a year ago · lambda100 from Best Buy

Incredible bass, but don't forget the mids & highs

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!
a year ago · aarondr from Best Buy
Good for Certain Styles, but not Great
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.
a year ago · greenrita from Best Buy
Noise Cancelling Headset Upgrades Audio Intimacy
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!
a year ago · LuckyStiff63 from Best Buy
I would give this 4.5 stars if I could.
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.
a year ago · giper54 from Best Buy
One of the best $200 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.
a year ago · Chadwick from Best Buy
Good sound, easy connection, bulky
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.
a year ago · Janine from Best Buy
Awesome Wireless Sony Headset
I love this headset! Let me say that again, "I love this headset!"

Here's why.

The accompanying Sony Headphones Connect app is easy to install and simple to use.
Sometimes when it comes to additional software there are too many bells and whistles, or a high
learning curve, before you can even get into using a device. Not so in this case.

This Sony Wireless Stereo Headset is classy and oh so stylish. Soft, comfortable ear beds cushion
your ears, the headband adjusts well, and the headset itself isn't too weighty. Although, as with
just about any over-the-ear headgear, I'm not certain I'd be able to wear these for hours at a time.

The Electro Base Booster function was nice, and using the slider in the app, I could really hear the
difference. However, the Virtualphones Technology (VPT) while an interesting feature with multiple
sound field choices, I didn't find it particularly useful for my purposes.

Many other aspects of this headset stand out on the "Pro" side.

The ear beds swivel, so as to lay flat for easy portability. Not having an exterior microphone, which
can get in the way and be annoying, lose it's flexibility over time or even break, was great. The
built-in microphone performed admirably for voice assist, and call clarity was just fine, with no
vacuum echo or noticeable lag.

Pairing this bluetooth headset with my iPhone was seamless, contrary to similar types of headsets
I've tried, where this often seems to be a frustrating challenge. Reaching the controls on the ear
pieces was not a problem, either.
Beyond that, charging the headset was on par with other such wireless devices. Battery life
seemed as advertised. Although two connector cords were included with the unit itself, I would
have preferred a longer micro-usb cord and plug, for those of us wishing to have another option
besides connecting to our computer for charging.

The only criticism I have is the volume level when using the headset with my laptop. I had to turn
the volume nearly all the way up to have anywhere near the sound quality I'd expect.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend this Sony Wireless Stereo Headset for anyone able to spend a
little extra to get a well-designed, quality piece of hardware which performs above expectations for
both hands-free calls and music listening pleasure.
a year ago · Indiaj0nes from Best Buy
This thing BEATS the BEATS
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
a year ago · MFamily from Best Buy
Impressive Wireless Headphones With Extra Bass
The headphones came packaged nicely and setup instructions were easy. I am not a huge fan of
having to use an app to fully control and pair them with a device but that is quite common with
most wireless headphones. The nice thing about the app is sound field and bass control options it
gives you. I experimented with them for about an hour to find the settings I liked based on what I
was listening to. I have them paired with multiple devices – Android Phone, iPhone, and iPad. The
headphones only came with a charging USB cable buy you can use any USB based charging
power supply. I have tried three different kinds so far without any issues.

The weight of the headphones is quite nice. I have three other wireless headphones and these are
lighter then all of them. They fit comfortably on your head and over your ears. The longest period
of time I have worn them has been a little over two hours and had no comfort issues. I don’t think I
would have any issues wearing them for even longer periods of time. I wish the oval openings for
your ears were just a tiny bit larger. I have to shift them around a little when putting them on to get
them to fit just right. One nice feature is that the ear pads are replaceable. The control buttons are
easily accessible. One note though is that they do not work when you are wired. Battery life is
excellent. They are not noise cancelling (listed as sound isolating) but they suppressed most
outside noised nicely.

I have used these headphones with music and many movies now. I really like the overall sound
quality. Turning on the bass effect can be a bit too much depending on the music type you are
listening to. Also, turning it on can drown out some of the mid-high level sounds with some music
types and movies with lots of action going on. Play with the settings on the app to minimize this
effect. All in all I am very impressed with the headphones. I would definitely recommend them.
a year ago · bredeker from Best Buy
High quality wireless headphones
After using these for a few weeks, I'm very pleased with the sound quality, construction, and
especially the battery life of the XB950B1 headphones. They do command a premium, but I'm
finding a wireless headset to be far more convenient than I expected. The pairing is pretty
effortless no matter which device I've used them with, but it's especially convenient with Android
devices due to the incorporation of NFC.

