Sony WH-1000XM3
Given the Sony WH-1000XM3 over-ears are among the best wireless headphones we've ever heard, it’s hard to imagine that presummer 2016 Sony didn’t have a premium pair of wireless, noisecancelling headphones in its arsenal. Then, out of nowhere, the WH-1000X pair appeared, challenged noisecancelling supremo Bose, and ran off with one of our coveted Awards. Even when the second-gen WH1000XM2S were released, their successor was already in development. We had to wait a while for that pair, but when the XM3S finally arrived, Sony made bold claims for their sonic ability.
Make yourself comfortable
The headband's thick, soft cushion makes it feel as though there’s almost no weight resting on the top of your head. Combine that with the soft, wide pads that surround your ears and you have one of the most comfortable pairs of on-ears we’ve tested.
Two finishes are available: black with copper highlights or Platinum Silver with brass highlights.
The right earcup features a touchsensitive panel rather than physical buttons. Double-tap the cup for play/ pause or to answer a call, swipe up or down to change volume, and forward or back to skip tracks. Hold your hand over the cup to activate the ‘Quick Attention’ mode, which reduces your music to a whisper and lets in outside noise. It’s useful if someone is talking to you, but we’re not sure that holding your hand to your ear and leaving your headphones on is the universal sign for ‘you have my full attention’.
This gesture also allows you to communicate with your chosen voice assistant: Siri (for an iphone) and Google Assistant are both available, while Amazon Alexa support is to be confirmed.
The general touch controls are pretty accurate, but they do take some getting used to. That first day or two of listening you’ll likely change volume a few times when you’re attempting to skip tracks.
Oh so quiet
You can now set the noise-cancelling function to be permanently on, even when not playing anything, meaning you can use these ’phones to quieten everything down for a peaceful nap.
Frequent flyers may also want to take advantage of the returning Atmospheric Pressure Optimiser, which tweaks the frequency response and microphone sensitivity of the headphones for improved performance at high altitude.
Further controls and customisation options are available via the Headphones Connect app, but far more useful is the quick-charging battery. The XM3S go from empty to full in three hours, while a 10-minute charge gives you five hours of use. Overall battery life is 30 hours.
But the really big deal for these Sony headphones is the move to analogue amplification. Sony worked tirelessly to produce a chip that combines noisecancelling, a DAC and an analogue amplifier in a form small and light enough for a pair of headphones. With the QN1 chip in the WH-1000XM3S, it has managed the feat.
All that effort has paid off, because this is an open, spacious sound that gives every instrument, effect and vocal room to breathe. There has been no loss in terms of directness, either – vocals are still focused and direct, but the instruments around them are delivered in a way that makes it feel as if you’re in the room with the band.
Combine that spaciousness with fine detail and enhanced dynamic subtlety and raw, analogue recordings such as The Road by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis are fabulously emotive and engaging.
Tonally, there’s a generous helping of lovely, deep bass, which helps the WH-1000XM3S produce a satisfying rendition of SBTRKT’S throbbing Trials Of The Past. But this extra bass never threatens to unbalance the presentation – instead it simply reinforces the overall delivery, which also benefits from crisp, sparkly treble.
Leave the world behind
Sony's noise-cancelling tech was already superior to most rivals when the M2s launched, but the latest improvements are clearly noticeable. These headphones are terrific at blocking out the general hubbub of a busy office – one of the trickiest feats to pull off. Constant, consistent sounds, such as a plane’s engine, are the bread and butter of a pair of noise-cancellers, and the M3s are an improvement here, too. In short, these Sony’s block out more of the outside world than any rival, and replace that noise with some of the best audio quality available at this price.
Add all the ingredients together – great comfort, improved noise-cancelling and serious audio ability – and you have as close to the perfect pair of noisecancelling headphones as it’s currently possible to find. There are rivals out there that can beat the Sonys in specific areas, but none offers such exceptional all-roundedness at such a tempting price. These headphones are simply sensational.