buy the nature of being an electronic device, they do indeed have a finite lifespan, and being wireless noise cancelling, they have the shortest. I personally have a pair of XM3s, and they are my second pair after daily driving the first one into the ground (these are a waranty replacement). eventually, the battery will give out, the drivers will wear, and with ANC, the "Death Squeal" will set in (sometimes, older ANC headphones will develop a squealing in certain instances as the mics and system for the ANC start failing. I don't know the exact mechanics of it, but mine have recently begun this, and learned about it).
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all that said, I have had good luck with sony headphones, but electronics are unfortunately consumables and need replacing, since most things, like headphones, just aren't designed to be repaired.
AStackOfUsedNapkins t1_j5xcwtn wrote
Reply to Is Sony's WH-1000MX5 BIFL? by sranzuline
buy the nature of being an electronic device, they do indeed have a finite lifespan, and being wireless noise cancelling, they have the shortest. I personally have a pair of XM3s, and they are my second pair after daily driving the first one into the ground (these are a waranty replacement). eventually, the battery will give out, the drivers will wear, and with ANC, the "Death Squeal" will set in (sometimes, older ANC headphones will develop a squealing in certain instances as the mics and system for the ANC start failing. I don't know the exact mechanics of it, but mine have recently begun this, and learned about it).
​
all that said, I have had good luck with sony headphones, but electronics are unfortunately consumables and need replacing, since most things, like headphones, just aren't designed to be repaired.