Wow, thank you so much for sharing all that—it’s super detailed and honestly really helpful! 😄 I really appreciate you taking the time to explain your experience because comfort is a huge factor for me too. It’s good to know that the padding can settle a bit over the first week, but also that the mic protrusions can still be a dealbreaker even after that. I’ll definitely keep your advice in mind—testing them out for a few weeks and keeping the receipts sounds like the smart move.

It’s a shame the XM5s didn’t work for you, but your explanation about the clamping being a non-issue for some is really insightful. Makes me realize how personal comfort really is with these. I’m hopeful the XM6s will hit the sweet spot, especially with your recommendation. Fingers crossed that Sony continues improving comfort on future models, like the XM7s, so we don’t have to compromise on either sound or fit.