How to Make the Best Even Better: Sony's WH-1000XM3 Headphones Review

Sony has been trying to answer the question "how do you make the best even better?" with its brand new top-of-the-line headphone line, and we're happy to say that they did just that. These are Sony's WH-1000 XM3 headphones, which are Bluetooth noise-cancelling headphones and a follow-up to the MDR 1000 X, one of our favorite headphones of 2016.

On the surface, the WH-1000 XM3 is so similar to the original MDR 1000 X that we could easily mistake them in a lineup. They still come in nearly identical beige and black colorways and still offer identical business style looks with simple and understated leather ear cups attached by a shiny plastic headband. However, as soon as you put them on, it becomes clear that these headphones are not just a minor update, but a major improvement.

We love the fit of the original 1000 X model, and these are no different. The excellent plush leather earpads and a nice leather band up top keep these comfortable for hours on end. The same touchpad is back from last year's model with a DoubleTap playing, pausing music, and taking calls, swipes left or right switching songs, and swipes up or down controlling volume. We also love the cupping feature that allows you to place a hand on the touchpad to temporarily mute audio and let an outside sound in - it's a perfect thing to talk to a co-worker or flight attendant without having to take off your headphones.

Looking around, we notice only two buttons on the headphones themselves: one for power and Bluetooth pairing, and the other for noise cancellation adjustment. The bottom of the left ear cup also features a 3.5 millimeter input for those who want wired listening. The company even provides long cable and an airline adapter with their nice travel-proof card case.

The biggest improvement over the old model is that the new one has 10 hours of extra battery life, bringing the total playback time to 30 hours. There's also a quick charging feature that means you can get 70 minutes of playback with just 10 minutes of charging if you're in a hurry.

In terms of audio and noise-cancelling performance, there's absolutely nothing we aren't in love with about these headphones. They easily rivaled the Bose QC 35 in terms of best ambient sound reduction we've ever heard, slightly underperforming them when it comes to combating low rumbly HVAC sounds on trains and in offices, but outperforming them on voices. The Sony flagship can also be customized inside Sony's headphones app, which allows you to custom tune them to your ears adjust equalization, and even place the sound at six positions around you.

We're not really sure what the purpose of some of these features is, but we find it cool nonetheless. The headphones also adjust for atmospheric pressure, making them even more comfortable on long flights.

The overall audio quality easily bests the Bose with a warm and inviting soundstage that really brings music to life. These headphones boast a punchy low end that never verges on mud, each instrument has an extremely vibrant definition, and sharp eyes and bright mids that pull everything in to focus.

These are just great on throwback hits 2017 releases like Kendrick Lamar's "DAMN." and "Perfume Genius," which come through with nearly as much depth as they do on top of your speakers. The headphones also have wide stereo imaging and superb definition in the vocal range. With the same great fit and sound, vastly improved battery life, and even more tech features in the previous model, these are a great value at $350.

