Category: Apple Insider

iOS 16.4 beta 3 has few minor changes

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Betas for the iOS 16.4 testing cycle are coming more frequently, with the latest arriving only seven days after the last. The second beta arrived eleven days after the first.

It doesn’t seem like iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, tvOS 16.4, and watchOS 9.4 are overly ambitious releases. Updates so far include new Shortcuts actions, UI refinements, and changes to the beta update workflow.

For the third beta, improved the new update workflow for public and developer beta testers. Now, users can authenticate a separate Apple ID just for enabling beta access.

This means those who have a separate personal and developer beta Apple ID won’t need to purchase two developer licenses just to test on all of their devices. The removal of beta profiles seems to be an effort to combat stolen or fabricated profiles that enable people to install betas without paying the $100 per year fee.

Code discovered by MacRumors shows that users could get different prompts if a Rapid Security Response update has caused issues with apps or the operating system. Those that have installed an RSR update have the ability to remove the update, and these prompts would guide the user to do so if an app crashes or other issue is encountered.

9to5Mac has discovered different code that references Car Key and its technology support. Apple may be dropping support for vehicles that do not have Ultra Wideband or are NFC only.

Such a move would restrict Car Key support to iPhone 11 or later or Apple Watch Series 6 or later. That eliminates support for the iPhone XS and Apple Watch Series 5, which work via NFC currently.

Code sleuth and MacRumors contributor Steve Moser shared a few additional code changes and updates via Twitter. Apple Music Classical is now in the privacy policy, and new Apple Watch face colors have been added to the color selection screen.

The second beta brought back the Apple Books page curl animation when turning a page and code in the Wallet app hinted at a South Korea Apple Pay launch. The Apple Music Classical app will also require the Apple Music app to be installed to work.

Also, code shows Apple will roll out support for 5G Standalone to global carriers, including T-Mobile, Vivo, TIM, and Softbank.

The first beta added a few user-facing features like rich previews of Mastodon links in iMessage and a new ellipsis in the Apple TV Up Next feature.

Toggle always-on display mode with Focus Filters

Shortcut updates and new Focus Filters give users control over the always-on display. Also, there’s a new parameter tracked in the battery settings that shows how much battery is used by the always-on display, specifically.

There are several other significant updates coming to Apple’s operating system we’ve already covered in detail.

Those include:

It isn’t clear when Apple intends on releasing iOS 16.4 and the other new updates. These beta cycles usually last for about a month, placing this release sometime in March.

Victrola Stream Onyx

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The Stream Onyx is sleek and modern and can connect to one or more Sonos speakers over Wi-Fi.

The Stream Onyx is Victrola’s second stab at a technology-driven turntable. The first was Stream Carbon which only debuted last year and retailed for $899.

Now, with Stream Onyx, the long-time music company is lowering the bar to entry for its Works with Sonos products.

There are some differences with the hardware, but not as many as you might expect for a $300 difference.

We enjoyed using the Stream Onyx connected to bookshelf speakers with RCA cables, but this line of turntables from Victrola is geared toward Sonos customers.

So, when considering a purchase of the Stream Onyx, or Stream Carbon, the choice comes down to whether you value the wireless aspect and how much you value the finest details.

When you consider the juxtaposition of the fiddly nature of listening to music on a turntable and still wanting the convenience of connecting it to wireless speakers, some mental juggling occurs.

Stream vinyl records wirelessly to Sonos speakers

For this reason, we have primarily avoided any Bluetooth-enabled turntables over the years and stuck to a wired connection.

Victrola’s use of Works with Sonos changes the equation a little, though. The Stream Onyx has Wi-Fi built-in and when on the same network, can instantly see and connect to any selected group of Sonos speakers.

This nicety and advantage go above and beyond other Bluetooth solutions in our minds. Plus, a stereo pair of Sonos One speaker or a Five speaker are great options for music listening.

