> "I've done plenty of those 10+ hour hauls and honestly, the Sony WH-1000XM5... are what you want." Just saw this thread! Seconding the recommendation above. Honestly, I've used both for years and if you wanna save cash, the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones are actually the smarter buy imo. They fold up way tighter than the newer Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, which is huge for packing. Battery lasts forever on both, but the XM4 value is sooo much better for basically the same silence. gl!

Honestly, I had issues with the Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Canceling Headphones headband—it’s unfortunately way too thin for a 14-hour flight. Pro tip: check the "clamping force" charts on RTINGS.com to compare the "ear pressure" feeling against the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones. It’s a better resource than just guessing, especially since the Sony ones mentioned already have some comfort trade-offs. gl!

I've done plenty of those 10+ hour hauls and honestly, the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are what you want. I used the older Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones for like three years, and while they're great, the XM5 is just way more comfortable for marathon sessions. The 'ear pressure' thing you mentioned? The XM5 handles that way better because it basically automatically optimizes the atmospheric pressure. It’s seriously a game changer for that stuffed-ear feeling. Battery life isn't even an issue—I've finished 14-hour flights with like 50% left still. The engine drone basically disappears the second you put them on. The only downside is they dont fold up as small as the XM4s, but for the actual flight time, the comfort of the new headband is SO much better. You wont feel like your head is in a vice after 6 hours. Go for the XM5s, they're the best for long trips tho.

Adding my two cents here. Ive been really satisfied with the <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Sennheiser+Momentum+4+Wireless&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=12345&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless for my international flights recently. If battery life is your primary concern for a 14-hour trek, these provide 60 hours of playback. That effectively doubles the capacity of the Sony sets. It works well for long hauls because you dont have to worry about finding a USB port mid-trip. For the ear pressure issue, I recommend checking the technical charts on SoundGuys. They offer a methodical breakdown of isolation performance across different decibel levels. While the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are impressive, the Sennheiser sound signature feels a bit more natural for long listening sessions imo. If you want to save money, the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones are still the value choice. TL;DR: Go with the Sennheiser Momentum 4 for the massive battery, or the XM4 if you need to save space and cash.

I totally agree with GeorgeHar about the XM4 being the better travel companion. Having taken apart a few sets, the internal layout and hinge design on the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones just feels more robust for heavy use. If the ear pressure is your main concern, a quick DIY fix is to swap the stock pads. The factory ones are okay, but I switched to Dekoni Audio Choice Suede Earpads for Sony WH1000XM4 and it made a world of difference for heat dissipation and that clamped-in feeling during long flights. It changes the sound signature slightly, but for a 14-hour trip, comfort is king. Also, battery-wise, the XM4 still holds its own against the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones in real-world testing once you disable the DSEE Extreme setting. Save the extra cash for a good portable amp like the iFi hip-dac3 Portable USB DAC if you want to really push the audio quality while wired in your seat.

Same boat, watching this

Saving this whole thread. So much good info here you guys are awesome.

Exactly what I was thinking

Commenting to find later

Same here!