Seconding the recommendation above. Honestly, I've been hitting the gym for like 10 years and ruined a pair of expensive over-ears cuz of sweat buildup... it's a total mess. The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones literally have NO official IP rating for water resistance, so you're basically playing Russian roulette with $400 during a HIIT session.

Since you're looking for value, I'd suggest looking at these more budget-friendly options that actually survive the grind:

1. Sony LinkBuds S Noise Canceling Truly Wireless Earbuds - These usually go for around $140-$190. They're way lighter than the flagship buds and stay locked in during burpees, plus they've got that IPX4 rating.
2. Sony WF-C700N Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds - Seriously a steal at around $90-$120. Technical specs are solid for the price and they're small enough that they don't catch on anything.

Ngl, spending less on gym-specific gear is smarter since salt and moisture eventually eat everything. Just make sure to wipe the contacts after ur workout tho!

Good luck with the training!!

> Do the over-ears get too hot during intense sessions? Which model is best for staying put?

Ok so, for your situation, I would suggest the buds over the over-ears every time. Honestly, you gotta be cautious with the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones in a gym setting. I've used them and they literally turn into earmuffs... they get sooo hot and the leatherette pads soak up sweat like a sponge, which isn't great cuz they have zero official IP rating for water resistance. Basically, they'll slide right off your head during HIIT too.

I'm super satisfied with the Sony WF-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Earbuds instead. They actually have an IPX4 sweat resistance rating and the hybrid silicone/foam tips provide a much more secure fit for heavy lifting and explosive movements. If you want reliability and don't wanna risk damaging expensive gear with moisture, the buds are definitely the way to go. gl!

Hmm, I've had a different experience. Honestly, spending $300+ on gym gear is risky. Respectfully, I'd consider the Sony LinkBuds S Noise Canceling Earbuds instead. They have a legit IPX4 rating and the 4.8g weight per bud makes them way more secure for HIIT than the XM5s imo. Plus, they’re way cheaper, so you save some cash while getting decent ANC. It just makes more sense for a sweaty gym sesh... peace!

Honestly, I kinda disagree with the idea that you have to just buy a specific gym model and hope for the best. Like, if you are a technical enthusiast, you gotta look at the actual moisture ingress specs and how they fail from a hardware perspective. I think some people overlook that even an IPX4 rating is basically just splash resistance and doesnt account for the high-pressure sweat streams you get during heavy HIIT sessions. Not 100 percent sure but I heard that some people are actually doing their own self-service mods to improve the seal on the internal PCB. IIRC, you can find teardowns online that show exactly where the acoustic ports are most vulnerable. Instead of just buying new stuff, you could potentially look into DIY solutions like aftermarket mesh covers or hydrophobic coatings to treat the internals yourself. It sounds a bit wierd but if you know what youre doing with a precision screwdriver and some conformal coating, you can realy beef up the durability of any pair. Basically, it beats just playing the replacement game every six months when the salt buildup kills the capacitive sensors, you know?

Noted!

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