The Victrola Stream Onyx turntable is a sleek piece of hardware. Unlike Stream Carbon, it has a low profile and comes in a stealth black color. We preferred this color option to the silver variant.

Side view

RCA connectors are on the back, along with an ethernet port for a wired network connection.

A single knob on the front is primarily for adjusting the volume on wirelessly connected Sonos speakers but can be used for power or factory reset.

The tonearm is aluminum and includes an adjustable counterweight. In addition, there’s an anti-skiing adjustment available, and the unit has an automatic start.

To round out the features, there’s a two-speed belt drive to play 33 1/3 and 45 RPM vinyl records, and it comes with an Audio Technica AT-VM95E cartridge.

In our use, the turntable seemed well-made and played records as expected. It had a premium feel, but we’re not sure the components justify a $600 price.

Showing the back of the unit

Lowering the tonearm with the built-in lever was bouncier and less stable than most others we’ve tried — including the Stream Carbon.

The playback was flawless when wired to bookshelf speakers. We listened to records ranging from Sufjan Stevens to Mos Def, and the reproduction of the music was as expected.

On the wireless side, we ran into audio dropping out at time. Changing the audio delay in the Victrola mobile app from minimum to high helped with this but didn’t resolve it 100 percent.

Eventually, we moved from using Wi-Fi to wiring an ethernet cable directly into our router to try to avoid any random occurrences. This still didn’t resolve the dropping of audio playback from time to time. We also made sure the unit was up-to-date and tried factory resetting it more than once.

Of course, this network aspect will depend on people’s home Wi-Fi and external factors. We have a modern network configuration so it was disappointing to experience any unreliability.

We did like the instantaneous playback to our Sonos Play:Five when we lowered the needle. It was easy to go into the Victrola app and choose a new speaker group too.

Similarly, the volume knob on the Stream Onyx was a brilliant addition. It made adjusting the volume a breeze.

Unfortunately, we were less than thrilled with the finer details of the Stream Onyx. The front knob had a slight wobble to it.

The dust cover leaned more toward the side of art than utility, which was unfortunate. It needed to be removed entirely with each use rather than tilted back. It also didn’t do a great job of keeping dust off the top of the unit.

Dust cover is molded around the arm and sits on top

The faults and detractions from the Stream Onyx were minimal but avoidable, making them feel even more disappointing.

The Victrola Stream Onyx is a fine turntable that gets most of its value from its Works with Sonos integration.

While it may sound surprising, we still think the Stream Onyx is a solid option for those who are all-in on the Sonos ecosystem. The network issues were random enough that it’s hard to write off the unit for everyone. It’s something we’ll continue to keep an eye on over the long term.

We do recommend considering the Victrola Stream Onyx for anyone who self-identifies as a music lover searching for a specifically modern option. In a lot of ways it felt like an unofficial Sonos turntable.

But most people interested enough in listening to vinyl records are also willing to go through the trouble required to get a better value on a less expensive turntable or spend more on better components.

• Works with Sonos integration
• Volume knob is handy and worked well
• Sleek and stylish design

• Audio drop-outs when using wireless or ethernet
• Dust cover could be more functional, easier to use

The rating would have been higher if this product had been $50 to $100 cheaper and had fewer connection issues. However, we did like Stream Onyx better than the Stream Carbon for the savings.

This turntable is available for purchase at Victrola for $599.99.

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Sparkee — a MagSafe compatible wireless portable charger — advertises that feature as the fundamental way to charge your iPhone, but the base detaches from the puck and becomes its own charger too.

Sparkee has two components: the charging puck (that uses MagSafe) and the charging base. Both have their own housed batteries and can be charged together or separately.

Four-pin lights are on both parts to show how much battery is in the charger. USB-C ports are located on both to provide a wired charge to a device or charge the battery inside.

The base has pins that magnetically connect to the MagSafe puck that charges it when placed on top of it. The puck stays in place, but it is not the sturdiest. If you listen closely, you will hear a beep to confirm the two pieces are correctly connected.

