Customer Ratings & Reviews

Sony WH-1000XM3 is a masterpiece!! It has a superior sound quality and outstanding noise cancellation. I have used various other headphones but have found this headphone to be significantly better than the rest on the market. The headphones have a nice cushion on the top and the ear pieces are well cushioned providing that extra comfort for ears and head , when you need them for the long travel .I have used them in airplane and they cut out the noise significantly , that you can’t even listen to literally anything with about 60 % of volume. For normal use, volume level of 15-30% is considerably good and cancels out the normal noise level. The headphone has 3 options to select; noise cancelling, ambient sound, and ambient sound off. The best part of the headphone is you can turn of the active noise cancellation momentarily by just placing your palm on the right-side ear cup - Sony calls it "Quick Attention”. The headphone has awesome touch controls, where you can control volume and change the music, just by sliding the fingers on the right-side ear cup. It is also compatible with the Google Assistant and Alexa; you will just have to configure it via the Sony app. The Sony app is outstanding (don’t go by its rating on the Appstore). The app gives you that extra control for the headphones. It allows you to turn on the adaptive sound control, where in the headphone adjusts the noise cancellation level depending upon the environment you are in; standing, walking, transportation, etc. to give you a better feel of surroundings depending upon the situation. The app has great equalizer settings which considerably changes the music listening experience depending on the genre and your liking. There is no app for the MacBook, however if you turn on the noise cancellation via the mobile app and then connect the headphone to the MacBook or laptop, the noise cancellation works just fine. Having that said, the headphone has only one trivial issue with Bluetooth when switching between multiple devices. You will have to disconnect the device where the headphone is connected first, to make it work with the new device. Just disconnect via Bluetooth setting, don’t unpair! The microphone had some issue earlier with people hearing my voice as distorted over call but seems like that was fixed in one of the software updates, as I don’t have that issue anymore and the microphone sounds clear. Overall, the headphone is great to listen to music, be on conference calls, connect to iPhone, MacBook, windows laptop etc. The Bluetooth signal is strong enough to work with great coverage even when away from the phone. The headphone is equipped with the Fast USB-C charging and charges headphone like in 10 minutes for almost 4-5 hours capacity. The noise cancellation is outstanding and even when "no music" is playing, it blocks out almost more than 50 % of surrounding noise. The headphones are comfortable for long hours due to its perfect cushioning and ear cup size. They don’t get warm as it happens with some of other headphones. Once you get used to "Quick Attention" feature, you will never want to leave it. Lastly, since I last bought it almost a year ago, it has got more than 2 software updates, so Sony at least keeps on updating the firmware as well. The headphone comes with a very sturdy travelling case. Must Buy for people loving music and noise cancellation!!!

I recently purchased the mark 2 version of Sony’s Premium Noise Cancelling Headphones, and those were pretty great but when they announced the new version I had to get it...and I am really glad I did! I got the black version because I think they look more subtle than the “silver” ones. The sound is amazing. Strangely they have dropped the amplifier from the previous version but to my ears the sound is noticeably improved, better bass and a more well-rounded and fuller sound. And the Noise Cancelling is definitely superior it blocks almost everything (at least as long as music is playing)...and the slightly altered design is definitely more comfortable and looks less “goofy” (although the ear cups are still a little big). Almost everything I have listened to has blown my mind, it sounds so good! The only draw back for me is when on the bus the vibrations from rough roads can cause some feedback sound in the headphones but it’s easy to lower the noise Cancelling effect or turn it off temporarily until I get off the bus. Also battery life is still great and I like that it now tracks the battery life more efficiently so it will read as a percentage (80% for example) instead of low-medium-high. I really can’t recommend these highly enough!

My all-around headphones...whether I'm out for a walk in the neighborhood, late night gaming, or just relaxing and zoning into the music, I cannot recommend these enough! I previously had the Bose QC headphones until they broke, but the performance and ease of use has made these Sony headphones a perfect replacement! The Headphones app is very helpful in fine tuning your fit in order to make the noise-cancellation as immaculate as possible and I have yet to run out the battery even after long listening sessions. The quality of these headphones will have me sticking with Sony for the foreseeable future!