I'm no audiophile, but they sounded pretty good out of the box. Sony is promoting the equalizer
the equalizer and FX tech built into these fairly heavily, but I've personally found it to be fairly
useless. (Your mileage may vary if you really like faux sound effects that make it sound like you're
in a stadium or night club.) I'm still quite happy with the normal sound output.

I find the design to be comfortable. The ear cushions are quite soft. I was happy to see the
inclusion of a standard audio miniplug cable for devices that don't support Bluetooth.

The battery life was actually the most pleasant surprise for me. I typically take manufacturer's
stated battery run-times with a grain of salt, but I've easily made it 18 hours (Sony's advertised
battery life) between charges. Granted, I have not been using the audio effects - turning those on
might drain the battery a little faster.

Sony has a pair of smartphone/tablet apps (iOS and Android) that work with these headphones. I
did not find these apps to be terribly useful (in fact, the Headphone Connect app actually failed to
pair on my iPhone, and I resorted to the standard Bluetooth settings). They do allow control over
the equalizer and sound FX settings,

Speaking of the pairing process, it was very easy on all devices I've used them with (an iPhone,
MacBook, and a Nexus 9 tablet). The Android tablet was particularly easy to pair with - I simply
tapped the right earphone where the NFC logo was, and the app handled the rest.

If you're interested in the convenience of wireless headphones, this pair is definitely worth a look.
They're not the most inexpensive pair, but the comfort is very much on par with premium wired
headphones I've owned previously. They're easy to pair, and I've found it very convenient to be
able to walk around adjoining rooms without needing to carry my phone everywhere.
a year ago · MacUser from Best Buy
Incredible sound with heavy bass
Just like Sony's any other product, I was impressed with the way they packaged the headphones.
It earned 1 star right there. Ever since Apple decided to leave headphone jack out of the iPhone,
Bluetooth headphones have become very popular. I was so excited upon receiving these and
immediately put them on charge after opening. I connected them with my iPhone 7 upon charging.
The phone asks you to download Sony's headphone app which I didn't find much user friendly.
However, you can adjust the bass between -10 & +10 using the app which is kinda cool. You can
do that with the manual switch provided on the headphone also. The on/off and bass buttons are
on the left side while all other controls (volume, play/pause, and skip) are on the right side of the
headphones. With a little practice, it is easy to turn the Extra Bass on and off, adjust the volume,
pause songs, and skip to the next song. They connect with the phone without much efforts and
there are no connectivity issues. The battery life is also quite impressive. It's supposed to last for
18 hours. So far I have used them for about 12 hours and they are still going good. I have owned
couple of Sony's headphones in past and it is safe to say that these definitely top the list. They are
lighter and more comfortable than my other pairs of Bluetooth headphones and last longer
between charges. The controls are intuitive. Extra heavy bass is the selling feature. You can turn it
on and off. On some songs, it sounds amazing, but on others, it becomes a bit too muddy, so you
have to turn it off; therefore, it is a huge plus that this can be done without removing the
headphones. The headphones do not come with a carrying case. This is a surprise as a carrying
case does not cost that much to include and this would make the headphones much more usable
for those on the go. I knocked off 1 star for this reason.
a year ago · enem156 from Best Buy
Horrible sound from the start
I gave this product a fair chance to impress me and as I expected Sony to do, they failed
miserably. I was actually very hopeful that these headphones would be as good as they were
advertised to be, but I can't give them a good review after listening to them and dealing with their
customer support.
To start with, they are very nice looking. The build quality seems good. Buttons are tight and
responsive. They are laid out nicely so that even with the phones on your head, it's easy to feel
your way around them. Sound quality on the other hand leaves a lot to be desired. I tried these
phones with three different Bluetooth streaming devices, all with the same results. From the
moment I turned them on, they just didn't sound right. The left ear piece sounded OK by itself, the
right one sounded like it had a blown woofer. Nothing I tried made the sound any better. I tried
flattening out the EQ settings and listened to a wide variety of music styles, but they all had the
same problem. Distorted low end. Turning on the “Extra Bass” only made the issue much worse.
After pouring over the instruction sheet, I found that there was a way to factory reset the
headphones. Not really sure why there would be a need to do this, but OK. I factory reset them
several times. Nothing helped. I paired and unpaired them with multiple sources, all with no
improvement.
In an effort to let Sony redeem themselves and remove the now bad taste in my mouth that I had
from them, I emailed customer support. I found that the only thing worse than these headphones,
was actually Sony's customer support. I emailed them because I wasn't about to waste a lot of
time on hold waiting for help. It was OK with me if they took a couple of days to get back to me.
Well, they got back to me right away. In my email to them I explained the issue I was hearing, the
model number of the headphones, and what I had done to try to fix the problem (the factory reset).
Their email asked me only one thing, what is the model number of the headphones. I responded
just as quickly and gave them the model number (a second time). They responded again to me
with a link to the instruction page for the headphones and told me to factory reset them. They then
added, if the problem persists, contact customer support. I replied again and explained that I had
already done that several times. On their third email back to me I received a link to a page that
supposedly contained a form to fill out, in order to have a technician look at them. And after
searching the page briefly and not finding the form, I called it a day, and I washed my hands of
their horrible product. The only reason I gave them two stars instead of one is because I feel that I
truly got a lemon pair, but their customer support made me feel as if none of my emails were read,
and I was just a dumb customer that couldn't figure them out.
a year ago · johnk2032 from Best Buy
Good Sound/Comfortable Fit
It's been awhile since I've worn over-the-ear headphones and the last pair I could only wear for a
couple hours at a time.