Power buttons are located on both components next to the battery indicator lights to turn each battery on and off.

Spark is lightweight — weighing in at 7.9 oz — and houses an 8,500 mAH battery inside itself.

Sparkee has a detachable puck that allows you to charge your iPhone via MagSafe or the USB-C port.

The detachable puck

The MagSafe puck weighs 3.5 oz, offers 15w charging speeds when plugged in via the USB-C port, and has fast Qi charging. There is a 3,500 mAH battery housed inside of it.

You can charge any devices that are MagSafe or wireless charging compatible.

If your iPhone does not support MagSafe — but does support wireless charging — then there is a magnet you can attach or put in your iPhone’s case to make it compatible. The puck also acts as a wireless charging pad when not connected to the back of an iPhone.

When you attach the MagSafe puck to the back of your iPhone, the MagSafe charging animation will appear and start charging your device until you remove it. The magnetic connection was strong and did not feel unstable when using the iPhone with it attached.

The detachable puck connected magnetically to an iPhone

If you do not have a device that supports MagSafe or wireless charging — like an Apple Watch — you can charge it through the USB-C port on the opposite side of the power button and battery-light indicators.

USB-C port on the detachable puck

You can charge the MagSafe puck by aligning it back on the magnetic pins on the charger’s base or through the USB-C port from a power supply.

Sparkee allows you to charge from its charging base when using the MagSafe puck. You can charge your devices through the USB-C port next to its power button.

The Sparkee base

The base weighs 4.4 oz, houses a 5,000 mAH battery inside, offers 20w charging speed when the puck is placed in the cradle and supplies fast charging via the USB-C port.

While you can charge the same devices with the base as you could with the MagSafe puck, you can also charge an iPad from it as well due to its bigger battery and wattage output.

The lights on top of the base show how much battery is left inside the charger, and you can charge the base by plugging it into a power source via the USB-C port.

Location of the USB-C port for the base of Sparkee

Sparkee is a great charger that gives you multiple different ways to charge your devices and charges multiple simultaneously.

The light design and easy detachable pieces allow for a swift and smooth charging design that uses every inch of the body to give you more charging power. It’s great to see that you can charge devices with either the two pieces together or apart.

The MagSafe puck sticks securely to the back of the iPhone and offers the same MagSafe experience any other accessory would give. The puck also charges quickly when it needs to be refilled.

The base — while basic in what it can do — offers a faster charging wattage and allows you to charge another device via USB-C. Fast charging available on both components is also a great feature to see on it.

One downside was that the MagSafe puck did not feel secure enough to the base when it was set down to charge. While it would stick and continue charging, there was fear that the base would fall from it. Another was the proposed retail price tag, which is supposed to be $150. Though it is two chargers in one, it would be more fitting for Sparkee to cost $100 at most.

If you are looking for a good portable charger that offers multiple ways to charge multiple devices, Sparkee may be the correct charger to invest in.

• Light design
• Different ways to charge
• Two chargers in one
• USB-C compatible with input and output charging
• Both chargers can be used together or apart
• Fast charging

• MagSafe puck does not feel secure when charging on puck
• High price tag

Sparkee is currently a project on Kickstarter — which is $89 when preordered or will be sold in stores for $150 — and the accessory comes in pink, blue, orange, and black.

Those interested should be cautioned that crowdfunding campaigns are known to miss deadlines or sometimes not ship at all. AppleInsider has a policy to only cover crowdfunded products if hands-on time with the hardware is available, as in this case.

Michael Abbott

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Michael Abbott reports directly to Services chief Eddy Cue, the second top person under Cue’s management to leave following Peter Stern. He will leave Apple in April.

Abbott joined Apple in 2018 after acting as an investor at venture capital giant Kleiner Perkins and an executive at Twitter, Microsoft, and Palm. As Apple’s vice president of cloud engineering, he is responsible for various iCloud services and infrastructure, CloudKit, and oversees privacy and security engineering for Apple’s services.