The first day I bought these headphones right as I got in the car I took them out the box and they had alot of battery for me to test them! You can manage the bass however you want! The quality in the music does not fade at all with these headphones!!! Sadly I got alot of stuff stolen and my headphones were in my bag which I was going to make a video review to show people exactly what I was speaking on. Point is DO NOT SLEEP ON THESE HEADPHONES! Drop the thoughts on any other headphones *Seriously* I do not have an actual picture of them but I do of my receipt in case Best Buy can cover me.

Had these for almost a month now and here’s what I think: BUILD QUALITY: both sturdy and flexible; feels premium as you would expect from Sony. 10/10. SOUND QUALITY: these are no joke. Highs, mids, and lows are all well balanced. Hip-hop will be very slightly on the bass side but it’s not over powering.10/10. ACTIVE NOISE CANCELING: best ANC I’ve ever experienced hands down.10/10. DESIGN: they are comfortable, convenient, and they look great. Comes with a hard case and a lot of accessories. 10/10. PRICE: it’s a steep price sure, but it’s worth it. $349.99 full price and $299.99 when they’re on sale. You get what you pay for though. Sony did a phenomenal job with this product. 10/10. If you can afford these, get them. You won’t regret it!

I went into the store determined to buy the sky blue beats that were on sale, but I’ve always loved Sony products and was really interested in their options. I spoke to a couple of staff members in the area who were very helpful, before choosing these. It was the week of thanksgiving, so both were on sale. The beats display doesn’t really work for comparison and is extremely frustrating when trying to put on the headphones. I had to contort around the display and barely had enough slack to put them on my head (not enough slack to accommodate someone 5’6” - please figure out a better setup). They were actually too big for my head and wouldn’t stay on at all. The Sony display was easy to access and provided a better experience for trying them on - the band had a slightly oval shape (which fit my head perfectly). Very comfortable on and impressive sound. Most impressive is the noise-canceling feature. It’s so effective, that I can sit in silence beside my three Great Danes while they bark their little heads off. I’m prone to severe headaches and don’t do well with in-ear styles - and don’t like anything on my head, especially around my temples. These are soft and well-padded and have been comfortable to wear for a few hours at a time. They’re pretty secure on and have made my yard work and exercise more enjoyable. I’ll definitely appreciate them on my next flight. Excellent carrying case design and long battery life. Wish there were other color options, but these are perfect for my needs and have a great sound. I haven’t even used all the built-in features and am completely satisfied. Highly recommend!

Sound quality is fantastic, as well as battery life. I also highly recommend if you plan on casually gaming on with them.

These headphones are amazing. I've used these for over 1 year now. I use them on a daily basis in the IT field. They are very comfortable and provide excellent noise canceling. This feature really helps me focus on my work. In addition, I have super sensitive ears, so it helps me not get agitated due to noise. The battery lasts several days before I need to charge and it doesn't take long to fully charge (1.5 hrs). I would have given these a 5 star rating, hoever, the mic is muffled to the person hearing you either on a Webex or smart phone. I started using my laptop microphone with my headphones so compensate. Overall, I love these headphones. I wish the mic was not muffled, then they would be a gem.