My first day with these I took them to work and used them for both music and listening to recorded
phone calls for a full 8 hour day and they were very comfortable. Although they aren't noise
cancelling (they are listed as sound isolating) they did a good job of reducing much of the
background noise from my coworkers.
I really like the Headphone Control app and the flexibility it gives you to set the bass where you
like it. I settled on a spot just above the mid-point. The sound was very good and the bass
excellent. Regardless of what I was listening to, from acoustic 6 and 12 string guitar, classic rock
and even the unique sounds of the Mannheim Steamroller Fresh Aire series, it came across as
well balanced. There are also several virtual sound field settings I'm going to have to do some
more experimenting with.

The controls worked flawlessly with my iPhone7 while connected via bluetooth, both listening to
music skipping from song to song or changing volume. There's even a button to toggle the Bass
on and off, so you can compare the sound.

The headphones came with an audio cable allowing you to also use them as wired either when
your battery is low or you want to conserve battery life. You can still turn the power on, which you
have to do if you want the extra bass and the only drawback I found when listening wired was the
controls on the headphones no longer worked with my iPhone and everything had to be done from
the phone itself. I thought this might be due to having the lightning connector between the
headphones and the cable so I also tried them with my iPod Nano, but still no controls without
using bluetooth. This was the only reason I gave the 4-Star rating.

I also like that the ear pads are replaceable, a big plus down the road after lots of use.
a year ago · Evolved1 from Best Buy
Very good, but could be better
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
a year ago · daytonadan from Best Buy
Big bass, flaky performance with my smartphone
If your music taste runs to heavy bass and you have deep pockets, this might be a good
headphone to consider. For everyone else, there are probably better choices.

Let's start with the good. The REALLY big earcups (get ready for the Princess Leia look) are quite
comfortable. They are so deep, your ears are entirely swallowed, shutting out the outside world.

And if you like BASS, these things really crank it out, to the extreme. Sometimes to the detriment
of all other sounds. I found the highs and mid tones somewhat muted because there was so much
bass. You can control how much -- from a lot to way too much -- using a Bass Effect button on one
cup. Turning if off sounded best to me. But this is a personal preference. For what it's worth, the
bass is very clean, not distorted.

Overall quality seems pretty good, as it should be for this price. An adjustable solid padded band
and a 45 degree rotation potential on the cups (so they can lay flat) means almost everyone
should get a perfect fit.

And for those who prefer a wired connection to bluetooth, there is a (short) wire included that
allows you to go that route.
Now for the bad. In wireless mode with my relatively new android smartphone, the sound stalled
out frequently, making it all but impossible to really use the headphones with that device. The
instructions say if you have this problem, turn all other apps off. I did that, No improvement. I get
the impression these were designed to work best with iPhones. If so, another black eye in my
book.. Not everyone wants to spend $800 for a phone. Design for the lowest common
denominator, not the highest.