The cloud services group has significantly invested in the infrastructure supporting its services. But, Apple has scaled back that effort lately to use servers hosted by Google and Amazon Web Services.

Abbott’s group oversees a custom layer on top of that infrastructure to optimize it for Apple’s offerings. He has hired several cloud industry leaders, but the integration of the new staff hasn’t gone as easily as some had hoped, aaccording to Bloomberg.

Apple has had other key executives leave the company in late 2022 and early 2023. For example, chief Privacy Officer Jane Horvath left in August for law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in Los Angeles.

And in October, Apple’s industrial design chief Evans Hankey announced her departure. The company had difficulties in finding a replacement, then decided to eliminate her role with COO Jeff Williams overseeing her team.

Peter Stern, an executive at Apple who helped establish the Apple TV+ operations, left the company in January after six years. Apple is currently dividing his past responsibilities into three divisions and restructuring the Services business to emphasize streaming and advertising more.

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Samsung’s flagship Galaxy lineup is arguably more diverse than Apple’s iPhone range. Instead of two tiers of devices and two different sizes to choose from in the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro family, the Galaxy S23 offers three variants, with a more expansive variety of specifications to choose between.

At the top end of the range is the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which isn’t only larger than the Galaxy S23 and S23+ but comes with more cameras, a massive 200MP sensor, and stylus support.

It, therefore, is only applicable to put the Galaxy S23 Ultra against the iPhone 14 Pro range, its main rival at the top of the smartphone food chain

It’s fair to say that Samsung has gone all out with its S23 Ultra screen, measuring 6.8 inches in size. That diagonal is larger than the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro screen and even eclipses the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro.

On the resolution side, Samsung also takes the lead in that it has a 3,088 by 1,440 screen, giving it a pixel density of 500 pixels per inch. By comparison, the 2,556 by 1,179-resolution iPhone 14 Pro and the 2,796 by 1,290 Pro Max have equal densities of 460ppi.

Samsung employs an always-on Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, which can reach up to 1,750 nits of brightness, and has a contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1. HDR10+ certified, the screen also offers 100-percent coverage of mobile color volume in the DCI-P3 color range.

The iPhone has an all-screen, always-on OLED with HDR support, wide color (P3) coverage, and True Tone. Its contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1 is a little lower, but its 1,000 nits of typical maximum brightness, 1,600 nits of peak HDR brightness, and 2,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness fend off the Ultra.

Both display types offer adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz, under the ProMotion banner for the iPhone, with Samsung also boasting a 240Hz touch sampling rate in Game Mode. In theory, this will make mobile gaming controls more responsive.

Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro uses the A16 Bionic chip, a hexacore CPU with four efficiency and two performance cores. That’s paired with a 16-core Neural Engine capable of nearly 17 trillion operations per second and a 5-core GPU.

By contrast, Samsung uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform, which is an octa-core chip that includes one 3.36GHz Kyro Prime core, four 2.8GHz Kyro Gold cores, and three 2.0GHz Kyro Silver cores.

Samsung S23 Ultra

The chip also boasts an Adreno GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing for improved lighting and shadows in gaming and a 4.35x faster performance in machine learning tasks over the previous generation.

The Snapdragon also features Real-Time Semantic Segmentation, namely computational photography processing that uses noise reduction, sharpening, and color correction in up to eight photo layers. That’s in comparison to Apple’s computational photography advancements.

Other elements in the Snapdragon chip include an improved Bokeh Engine 2 for adjusting the quality of a blurred background and the intensity and shape in both photos and videos, local tone mapping, image stabilization, and improved auto exposure over the Gen-1 chip.

