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Sony WH1000XM3 Noise Cancelling Headphones, Wireless Bluetooth Over the Ear Headset – Black (2018 Version)
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Alexa Built-in
This device has been certified by Amazon. With Alexa built-in, just ask to play music, get directions, control smart home devices, and more.
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Sony |
Color | Black |
Ear Placement | Over Ear |
Form Factor | Over Ear |
Noise Control | Active Noise Cancellation |
About this item
- DIGITAL NOISE CANCELING: Industry leading ANC lends a personalized, virtually soundproof experience
- PHONE CALL: A built-in mic enables you to take hands-free calls.
- VOICE ASSISTANT: Alexa enabled for voice access to music, information and more. Activate with a simple touch
- QUICK ATTENTION MODE: Cover the right ear cup to turn down your music for instant, easy conversation
- PERSONAL NOISE CANCELLING: Adjusts ambient sound to your activity for the best noise cancellation
- TOUCH CONTROLS: Control music tracks and volume, activate your voice assistant and take phone calls
- LONG BATTERY LIFE: A single charge provides up to 30 hrs of playtime for reliable all day listening
- COMFORTABLE TO WEAR: Ergonomically redesigned foldable earphones for easy travel / listening comfort
- IN THE BOX: Foldable headphone, carry case, charging cable and audio cable for a wired connection
- With our new HD Noise-Canceling Processor QN1, noise-canceling power is greatly enhanced. Having a dedicated NC processor also ensures the reproduction of your music is never compromised due to processor performance.
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This Item Sony WH1000XM3 Noise Cancelling Headphones, Wireless Bluetooth Over the Ear Headset – Black (2018 Version) | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
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Price | $267.92$267.92 | $248.00$248.00 | -12% $218.99$218.99 New Price: $248.00 | -6% $92.00$92.00 New Price: $98.00 | -21% $259.99$259.99 New Price: $328.00 | -11% $178.00$178.00 List: $199.99 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Sunday, Jun 16 | — | Get it Jun 17 - 24 | — | Get it as soon as Sunday, Jun 16 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Jun 16 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Sound quality | 4.7 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.4 |
Noise cancellation | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.5 |
Battery life | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.4 | — | 4.5 | 4.5 |
Bass quality | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.9 | — |
Volume control | 4.4 | 4.1 | — | — | 5.0 | — |
Sold By | Destacada | Amazon.com | Sole Providers | Beach Camera Same Day Shipping | ADV Sellers | Amazon.com |
connectivity tech | Bluetooth | Wireless, Wired | Wireless | Wireless | Wireless | Bluetooth |
headphones form factor | Over Ear | In Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Wireless |
connector type | wireless | USB Type C | wireless | wireless | Stereo Mini Jack | USB |
noise control | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation |
headphones jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | — | — | 3.5 mm Jack | — |
cable feature | Wireless | Detachable | Without Cable | Without Cable, Retractable | Without Cable | Detachable |
From the manufacturer
WH1000XM3
ONLY MUSIC. NOTHING ELSE.
Industry-leading noise canceling headphones with mic and Alexa voice control.
-
Industry-leading Digital Noise Cancellation
Hear every word, note, and tune with incredible clarity, no matter your environment.
-
Proprietary HD Noise Canceling Processor QN1
Dramatically improves the sound quality of whatever you choose to listen to.
-
Wear all day in total comfort
Soft pressure-relieving earpads with larger and deeper ergonomic ear space. Lighter weight design.
-
Swivel & folding structure for easy carrying
Swivel and fold neatly into the carry case along with the cable for easy storage and portability.
-
Clear hands-free calling
Phone conversations are even more clear than before with a microphone dedicated to voice input.
Extra-long battery life with quick charging
Up to 30 hours of battery life on a single charge keeps you listening instead of charging. Low on battery? No problem – 10 minutes of charge time gives you an amazing 5 hours of playback.
-
Amazon Alexa-Built in
Alexa-enabled for hands-free voice access to music, information, and more.
-
Smart Listening by SENSE ENGINE
Automatically detects your activity and balances the noise canceling levels.
-
“Sony | Headphones Connect” App for Android /iOS
Control your ambient sound settings and adjust the sound levels with the Equalizer.
-
Noise cancellation personalized
Analyzes the sonic characteristics caused by head size, glasses, hair, & optimizes the sound to you.
-
Wireless freedom with Bluetooth and NFC
Hassle-free wireless connections to stream high-quality music and phone calls.
