Just whatever.

Even though I’m one of the crazies that thinks a non-audible, non-discernible difference in quality can still have an affect on a person/system/body, the ambient noise of a car/public place/any activity that requires me to use my phone for audio is going to be high enough to erase any benefit that a “better sounding” source/phone could possibly have.

I’ve stopped using Bluetooth earbuds/headphones. Cheap, wired earbuds are better sounding, even with the noise of the world/chores. I’m also paranoid about wireless devices being inserted into the head. Even if Bluetooth is safe on paper, you can’t know that a company properly designed/implemented their radios/that you didn’t get a defective unit, etc. I’ve decided trading audio quality, peace of mind, and versatility/never needing to be charged for the slight convenience of not having a wire just isn’t worth it [yet, maybe someday].

Also, Bluetooth is inherently laggy. Gimmicky, virtual surround-sound implementations can add to the lag. They also tend to sound terrible compared to the plain, stereo output. And while I’d say you should definitely listen however you want/in whatever way you enjoy - because it’s your life, and you should live it how you want, for me, I hate the loss of clarity/sparkle that post-processed audio gimmicks cause.

Didn’t someone say a little bit ago that the city their HQ or something is located in flooded recently? Did that affect product? Are they just out there toweling things off, hoping people don’t notice disintegrating materials?

Or are they just close to water or something? Bad shipping practices? My HE-4XX from four years ago arrived with rusted screws around the drivers - how does that even happen? I can get replacement screws, so it’s not a huge deal, but… well, I never got around to it, and I’ve made so many modifications/damaged these enough, I should just upgrade at this point. Still, what’s up? Is stuff just aging extra-quickly over there? Do they exist in some sort of time vortex that ages everything too fast?

This is on you. If you lack the ability to filter out unconstructive criticism, and can’t parse the more useful descriptions of experiences from the rest of the ramblings, then stick to testing headphones in person and call it a day. The rest of us don’t have a problem with how things are presented presently.

Also, you’re assuming everybody here only uses headphones for music. I have dedicated listening sessions, but I still use my headphones more for gaming and television/movies - reviewers going on and on about what music they listened to is useless to me.

Yes, sound is subjective, but, more importantly, headphones are relative. No headphone exists in a vacuum - everything is more or less than *<*a different headphone>. It’s 100% enough to know the general idea of how headphones perform, and how that performance compares to other offerings.

And another thing: this isn’t a professional review website. It’s a community of anybody and everybody. You’re expectations are too high. If you “hate it here” simply because the reviews aren’t trynig so hard to be objective, and aren’t as good as the websites on which people are paid to make good, useful reviews… then good. Fine. Leave. Do it. Quickly. Stop wasting your life here, trying to get something that was never here for you to find to begin with.