Geekbench 6 results

In terms of how this shakes down in benchmarks, the Galaxy S23 Ultra manages 1,817 in our running of Geekbench 6’s single-core tests, and 4,831 for the muli-core trials. By contrast, the iPhone 14 Pro’s single-core result of 2,333 is 28% better than the Samsung, and the 5,107 multi-core score is 5.7% better too.

On the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme cross-platform gaming benchmark, things turn around a bit here.

3DMark Wild Life Extreme scores

The S23 Ultra achieves a score of 3,817 to the iPhone 14 Pro’s 3,157, which is a 20% swing in favor of Samsung. The average FPS is also higher for the S23 Ultra at 22.9fps against 18.9 for Apple.

3DMark Wild Life Extreme average FPS

What this indicates is that the iPhone 14 Pro’s A16 Bionic is a great chip in general, but in gaming-specific tasks, Samsung’s S23 Ultra takes the lead.

The battery life of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are extremely high, at up to 23 hours and 29 hours respectively for local video playback, or up to 20 hours or 25 hours for streaming video. Similarly, audio playback hits 75 hours on the Pro, and 95 hours on the Pro Max.

Samsung doesn’t state how long the battery in the S23 Ultra can last, but we know it’s the biggest of the range at 5,000mAh. This isn’t a good measure of how much battery life you can get out of it, as it depends on what you’re doing and other things, but that quantity should last quite a while.

For recharging the devices, the iPhone 14 Pro supports MagSafe wireless charging at up to 15W, Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W, and charging through Lightning. There’s also a fast-charge capability, with it able to reach 50% charge in around 30 minutes when using a 20W or higher adapter.

Samsung includes a 45W USB PD 3.0 compliant super fast wired charging component, as well as support for Fast Wireless Charging 2.0.

As a neat party trick, Wireless Powershare allows you to recharge another Qi-compatible device using the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s own charging coil and battery.

Yes, that means it is possible to recharge an iPhone using Samsung’s Wireless Powershare feature.

Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro camera system consists of three imaging sensors on the rear, albeit with a step up from previous generations.

The star of the iPhone show is the main camera, which has a high 48-megapixel resolution, sensor-shift optical image stabilization, and a Quad Pixel arrangement. This latter point combines every four pixels into one larger quad-pixel equivalent to 2.44 microns, which helps with low-light imaging.

iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max cameras

There’s also a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera with OIS that can be used for macro shots. Lastly, a 12-megapixel 3x Telephoto lens, which again includes OIS.

Apple does use the main camera to produce a phantom fourth lens, which offers a 2x optical zoom as well as sensor-shift OIS, but it’s a crop of the 48MP sensor.

The features of Apple’s cameras range from Deep Fusion computational photography to various Portrait Mode and Portrait Lighting options, Photographic Styles, Night Mode portraits enhanced by a LiDAR scanner, and a 15x digital zoom.

A 15X digital zoom photo on iPhone 14 Pro and 100X digital zoom on S23 Ultra

Samsung’s highest-end device includes four cameras, starting with a 12MP ultra-wide camera, along with a pair of 10MP telephoto cameras offering 3x and 10x zoom levels.

Lastly, there’s the 200MP wide camera, which has an F1.7 aperture and a pixel size of just 0.6 microns. However, it can output images at 12MP with an equivalent pixel size of 2.4 microns, using a similar trick to the iPhone’s Quad Pixel.

These cameras are all equipped with OIS, as well as a laser autofocus system.

Low light interior shot with iPhone 14 Pro and S23 Ultra

The zooms of the cameras also lean heavily on machine learning for something Samsung calls Space Zoom. A 30x Space Zoom and 100X Space Zoom is available by augmenting the 3x and 10x optical telephoto cameras with Samsung’s AI Super Resolution technology.

This sounds impressive, but the company admits that there may be “some image deterioration” if you zoom in past the optical zoom point, so don’t expect perfect-quality images under these conditions.

Samsung also adds in its various other smart modes, including a scene optimizer, shot suggestions, panorama, food and night modes, and portraits.

