulsing LED logo lighting that seems to be everywhere the last few years. The 2 small, unobtrusive LED status indicators serve their intended purpose without over-kill, and there is a small, silver "SONY" logo on each ear-can. CONS: Like any technology designed for use by actual human beings, there are some compromises made, and things I would have done differently: 1. The headset gives voice announcements for functions like Power on/off, Bass Boost on/off, Bluetooth connected/disconnected, etc. During these announcements all incoming audio is completely "blanked out" for a few seconds, which I find annoying. I would really like to be able to turn that off! - This is my largest complaint, and the reason for the 4.5 star rating: Voice announcements are non-critical functions, yet they temporarily keep the headset from performing it's primary function of reproducing high-quality incoming audio. 2. I did have some hiccups using the headset's media controls with some mobile Media players. The play/pause and next/previous controls caused occasional lock-ups in the Android versions of VLC and BS Player. I can't say for certain whether the headset, the app, or the Android OS is at fault here. . 3. Sony's "Headphones" app for Android has VERY limited functionality at this point. It currently only allows you to enable/disable bass boost and adjust the Bass Boost level, select a sound environment (Club, Arena, Live Stage, etc), and check the battery charge level. When I learned that Sony had an app that worked with this headset, I was hoping for a more integrated media app that added a media player and playlist editor to those functions. I hope Sony adds those soon. 4. The 3.5mm audio input jack is recessed into the left ear "can" far enough that the plugs on most of my existing audio cables will not seat into the jack fully. The supplied cable is not long enough for some things I would like to do, so I have to use a stereo extension cable. This is a fairly minor gripe since this is designed and marketed as a wireless headset, so I don't fault Sony too much for this one. TO SUM THINGS UP: I like the MDR-XB950B1 headset a lot. In fact, I find myself using them far more often than I would normally use a headset. There is more to like than dislike here, and in my opinion, a product that makes you actually want to use it more often than usual has certainly gotten the important things right.

I pulled the XB950B1's out of the box and was immediately impressed with their heft. They felt well made and sturdy. However, that heft and the fact they don't fold makes transporting them a bit of a chore. The fact that no case is included only makes that issue worse. I knocked off a star due to this. However, the impressive sound quality and battery life make up for the bulk of this shortfall. After an initial charge (the instructions say 4 hours, in real-life it was more like 2-1/2), I turned them on and started the pairing process. It was seamless and nearly instantaneous with my iOS device. The connection has remained strong and I have noticed no dropouts or disconnection issues as of yet, which is more than I can say for other Bluetooth headphones I use. Once paired, the phone prompted me to download a couple of Sony's apps to help the headphones work "better". I only downloaded the "Headphones Connect" app which allows you to adjust the bass boost between -10 and +10. The headphones themselves have a manual switch for toggling the bass effect but the app adds another layer of boost or reduction. The app also includes some DSP effects, all of which seem to render the sound quality subpar to my ears so I leave that setting in the Off position. The fit of this set is very nice, although it does seem to be a little tight for extended periods of wear. As I wear glasses, the extra pressure can be slightly uncomfortable but there is definitely no chance these are going to slip off or shift while in use, so that's a trade-off I'm willing to have. Even without music playing, the thick foam earcups block a good bit of external noise, and although these are not noise-cancelling headphones, they are about as close as you can get without paying for that feature. The sound quality is great but it takes a little tweaking of the settings to keep it from being too bass-heavy. An increase in the bass boost muddles the highs some, but these headphones definitely weren't designed as studio monitors. They pump out sufficient volume from the 40mm drivers that I cannot imagine cranking them all the way up, and I like my music loud. Even at higher volumes, the sound doesn't seem to "leak" out where it can be heard by people around you. The battery is rated at 18 hours, and while I haven't tried stretching the battery life nearly that far, I can say that after 4 hours of moderate volume listening, the app shows the battery at about 75% charge. I tend to try to keep my batteries topped up in case I need to grab them on a moment's notice for an out-of-town trip, so that's as far down as I've let the battery drain so far. Sony includes a 3.5mm audio cable for attaching these headphones directly to the device which is supposed to extend the audio reproduction range but I have yet to try it out. For my device it would require the use of a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter which I genuinely dislike using. While having this ability is a nice added feature, I don't foresee me ever really using the cord since I bought a set of wireless headphones for a reason. If you're looking for audiophile quality sound, look elsewhere. But if you want a set of wireless cans that will pump a lot of volume (and bass you can practically feel), these Sony's are an excellent place to start.

