- 6 VIDEOS
Image Unavailable
Color:
-
-
-
- To view this video download Flash Player
Sony WH1000XM3 Noise Cancelling Headphones, Wireless Bluetooth Over the Ear Headset – Black (2018 Version)
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.
Brand | Sony |
Model Name | WH-1000XM3/B |
Color | Black |
Form Factor | Over Ear |
Connectivity Technology | Bluetooth |
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.
There is a newer model of this item:
Save on Quality Tripod by AmazonBasics |
AmazonBasics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod with Bag, 2-Pack | AmazonBasics Lightweight Mini Tripod, 4-Pack | AmazonBasics 50-Inch Lightweight Tripod with Bag, 4-Pack |
Consider a similar item
Similar items that may ship from close to you
- Climate Pledge FriendlyProducts with trusted sustainability certification(s). Learn more
PRODUCT CERTIFICATION (1)
TCO Certified identifies IT products that are independently assessed for lower environmental and social impact, safer chemicals, and circular design.
- Sony ULT WEAR Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones with Alexa Built-in, Massive Bass and Comfortable Design, BlackAmazon's Choicein Headphones & Earbuds
Important information
Visible screen diagonal
0" / 0 cm
Compare with similar items
This Item Sony WH1000XM3 Noise Cancelling Headphones, Wireless Bluetooth Over the Ear Headset – Black (2018 Version) | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | $240.00$240.00 | -14% $239.55$239.55 New Price: $278.00 | $349.95$349.95 | -28% $249.99$249.99 New Price: $348.00 | -20% $278.00$278.00 List: $348.00 | $278.00$278.00 |
Delivery | Get it May 16 - 20 | Get it May 21 - 29 | Get it May 16 - 20 | Get it May 17 - 23 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 17 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 17 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Sound quality | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | — |
Noise cancellation | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.5 | — |
Battery life | 4.8 | 4.5 | — | 4.5 | 4.6 | — |
Bass quality | 4.5 | 4.4 | — | 4.9 | 4.4 | — |
Volume control | 4.4 | — | — | 5.0 | 4.3 | — |
Sold By | CellularStream | WirelessWorld18 | GYTE ENTERPRISE | Sole Providers | Amazon.com | Digital Village |
connectivity tech | Bluetooth | Wireless | Wireless | Wireless | Bluetooth, Bluetooth 5.0 | Wireless |
headphones form factor | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear |
connector type | wireless | wireless | usb,wireless | Stereo Mini Jack | USB Type C | — |
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 | — | usb | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | — |
cable feature | Wireless | Without Cable | Headphone cable (approx. 3.94 ft, OFC strands, gold-plated stereo mini plug) | Without Cable | Without Cable | Without Cable |
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
21,707
|
4.6 out of 5 stars
55,790
|
4.5 out of 5 stars
10,089
|
4.4 out of 5 stars
23,747
|
Price
| $240.00$240.00 | $278.00$278.00 | $115.66$115.66 | $75.99$75.99 |
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
Videos
Videos for this product
1:15
Click to play video
Sony WH-1000XM3 Noise-Cancelling Headphones Review
Andrew Frech
Videos for this product
1:28
Click to play video
#thisorthat Sony vs Bose. Thoughts after years of use.
Heidi Leatherby
Videos for this product
2:07
Click to play video
Which Sony Bluetooth Headphones Should You Get? #thisorthat
Jacob A
Videos for this product
1:11
Click to play video
Honest opinion after 3 years of use
Reviews by Hayden
Looking for specific info?
Product information
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 |
Headphones Jack | 3.5 mm Jack |
Noise Control | Active Noise Cancellation |
Charging Time | 30 Hours |
Ear Placement | Over Ear |
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 |
Frequency Response | 40000 Hz |
Frequency Range | 4 - 40,000 Hz |
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 |
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 | #32,209 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #1,118 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. For example, they mention that it does a great job of virtually eliminating all other sounds, the switchable noise cancellation is a fantastic feature, and that they are the best in class. 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 provides pure sound, does a great job of virtually eliminating all other sounds, and has solid noise cancelling. The headphones are flexible and diverse, and can adjust to less noisy environments. They appreciate the switchable noise cancellation feature and the bass will please bassheads.
