How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want deeper app-tuned bass, active noise cancellation and NFC pairing from a veteran audio brand, choose Sony XB950B1; if you need marathon battery life, a foldable travel-friendly frame and modern multipoint Bluetooth, choose PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear.
• Sony XB950B1 — biggest strength: Extra Bass tuning you can fine-tune through the Sony Headphones Connect app, plus active noise cancellation and NFC tap-to-pair. Biggest trade-off: 18 hours of playtime and a plastic build that's heavier at 9.9 ounces.
• PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear — biggest strength: A claimed 60 hours of playtime, Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint, four EQ modes and a foldable metal-headband design at just 175 g. Biggest trade-off: Sound isolation instead of true active noise cancellation, and a latency figure of 150 ms that matters for gaming and video.
• Pick Sony XB950B1 if you want app control, ANC and the Sony ecosystem in a single over-ear pair.
• Pick PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear if you want maximum battery, a lighter foldable frame, and the ability to stay connected to two devices at once.
The XB950B1 is Sony's bass-forward over-ear model, and the spec sheet tells you exactly where its priorities sit. Bluetooth 4.2 handles the wireless connection, and NFC lets you tap a compatible phone to pair instead of digging through menus. The 32-ohm impedance and 20 Hz–20 kHz frequency range are standard territory for a dynamic driver of this class, but the "Extra Bass" label and the Sony Headphones Connect app are the real story: the app is your control surface, which means EQ and sound-shaping live on your phone rather than on the earcup.
Battery life is rated at 18 hours with roughly a 4-hour charge time, and the 10-meter Bluetooth range covers moving around a room or apartment without dropping the signal. The earcups sit around the ear, the enclosure is plastic with a black finish, and a carrying case is included — a detail that matters if you commute or travel and don't want the headphones loose in a bag. There's also a 3.5 mm jack, so you can go wired when the battery runs out or when you want zero wireless latency.
Buy this if you want active noise cancellation, app-based tuning and tap-to-pair convenience, and you listen in sessions short enough that 18 hours between charges is fine — a commute, a workday, a workout block. Skip it if you want the lightest possible pair on your head or you need multi-device switching, because neither is in the spec sheet here. At 9.9 ounces, this is a headphone you notice after a few hours.
PowerLocus takes the opposite approach: it throws endurance and flexibility at you. The headline number is 60 hours of playtime, which is more than three times what the Sony is rated for — that's the difference between charging several times a week and charging once every couple of weeks. Charging is done over USB-C, and the package includes both the charging cable and a wired cable.
The Boom model runs Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint, so you can pair it to two devices and switch between them — laptop for a call, phone for music — without re-pairing. That's a genuinely useful feature for anyone who works across devices. There are four EQ modes (Pop, Bass, Rock, Vocal) switched from the earcup controls, and a 40 mm dynamic driver with 32-ohm impedance, 108 dB sensitivity and a 20 Hz–20 kHz range. Audio latency is listed at 150 ms, which is fine for music and calls but noticeable if you're gaming or watching video with lip-sync sensitivity.
Comfort and portability are clearly the design goals. The frame uses a metal headband, the ear cups rotate 90 degrees so they fold flat, and the whole thing weighs 175 g — about a third of the Sony. The memory foam ear cushions are described as breathable, and the earcups fully cover the ears. Noise control here is sound isolation rather than active noise cancellation, so it blocks some ambient noise passively but won't cancel an engine drone the way ANC does. There's a built-in mic with noise-cancelling tech for calls, and a 2-year warranty backs the whole thing.
Buy this if you want long battery, low weight, foldable storage and multipoint on a budget-minded set. Skip it if you specifically need active noise cancellation or app-level EQ control — those aren't part of this package.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear. 60 hours versus 18 hours is not a close contest.
• Best for app-based sound tuning → Sony XB950B1. The Headphones Connect app lets you adjust settings from your phone.
• Best for multi-device switching → PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear. Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint handles two paired devices; the Sony spec sheet lists Bluetooth 4.2 with no multipoint.
• Best for all-day comfort and travel → PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear. 175 g, memory foam cups, 90-degree rotating ear cups and a foldable metal headband.
• Best for quick pairing and ecosystem extras → Sony XB950B1. NFC tap-to-pair and a bundled carrying case are practical touches.
• Best for wired backup → a tie. Both offer a 3.5 mm jack, so both work when the battery is empty.
• Best for gaming and video → Sony XB950B1, or either one wired. The PowerLocus lists 150 ms of Bluetooth audio latency, which is a real consideration for sync-sensitive content.
• Best for EQ variety without an app → PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear. Four onboard modes (Pop, Bass, Rock, Vocal) versus app-driven control on the Sony.
In my opinion, the PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear is the smarter pick for most people shopping this comparison. The 60-hour battery, 175 g weight, foldable metal frame and Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint solve the daily annoyances that actually wear you down — charging constantly, a heavy head, and re-pairing every time you switch devices. I'd only steer you to the Sony XB950B1 if active noise cancellation and app-tuned Extra Bass are non-negotiable for you, because those are things the PowerLocus simply doesn't offer. If ANC is your priority, the Sony earns its place; otherwise the PowerLocus gives you more of what you'll use every day.
Yes, by a wide margin. PowerLocus lists 60 hours of average battery life, while the Sony XB950B1 is rated at 18 hours with about a 4-hour charge time. If you hate charging, PowerLocus is the clear choice.
Correct. The Sony XB950B1 includes active noise cancellation. The PowerLocus Boom uses sound isolation, which is passive blocking from the ear cushions rather than electronic cancellation. For airplane or train noise, the Sony has the advantage.
PowerLocus. It weighs 175 g versus 9.9 ounces on the Sony, and its ear cups rotate 90 degrees so it folds flat for a bag. The Sony does include a carrying case, but it's the heavier of the two.
I don't quote prices here because they change often — check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page. On features per dollar, the PowerLocus packs more battery, multipoint and a foldable design; the Sony counters with ANC and app control.
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