I won't claim to be an audiophile or sound expert by any means, but after almost 40 years of listening to music I know what sounds good. The Sony XB950B1 Wireless Headphones certainly allow one to enjoy the sounds that they love. I have tried these out on several different avenues and I think the overall performance is worth the price. The first endeavor was listening to heavy and fast music via the Bluetooth connection. I didn't run into any hiccups in playback like you experience with some regardless of how close the source is to you. The music was crisp and clean. I also turned the Bass Effect on and off a few times to truly picture what the addition brings to the table. I thought the music sounded good both ways, but I feel like there could be a happy medium between them. The second avenue was actually through a phone call. Since I discovered it had a mic, I figured it's something that might occur if I am connected to my phone and I better be prepared. My friend was in the car and said he could hear my just fine. It felt a little strange to me, but the quality appeared to above average on both sides. i could clearly hear him and he could clearly hear me. The third test was utilizing the wired connection to my PC. As a parent who likes to game, there's nothing worse than having to kill the volume when everyone's sleeping. With that being said, I thought these did an excellent job of picking up the main sounds as well as the ambient sounds of the environments that I encountered. The final test was wired to my phone. I thought the music quality was good, but no where near as good as the Bluetooth streaming that I did earlier. I wish you could still control the Bass Effect on the headphones without turning it on, but that's not an option. In general, these headphones are top notch. Are they the best? No, but it's really hard to bash them if you aren't paying attention. Even though they are noise cancelling, I think they do an excellent job of covering the ear and eliminating everything around you. I know that I was unable to hear other things with them on. I do wish there were two other things. The first is the ability to fold them up and the second is a carrying case/bag. Without those, traveling is made more difficult. Lastly, here is what's in the box: -the headphones -20" Micro-USB Cable -47" Headphone Cable -the instructions and how-to guide

SONY Headset Nbs: Set up for the SONY Headset is made fast and easy via the Quick Start Graphics, offering a step by step instructions with large graphics and easy to read font size. What a quantum leap in performance! Charge time is 4 hours for up to 200 hours standby time and max 18 hours playback and communications time; so, start charging on receipt. A pouch for the cords provided for charging or for a wired connection would have been a nice addition; but, since we were saved the added expense, look around the house for a small jewelry or change pouch to make tracking your cords a no-brainer. The large padded head cuffs cancel interference from outside ambient noise. So, listening to music and answering calls while doing gentle outdoor activities like walking or doing yardwork will be far more pleasurable with this headset because you will not have to interrupt your process with repeated re-installations of ear plugs that fall out of place. As well, the wireless capability for connection to one’s smartphone eliminates restrictions created by a corded connection. In light of the sound dampening capability, when outdoors be certain to use these phones when personal security is not an issue. You want to be able to recognize any threat to your boundaries when in public spaces. Also, this unit is not protected from exposure to inclement weather; so, protect yourself and the unit accordingly. But, this noise cancelling set can certainly eliminate the suffering for those with snoring partners. Also, when others want to sleep when you don’t, you can quietly access all of your media. Though an attempt to download my free access to music and news via my FM Radio app for a wireless connection failed, I can still use the cord delivered with the unit for making a wired connection. (Some Free apps [or all?] seem to require wired connections.) The corded connection works beautifully when connected to smartphone or laptop if wireless is obstructed for some reason. For accessing the full array of features offered by the unit, GOOGLE PLAY offers a quick download of SONY HEADPHONES CONNECT that gives you the bass toggling features, access to, your Music Library, TUNE IN, the 30 day trial ($9.99 for individuals thereafter) of the SONY (pay-to-play) MUSIC CENTER and a host of other variables. So far, the SKYPE App, VOICE RECORDER, among others were easily selected from