Sony Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
WH-1000XM3 | WH-1000XM4 | WH-XB910N | WH-CH710N | |
Customer Reviews
|
4.6 out of 5 stars
21,706
|
4.6 out of 5 stars
56,109
|
4.5 out of 5 stars
10,195
|
4.4 out of 5 stars
23,769
|
Price
| $267.92$267.92 | $248.00$248.00 | $248.00$248.00 | — |
Type
| Over-ear | Over-ear | Over-ear | Over-ear |
Noise Cancelling
| Premium Noise Canceling | Industry-leading NC | Digital Noise Cancellation | Digital Noise Cancellation |
Battery Life
| 30 Hrs | 30 Hrs | 30 Hrs | 35 Hrs |
Quick Charge Battery
| 10 Min charge 5 Hrs playback | 10 Min charge 5 Hrs playback | 10 Min charge 4.5 Hr playback | 10 Min charge 60 Min playback |
DSEE Extreme with Edge-AI
| ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
Hands-free calling
| Yes | Yes, with 5 microphones | Yes | Yes |
Touch control
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
Ambient Sound Mode
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Customize Sound with app
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
Multi Device Connection
| ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
Wearing Detection
| ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
Foldable design
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
What's in the box
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Videos
Videos for this product
1:28
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#thisorthat Sony vs Bose. Thoughts after years of use.
Heidi Leatherby
Videos for this product
1:15
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Sony WH-1000XM3 Noise-Cancelling Headphones Review
Andrew Frech
Videos for this product
2:07
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Which Sony Bluetooth Headphones Should You Get? #thisorthat
Jacob A
Videos for this product
1:52
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Sony WH1000XM3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
Amazon Videos
Product information
Frequency Response | 40000 Hz |
---|---|
Headphones Jack | 3.5 mm Jack |
Model Name | WH-1000XM3/B |
Connectivity Technology | Bluetooth |
Wireless Communication Technology | Bluetooth |
Special Feature | Foldable |
Included Components | Carrying Case, Plug Adaptor for In-flight Use, Headphone cable (approx. 47 1/4"), USB cable: Type-C™ (approx. 7 7/8") |
Age Range (Description) | Adult |
Material | Plastic |
Specific Uses For Product | Travel |
Charging Time | 30 Hours |
Recommended Uses For Product | Walking, Automatically adjusts to whatever you do, Traveling, Answer hands-free phone calls with a double tap, Waiting |
Compatible Devices | Alexa, Google Assistant |
Theme | Video Game |
Control Type | Voice Control |
Cable Feature | Wireless |
Item Weight | 8.99 Ounces |
Package Type | Standard Packaging |
Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
Control Method | Touch, Voice |
Number of Items | 1 |
Battery Life | 30 Hours |
Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
UPC | 027242911574 |
Global Trade Identification Number | 00027242911574 |
Manufacturer | Sony |
Product Dimensions | 7.31 x 2.94 x 10.44 inches |
Item Weight | 9 ounces |
ASIN | B07G4MNFS1 |
Item model number | WH1000XM3/B |
Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
Customer Reviews |
4.6 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #61,315 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #1,830 in Over-Ear Headphones |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | August 30, 2018 |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
Product Description
Sony industry-leading noise cancellation evolves to further immerse you in your music. The addition of Sony proprietary HD noise canceling processor Qn1 masterfully eliminates the noise around you. Listen all day with up to 30 hours of battery life. Quick charging gives five hours of playback with just a 10-minute charge. Cord Length: Headphone cable (approx. 3.94 ft, OFC strands, gold-plated stereo mini plug); Frequency Response: 4 Hz-40,000 Hz; NFC: Yes; Cord Type: Single-sided (detachable); Volume Sensor: Touch Sensor. Diaphragm - Aluminium-coated LCP.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the sound quality, comfort, and quality of the headphones. They mention that it does a great job of virtually eliminating all other sounds, has solid noise cancelling, and that the build quality is identical. They also like the battery life. That said, opinions are mixed on performance, value, and controls.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the sound quality of the headphones. They mention that it does a great job of virtually eliminating all other sounds, has solid noise cancelling, and adjusts to less noisy environments. Some say that the sound is almost up there with the Bose, while others say it's not quite there. They also say that they can hear each individual sound clearly, and that the switchable noise cancellation is a fantastic feature. Some customers also mention that the bass will please bassheads, and the voice is loud and clear.
"...headphones is not restricted at all... you get full volume, clarity and bass and that simply causes the outside world to melt away, leaving you with..." Read more
"...With the Sony, I feel like I can hear each individual sound clearly, whereas with the Bose everything is a little more muddled together...." Read more
"...my soundcard allows me to make them sound natural, and does not make the sound feel very fake, as it happens when you mess with the natural sound of..." Read more
"...conditioning intake in my condo, but it does a great job of virtually eliminating all other sounds, including television voices and even other people..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the quality of the headphones. They mention that the build quality is identical, they are the best in class, and better than most ear buds. They appreciate the fantastic sound, solid EQ, and exceptional noise isolation. Overall, customers are happy with the comfort, sound quality, and mic quality of these headphones.