==== Summmary ==== Sony has hit it out of the park again with the new 1000XM3 ANC headphones. The new design is sturdier, more comfortable, better looking, and most importantly, the sound quality is fantastic~! With new hardware and software, the already great Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology has gotten even better compared to last year's model as well as the competition. Home run from Sony~! **Pros: -Superb sound quality. -Fantastic ANC performance. -Comfortable & durable design. -Lighter than the previous model (0.56 lbs/254 grams). -Touch-gesture volume and track controls work very well. -30-hour battery life. -Quick-charging technology. -USB Type C charging port is more future-proof & easier to plug in. -Useful Sony hardware & software optimizations (Atmospheric Pressure Optimizing, Personal NC Optimizer). -Google Assistant. **Cons: -None ==== Design & Comfort ==== Being an owner of the great Sony 1000XM2, I appreciate and approve the design changes made to the new 1000XM3. The plastic parts of the headphones feel softer and more premium to the touch. The leather padding with urethane foam inside the earbuds and the headrest are better cushioned, softer, and more comfortable. The fantastic touch-gesture controls are back and they're just as easy to use and work very well (e.g., volume & track control, Quick Attention mode). The new color scheme is nice too with bronze accents mixed in with the black. The headphones look sleek and modern. A very welcome addition is the inclusion of the newer and more future-proof USB Type C charging port (Yes~!!). No more fumbling around with which direction to plug in the charging cable and the headphone works with other USB Type C chargers from other modern hardware such as smartphones. 10 out of 10~!! ==== Controls ==== The buttons are located at easy to reach places and work well. On the left earbud is the Power Button and the NC/Google Assistant Button. Also on the left earmuff is the NFC module which allows for quick pairing to your smartphone. If you don't want to use NFC to make the pairing connection, you can initiate Bluetooth pairing by pressing and holding down on the Power Button then selecting the 1000XM3 on your PC's or smartphone's Bluetooth setting page. Pressing the NC Button toggles between three modes - Ambient Sound (default level 20 with Focus on Voice set to Off), Ambient Sound Off, and Noise Cancellation. The Ambient Sound mode can be adjusted between Level 1 to Level 20 inside the Sony Headphone app. The higher you go on the scale between 1 to 20, the more ambient sound around you gets in such as traffic and people sounds. You can also check off on the "Focus on Voice" option to let in voices more easily. For absolute isolation from the outside world, you would choose the "Noise Cancellation" option. If one assigns the NC Button to use Google Assistant instead within the Sony app, then pressing the NC Button triggers Google Assistant who will then speak aloud notifications and tell you the time. In addition, you can hold down the Google Assistant button, speak a command, let go of the button, and the Google Assistant will respond to your query or command. My FAVORITE control feature of the 1000XM3, however, is the touch-gesture controls located on the right earmuff. Swipe Up or Down for volume control, swipe Back or Forward for track control, Double-Tap to pause & resume music, and cup the earmuff with the palm of your hand to allow ambient noise to come through so you can hear and talk to people. Sony continues its excellent ergonomic design with the 1000XM3. Another 10 out of 10. ==== Sound Quality ==== The Sony 1000XM3 sounds good - really good. It plays all types of audio excellently - hip-hop, pop, alternative, rock, vocals, instrumentals, bass-heavy songs. It is truly a jack of all trades and master of all. Bass is GREAT and it delivers it in a deep, punchy, and visceral manner. Even the low rumbly bass is handled superbly. The headphones also deliver a dynamic and wide soundstage with clear vocal separations, range, spatial distribution and balance. In addition to listening to music, I also used the 1000XM3 when playing games on my PC. Sound quality during gaming was also fantastic. Unlike last year's 1000XM2 which didn't sound that great out-of-the-box until I played around with some settings, the 1000XM3 comes out sounding great from first power-on. I connected the 1000XM3 to my Samsung Galaxy S9+ and adjusted only one setting inside the Sony Headphones app - Noise Cancelling Optimizer. The Noise Cancelling Optimizer configures the 1000XM3 to your head physiology to make audio and noise cancelling more efficient and effective. To be honest, I didn't notice much sound quality difference between the older 1000XM2 and this 1000XM3. But that's not a bad thing as the 1000XM2 was already great and the 1000XM3 just maintains the quality and fidelity. 10 out of 10~! ==== Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) ==== With Sony's new HD Noise Canceling QN1 Processor and multiple microphones, the ANC works very well and consistently. All kinds of sounds were deftly cancelled out by the 1000XM3 - traffic noise, barking dogs, chirping birds, lawn mowers, all conversations inside a coffee shop, and background TV and radio noise. With a 3-year-old around the house who might need my attention at any time, my preferred ANC mode was "Ambient Sound On" at Level 1 with "Focus on Voice" checked off. That way, if my daughter seeked my attention, I could hear and respond to her in a timely fashion. When I'm by myself or in a place where I don't expect to interact with anyone else, I then set the ANC mode to "Noise Cancellation" for maximum isolation from the world. I don't know if the performance of the ANC technology is really 4 times improved compared to the 1000XM2 (per Sony), but I do know that it is better and works very well. As you guessed it, it's another 10 out of 10. ==== Conclusion ==== For the absolute best in sound quality and noise cancellation, I honestly don't think there is any other product on the market that is better than the Sony 1000XM3. Everything is just so well-balanced - sound quality, ANC performance, battery life, ergonomics, comfort, and app customization. Sony has created a tremendously well-executed and high-performing product.