my quickly populated list of previously installed apps on my Android Phone as additional complements to the apps delivered with the unit. BTW, the unit is fully compatible with iPhone and Android. Oddly, with multiple attempts, the link promoted to download the SONY HEADPHONES CONNECT app on their glossy insert, sony.net/hpc/, failed delivery. My advice is to go direct to GOOGLE PLAY for an obstacle-free download experience. Otherwise, when you explore the drop down menus, you’ll find the unit’s features are super user friendly. I love SONG PAL and the selection of listening options such as Concert Hall, Outdoor Stage, etc that add rich and diverse tones while listening to music, drama or just talking on the phone or VOIP. The ear muffs are designated Left and Right and offer ease of access for volume, mic, fast fwd, rewind, bass enhancement charging and related plug-ins. Useful would be information on compatibility with other charging cords; but, a call or email to SONY might unearth some useful details. Most electronic warranties state that interchanging charging cords with other equipment voids coverage. I suggest that you read the EULA (END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT) to educate yourself on privacy related issues tied to SONY and their affiliates. Seems access for automatic updates to your electronics affords SONY access to data regarding your location, unit performance, and related information that undermines privacy. But, there is some legalese in the EULA that affords the consumer arbitration rights that can be declined for more consumer friendly rights such as small claims up to $15k; but, think you have to act within a time frame in order to make changes to the contract after purchase. In short order, read, take action or live with the consequences is my admonition since tort reform impacts all aspects of our relationship with manufacturers. Nonetheless, I am major jazzed by the enhanced quality of my listening experience created by this unit. New dimensions emerge when you can tweaked audio intimacy AND eliminate that barking dog, those grinding power tools and the monster snorer. Thanks SONY for the upgrade to my mobile tool kit!

The Sony XB950B1’s are a new set of bluetooth cans from Sony. Obviously everyone is hopping aboard the bluetooth train in this post headphone jack world. So how does Sony’s offer do? First of all, I think it’s a great thing to point out that Sony does support aptX from Qualcomm, so near lossless audio is possible over bluetooth with the right device. This is a big deal if you find yourself noticing quality issues from A2DP bluetooth (normal bluetooth streaming audio). If you have a relatively recent flagship Android phone you most likely can use this protocol to give you almost wired quality for music. If you’re like me and lack aptX hardware (iPhone 7 user here), then you’re stuck with A2DP for bluetooth. Most people will still find this quality acceptable, and I could hardly tell the difference myself. The nice thing is this headset has the option of a wired connection which does not require the headset to be on to use. How this magic works (wiring wise) I’m not certain, but props to Sony for creating a friendly and natural user experience, along with a backup plan if your battery dies. The Extra Bass setting requires the power to be on, and the sound seems like it gets a bit more umph when powered on. If you unplug your wired connect after turning the headphones on, the headphones will power off automatically. The only thing you get with the headphones is a charging cable and audio cable. It would have been nice to see a protective case for these in this price range, especially given the mobile nature of its bluetooth input. Your average user will probably have these cans on their desk, but if they need to put them in their bag, there is a risk they’ll get damaged. Which brings me to construction. They’re a solid build quality, which has become expected of Sony products. The pads are comfortable, and the buttons, switches, and cables are all top notch. The headband is a single piece of metal from one side to the other which seems quite durable. Having had a couple of pairs of cans, I’m a bit wary of plastic on metal construction, as the plastic almost invariably will crack at some point. Sony’s plastic does feel sturdier than others (reminding me of the plastic used on DSLR cameras), but only time will tell. Initial quality is quite high though, and they don’t stand out in an office environment. These bring a decidedly minimalistic fashion statement to the wearer, one that I actually enjoy. In the world of hyped Beats headphones, it’s nice to have a functional and minimalistic design. Of course this is the black version, there are blue and red if you like standing out. Battery life seems on pair with claims when listening at a normal volume. And again, you can use them without power with the included headphone cable which is a huge plus. Now, what everyone should care about is: “How do they sound!?”