[SOLVED!] Headphone Showdown: Sony MDR XB950B1 Vs. Beats

You hate dealing with tangled wires whenever you listen to music and intend to switch to wireless headphones? You have heard great things about Sony MDR XB950B1 and Beats but don’t know which one is the superior model? You seek a detailed Sony MDR XB950B1 vs. Beats comparison that tells you everything you must know to make a wise investment? In that case, you should find this article useful.

Down below is a compilation of key characteristics of Sony MDR XB950B1 and Beats that includes specifications, features, … Spare a bit of your time to read till the end and get the right model for the right job.

Rundown 

	Sony MDR XB950B1	Beats
Highest frequency	28,000Hz (winner)	20,000Hz
Lowest frequency	3Hz (winner)	20Hz
Sound pressure level	105dB/mW	115dB/mW (winner)
Impedance	24 Ohms (winner)	45 Ohms
Battery life	18 hours (winner)	11.5 hours
Charging time	4 hours	1.5 hours (winner)
Weight	245 grams (winner)	260 grams
Range	10 meters (winner)	9.1 meters
Accessories	Detachable cable	Detachable cable and travel bag

Review

Sound

Overall, Sony MDR XB950B1 outmatches Beats in nearly all criteria: the highest frequency of Sony MDR XB950B1 is 8,000Z higher than the highest frequency of Beats. Additionally, the lowest frequency of Sony MDR XB950B1 is 17Hz lower than the lowest frequency of Beats. The impedance of  Sony MDR XB950B1 is also 21 Ohms lower than the impedance of Beats. Thus, in terms of bass, treble and volume-power correlation, Sony MDR XB950B1 is the winner in Sony MDR XB950B1 vs. Beats. 

The one thing that gives Beats an edge over Sony MDR XB950B1 is the sound pressure level ( 105dB/mW vs. 115dB/mW). That means if provided the same audio source, Beats is able to produce sound at a higher volume than Sony MDR XB950B1.

Battery 

Once it comes to battery life, there is a 6.5-hour difference between Sony MDR XB950B1 (18 hours) and Beats (11.5 hours). Therefore, if you don’t want to recharge your wireless headphones too frequently, it’s a good idea to go for Sony MDR XB950B1. That being said, long battery life entails long recharge time: On average, Beats should finish recharging 2.5 hours earlier than  Sony MDR XB950B1. Depending on the way you listen to music, the short recharge time of Beats may be a plus.

Usage

Thanks to the integration of neodymium magnet, Sony MDR XB950B1 is lighter than Beats which is nice. Sony MDR XB950B1 supports Bluetooth pairing via NFC too so it’s adaptable in most of the cases. About range, the range of Sony MDR XB950B1 is 0.9 meter longer than the range of Beats. If you desire consistent streaming sessions regardless of the location, you won’t regret picking up Sony MDR XB950B1. 

Miscellaneous

Both Sony MDR XB950B1 and Beats come alongside a detachable cable so it’s possible to keep listening to music when the battery runs out. Nonetheless, between the two models, only Beats is accompanied by a travel bag upon purchase. By taking advantage of the travel bag, you will have no issue moving your headphones and the associated cable around. 

Conclusion 

If you care about performance, Sony MDR XB950B1 should fit you well. Boasting everything that people expect from wireless headphones, Sony MDR XB950B1 should let you enjoy your favorite tracks to the fullest. However, Beats is by no means a lackluster model: it’s still capable of meeting the demands of casual music streaming. Beats costs slightly less than Sony MDR XB950B1 ($311 vs $329) so feel free to grab it if you wish to save money. 

Wireless Headphones Not Working: Causes And Solutions 

Causes 

If you cannot get your wireless headphones to work, it’s possible that the battery is depleted. Aside from that, it’s not uncommon for wireless headphones to bug out and go haywire. On occasions, attempting to connect more than one pair of wireless gadgets to the same device may lead to disruption. It’s important to point out that audio sources sometimes cause problems, not the headphones. 

Solutions 

• Recharge the battery. At the very least, recharge your headphones for an hour. 
• Turn the headphones off and on again. In the case that there is a dedicated reset button, use it instead. 
• Disconnect all wireless gadgets from your device then connect your headphones to it. By going to the network settings of your device, you should be able to see all wireless gadgets connected to it and disconnect them.  
• Determine whether your headphones play songs from quality audio sources. It’s worth pointing out that a couple of audio sources allow you to change between qualities in times of need. 

Note: Your headphones still refuse to perform to your expectations? Then your last resort is to have it checked at a store. If the issue is minor, your headphones will return to working order in a blink of an eye. On the other hand, if the issue is extensive, consider repairing/replacing your headphones.