Sony WH-1000XM2
Editor Rating: Excellent (4.0)
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- Pairing and connecting with a computer (Mac) Connecting to a paired computer (Windows 10) Connecting to a paired computer (Windows 8/Windows 8.1) Connecting to a paired computer (Windows 7) Connecting to a paired computer (Mac) Other Bluetooth devices. Pairing and connecting with other Bluetooth devices; Connecting to a paired Bluetooth device.
- Sony Headphones Connect app lets you adjust your bass levels and gives you presets for outdoor stage, club, hall, or arena-style sound. Help guide Check if your headphone is compatible.
- I just bought a set of the new WH-1000XM3 headphones, and I've successfully paired them with my phone (Google Pixel 3 XL running Android 8.1), but the Headphone Connect app keeps telling me I need the latest version, but as far as the Google Play Store is concerned, I already have the most up to date version installed.
Buy It Now
View and Download Sony WH-1000XM2 reference manual online. Wireless Noise Cancelling Stereo Headset. WH-1000XM2 Headsets pdf manual download.
Amazon UK | £249.99 |
Pros
- Powerful audio performance with fine-tunable EQ (in app).
- Solid noise cancellation with adjustable parameters (in app).
- Comfortable.
Cons
- Expensive.
- Noise cancellation has subtle effect on audio.
Bottom Line
The wireless, noise cancelling Sony WH-1000XM2 delivers strong audio performance that can be sculpted to taste using the free app.
Suddenly, there's no shortage of noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones on the market. The latest entry to the category has one of the best accompanying apps we've seen, and is exceptionally comfortable, but is the Sony WH-1000XM2 a legitimate competitor to the nearly identically priced Bose QuietComfort 35 II? In terms of noise cancellation alone, no. But in terms of noise cancellation control (via an app), audio performance, and user adjustable EQ (also in the app), Sony has put together a winner that is very much worth comparing to the industry-king Bose QC35 II. If audio performance—and the ability to adjust it and noise cancellation parameters—is a top priority, you'll appreciate the Sony WH-1000XM2. Its Sony Headphones Connect app is as well design as the app for Bose headphones, but offers more user-adjustable controls.
Design
Available in gold or black models, the WH-1000XM2's circumaural (over the ear) design features memory foam earpads that block out plenty of ambient noise before the noise cancellation circuitry is even engaged. Sony made sure the headphones are comfortable over long listening periods, and the audio performance is also impressive—delivered by a 1.6-inch driver in each earcup.
The unmakred outer panels of each earcup have a leather patina and offer more than meets the eye. The left earcups's outer panel acts as an NFC pairing zone, while its outer rim houses the Power button, as well as the Noise Cancellation button. There's also a 3.5mm connection for the included audio cable. The right earcup's outer panel houses capacitive touch controls that have no markings at all. Tapping in the center of the panel controls playback, call management, and accesses Siri or voice controls. Swiping to the front or back of the panel controls skipping forward or backward a track, and swipping the top or bottom of the panel adjusts volume up or down.
SEE ALSO: Cheap AirPod Alternatives: The Best True Wireless Earbuds Under $100
The headphones can also be used passively, or with a cable and the noise cancellation circuitry engaged—the included audio cable lacks a remote or mic, however, so it can't be used to field calls or control audio levels. Audio is a little bit less loud through the cable than the Bluetooth connection, in both passive or active modes. Other than the audio cable and charging cable, the WH-1000XM2 ships with an airplane jack adapter and a hard shell zip-up case that the headphones fold down flat into.
Mac downloads code file share software. The WH-1000XM2's built-in mic offers average intelligibility—using the Voice Memos app on an iPhone 6s, we could understand every word we recorded, but there was a sense of distance from the mic, and thus a decent amount of room noise and some artifacts that are typical of built-in mics on Bluetooth headphones.
A word about the free Sony Headphones Connect app: We've been a little critical of Sony apps that are supposedly there to help you enjoy your wireless audio device in the past because, too often, their designs were confusing or glitchy. But this app keeps getting more interesting each time I use it—if it's guilty of anything, it's certainly not a poor design, as it looks clean and navigates easily. True, it's loaded with features that are only mildly helpful (sound position control, which convincingly shifts audio to the front left, front right, rear left or rear right depending on what part of the graph you select) and some pitiful sounding effects (almost none of the Surround VPT effects like Concert Hall or Club sound like anything other than a thick coat of awful on whatever track you're playing). But the user adjustable EQ is easy to customize and save presets for, and trying out the noise cancelling optimizer certainly can't hurt. We'll disucss how it can be used to adjust the noise cancellation performance in the next section. In other words, there are plenty of extra features, you'll probably only ever use a few of them, but the app is now a well-oiled machine with uncluttered menus and straightforward graphics that give the user more control of the listening experience.![Wh-1000xm2 App For Mac Wh-1000xm2 App For Mac](/uploads/1/2/6/2/126245281/793321004.png)
![Wh-1000xm2 App For Mac Wh-1000xm2 App For Mac](/uploads/1/2/6/2/126245281/793321004.png)
The app also features an upgrade for the Sony WH-1000XM2 that allows it to adapt to atmospheric pressure when you're flying. Regretfully, our tests didn't involve any flights this time around, but it's an interesting feature we haven't heard any other companies include—whether it works or not is not something we can't vouch for in this review.
