As you can see, the earcups are the only real indicator that I’ve been using these heavily over the past six years. They went from daily to every other day, then back to daily and do on. Used them at work, then began using them at home more until I got my first pair of IEMs, then they stayed at home but I used them while working, writing, or just enjoying them while playing games or watching a show or etc.
I’m very impressed they’ve lasted so well! I bought them in 2017 but now there seems to be an issue with the connection of the right driver. It could be wiring, but I’m afraid to take it apart before I source a new pair.
There’s a fuzzing, staticky type noise coming from the right ear, whether they’re plugged in with the included cable or on Bluetooth.
Is it worth it to replace them with another pair of WH1000-XM(insert number here) or should I consider other brands? Please bear in mind that I am not in the US or EU and there is absolutely no return policy, nor can I order from Amazon or random Chinese stores as import taxes are unreasonable.
Thank you and happy listening!
Cushions can be replaced. Replaced mine on qc2 works like charm.
I understand, and I don’t even mind the cushions as they are (they’re still very comfortable) but my problem lies with a failing driver that’s giving off distortion and static.
Ahh. Time for new headphones now!
I replaced my XM3s with XM4s and ended up being a bit disappointed as they have an annoying amount of background noise. The XM5s are not foldable so I didn’t even concider those. So my recommendation would be to look for something else.
Wdym backround noise? Is the ANC worse?
By background noise i mean white noise produced by the headphones when noise canceling is turned on. It was audible in the XM3 too but the level was low enough and not disturbing in my opinion.
You should look at the new Bose QC Ultra. Coming from the XM4s, the Bose sound really good.
Are those the ones with the channel imbalance QC (Quality control) issues?
There’s actually a store where I can demo them close to my work! I’ll head in with my DAP and see how they perform to my preferences. Thanks for the recommendation.
Find replacement earpads. I don’t understand why people need to replace the whole headphones when they can replace the needed parts. It is like buying new car because of a worn tire.I understood the battery may be well used, but it is the manufacturer’s fault for not making them replaceable
Did you read past the first sentence?
This is when you attract boomer comments, comes to show of age because it turned a little yellow?
Which is the best iteration of these headphones?
I have been using the XM3s for 5 years and they still work great.
I upgraded my XM1s to XM4s and was disappointed. You can’t use LDAC when connecting multiple devices and the headphones need to reboot when switching modes. They also don’t sound any better than the old ones and just have a slight advantage in comfort.
I’d say go look for something else.
Xm5‘s aren‘t bad but not great for sound quality either. If you need great noise cancellation, there is no way around Sony/Apple though. Can‘t recommend bose, from my experience their sound quality even sits below these two. If you don‘t need amazing ANC you could go for something like the Final UX3000, Audeze Maxwell or even Focal Bathys depending on your budget.
Thank you very much for your recommendations! I’ve added these to the list to research.
With regard to the crackling in one ear, this is a common problem with these cans. On my set, I can avoid the crackling by turning off noise canceling.
The trick is, you can use the app to set “transparency mode” to its most mild setting, which still cancels some noise, but completely avoids the crackling.
It’s not perfect, but it’s allowed me to keep using my cans which otherwise seemed completely busted.
And I disagree with the others in the thread, if you want to upgrade and use Apple products, go with the AirPods Max, especially if you can get some on sale 😄
This may help you - my Bose qc35s had a crackling from the noise cancelling - turns out all that needed doing was to remove the earcup and fabric and bend the flat metal ribbon that had been pushed against the microphone slightly away from that microphone.
I’ll give this a shot when I get home after work, thank you!
Thank you for the tip! This will definitely make the wait while I save for new cans more bearable 😁
wow, 2017 was 6 years ago
Only 6 years old? I got 50 year old headphones. Pads are cheap. No reason to disappoint yourself with new headphones.
Thank you everyone for your excellent advice and your time! I’m sorry I didn’t make it clear in the title that I was intending on replacing the headphones because of a driver issue and not just because they are ‘old’. I still use them and deal with the distortion and static and I honestly wish that they still worked well because I could replace the earcups and they would be like new. However I won’t complain getting over six years of near daily use out of them and have been very happy with them! I will take all of your recommendations to heart and try each one if possible before I come to a decision. I may or may not get ANCs, but whatever I do end up with I will certainly let you know!
I’ve owned the xm2 3 4 and 5. If you were to replace yours then you can really only go to the xm5. The 3 and 4 sound off compared to the 2’s but the 5’s… Oh boy, they nice.
I really want to demo them, I haven’t heard them yet but with how good the XM2s sound I can only imagine!
XM3 and XM4 are really good! They made some changes starting with the xm5, I’m not sure but it seems like people didn’t like it as much as the old style. If you don’t need ultra portable headphones maybe try the Airpods Max, they are pricey and a bit cumbersome but they do have better sound and comfort compared to the xm2/3/4 models. There’s also Sennheiser, B&W, and even Clear has a nc model I believe if you’re looking for something higher fidelity.
I got a pair of focal bathys coming soon. They are on sale rn so it may be worth looking into them if you’re willing to spend the extra money.
I imagine the xm4 or xm5 will be on sale for Black Friday. If you want to spend a little more for a completely new experience the Focal Bathys are on sale currently. MSRP is normally $800 but you can find them on Amazon or headphones dot com for about $620.
I got a pair a few weeks ago after almost purchasing apple AirPods Max and I am so glad I got the Bathys. The ANC is great, it is prob the worst out of the 3 but it’s still very good. Sound quality knocks the other 2 out of the park, and it’s not even close. They’re super comfortable and feel high quality. They are wireless but you can use them wired through USBC or 3.5mm headphone jack, they have a built in DAC, they can play lossless, and the battery is phenomenal. I use mine a few hours a day and I’ve only charged them once since I got them 3 weeks ago (currently have 50% battery remaining). The app is super neat because you can run a legit hearing test which then configures your EQ to help you hear some frequencies better if you have hearing loss in those regions.