"...As for the sound quality, I will say that they are very good...." Read more
"...The headset is made in Malaysia. Bose, I must say, can make great quality headsets (A20, with 5 years warranty, is an evidence to that), but..." Read more
"...The Bose look like an ordinary pair of headphones. Build quality is identical thoughCONCLUSION..." Read more
"...But these are definitely best in class, and even better if you can catch them on sale.Tl;dr, great headphones...." Read more
Customers like the comfort of the headphones. They mention that it filters out background noise, is the most reasonable compromise to comfort, sound quality, and mic quality, feels very nice to touch, and hug their head in a more streamlined fashion. They are impressed by the comfort and noise isolation, saying that they stayed comfortable for a 2.5 hour flight with no fatigue or discomfort at all. The band of leatherette on top is soft and has good cushioning.
"...I'm happy to report that these headphones are able to be worn comfortably for extended duration with no feeling of pinched ears or sore spots...." Read more
"...-Headphones are generally comfortable. My ears do not get hot or sweat at all when I wear these indoors...." Read more
"...Sony is no exception, but I am fine with that. I must say, the most comfortable headset for my head is Bose QC 35 II, followed by Sony XM3 and..." Read more
"...They're really comfortable to wear all day long, if I get a call from a co-worker I don't need to take them off, and I'm just listening to music as..." Read more
Customers like the battery life of the headphones. They say it has outstanding battery life, and has never died. Some say the headphones last forever and have the best battery in the segment.
"...My battery life has been fine...." Read more
"...USB type C, which some care about, I do. Best battery in the segment, and I really have no complaints...." Read more
"...Battery life is of about 30 hours when in use. It will decrease slowly when not used but not by much.- The controls are very nice too...." Read more
"...+ Outstanding Battery life! Batteries were never an issue for me with the Bose because I had 4 rechargeable batteries that I rotated fairly easily...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the headphones. Some mention that they work really well, are satisfied with their performance, and work very well for phone calls in the office environment. However, some say that the sound balance is not ideal, the Bose QC's were extremely disappointing right out of the box, and the phone app initially did not work.
"...pair of headphones is somewhat subjective... but I can say these work really well, bearing a few things in mind and that we've not quite reached the..." Read more
"...The touchpad has worked great (but again, I've only tested it in warm conditions)...." Read more
"...The sound on the Bose can best be described as adequate but generally lifeless...." Read more
"...Sony, to my surprise, works very well for phone calls in the office environment...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the value of the headphones. Some mention that the XM3's make it worth the price, the entire package is worth it, and they aren't cheap for good reason. However, others say that they are a tad pricey and don't worth the money.
"...NO! They are absolutely worth the money if you have it. Generally, I find that I wear the Bose throughout the day as I'm working from home...." Read more
"...Sound, comfort, quality and reliablity, features, battery life, and value...." Read more
"...I would not use XM3 to work with power tools, though. They are too expensive and possibly too fragile for a workshop, and the benefit is not large..." Read more
"...Fair price. I own more expensive headphones that are not as comfortable, do not have ANC and do not sound as good…- Good app...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the controls. Some mention that the touch controls for media controls are really great and nice, it allows easier control of the headphones. However, others say that the controls are finicky and iffy, and malfunction in cold weather. They also say there is no way to lock the touch sensitive controls.
"...The right-hand ear cup touch-pad is novel, and it has worked for me fine...." Read more
"...The touch pad controls are weird at first, but I have gotten used to them and they work consistently...." Read more
"...In general, the touchpad on the right here has been great...." Read more
"...Ok, now the cons: there were a few glitchy moments with the swiping feature on the right ear-cup and one time where the volume control from the..." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the connectivity of the headphones. They mention that the Bluetooth connection options are not as good as the Bose, they do not support multiple simultaneous Bluetooth connections, and that the single pairing option is simply not workable. They also say that the headphones can only be paired with one device at a time and that Bluetooth is competing with other signals in the 2 GHz band such as WiFi.
"...The moment you plug the USB-C charging cable into these, you lose all Bluetooth and ANC, and the sound shuts off until you stick the physical corded..." Read more
"...These were very difficult to get to sync". I've only linked these to my Pixel 2, but the process was quick and easy. I have not tr"..." Read more
"...headset with a massive wire and console, and connectors are not compatible with consumer electronics...." Read more
"...Bose can connect to two devices simultaneously, but Sony can connect to only 1 device at a time...." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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The most frequent question I get is "How long do these last with Noise Cancellation on?"
With the ANC (active noise cancellation) function ON - I've seen about 22-24 hours or so of Bluetooth-connected operation with these. The noise cancellation operation / ambient sound mode of these headphones are run entirely by the internal charged battery.
Someone asked me a while back if with the headphones connected to your phone via the headphone cable, if they would still have noise cancellation / ambient sound mode even if the battery was dead and the answer is no, no they will not. You can still listen to music through the 3.5 mm physical cable with a depleted battery, but noise cancellation will not be available. Actually, you also can't use Bluetooth / noise cancellation when even in the process of charging these headphones… (see "gripes" towards end of review).. so I guess it's good Sony decided to bestow a quick-charge 5-hour use time after a 10-minute charge function into these (using a wall receptacle USB adapter of course).