"...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
"...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
"...The noise cancellation is top notch, sound quality for a music enthusiast (read: NOT an audiophile) is excellent, the Sony Connect app is feature..." Read more
"...For someone looking for a pair of headphones with solid noise cancelling, flexible and diverse performance across genres and premium features, you wo..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the quality of the headphones. They mention that it is a fantastic headset, the build quality is identical, and it is better than most ear buds. They also appreciate the high quality codecs and the fact that they do not feel cheap.
"...As for the sound quality, I will say that they are very good...." Read more
"...(the ANC was always 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
"...These do not feel cheap to me whatsoever. The detents on the headband are well defined and feel like they'll hold up to daily adjustment...." Read more
Customers like the comfort of the headphones. They mention that they can be worn comfortably for extended duration with no feeling of pinched ears. They also appreciate the reasonable softness of the pads and the luxurious hard case. They like that the headphones hug their head in a more streamlined fashion, eliminating the Micky mouse effect. They are impressed by the comfort and noise isolation. 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
"...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..." 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
"...My initial conclusion was that the Bose cans are more comfortable (lighter, deeper ear cups), but with weaker NC and a more neutral sound signature...." Read more
Customers like the battery life of the headphones. They say it has outstanding battery life, has never died, and holds up for close to 30 hours. Some say the battery is the best in the segment and that the 2+ hour recharge is fantastic.
"...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
"...USB type C, which some care about, I do. Best battery in the segment, and I really have no complaints...." Read more
"...'s claims on battery life, but these really did hold up for close to 30 hours, I have to qualify this by saying that I mostly listen to low-volume..." 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 well for phone calls in the office environment. However, others say that the sound balance is not ideal, the Bose QC's were extremely disappointing right out of the box, and that 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
"...Sony, to my surprise, works very well for phone calls in the office environment...." Read more
"...The sound on the Bose can best be described as adequate but generally lifeless...." Read more
"...This is fairly slick and works better than I expected. It only took a couple attempts to get the hang of it and it is responsive...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the value of the headphones. Some find them convincing enough, well worth the price, and premium. They also say they're not cheap for good reason, and worth the hype. However, others say they are a tad pricey and not worth the money.
"...But the design is also more appealing and fluid and frankly more premium...." Read more
"...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
"...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 the touch controls for media controls are really great, and the touch functionality on the ear cups for changing volume or playback. They love using gestures for volume, play, pause, skip, and activating. However, some say the touch control is wonky and iffy. They also mention the controls malfunction in cold weather and may start creaking.
"...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
"...is excellent, the Sony Connect app is feature rich and gives the user full control, the carrying case is sufficient/in line with other headphones..." 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 they can only be paired with one device at a time. They also say that the single pairing option is simply not workable and that the bluetooth disconnected once when they lay on their phone in their pocket.
"...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
"...headset with a massive wire and console, and connectors are not compatible with consumer electronics...." Read more
"...Lastly, single device connectivity - I only ever listen to music from my phone so this is another non issue for me...." Read more
"...of the sound, noise cancellation ability, and the ability to connect to two devices at once and seamlessly hand off between them which is extremely..." Read more
Reviews with images
-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
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.
****************************************************
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.
To begin with, Bose used to be "the king of noise cancellation" for many years. This reign is coming to an end: the competition is fierce. In pro aviation world, Lightspeed created a strong competition to Bose, while in the consumer world, Sony came up with a product widely superior in noise cancellation. Bose tried to answer Sony with Bose 700, but it is still inferior in noise cancellation and usability and features of the phone app.
According to independent testing data available on the internet, Sony's noise cancellation is up to 6 dB better than Bose. If you are not familiar with dB scale, it is a log scale, and 6 dB is a little more than a factor of 2. Noise cancellation efficiency is frequency dependent, so it is hard to compare apples to apples. Power spectrum across all frequency gives an about 2 dB advantage to Sony (29 dB compared to 27 dB of Bose 700), in low frequency range Sony beats Bose with a high margin (about 6 dB), in high frequency range Bose appears to be better. Yet, when you put Sony on your head, followed by Bose, and switch back and forth, Sony is impressively better. Like, way better. Tons better. So much better that you sometimes wonder if Bose is turned on at all.
