MDR-1000X

Big budget - Sony WH1000XM(x) I still have my original MDR1000x and while the mic leaves a lot to be desired, they're amazing for music and blocking out the outside world. Find a new old stock on sale. Barring that, Bose, Sennheiser, pick your poison/price point, unless you love Apple, then the Airpods Pro2 are amazing for this if you like in-ear. Max if you hate everyone. Airpods4 with ANC are honestly fine for office environments if you have some music going, if you hate over/in ear stuff. If you're on a budget, the Anker ANC stuff is shockingly good for the price, both in sound quality and NC ability. Not 'no music on a plane of crying babies' good, but definitely good enough for an office.

As if the hinges on the mdr1000x forward were great, right! Everything sucks compared to other brands.

While you’re right on paper, my Sony MDR-1000X that I got in 2016 and use daily are still doing just fine, with battery life about as good as when I first got them, so…

I have the MDR-1000x from launch period, 2017 iirc. I’ve replaced pads, headband wrap, still runs like a champ. I’m never gonna buy a new pair of ANC headphones.

I still have the original MDR1000X, they still do the job great compared to the XM5 I was gifted.

Haha, I also had these until very recently... they looked terribly worn but I was happy with them until, yes, the hinge broke. Seems to be in the DNA of Sony headphones. :-)

i head the same thing with the xm5's. I ordered MDR-M1's and they arrived today. Apparently they should be one of the most comfortable (especially if your head is larger than normal), I'll let you know. The XM5's also hurt my auricle on the left. So, I'm going to be watching out for that too.