Basically how it works is if you have an energized battery in the headphones you can use the noise cancellation and the Bluetooth connection - which also serves to activate the right ear cup touch-pad to perform functions on the headset.
If you have an energized battery and decide to use the direct 3.5mm headphone cable to connect to your phone or computer instead, you can still use the noise cancellation, but the touch-pad will not be available to utilize as the cord now takes over for Bluetooth to serve music (and as it depends upon the Bluetooth connection to "talk" to the paired device for functions, the touch-pad is disabled).
If you have a depleted battery you cannot use noise cancellation or the touch-pad but you can still get sound out of them like a regular pair of headphones by using the 3.5mm cable plugged into your phone or computer.
The connectivity through Bluetooth seems really robust. I have had only one minor issue since owning these where the sound of what I was listening to hiccupped out for a fraction of a second a couple times, but I think it had more to do with my phone not behaving at that moment and not the headphones themselves causing the problem. Walking around inside or outside or for traveling, the connection has remained stable since.
How "Good" the active noise cancellation works in any pair of headphones is somewhat subjective... but I can say these work really well, bearing a few things in mind and that we've not quite reached the technological level yet of producing truly silent headphones the quiets absolutely everything. Not for $350 dollars anyway.
The headphone Manual itself states that "Noise Cancellation" works primarily in the low frequency band and that although noise is reduced, it is not completely cancelled.
I can best equate the effect with just the active noise cancellation mode on and with nothing playing through them, to having a good set of hearing protection earplugs in your ears.
Everything sounds reduced, especially things like dronning, humming, knocking and footsteps...there is a general quieter sound you experience, but you're not left completely oblivious to some noise coming through a little.
These headphones will not surround you in a magical protective vacuum bubble when you have them on.
However:
The real magic happens when you start playing music through these headphones or listening to a movie or such. With the active noise cancellation diminishing the outside sound pretty well all on its own, the sonic enjoyment of what is playing through the headphones is not restricted at all... you get full volume, clarity and bass and that simply causes the outside world to melt away, leaving you with a little comfort-cocoon that really does impress.
I have had very good success with these headphones canceling out unwanted noises and / or being able to enjoy what I want to listen to across a range of scenarios: Noisy Neighbors next door doing noisy things, kids pounding around upstairs in the house, traveling in the car (as a passenger of course - not driving!), a couple bus commutes, and so forth.
As for the sound quality, I will say that they are very good. These are not high-end audiophile reference headphones costing thousands of dollars, but there is definitely high-quality audio out of these with a nice sound stage and separation with additional tweeking you can do through Sony's Headphone Connect application to adjust equalization and bass.
These are not the loudest headphones I've ever used... I've had models that are almost obnoxious in their power delivery, to the point of being painful to listen to with the volume all the way up. I am the type of listener who likes a bit of punchiness in their music, but also appreciates nuances over ham-fisted bass slamming into my ear canals at the expense of everything else...and I will say that with the noise cancellation feature turned on, I'm actually enjoying music at a lower volume level than I'd need with other headphones. The WH-1000XM3's ability to effectively mute the outside distractions allows me to concentrate on what I'm listening to, and I don't need the volume cranked up to enjoy a range of music.
I did have to tweek a few things with the app to suit my preferences, but I am left very happy with what these can deliver. Of note, you can set two "Custom" EQ settings in the app, so one you might use for punchier bass and the other for higher treble or vocal listening.
The weight of these is impressively light. I might have been initially expecting them to have a weightier feel... maybe because I was thinking that with the added components necessary for noise cancellation, those would increase the headphone weight by several ounces. I'm happy to report that these headphones are able to be worn comfortably for extended duration with no feeling of pinched ears or sore spots. The ear cups on the WH-1000XM3's are of a more oval design than circular as found on my older Sony MDR-XB950BT headphones, and this makes them very comfortable to wear even laying back on a pillow or car seat. The thick padded circular ear cups on other headphones tends to press up against the back of a pillow or seat, and causes some pressure and discomfort against the back of my ears if worn too long when reclined.
No such issues with these.
I have seen a few complaints online about people reporting that their ears get warm after wearing these for a while. Having spent some time with these, I personally think it's the effect of just wearing a pair of closed-back headphones with snug-fitting padded ear cups causing this. Every pair of closed-back headphones I've worn with padding that encapsulate your ears will get to feeling a little warm after extended sessions with them on. For me personally, I have not had discomfort with these on even after a few hours of listening to music and watching a movie with the noise cancellation activated.
The Phone Call microphone is something that many people seem to have initially hated on these headphones - many comments about how "it's garbage" and so on, reside on the internet.