Comparing Sony XM3 with Bose QC20, Sony is better in all respects other than small size and weight of QC20. Noise cancellation is better, and sound quality is better. Comparison with aviation headset A20 shows that A20 is slightly superior in terms of noise cancellation (and, surprisingly, even in sound quality), probably due to a passive noise cancellation component - but A20 is a $1100 headset with a massive wire and console, and connectors are not compatible with consumer electronics. You would never consider it unless you fly an airplane as a pilot. High frequency hissing, which existed up to QC15 and still present in A20 (introduced in 2015) is almost gone in both newer Bose and in Sony. Difference in noise cancellation quality between Bose A20 and Sony XM3 is worth maybe $50, but not $800. I think we are talking about several dB, nothing major.
Sound quality is subjective. Neither Sony nor Bose 700 are audiophile grade. One cannot tell the difference while playing music via Bluetooth from a phone, but plug them with a cable into a headphone amplifier and play 24/96 music, compare with Hi-Fi headphones (I have good old Sennheiser HD-620 which used to be in the top 10 best some 20 years ago; not anymore, but they are still great sounding high end headphones) - and you can tell immediately that these are not Hi-Fi headphones. Not even close. With a good sound source, they sound dull and sound stage is not there. But they sound well enough for daily use, for playing music from the phone, certainly better than most earbuds. Sony sounds a little better than Bose 700 to my taste, but it is close, very close, there are small difference in color of the sound which are very subjective. I rated the sound five stars because this is not a Hi-Fi headset, it is a noise cancelling headset, and the price is determined primarily by its noise cancellation abilities. As long as you can listen to music and enjoy it, as long as it does not sound like cheap earbuds, it is OK. For really high quality of sound without noise cancellation, there are much better options in the same price range.
App is not required with Sony and Bose (despite misleading information on the web, either headset can be used without the app), but Sony app is much better. It does not require registration and has many more features, including adjustment of noise cancellation to ambient pressure.
Sony, to my surprise, works very well for phone calls in the office environment. There were many reports that Bose was vastly superior, perhaps this is the case when one needs aggressive noise cancellation, like on the street among cars and people. Or maybe Sony made updates to firmware which fixed the issues which they had. When answering calls at home, the sound quality on the other end of the line is excellent. People cannot tell I am wearing a headset.
Comfort is purely subjective and depends on one's head size and shape. I have a big head, so most headphones exert some pressure. 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 followed by Bose 700. Bose 700 feels a tad cooler on the ears. A20 creates too much pressure on my ears.
For travel (e.g., vacation) QC20 is hard to beat, due to their very small size. They are inferior to XM3 or latest Bose, but do their job well enough. For use at home or in the office, bluetooth headsets with better noise cancellation and better sound and with the ability to make calls are the way to go.
Finally, cancellation of piano sounds. My wife teaches piano full time from home. Sound is a problem in our home. When I am in the same room as our grand piano, I can hear it loud and clear, although much less loud than without the headset. However, when I go to my office and close the door (which is a glass door which only partially blocks the sounds), I can barely hear it and can focus on whatever I am doing without distraction from the sounds. I tried QC20 for this purpose, and they were not quite up to the task. I got the 33 NRR rated 3M earplugs, and they also were not perfect either. I can tell that Sony XM3 works better. 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 enough to warrant the difference in price.
Build quality of Sony seems to be better than Bose (and less expensive, too). 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 consumer grade headsets always had an almost marginal quality. Bose, by the way, does not repair them once they are out of warranty. They make you buy new ones with a discount. Two of my old Bose headphones broke and I had to replace them because repair option was not offered, and lifetime of synthetic leather ear pads was too short for a quality product. It is too early to say how well Sony would last - we will see.
After buying the first headset on Amazon, I got another one for my son. My son absolutely wanted Bose, but after comparing them side by side in a store, and listening to mine, he said, I still like Bose, but I recognize that Sony is better in all respects... So we got him Sony from a local store.
The only frustrating part is that Amazon has dropped the price by $50 after I bought both pairs! What a bummer - but now, Bose is completely not competitive.
The only downside which I found so far... Sony can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, but it is confusing how the preference works (the one connected last has the higher preference for audio), and there is no easy way to change the preference or even disconnect a specific sound source. You cannot do it in the app. I think Bose is the same way. I also struggled with connecting to my desktop PC for audio and gave up attempts to set up the audio preference correctly. Either I did not figure out how to do it correctly, or something can be improved in the next releases of the App and firmware. I am sure it will be done, eventually.
For what it is worth, competition between suppliers is good - it drives features and quality up and prices down. I hope, Bose will catch up eventually - they missed the opportunity to do it with the 700. Sony 1000XM3 remains the best product in this class for second year in a row.
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.