Battery life is pretty short (a few hours) and it seems to go dead whether you use it or not. So keep
it on charge all the time if you plan to use it regularly.

There is also an app that Sony recommends you download to use with these headphones. It
allows you to set the bass level and turn on different environment equalizations, supposedly
(Outdoor, concert, jazz club, etc) That seems not to really work.. Just lowered the volume, made
the sound more muddy, regardless of mode. A waste of time.
For this kind of money, I would expect more. Can't really recommend it.
a year ago · BiggVikk from Best Buy
Lots of bass and a battery to back it up.
When Sony makes a wireless headphone and says extra bass, trust that they mean extra bass.
The Sony XB950B1 Wireless Headphones has lots of bass and a battery to back it up. I’ve only
had them for a few days of use but the battery life still reads almost fully charged. They are lite
weight, which is important when using them for a few hours a day. They also fit great as the cups
fit over the ear and are very soft. They are easy to take off and put on as the flex line bends with
ease but does not feel as though they will break easily. However, they are not as lite as earbuds
and more than a couple hours will start to warm your body temperature especially around your
ears. I appreciate the true noise canceling. I used the word true because other headphone makers
claim they are noise canceling but they don't all effectively block out the sound. These
headphones can be utilized with a really cool app that helps with connecting and allows you to
control the bass and sound effects such as concert, arena, etc. When switched to one of the
sound effects, it actually sounds like the selected effect. However, I found myself listening to music
without the effects and preferred that much more. The headphones have really good Bluetooth
range and the sound is consistent and not choppy. However I'm not impressed with the look. They
look bulky and not fashionable at all. They are not really designed for working out. I was
disappointed they didn't come with a carrying case. I kept finding myself putting them back in the
box, which mean they wouldn't be my first choice for traveling. I also don't like that you're not able
to see the battery percentage via the app or or on the headphones (not sure if it needs it since you
get 18 hours of battery life). They have lots of bass and I like bass, but the highs and mids are not
that great. Overall they are decent headphones. I'd give them 3 ½ stars out if 5.
a year ago · sdmarsh from Best Buy
So-so, but not for me
Honestly, I did not care for the Sony XB950B1 Extra Bass Wireless Headphones. You can use
them either wireless or you can use the included 4' wired cable to listed to them "hard wired". I
tried them both ways and the sound seemed muffled. There were not any nice mid's or any high
end signals, just muddy all around.

I listen to classic rock, jazz and music from bands such as Within Temptation, Nightwish, and
Sirenia. Perhaps something from Rihanna, Drake or Iggy Azalea would sound better on the Sony
Extra Bass Wireless headphones. You could also download the Sony Headphones Connect app
that lets you adjust the bass levels and gives you presets for club, hall, arena or outdoor style
sound. I did not try this app out, as the headphones will work without the app.

These headphones are also very big, but they are also very light and comfortable for something
this size. It took quite awhile to initially fully charge the Sony's using the supplied USB cable on my
PC, but you can get up to 18 hours of listening wireless music playback. The Sony's also come
with a one foot long charging cable that you plug into a USB port to charge the headphones and a
4' long cable to "hard wire" your headphones to your phone, iPod or what ever you wish as long as
it has a 3.5 mm jack. A nice soft black bag is also included to protect the Sony's when you're not
listening to them. It includes a big pouch on the inside to carry the charging cable and 4' long
cable with room to spare.

Honestly, these were not the headphones for me. For the price of $199.95, you can do a lot better.
a year ago · rockhunter from Best Buy
Near theater Quality Audio
I like the Sony MDR-XB950B1 headphones they provide good acoustic isolation from surrounding
sound and avoid intruding on people around me. With the Extra Bass feature the I think the sound
is very full and rich, (YMMV). I think the designers probably had overcoming some of the
limitations of today's Ipads, Iphones, Tablets and Smart Phones with their small speakers and thin
formats MDR-XB950B1 headphones are large with 40mm drivers and drive electronics to match.

Over the last 5 years I have had 4 different Bluetooth earbuds or over the ear headphones none of
them were as sophisticated as the Sony's or as expensive. All of my earlier Bluetooth devices did
a reasonable job of duplicating the sound the tablet or smart phone produced, but the Sony MDR-
XB950B1 is the first headphones I have had that I think approached theater audio quality. And for
Bluetooth devices they are the first that offered a long enough battery life to eliminate the urge to
recharge the headphone battery each night, Sony claims an 18 hour battery life and so far having
only had the headphone for just over a week I can't dispute the claim, and there is a wired
connection option if you run the battery down.