Sony estimates the WH-1000XM2's battery life to be between 30-40 hours, but your results will vary greatly (and veer far closer to the 30 hours end of that estimate) with your volume levels and your mix of noise cancellation, wireless, and wired usage.
Noise Cancelling Performance
The app offers a variety of noise cancellation modes for when you're lounging around, running, walking, or on a bus or train, and for each, you can control how much noise cancellation is applied—all within the app. You can also choose in each mode to activate the 'focus on voice' feature. Like most active noise cancellation circuitry not made by the industry-leading Bose, the WH-1000XM2's noise cancellation tends to emit a faint high frequency hiss—it's not unpleasant, more like tape hiss, and you'll never hear it when you have audio playing at a moderate volume. It's there nonetheless, but we'll give a huge thumbs up to the 'focus on voice' feature. Depending on how you use the fader, it's a very effective way to bring nearby voices (or your own) in and out of the noise cancellation/ambient sound mix. All in all, this is some of the better noise cancellation currently on the market. If what you're after is the best, the Bose QuietComfort series still owns that title, but if you're more interested in very good noise cancellation on a wireless headphone pair with great audio performance that can be customized and adjusted in detail, the app's EQ and noise cancellation sections will not disappoint.
You can also simply turn the noise cancellation on or off manually by pressing the button on the left earcup, and pressing it again will put the headphones in ambient sound mode, during which you can use a fader tool in the app to determine just how much you hear of your surroundings.
Audio Performance
The noise cancellation can have a minor effect at times on the audio performance. However, it's worth noting that this is now a common side effect of many wireless noise cancelling headphone pairs, and that the difference in audio performance when noise cancellation is on or off here is quite subtle. Consider it us splitting hairs—we've heard far worse, and really we're talking about a minor difference in bass response between the two modes—nothing that couldn't be adjusted in the app and fixed. So no, it's not a big deal like it is on some competing models.
See How We Test Headphones
On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like the Knife's 'Silent Shout,' and with all EQ/effects disabled, the WH-1000XM2 delivers exceptionally powerful bass that won't disappoint those looking for some extra depth. At top, quite loud volumes, the drivers don't distort, and at moderate volumes, the bass response is still notably strong. And of course, you can dial it back or really pour it on in the app.
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Bill Callahan's 'Drover,' a track that lacks much in the way of deep bass, gives us a better sense of the WH-1000XM2's overall sound signature. The drums on this track sound full and round through the WH-1000XM2. Things aren't exactly thunderous (which is good, considering the drums shouldn't really sound that powerful), but you can certainly push them to that point with the app. Callahan's baritone vocals get a rich low-mid presence that's nicely complimented by crisp high-mids that also bring out the strumming of the guitar and the higher register percussive hits. We've heard brighter, crisper deliveries of this track that still packed solid bass response—the WH-1000XM2 can sometimes sound a little dulled in the high-mids. This is a sculpted sound with a bass-forward lean, but again, it can be tweaked to extreme brightness, so this is really only a critique of the starting point.
On Jay-Z and Kanye West's 'No Church in the Wild,' the kick drum loop gets enough high-mid presence to keep its attack sharp and slicing through layers of the beat, though we wouldn't mind a little more high-mid presence both here and on the previous track. Instead, there's a strong bass response that beefs up the drum loop and pushes the sub-bass synth hits forward, and the highs are also sculpted a bit—while the vocals could use just a smidge more high-mid edge, we hear plenty of the vinyl crackle typically relegated to the background. Generally speaking, there's a solid balance here, and once again, it can be adjusted easily to taste.
Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene in John Adams' The Gospel According to the Other Mary, sound phenomenal through the WH-1000XM2. The lower register instrumentation gets just enough push forward in the mix to add some depth and vibrancy, but the stage still belongs to the bright presence of the higher register brass, strings, and vocals. It's perhaps not a sound signature that will appeal directly to audiophiles seeking flat response, but it can be adjusted to something more flat, and as is, it delivers a full, rich, crisp orchestral presence.