I am not sure where the hate is coming from, as I've had no issues making or taking phone calls with these, and nobody has complained about the call / microphone quality. Maybe Sony updated something in later production runs, but for whatever reason, the microphone seems fine on my pair. Certainly no worse than other headphones I've used. I will note that I did update the firmware to version 4.2.2 when I first fired-up the Sony App and when I used the headphones for the first time, so possibly that update may have corrected previous microphone problems.
I have tested charging the WH-1000XM3's using an Anker PowerCore II 20000 battery bank and with a longer Anker USB-C to USB-A type cable than what Sony provides (see quibbles below), and they work together fine. The Anker battery bank will certainly output a 1.5 A current or more easily, which is what these headphones require for standard charging times.
In conclusion, I am very happy with the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones.
Some people may consider these to be really expensive at $350 dollars US, but I don't think thats necessarily true. They're about $100 dollars more than other good quality headphones with similar performance sans active noise cancellation.
Is the extra $100 bucks for having ANC worth it? To me, Yes. Definitely.
The noise cancellation ability of these has allowed me to enjoy quiet time and listening pleasure that otherwise I wouldn't be able to have with regular headphones.
You'll have to decide for yourself, but in a world with an ever increasingly loud and invasive noises you have to contend with daily, I've really really gotten to love using these, despite a few issues I don't really like.
****************************************************
Some minor quibbles:
A literally 6-inch long USB-C to USB-A power cable, Sony?
I just shelled out $350 bucks for a set of your headphones and you stuck me with a barely-useable power cable, never mind no included USB power adapter?
You couldn't get the bean counters to authorize even a foot of cable? Jeeze.
If you buy these headphones you are going to for sure want a longer USB-C to USB-A cable to charge these with. Anker has some nice ones you can get right here on Amazon.
The right-hand ear cup touch-pad is novel, and it has worked for me fine.
My only little grumble about it, is the function to pause the music or accept a phone call requires you to do a quick double-tap with your finger on the center of the ear cup touch-pad. Problem is, my ear is in there and the sound of my finger quickly tapping it makes a loud "Thump-Thump!" sound I find annoying. I would have MUCH preferred a physical button instead.
I picked the "silver / grey" model color of these headphones, simply because they looked a bit different than the boring ol' black every other headphone comes in. I have noticed that depending on the color temperature of the surrounding light, they can appear to look anywhere from a silver / grey coloration to more of a champagne / very light tan in color. It's not off-putting, and I do like the color of the headphones... but some of you may not appreciate the reactive effect these have in either cool or warm colored light. Figured I'd mention it.
My big gripe: You cannot CHARGE these headphones and at the same time, listen with them using Bluetooth or with the ANC on. That seems backwards as Hell to me, considering I probably own at least 10 other electronic devices that CAN be used WHILE they are charging. My Smart Phone, yup. DSLR camera, sure. Voice Recorder, indeed. Graphing Calculator, Uh-huh. Sony MiniDisc Player from literally 15 YEARS ago? YES.
So why is it that with these modern $350 headphones, you can't plug them into a usb wall adapter, laptop, or battery bank with a USB-C cable and keep enjoying ANC and Bluetooth connection and listening enjoyment while charging? The moment you plug the USB-C charging cable into these, you lose all Bluetooth and ANC, and the sound shuts off until you stick the physical corded 3.5mm cable into the audio source…which at this point means you're now using a pair of regular headphones because again: No Bluetooth, no Active Noise Cancellation going on.
Very very strange, and although with 20+ hours of listening on tap with a full charge, I still question if this isn't something that really should be improved upon with version Mark IV.
Wishes for FUTURE: Improved ANC with better elimination of higher pitched / sharp noises, maybe an available headphone stand that can provide the headphones with some type of inductive charging might be nice. Oh, and let us be able to charge AND listen to these with Bluetooth / ANC active at the same time please, Sony.
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2019
The most frequent question I get is "How long do these last with Noise Cancellation on?"
With the ANC (active noise cancellation) function ON - I've seen about 22-24 hours or so of Bluetooth-connected operation with these. The noise cancellation operation / ambient sound mode of these headphones are run entirely by the internal charged battery.
Someone asked me a while back if with the headphones connected to your phone via the headphone cable, if they would still have noise cancellation / ambient sound mode even if the battery was dead and the answer is no, no they will not. You can still listen to music through the 3.5 mm physical cable with a depleted battery, but noise cancellation will not be available. Actually, you also can't use Bluetooth / noise cancellation when even in the process of charging these headphones… (see "gripes" towards end of review).. so I guess it's good Sony decided to bestow a quick-charge 5-hour use time after a 10-minute charge function into these (using a wall receptacle USB adapter of course).
Basically how it works is if you have an energized battery in the headphones you can use the noise cancellation and the Bluetooth connection - which also serves to activate the right ear cup touch-pad to perform functions on the headset.
If you have an energized battery and decide to use the direct 3.5mm headphone cable to connect to your phone or computer instead, you can still use the noise cancellation, but the touch-pad will not be available to utilize as the cord now takes over for Bluetooth to serve music (and as it depends upon the Bluetooth connection to "talk" to the paired device for functions, the touch-pad is disabled).
