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Over-ear noise cancelling headphones are a good second-hand buy: pads can be replaced and the electronics usually last. AirPods are riskier, because fakes are everywhere and look almost identical. Test sound, noise cancelling and battery in person, and pair AirPods with an iPhone before you pay.
Sony WH-1000XM4 and XM5 are the most common, with the XM6 starting to show up. The XM4 folds up and is still excellent; the XM5 sounds and cancels a bit better but doesn't fold. Bose sells the QuietComfort 45, the QuietComfort Ultra and the older QC35 II, which is comfortable but older tech. Apple: AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 and AirPods Max.
Earbuds have small batteries that can't be swapped. After three or four years of daily use they may last half as long as new. Over-ear headphones have bigger batteries and age better.
Fake AirPods Pro are listed on Marktplaats all the time, often as 'new, unwanted gift' or 'sealed' for EUR 60-90. Many copy a valid serial number from a genuine pair, so checking the serial alone isn't proof. Pair them with an iPhone at the pickup and check the details.
Copies of the Sony XM4 and XM5 and of Bose models exist too, usually sold new and too cheap. Install the Sony Headphones Connect app or the Bose app at the pickup: a genuine set connects and shows its model and firmware. Fakes often won't appear in the app at all, have weak noise cancelling and feel light and plasticky.
Wear them for a few minutes. Turn noise cancelling on in a room with background noise (a fridge, traffic) and listen for the drop. Play music and check left and right balance and any crackling at high volume. Ask how long the battery lasts on a full charge.
Lithium batteries wear with charge cycles and with age. Over-ear models like the Sony XM4 often still give 20 hours or more after a few years, which is plenty. Earbuds are harder: one bud may die faster than the other. Ask the seller to charge them fully before you arrive, then check the battery level in the app or the iPhone widget after your test. A pair that drops quickly in 10 minutes will disappoint you on a commute.
Listings for 'losse AirPod' (a single left or right bud) or just a case are common, from people who lost one. They can be a cheap way to replace your own missing bud, but must match your model generation. Clean any used earbuds and replace the ear tips; tips cost a few euros.
If you want something like 'Sony XM5 with case, battery still good, under 220 euro near Amsterdam', vindje.com reads the descriptions so you skip the fakes sold 'new in box' with no details.
| Item | Typical asking price |
|---|---|
| Sony WH-1000XM4 | EUR 110-160 |
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | EUR 170-230 |
| Bose QuietComfort 45 | EUR 110-150 |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones | EUR 200-260 |
| AirPods Pro 2 (genuine, working) | EUR 100-140 |
Rough Marktplaats asking prices in the Netherlands. Condition, age and season move them a lot.
Describe what you want in your own words and vindje.com searches Marktplaats in Dutch, then reads every listing and keeps only the real matches. For example:
Sony WH-1000XM5 with original case, good battery, no cracks in the headband, under 220 euro, within 20 km of AmsterdamSearch Marktplaats like this
Pair them with an iPhone and check that a firmware version shows in Bluetooth settings, then test noise cancelling and spatial audio. A matching serial number alone isn't enough, because fakes copy them.
Yes, if you clean them with alcohol wipes and replace the silicone tips. Over-ear pads can be swapped too.
It depends on age and use. Pairs older than three years often last noticeably shorter than new, so ask and test.
Sealed AirPods Pro far below the shop price are very often fake. Treat them with suspicion and test before paying.