Bottom Line for meI am befuddled (it's a word - look it up!) by some of these reviews. But, to each their own, I guess. Awesome, awesome headphones. My search is over.BackgroundI have tried so many headphones, I can hardly count. Sony 1000XM3, B&W PX, B&W P7 (which I owned for a year and LOVE), Senheiser Momentum, etc etc. For the last few days I have been comparing my 4 moth old Sony 1000XM3 with the H9i.VolumeI like my music loud sometimes. Only occasionally do I top out the volume. Most of the time I am well below maximum with these H9i’sComfortQuite good. Overall just as comfortable as the Sonys, just different. I was initially discouraged because they feel more cramped. But somehow, over time, I have concluded that these are quite comfortable. They just feel different.SoundNote that I have the H9i EQ set to heavy bass and accented highs. Same for the Sony’s.Overall the best sounding headphones I have heard, ever. Above the B&W PX, Sony 1000MX, Sennheiser, B&W P7 etc etc.Bass: The bass has precision and authority, if that makes sense. The Sony has strong bass (adjustable) that never gives in. It shovels out bass, but without purpose. In comparison, it’s sloppy. The H9i delivers bass with more precision and power, if that makes sense. When a song really has demanding bass, the H9i will outshine the Sony 1000XM3. Even punchy bass is punchier than the Sony. B&O are doing something special with these speakers. Finally, the H9i delivers bass without screwing with the rest of the instrument content. Sony’s fumble occasionally in this task.Treble: Some have described the high end as “harsh”, and I think I understand. However this can be tamed with EQ. However, the competent upper end is one thing that I really love. With a guitar strum, you don’t just hear each string being struck, you hear the slide of the pick on the strings. Horns shine more than the competitors. I wonder if the little nubbin in front of the main speaker is responsible.All of the above really shine on tracks like Radiohead “Ripcord”, Helio Sequence “Shed Your Love”, Gypsy Kings “Hotel California”, Stevie Wonder “Higher Ground”, 10,000 Maniacs “What’s the Matter Here”.I thought that Young the Giant’s “Amerika” sounded great on the Sonys. Then I heard it on the H9i. Can’t go back.Noise IsolationPretty good. Those around will only hear your music if you have it pretty loud and the room is quiet.Touch ControlsI find these controls to be clearly better than the Sony 1000XM3. I am confused that some find the touch controls frustrating. I have no problem and strongly prefer them to the Sonys. For example, the volume control. Within the first hour of use, I feel like a have a volume dial that I can instantly command. On the H9i, there is a subtle but easy-to-locate raised ring on the right ear cup that easily guides your finger to make the circle. And the touchpad seems to never get confused. The Sonys misinterpret my intentions regularly.Noise CancellingThis was not my highest priority, and I am perfectly happy thus far. People generally say it is quite good, but not up to Sony and Bose. That’s OK with me. The sound quality does suffer, and I keep NC off unless I travel.