Sony WH-1000XM3

Now that the excitement is over, it’s time to compose ourselves and put these four pairs of headphones into some kind of order. The AKG N700NCS put up a brave fight, but never really threatened the others in this test. In isolation, they’re a perfectly decent pair of headphones, but the competition is fierce and they are bettered by the class-leaders in both noise-cancelling and audio quality.

They don’t isolate the listener from the rumbles of everyday life as obviously as the other models and, for all the AKGS' solidity and sonic confidence, we’d prefer greater subtlety and musicality. They don’t communicate with the listener as well as the B&W and Sonys.

It’s credit to the Bose Quietcomfort 35 IIS that they’ve held on to their five-star rating for so long. Bose’s noise-cancelling tech once set the standard in this category and it’s still hugely competitive.

The main issue is that the QCS struggle to match the top performers when it comes to judging sound quality. Other brands now set the benchmark for detail, refinement and dynamics, and there’s a clear one-star difference between the Bose and the best this test has to offer.

By ‘other brands’, we mean Sony and B&W. The PXS are an instant hit, going toe to toe with the Sonys on a number of fronts. They look and feel like the more premium pair of headphones and they boast wonderful levels of detail.

And they’d be walking away with a test win if it wasn’t for those pesky Sonys. The WH-1000XM3S have it all: excellent noise-cancelling, impressive features and exceptional sound quality, while their sense of musicality, dynamic dexterity and ability to draw the listener in is second to none. Given the choice, the Sonys are the pair we keep coming back to time and time again.