If you have a depleted battery you cannot use noise cancellation or the touch-pad but you can still get sound out of them like a regular pair of headphones by using the 3.5mm cable plugged into your phone or computer.
The connectivity through Bluetooth seems really robust. I have had only one minor issue since owning these where the sound of what I was listening to hiccupped out for a fraction of a second a couple times, but I think it had more to do with my phone not behaving at that moment and not the headphones themselves causing the problem. Walking around inside or outside or for traveling, the connection has remained stable since.
How "Good" the active noise cancellation works in any pair of headphones is somewhat subjective... but I can say these work really well, bearing a few things in mind and that we've not quite reached the technological level yet of producing truly silent headphones the quiets absolutely everything. Not for $350 dollars anyway.
The headphone Manual itself states that "Noise Cancellation" works primarily in the low frequency band and that although noise is reduced, it is not completely cancelled.
I can best equate the effect with just the active noise cancellation mode on and with nothing playing through them, to having a good set of hearing protection earplugs in your ears.
Everything sounds reduced, especially things like dronning, humming, knocking and footsteps...there is a general quieter sound you experience, but you're not left completely oblivious to some noise coming through a little.
These headphones will not surround you in a magical protective vacuum bubble when you have them on.
However:
The real magic happens when you start playing music through these headphones or listening to a movie or such. With the active noise cancellation diminishing the outside sound pretty well all on its own, the sonic enjoyment of what is playing through the headphones is not restricted at all... you get full volume, clarity and bass and that simply causes the outside world to melt away, leaving you with a little comfort-cocoon that really does impress.
I have had very good success with these headphones canceling out unwanted noises and / or being able to enjoy what I want to listen to across a range of scenarios: Noisy Neighbors next door doing noisy things, kids pounding around upstairs in the house, traveling in the car (as a passenger of course - not driving!), a couple bus commutes, and so forth.
As for the sound quality, I will say that they are very good. These are not high-end audiophile reference headphones costing thousands of dollars, but there is definitely high-quality audio out of these with a nice sound stage and separation with additional tweeking you can do through Sony's Headphone Connect application to adjust equalization and bass.
These are not the loudest headphones I've ever used... I've had models that are almost obnoxious in their power delivery, to the point of being painful to listen to with the volume all the way up. I am the type of listener who likes a bit of punchiness in their music, but also appreciates nuances over ham-fisted bass slamming into my ear canals at the expense of everything else...and I will say that with the noise cancellation feature turned on, I'm actually enjoying music at a lower volume level than I'd need with other headphones. The WH-1000XM3's ability to effectively mute the outside distractions allows me to concentrate on what I'm listening to, and I don't need the volume cranked up to enjoy a range of music.
I did have to tweek a few things with the app to suit my preferences, but I am left very happy with what these can deliver. Of note, you can set two "Custom" EQ settings in the app, so one you might use for punchier bass and the other for higher treble or vocal listening.
The weight of these is impressively light. I might have been initially expecting them to have a weightier feel... maybe because I was thinking that with the added components necessary for noise cancellation, those would increase the headphone weight by several ounces. I'm happy to report that these headphones are able to be worn comfortably for extended duration with no feeling of pinched ears or sore spots. The ear cups on the WH-1000XM3's are of a more oval design than circular as found on my older Sony MDR-XB950BT headphones, and this makes them very comfortable to wear even laying back on a pillow or car seat. The thick padded circular ear cups on other headphones tends to press up against the back of a pillow or seat, and causes some pressure and discomfort against the back of my ears if worn too long when reclined.
No such issues with these.
I have seen a few complaints online about people reporting that their ears get warm after wearing these for a while. Having spent some time with these, I personally think it's the effect of just wearing a pair of closed-back headphones with snug-fitting padded ear cups causing this. Every pair of closed-back headphones I've worn with padding that encapsulate your ears will get to feeling a little warm after extended sessions with them on. For me personally, I have not had discomfort with these on even after a few hours of listening to music and watching a movie with the noise cancellation activated.
The Phone Call microphone is something that many people seem to have initially hated on these headphones - many comments about how "it's garbage" and so on, reside on the internet.
I am not sure where the hate is coming from, as I've had no issues making or taking phone calls with these, and nobody has complained about the call / microphone quality. Maybe Sony updated something in later production runs, but for whatever reason, the microphone seems fine on my pair. Certainly no worse than other headphones I've used. I will note that I did update the firmware to version 4.2.2 when I first fired-up the Sony App and when I used the headphones for the first time, so possibly that update may have corrected previous microphone problems.
I have tested charging the WH-1000XM3's using an Anker PowerCore II 20000 battery bank and with a longer Anker USB-C to USB-A type cable than what Sony provides (see quibbles below), and they work together fine. The Anker battery bank will certainly output a 1.5 A current or more easily, which is what these headphones require for standard charging times.