For video, Apple includes 4K HDR Dolby Vision video at up to 60fps, a Cinematic mode at 4K with HDR at 30fps, a 2.8K Action Mode at 60fps, and 240fps 1080p Slo-mo video. For professionals, ProRes support is also included.

Samsung boasts 8K video at up to 30fps, 4K HDR10+ at 60fps, a Super Slo-Mo at 1080p 960fps, and even a 4K Hyperlapse video function.

At the front, Apple continues to use a 12-megapixel TrueDepth Camera array, which includes HDR 4K Dolby Vision support at 6-fps, Pro Res support, 120fps Slo-mo at 1080p, and a variety of portrait and other photo modes.

Around the front of the Samsung is a 12MP Selfie camera, though not one that offers the same depth mapping capabilities as Apple’s version.

Apple’s settled into a fairly standard routine when it comes to biometric security, with its main iPhone releases using Face ID. This reliable system needs you only to look at the TrueDepth camera array for it to recognize you and grant you access, aided by its depth-mapping capabilities.

It wasn’t necessarily the best option during the pandemic when face masks hindered progress, but it was still secure. There’s a million-to-one false positive rate, which should instill confidence in most people’s eyes.

Samsung facial recognition

Then there’s the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which relies on two different biometric systems. There’s face recognition, but without the same depth-related data that Apple’s version uses to full advantage.

The other is fingerprint recognition, using an ultrasonic system built into the display. This is handy for when you don’t want to use your face to unlock or to do so discretely and is a decent alternative that Apple no longer offers on its flagship devices.

On the connectivity side, both offer 5G service including mmWave. Wi-Fi 6E support is available on the S23 Ultra while Apple uses Wi-Fi 6, though this is only really a bonus if you have the networking infrastructure to support it.

Bluetooth 5.3 is offered across the board, as is NFC, and Ultra Wideband support.

Audio extends to stereo on both devices, complete with Dolby Atmos support. Apple also includes Spatial Audio, which works best with supportive AirPods models.

iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra

Apple and Samsung each claim IP68 water and dust resistance, with Samsung claiming survival at a 1.5-meter depth for up to 30 minutes, whereas Apple extends the depth to 6 meters.

Borrowing from the Note series, Samsung does include an S Pen with the Ultra, a compact stylus that stores inside the body of the smartphone, and offers 4,096 pressure levels. There is no active stylus support in the iPhone, except for those cheap capacitive ones that act like a finger and don’t have pressure sensitivity at all.

The iPhone 14 Pro starts from $999, which includes 128GB of storage. An upgrade to 256GB is available for $1,099, 512GB for $1,299, and 1TB for $1,499.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $1,099 for the same 128GB capacity, a $100 premium on the smaller model. The other capacities are the same and cost $100 more than the non-Max, so it tops out at $1,599.

Samsung starts its Galaxy S23 Ultra at $1,199.99 with 256GB of storage, 512GB for $1,379.99, and 1TB for $1,619.99.

You can get the iPhone 14 Pro in a choice of four colors: Space Black, Deep Purple, Gold, or Silver.

Samsung has eight colorways for the Ultra, split into two groups. The basic colors are Green, Phantom Black, Lavender, and Cream, but there are Samsung.com exclusives of Lime, Sky Blue, Graphite, and Red.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a great example of a smartphone. It has the performance and the large high-resolution display that someone wanting a premium device would want.

The camera situation is also well thought out, and having a 200MP camera sensor and Space Zoom are certainly excellent marketing points. Whether the quality of the image from that small pixel size or at that digital zoom range is worth it is another matter entirely.

The S Pen on the S23 Ultra

Adding in the S Pen also brings the giant smartphone into the same territory as the Note line, making it more useful as a productivity device.

Even with the added extras, there are still a lot of qualities shared between the two rivals. We’re talking premium smartphones that will handle whatever you throw at them, so there’s little to complain about here at all for the platform agnostic.