Conclusion
The WH-1000XM2 sounds great and can be tweaked in the EQ department according to taste. It's easy to operate, and the app gives you extra levels of control over the high quality noise cancellation circuitry. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is still king of the mountain in the wireless noise cancelling headphone realm, but the Sony WH-1000XM2 gives it a run for its money, and arguably sounds better while, inarguably, offering more detailed EQ and sound adjustments in the app. Given that it and the WH-1000XM2 are basically identically priced, which pair best suits you will be a feature-based decision and not one based on dollars. However, if you're hoping to spend less, the AKG N60 NC Wireless and Libratone Q Adapt On-Ear both are solid options that offer varying degrees of noise cancellation, while the Bose QuietComfort 35 still sounds great, and is cheaper than its recent, aforementioned updated model.
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Sony WH-1000XM3
Editor Rating: Excellent (4.5)
We review products independently, but we may earn affiliate commissions from buying links on this page. Terms of use.
Buy It Now
Amazon UK | £259 |
Pros
- Excellent audio performance with superb bass depth and high-frequency clarity.
- High-quality noise cancellation.
- App includes adjustable EQ and ANC controls.
- Plush, comfortable fit.
Cons
- Expensive.
- ANC affects sound signature slightly.
- Cable lacks inline remote.
Bottom Line
Sony's WH-1000XM3 headphones feature some of the best audio performance we've heard paired from a pair that also boasts excellent noise cancellation.
In recent years, Sony has been one of the few serious contenders to dethrone Bose as the top manufacturer of noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones. In terms of audio performance, its new $349.99 WH-1000XM3 headphones come out on top, with drivers that deliver excellent bass depth and high-frequency clarity, with in-app EQ to dial in your preferences if the sound signature is a bit too bass-heavy or bright for your taste. The ANC (active noise cancellation) is also fantastic, though Bose still has a slight edge there. Ultimately, the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones are for those who place audio performance on a higher pedestal than noise cancellation—but still want excellent examples of both—and earn our Editors' Choice alongside the QuietComfort 35 II.
Design
Available in beige or black, the circumaural (over-ear) WH-1000XM3 headphones are, from a physical perspective, all about comfort and less about style. The materials used and the matte finishes look clean and project an air of understated luxury, but the real focus here is on how the headphones feel—and they feel lightweight, amply padded in the headband and earcups with memory foam, and exceptionally comfortable over long listening periods. The earcups actually do an excellent job of blocking out ambient noise passively.
The left earcup's outer panel is an NFC pairing zone for compatible phones, and the right ear's outer panel houses an array of touch-sensitive controls. There are no visible demarcations for the controls, but the layout is relatively intuitive—swipe forward or backward for track navigation, up or down for volume control, and tap the center for play/pause/call management, or hold your finger in place to summon voice assistance.
SEE ALSO: Cheap AirPod Alternatives: The Best True Wireless Earbuds Under $100
Inside each earcup, Sony employs a 1.6-inch neodymium dynamic driver, delivering a frequency range of 4Hz-40kHz. We'll give Sony the benefit of the doubt here, but that's quite an upgrade over the more typical frequency range of roughly 20Hz-20kHz.
The headphones can be used in Bluetooth mode or wired, but unlike many wireless headphones that include a cable connection, plugging the audio cable in doesn't disable power. This a good thing in the sense that you can use the noise cancellation circuitry even in wired mode, but less good if you don't realize you are using the ANC and draining the battery when you connected the cable to preserve battery life. Luckily, the headphones can be used in wired, passive mode—just make sure the ANC is off. One more note: The cable has no inline remote, so when plugging it in, all controls revert to your mobile device (unless the headphones are powered on).
The earcups swivel flat and fold down into a handsome, clothbound travel case. The zip-up case is easily one of the nicest we've seen, with a compartment for the included airplane adapter, charging cable, and audio cable for wired listening. The case is relatively narrow, so it should be easy to pack in most carry-ons, and it also has a built-in cloth loop for hanging from hooks.
The mic offers excellent intelligibility. Using the Voice Memos app on an iPhone 6s, we could understand every word cleanly and clearly, with almost no audio artifacts. The mic sounds slightly far away from the mouth, but what it lacks in proximity it makes up for in clarity.