In conclusion, I am very happy with the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones.
Some people may consider these to be really expensive at $350 dollars US, but I don't think thats necessarily true. They're about $100 dollars more than other good quality headphones with similar performance sans active noise cancellation.
Is the extra $100 bucks for having ANC worth it? To me, Yes. Definitely.
The noise cancellation ability of these has allowed me to enjoy quiet time and listening pleasure that otherwise I wouldn't be able to have with regular headphones.
You'll have to decide for yourself, but in a world with an ever increasingly loud and invasive noises you have to contend with daily, I've really really gotten to love using these, despite a few issues I don't really like.
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Some minor quibbles:
A literally 6-inch long USB-C to USB-A power cable, Sony?
I just shelled out $350 bucks for a set of your headphones and you stuck me with a barely-useable power cable, never mind no included USB power adapter?
You couldn't get the bean counters to authorize even a foot of cable? Jeeze.
If you buy these headphones you are going to for sure want a longer USB-C to USB-A cable to charge these with. Anker has some nice ones you can get right here on Amazon.
The right-hand ear cup touch-pad is novel, and it has worked for me fine.
My only little grumble about it, is the function to pause the music or accept a phone call requires you to do a quick double-tap with your finger on the center of the ear cup touch-pad. Problem is, my ear is in there and the sound of my finger quickly tapping it makes a loud "Thump-Thump!" sound I find annoying. I would have MUCH preferred a physical button instead.
I picked the "silver / grey" model color of these headphones, simply because they looked a bit different than the boring ol' black every other headphone comes in. I have noticed that depending on the color temperature of the surrounding light, they can appear to look anywhere from a silver / grey coloration to more of a champagne / very light tan in color. It's not off-putting, and I do like the color of the headphones... but some of you may not appreciate the reactive effect these have in either cool or warm colored light. Figured I'd mention it.
My big gripe: You cannot CHARGE these headphones and at the same time, listen with them using Bluetooth or with the ANC on. That seems backwards as Hell to me, considering I probably own at least 10 other electronic devices that CAN be used WHILE they are charging. My Smart Phone, yup. DSLR camera, sure. Voice Recorder, indeed. Graphing Calculator, Uh-huh. Sony MiniDisc Player from literally 15 YEARS ago? YES.
So why is it that with these modern $350 headphones, you can't plug them into a usb wall adapter, laptop, or battery bank with a USB-C cable and keep enjoying ANC and Bluetooth connection and listening enjoyment while charging? The moment you plug the USB-C charging cable into these, you lose all Bluetooth and ANC, and the sound shuts off until you stick the physical corded 3.5mm cable into the audio source…which at this point means you're now using a pair of regular headphones because again: No Bluetooth, no Active Noise Cancellation going on.
Very very strange, and although with 20+ hours of listening on tap with a full charge, I still question if this isn't something that really should be improved upon with version Mark IV.
Wishes for FUTURE: Improved ANC with better elimination of higher pitched / sharp noises, maybe an available headphone stand that can provide the headphones with some type of inductive charging might be nice. Oh, and let us be able to charge AND listen to these with Bluetooth / ANC active at the same time please, Sony.
After charging for a couple of hours I paired them to my phone and went to my headphone test playlist on Spotify. My main complaint with the previous Sony model's sound was that they had very little soundstage (defined as perceived distance between your ears and the music) and little definition (defined as the clarity and separation of the various instruments in a piece of music). The M3 sounded better than the previous Sony’s and better than the Bose, but the highs appeared to be quite subdued and overwhelmed by the bass. This was disappointing.
But, Sony has a phone app that allows for EQ so I go download the app. Frustration. The app did not recognize the MK3. Patience. I figure that Sony has not updated the app yet. So I wait a day and see that the Sony app has automatically updated on my phone. I open and hurray! It is recognizing the MK3 now. Now I can play with EQ: -1 on 400 Hz. +1 on 1K. +2 on 2.5K. +3 on 6K. +4 on 16K and “Clear Bass” remains at 0. Play music and now were talking! I’m not going to say that these sound nearly as good as most of my wired headphones, but for everyday-on-the-go-beat-them-up-with-ANC these are exciting. They blow the Bose away. The Bowers and Wilkins PX which weigh about three times more than the Sony’s have decent BT sound when the ANC is off but the sound changes considerably and not for the better when you apply one of three ANC modes. They PX is OK for about an hour of no ANC listening while sitting at home, but after that my ears and the top of my head hurt.