I have tried the headphones with tablets with Android versions 5.x and 6.x and with a cell phone
with 7.x it has had no trouble connecting and linking with any of them. The Sony Headphone
Connect Android application V1.0.0 doesn't work with Android Versions below 6.0 although the
headphone connects and links to Android Version 5.x just fine and Bass Boost can be controlled
manually from controls on the headphone. The Android devices I tried had Bluetooth versions from
4.0 to 4.2 and the latter had some additional support for changing surround sound profiles. I don't
have an Apple Device so I can't comment on the performance of the headphones on them.

I recommend the Sony MDR-XB950B1 headphones but they are costly, however I would replace
mine if they were lost or damaged. I am giving a rating of 4 stars because of the cost and the
issues with the The Sony Headphone Connect Android application V1.0.0 not working with
Android V5.X.
a year ago · ElJefe from Best Buy
Better than anything twice the price
A great pair of headphones that to these ears sound better than anything I tested in the $200-$400
range. Buy these when they go on sale, which is fairly often. I picked up a pair for $130 (that's $70
off regular retail). This model, the XB950B1, is the new version of Sony's XB950BT that's been out
a couple of years. Specs are virtually identical -- same frequency range plus 18 hours of battery
life when jamming on Bluetooth (your results may vary, depending on volume setting). I perceive
slightly better sound quality when the headphones are used with the included 3.5mm audio cable
jacked directly into a device, but Bluetooth is convenient and pairing is easy-peasey. Very
comfortable, deep earpad cushions. I can wear these for hours without fatigue or overheating.

Now, if you like bass, you buy these. Bass is a key selling point on this model. Even if you don't
care for a lot of bottom-end, just don't activate the bass boost, which only works, anyway, when
Bluetooth is engaged.

Another feature with this new model is the downloadable app you can get off Apple or Google
Playstore. The app lets you adjust the bass response and select from several preset audio
environments to customize your listening experience. The settings are basic, but it's a nice
supplement to go with whatever music player is loaded on your smartphone. I use PowerAmp,
which has an EQ, tone controls and more, but for quick adjustments the Sony app works well. It's
free, too, so why not?

Bottom line, these headphones are top-notch and I'm convinced I;d have to spend well north of
$400 to get anything better..

One thing I cannot stress enough: the headphones do not come with a case and you really should
get a case to store them. The Best Buy in my town doesn't carry headphone cases, but there are
many sturdy and inexpensive cases available on Amazon and elsewhere for $10-$20. I encourage
a case because the headphone cans have a very nice matte finish that WILL scratch if you chuck
them in a briefcase, bookbag, whatever.

I don't think you can go wrong with Sony or this model. For the price, these headphones are as
good as it gets. Enjoy.
a year ago · TonyMSP from Best Buy
All the sound without being too showy
Let’s face it; there are a ton of choices in the “over the ear” headphone category. If you’re looking
in this category of headphones, you already know that this style of headphones provides the
deepest lows, highest highs, and the best option to drown out ambient noise.

Although the ever-so-popular Beats may be the leader in this category, its colors are god- awful
tacky and caters to the younger “look-at-me” crowds. The end user of the Sony MDR-XB950B1 is
a minimalist and a bit more sophisticated without all the branding.

These headphones will satisfy the casual pop/hip hop listener, as the bass can get pretty low
driven by the huge 40mm drivers. The onboard processor does a good job of balancing out
dynamic range without being too bass heavy. Audiophiles will need to look elsewhere.

It does come standard with a mini-USB charging cable, but you will need to supply the wall plug or
use your computer’s USB port to charge. A nice addition is a 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable for
listening to devices that aren’t equipped with Bluetooth. The dynamic range does increase a bit
listening to it wired, but nothing earth shaking. Even at the upper end of pricing, it still doesn’t
come with a carrying case or bag of any sort. They do however fold flat for storage.

I do recommend these to anyone with a long train/bus commute or listening to music as a getaway
since the battery life is rated for 18hours of continuous use.

Pros: Great dynamic range with respectable bass, battery life, low key aesthetics

Cons: No carrying bag, app is lackluster, buttons needs a bit more tactile distinction
View more reviews