“If we’re going to spend a lot of money on headphones, we’re likely to do so on passive headphones, where the promise of great sound quality is more regularly delivered, and then choose a less expensive ANC headphone as an accessory for when we need it.”
This is exactly it, in my opinion.
It’s not just the price but what you get for it. As convenient as ANC headphones are, and as much as I’d love to own a truly great one, it’s hard to justify the purchase when the same money spent on a passive headphone can get you a lot more.
It’ll be a different equation for people who value convenience more or travel more, etc. But to someone for whom ANC is more of a bonus, it makes more sense to get a sub $500 ANC headphone that’s “good enough.”
Here’s a question:
Is either tuning mode preferable to you over the HD 550, @Resolve?
If not, it’s really hard to justify this price point for anyone with some amount of price consciousness.
And even if the MG is preferable that’s still a massive price gap to contend with.
So for people who can use passive headphones comfortably for most of their listening it’s a hard sell.
Also, the lack of PEQ is a massive downside.
It’s actually easier to get PEQ with passive headphones given the increasing number of dongles and DAPs supporting it.
You’re out of options outside the manufacturer’s own app on iPhone, and while you have stuff like Wavelet on Android, you’re stuck messing around with peak filters and compensating for the lack of shelf filters easily available on the Q5K or many Hiby DAPs.
Whereas easy access to PEQ should be one of the gimmes available to wireless headphones! But instead it may be easier for many of us to get PEQ for passive headphones! Madness!