In conclusion, Sony's WH-1000 XM3 headphones are an excellent near-perfect set of fully wireless headphones that easily outdo their competition. If you're looking for a good pair of over-the-head headphones that will impress you every day, then these are absolutely the model to buy.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhow do you make the best even better that's the question that Sony's trying to answer with its brand new top 2 your headphone line and we're happy to say that they did just that these are Sony's WH 1000 X mark - they are Bluetooth noise cancelling headphones and they're a follow-up to the MDR 1000 X which we call their favorite headphones of 2016 on the surface the WH 1000 X are so similar to the original MDR 1000 X that we could easily mistake them in a lineup they still come in nearly identical beige and black colorways and still offer identical business style looks with simple and understated leather ear cups attached by a shiny plastic headband we love the fit of the original 1000 X model and these are no different with excellent plush leather earpads and a nice leather band up top that keep these comfortable for hours on end the same touchpad is back from last year's model with a DoubleTap playing of pausing music and taking calls swipes left or right switching songs and swipes up or down controlling volume also back is the cupping feature we loved on the previous model which allows you to place a hand on the touchpad to temporarily mute audio and let an outside sound that's a perfect thing to talk to a co-worker or a flight attendant without taking the headphones off your head looking around there's only two buttons on the headphones themselves one for power and bluetooth pairing and the other for noise cancellation adjustment the bottom of the left ear cup also features a 3.5 millimeter input for those who want wired listening and the company even provides long cable and an airline adapter with their nice travel proof card case the biggest improvement over the old model is that the new model has 10 hours of extra battery life for a whopping 30 total hours of playback there's also a quick charging feature which means you can get 70 minutes of playback with just 10 minutes of charging if you're in a hurry in terms of audio and noise cancelling performance there's absolutely nothing we aren't in love with when it comes to the WH one thousand x these headphones easily rivaled the Bose QC 35 in terms of the best ambient sound reduction we've ever heard slightly underperforming the boats when combating the low rumbly HVAC sounds on trains and in offices but outperforming them on voices the sony flagship can also be customized inside sony's headphones app which allows you to custom tune them to your ears adjust equalization and even place the sound at of six positions around you a feature we're not really sure the purpose of but find cool nonetheless the headphones can also adjust for atmospheric pressure which makes them even more comfortable on long flights the overall audio quality easily bests the Bose with a warm and inviting soundstage that really brings music to life these headphones boast a punchy low end that never verges on mud and each instrument has an extremely vibrant definition with sharp eyes and bright mids that pull everything in to focus on perennial audio testing favorites like Fleetwood Mac's rumours this is especially apparent with a shocking amount of clarity even on complex songs like the chain but these are just great on throwback hits 2017 releases like kendrick lamar's dam and perfume geniuses no shape come through with nearly as much depth as they do on top to your speakers with wide stereo imaging and superb definition in the vocal range with the same great fit and sound vastly improved battery life and even more tech features in the previous model these are a great value at $350 the WH 1000 X mark - are an excellent near perfect set of fully wireless headphones and they easily our favorite headphones we've reviewed of 2017 if you're looking for a good pair of over your headphones that will impress you every day these are absolutely the model to buyhow do you make the best even better that's the question that Sony's trying to answer with its brand new top 2 your headphone line and we're happy to say that they did just that these are Sony's WH 1000 X mark - they are Bluetooth noise cancelling headphones and they're a follow-up to the MDR 1000 X which we call their favorite headphones of 2016 on the surface the WH 1000 X are so similar to the original MDR 1000 X that we could easily mistake them in a lineup they still come in nearly identical beige and black colorways and still offer identical business style looks with simple and understated leather ear cups attached by a shiny plastic headband we love the fit of the original 1000 X model and these are no different with excellent plush leather earpads and a nice leather band up top that keep these comfortable for hours on end the same touchpad is back from last year's model with a DoubleTap playing of pausing music and taking calls swipes left or right switching songs and swipes up or down controlling volume also back is the cupping feature we loved on the previous model which allows you to place a hand on the touchpad to temporarily mute audio and let an outside sound that's a perfect thing to talk to a co-worker or a flight attendant without taking the headphones off your head looking around there's only two buttons on the headphones themselves one for power and bluetooth pairing and the other for noise cancellation adjustment the bottom of the left ear cup also features a 3.5 millimeter input for those who want wired listening and the company even provides long cable and an airline adapter with their nice travel proof card case the biggest improvement over the old model is that the new model has 10 hours of extra battery life for a whopping 30 total hours of playback there's also a quick charging feature which means you can get 70 minutes of playback with just 10 minutes of charging if you're in a hurry in terms of audio and noise cancelling performance there's absolutely nothing we aren't in love with when it comes to the WH one thousand x these headphones easily rivaled the Bose QC 35 in terms of the best ambient sound reduction we've ever heard slightly underperforming the boats when combating the low rumbly HVAC sounds on trains and in offices but outperforming them on voices the sony flagship can also be customized inside sony's headphones app which allows you to custom tune them to your ears adjust equalization and even place the sound at of six positions around you a feature we're not really sure the purpose of but find cool nonetheless the headphones can also adjust for atmospheric pressure which makes them even more comfortable on long flights the overall audio quality easily bests the Bose with a warm and inviting soundstage that really brings music to life these headphones boast a punchy low end that never verges on mud and each instrument has an extremely vibrant definition with sharp eyes and bright mids that pull everything in to focus on perennial audio testing favorites like Fleetwood Mac's rumours this is especially apparent with a shocking amount of clarity even on complex songs like the chain but these are just great on throwback hits 2017 releases like kendrick lamar's dam and perfume geniuses no shape come through with nearly as much depth as they do on top to your speakers with wide stereo imaging and superb definition in the vocal range with the same great fit and sound vastly improved battery life and even more tech features in the previous model these are a great value at $350 the WH 1000 X mark - are an excellent near perfect set of fully wireless headphones and they easily our favorite headphones we've reviewed of 2017 if you're looking for a good pair of over your headphones that will impress you every day these are absolutely the model to buy\n"