. Well this is probably my biggest disappointment. The sound is powered by 2 monstrous 40mm drivers. I emphasize the ‘monstrous’ because even before “Extra Bass” is turned on these headphones underscore the low-end like it’s priority number one. That isn’t to say they don’t have mids or highs, but they are muffled by the overreaching bass. Turning on Extra Bass can practically rattle them off your head. If this is your priority then great, but I prefer a balanced sound with some presence. Using the application you can actually turn the bass down to -10 (unfortunately I don’t think there is a way to tweak this on a non-bluetooth connection without the app) which can help. Unfortunately the soundstage and presence of these headphones is quite narrow (not uncommon with cans), and feels ‘dead’ and muffled. The mids have no definition and it leaves certain music flat. This isn’t to say these headphones don’t sound good, because they do, but they lack a quality that most audiophiles would turn their nose up at. Honestly I’m not that snobby, but I was disappointed for certain songs. What does sound amazing on these headphones is electronic/dubstep. They fit a need I have as a reliable bluetooth headset for my iPhone, and can even take calls thanks to the built in microphone. The wired connection doesn’t have the ability to utilize the microphone, but that’s a small price considering the versatility that these do provide. If you’re needs are electronic music, bluetooth, and not beats, then these are a great pick. If you’re looking for something that is true to source audio, then look at other brands, or wired sony studio headphones.

I tested these against a few other high end Bluetooth models and the have excellent sound. They weren’t as good as the other ones, but they were not $200-300 worse. I like the noise canceling abilities on this headphone. I like to ride my Schwinn Airdyne bike which has a fan belt driven chain, ie very noisy. The headphones did a great job canceling out the noise. I could listen to my tv that was connected to the head phones at a much lower level. Typically, I need to use a volume of 27-36 for ESPN on DirectvNow and with the headphones I could bring that down to 15-18. Apple music also sounded better. I had a hard time hearing people talk, especially when I had someone talk from a spot I couldn’t see them. Be careful if you still need to be able to hear things around you when using noise cancellation. Even without the noise cancellation on, the headphones did a nice job blocking out the sound because they are over the ear headphones. Bass levels were good for me when I was listening to my “bad” 80’s pop music or grunge from the late 90’s. It was crisp and clear and not too drowned out by the bass. I personally liked where Sony has placed the volume and tracking. I could easily restart a song, skip a song and change the volume. Those buttons were easy to find and very responsive even as I was on my bike. After I fully charged the head phones I tried to leave them connected to a music source as much as I could. I got about 19 hours of play. I sure it could be a little less since I didn’t have it consistently being used, but I would feel comfortable that it could make it for a entire days use. Along with using the headphones for an entire day, the ear cushions are very comfortable and the headphones rested comfortably on my head. I did use it about 3 hours for the first day with the testing and it was very comfortable. It did get very hot when I rode my bike for 30 minutes. I could not imagine using these to exercise with if I was doing cardio or weight training as they would get way to hot like any over the ear headphones. The head phones were stable, but there was some noise artifact when moving my arms a lot, but that happens with most over the ear head phones. could get about 25-50 feet of steady connection to my tv. I could even travel a floor above the tv and on the other side of my house and have a solid connection. I liked the ios app. I prefer the presets, but there were lots of little tweaks you could do. My only grips are that a charger was not supplied but any micro usb charger works. I would prefer a usb C charging set up. I think Sony make some cost savings by not having the headphones being able to fold up, which is nice for some, especially since ti makes carrying the headphones in a carrying case nicer. Over a great noise cancelling over the ear headphones if you are looking to spend $200.