Part of the WH-1000XM3's appeal is the free app, Sony Headphones Connect. You can use it to adjust EQ with a five-band equalizer that has presets and custom settings. You can also adjust the noise cancellation and switch the Ambient Sound Control mode on or off, or adjust it using the in-app fader, or even choose to focus on voices. There are some less useful features (like sound position control, which shifts audio to the front right or left, or whatever position you choose on a graph), and some we can't really test without booking a flight (like the one that measures atmospheric pressure and adjusts accordingly). Regardless, you don't need the app to use the headphones, but it does offer some solid extra features.
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Sony estimates battery life to be roughly 30 hours with ANC on and 38 hours with ANC off. But with a product that has so many extra features and combinations of usage, you'd be wise to take that number with a grain of salt—your volume levels will have a significant impact of battery life, as usual, but so will the mix of wired-ANC versus wireless-ANC, for instance.
Performance
The WH-1000XM3 headphones deliver high-quality noise cancellation. As I type these words with them on, I can just barely hear my usually loud, obnoxious keyboard. Low-frequency rumble is also cut out tremendously, making the WH-1000XM3 ideal for airplanes and trains. Voices—even your own voice—are drastically reduced. Like most ANC circuitry, there's an ever-so-slight hiss present, but mentioning it almost feels misleading—it's probably the least noticeable hiss we've encountered in recent memory when testing ANC.
In the app, you can optimize your ANC for your current environment, and to a certain extent, it seems to work, but the default mode is effective enough that this feature seems almost unnecessary. As mentioned previously, the earpads play a big role in aiding the ANC to deliver a convincing drop in ambient room audio.
See How We Test Headphones
If there is an annoyance, it's that the ANC does affect the sound signature somewhat. The reason this isn't much of a complaint is because the audio sounds solid in both modes, and the EQ is available to tweak the lows, mids, and highs should you want to change them slightly. Overall, the WH-1000XM3's ANC is still second fiddle to the Bose QC35 II, but the margin is getting more and more narrow.
The EQ on the app means you can truly dial in a sound signature that suits your tastes. There is a wide range to experiment with, and while the headphones never sound insanely bass-heavy or completely flat, there's plenty of room for adjustment. Best mac computer repair software download. We tested the WH-1000XM3 with the EQ off, but know that bass and treble and mids can all be tweaked to taste.
On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife's 'Silent Shout,' the headphones deliver a powerful bass depth that sounds quite boosted. The high-mids and highs are also well represented, so there's a solid balance despite the boosting. And of course, if you wish to tone things down, it's as simple as dialing the bass back in the app.
Bill Callahan's 'Drover,' a track with far less deep bass in the mix, gives us a better sense of the WH-1000XM3's general sound signature. The drums on this track get some added thunder through the WH-1000XM3—this is definitely a bass-forward headphone pair in default mode. Callahan's baritone vocals also receive some added low-mid richness, but again, the high-mids and highs are sculpted enough to provide clarity and contour for the vocals, acoustic guitar strums, and higher register percussion.
On Jay-Z and Kanye West's 'No Church in the Wild,' the kick drum loop receives enough high-mid presence to retain its punchy attack. Perhaps we'd prefer a bit more high-mid presence here, but again, nothing the app can't fix, and it's a matter of taste. The sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat are delivered with gusto—bass lovers will appreciate just how much depth the drivers are able to pack—perhaps that frequency range stat of 4Hz isn't as much of an exaggeration as we might've guessed. Those who don't need the intense lows can dial them back.
Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams' The Gospel According to the Other Mary, sound a bit too bass-forward in default mode. The lower register instrumentation gets pushed forward in the mix a bit more than seems necessary. In the app's EQ, I dialed back the lows slightly, and that did the trick, allowing the higher register brass, strings, and vocals to shine. The headphones can deliver wildly differing results when you mess with the EQ, and while only minor tweaking is required to tone the bass down slightly, you can certainly dial in very specific sound signatures.
Wh-1000xm2 App For Mac Computer
Conclusions
To reiterate, Bose still offers the best overall noise cancellation on the market. But Sony's WH-1000XM3 headphones are a very close second in the ANC performance department, and they offer a better audio experience. For plenty of users, this will sway things in Sony's favor, which is why both pairs earn our Editors' Choice. We're also fans of the AKG N60 NC Wireless, and for less money, the in-ear Jabra Elite 65e deliver solid ANC. For the absolute best, however, it's your pick between Bose and Sony.
Sony WH-1000XM3 Specs
Type | Circumaural (over-ear) |
Wireless | Yes |
Wire-Free | No |
Phone Controls | Yes |
Connection Type | Bluetooth |
Water/Sweat-Resistant | No |
Removable Cable | Yes |
Active Noise Cancellation | Yes |
Boom Mic | No |
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