Sure, there are going to be benefits of going one way or the other, such as Apple’s whole ecosystem interconnectedness and efficiencies in controlling the entire software-hardware stack, but that’s very much a personal preference.

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra may catch your eye, and that’s perfectly OK if you’re willing to make the switch.

Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee

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These headphones are targeted at audiophiles or anyone seeking thoughtfully designed audio products. There is no app that will connect to these.

As a quick overview, the Massdrop Sennheiser HD 58X are open-back headphones that allow more air in and sound out. As anticipated, we experienced plenty of sound leakage, making these less than ideal in a quiet office.

Of course, the design also allows a more natural, less confined listening experience if you have a generally quiet space.

detachable, 6-foot cable

On the spec side, they have a frequency response of 12-38,500 Hz (-10dB) and a 150 ohms impedance. They also only weigh 9.2 ounces and include a 6-foot detectable cable.

The headphones aren’t new. If you’re interested in the story of their inception, you can read more about it on Massdrop.

The Massdrop Sennheiser HD 58X are squarely aimed at people interested in listening to music.

You don’t have to be a self-proclaimed audiophile to appreciate these headphones’ audio quality. Still, you do have to be willing to listen in specific ways, accommodating a wired connection.

We loved the wide soundstage and natural sound from the Massdrop Sennheiser HD 58X headphones. Massdrop did an excellent job summing up the sound, stating there’s an “emphasis on clean, extended bass, with a solid transient response and a smooth but clear upper midrange.”

All genres of music we listened to were reproduced well, and all types of music had outstanding crispness and clarity. There was a presence here, helped by the open-back design, that brings the music up close and personal.

The song “Grace” from Marcus Mumford’s solo album is a wonderful example of how the mid-range doesn’t get muddied.

Be aware these headphones did not sound very bass-heavy — and they’re not supposed to. Instead, there was an evenness and flatness that presented music without intervention.

But you’ll undoubtedly hear it if you listen to a bass-heavy song mix or something with a thick low-end.

We tested the headphones with “Sweeter” by Leon Bridges, where the track swims through low frequency from the beginning. The Massdrop Sennheiser HD 58X headphones didn’t drown in the sound like some headphones that try to punch up the bass can.

Overall, we found these headphones comfortable, but only with some critiques.

Ear pads

The top foam didn’t cause any pressure, and the lightweight helped make the headphones wearable for multiple hours.

We found the headband to be a little tight. A person’s head size will likely contribute to whether they feel the same way.

The soft material on the ear cups was delightful, especially during the cold winter months. There was plenty of room for our ears inside the padding as well.

The plastic body was light but flimsy, especially when the headband was twisted.

While we loved what the Massdrop Sennheiser HD 58X headphones offered, we don’t think they are for everyone.

In fact, the window of who these are actually for is getting narrower over time. The convenience of streaming music from devices without 3.5mm jacks outpaces people’s willingness to listen in confined ways.

Even plugging into an iPhone with the Lightning adapter won’t get you the preferred experience. Luckily, Apple has not dropped the headphone jack from its Mac lineup.

These headphones cater to a limited audience. Their wired connection doesn’t make them ideal for someone who primarily listens to music via their iPhone. However, those who take their music listening sessions seriously will likely want to spring for something even higher-end.

Foam on the headband

General consumers looking for “good sounding” headphones under $200 probably don’t want a wired connection and might not appreciate the sound profile here.

Still, we liked these Sennheiser HD 58X headphones better than similarly priced Grado headphones — even though we love our Grado headphones.

Anyone testing the waters of audiophile gear or people who have a strict budget for new audio equipment should probably start with these.

• Excellent audio quality
• Comfortable padding around ears and on headband

• Plastic frame felt a bit flimsy
• The fit was a bit tight for us

These headphones are available for purchase at Massdrop for $149 at the time of publication.