The noise cancellation of the Sony is a generation ahead of Bose. There, I said it. Most reviewers crown the Bose as the best ANC you can get. Well, Sony has just showed Bose that they are the new big boy on the block. I did some A/B comparisons with both headphones and realized that the Sony not only cancels steady noise like jet engines or the sound of the air conditioning intake in my condo, but it does a great job of virtually eliminating all other sounds, including television voices and even other people, as my wife can attest to when she had to stand in front of me and wave her hands to get my attention because I could not hear her talking (so, if you want to block out your wife’s talking… LOL!). And this is without even messing with the settings in the app. Others reviewer here have not had the same experience, stating that it does not cancel voices. I frankly did not expect it to cancel voices, but I must say that the Sony comes as close as anything I have ever not heard.
So, if you want very comfortable headphones with the best sound and Active Noise Cancelling that you can expect with wireless Bluetooth in 2018 get these. They will not sound as good as wired closed back or open back headphones, but “you can’t always get what you want”, “nothing is perfect”, and “everybody is different”.
In addition to the Sony WH-1000XM3 during this review period I used:
Bose QC 35 II
Bowers & Wilkins PX
Bang and Olufsen H6 (wired)
Sennheiser HD650 (wired)
AKG 7KXX (wired)
Spotify
Flac files on phone and desktop computer
UPDATE 2018-09-21: I did experience an issue with phone calls where people at the other end were hearing an echo of their voice. I tested the headphones with three different phones and the problem occurred with all three. So I replaced them through Amazon. I am glad to say that the new pair does not have the issue. After some tests with phone calls I will say that Sony still needs to do some work on the call quality at the other end of the call (the call sounds fine in the Sony itself). In this regard, the Bose QC 35 is better. I think the call quality is really with the sound processing that Sony has implemented and not the hardware. Hopefully this will be improved in future firmware upgrades. Another minor con that the Bose handles better is the support for multiple BT sources. But this is a minor annoyance and I only use the Sony's for my phone anyway, so I am not constantly switching sources. Small price to pay for better ANC and musical sound.
Top reviews from other countries
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 13, 2022
La estructura esta bien hecha con materiales plásticos de alta calidad que le permiten un peso menor contra la competencia. Los grados de ajuste de la diadema son estupendos y lo mas importante con referencia a este rubro es que las almohadillas son más que cómodas; puedes usar estos audífonos por horas.
En cuanto a los componentes, la función de reducción de Ruido es sobresaliente, existe una calibración en los audífonos que puedes poner diferentes opciones y en la aplicación puedes añadir el grado según tus actividades. Además hay un optimizador que te regula la reducción de Ruido de acuerdo a la altura atmosférica por ejemplo en un avión.
En cuanto al sonido, este es excelente. El Grave es potente sin generar un sobresaturación y los medios y agudos están bien balanceados. En conjunto el sonido es excepcional para todo tipo de música.
Lo mas impresionante es la aplicación donde puedes regular diferentes ecualizaciones de acuerdo a tu gusto. Es muy fácil de instalar sin menospreciar que la conectividad inalámbrica es sobresaliente.
En cuanto a las llamadas, es donde queda a deber un poco. Las llamadas se oyen con eco y no permite una reducción de Ruido. Por lo tanto no aísla el exterior y se escucha desde el viento, hasta voces y trafico. Sin embargo si se logra una comunicación adecuada, no tan bien lograda cono en los audífonos Bose.
En conclusion puedo decir que estos audífonos son ideales para todo tipo de música, logrando un sonido excepcional digo de audiófilos exigentes. Tienen excelente conectividad, sobresaliendo la Reducción de Ruido, son muy cómodos, no cansan y con una aplicación más que excelente.
Si piensas gastar más en cualquier otra marca y buscas unos audífonos cómodos, con alta fidelidad y reducción de Ruidos y cuentas con el presupuesto, esta es la mejor opción.
O único ponto negativo que detectei não está diretamente relacionado ao fone e sim a case que o acompanha. O posicionamento do fone dentro da case é completamente sem sentido.
No mais, é um fone completo, realmente topo de linha na categoria, vale muito à pena. Estou redigindo esta avaliação enquanto uso-o para ouvir um Podcast.
These are so comfortable and light that I often forget I'm wearing them (like I will look for them and then realize I'm wearing them). With other headsets, I've had weird pressure points on or behind my ears, so wearing them for extended periods wasn't possible. I can literally wear these from morning to night without issue.
The battery lasts a looong time. If I have a full charge in the morning, I can get a full day with them, plus the next day until the end of my work day. So almost 2 fulls days with heavy use. And they don't take long to charge, either. Like an hour or two, max? I like that they will tell you how much batter is left.
The case is well made and easy to use. I take them to work every day, so that's important to me. I wish the included usb-c cable was a few cms longer, but it's not a deal-breaker.
The only thing that I would really wish for would be the ability to mute the microphone during calls. Seems like a weird oversight on Sony's part.
I've had them for about 8 months now. Recently I've noticed that about a minute after turning them on, they turn themselves off. Once I've turned them back on, they stay on for good. This doesn't happen every time (maybe one in 3 or 4 times?), but it's worrying. I hope this isn't indicating a problem that's going to get worse.