These headphones are on another level, first the comfort is spectacular, light but yet snug enough to feel well sat on your head. Build quality is good, nothing special but no slouch. Sound is premium sound (to me) . Love them and since I’ve purchased they they have never died , that’s a big ++

The Sony WH-1000XM3 wireless noise canceling headphones are the most incredible headphones I have ever used! Not only are they supremely comfortable to wear, but the sound quality and active noise canceling are far superior to any other premium headsets that I have used. Sound Quality: Sound quality is a critical aspect for headphones, and fortunately they do not disappoint. The sound is very detailed and full range. If you have been using lesser headphones, you will really hear what you have been missing. The bass is tight and defined which is perfect for my tastes, because I don’t like bass that is bloated and muddy The active noise cancellation is phenomenal! When activated it seems like the whole outside world is turned off and that I was in a perfect bubble of silence. I really like that the noise cancellation effect is adjustable so that you can chose to not use it, or partially use it depending on your circumstances. This is a very nice touch because there may be times when you can’t be sonically cut off from the outside world. Another important feature is that it is compatible with high bit rate Bluetooth versions such as aptX HD and AAC. This is important because these standards provide a signal that will sound better because it is less compressed than the previous Bluetooth standard. Design and Comfort It is immediately apparent that these headphones are designed with an emphasis on visual appeal. They are a pleasure to hold and wear, with an attention to detail that showcases the premium design. This is without a doubt the most comfortable headset that I have ever worn. It is so comfortable and lightweight that you can even forget you are even wearing it. So not only do they feel good on your head, but you will love how you look wearing them. I especially like the hard carrying case which is an included accessory. It matches the build quality of the headphones, which will be well protected will traveling. Usage and Controls The right ear pad is a cleverly designed touch pad that allows you to control the headphones intuitively without even looking. It makes raising/lowering the volume, skipping forward/back, answering/ending calls, as simple as flicking a finger. You can also temporarily deactivate the noise canceling by holding your hand on the control panel, so you don’t have to take the headphones completely off to hear something. When you remove your hand the noise cancellation reengages. This is an amazing feature that I will be using frequently. These headphones use a USB Type C connector for charging. USB C is the most recent USB standard, and it is the second device that I have owned that uses it. It is the latest USB standard and it is superior to the older version due to improved charging time and data transfer capability. In fact, a quick 10 minute charge can power these headphones for an incredible 5 hours. Verdict If it were possible to give these outstanding headphones more than 5 stars I would. Yes, the price is high, but they are certainly worth it. If you want the best noise canceling wireless headphones on the market, then the Sony WH-1000XM3 are the ones to get. Once you use them, it will be very hard to use anything else. In fact, my wife loves them so much I am going to get another pair so we each have our own.

I was in the market for noise cancelling headphones as using the Bose QC 15 for a long time. Was comparing the QC 35 v. 1000XM2 in late mid august. Read a couple of early reviews which pointed to a new and fabulous offering in XM3. Went to best buy to check it out on 2nd Sep. Realized there that it was not in the stores yet. Reached home and ordered online. Received on 7th Sep have been enjoying them since. Awesome battery life. Great music quality. The app makes nifty personal adaptation to make the experience superior. But the best part is the vastly improved noise cancelling. Sony has beaten the ball out of the park. Enjoyed it on 8 long haul Newark Phoenix and back flights and the battery still has some juice left. The long battery life is backed up with super fast charging. The only downside is that without the Bluetooth the headset switches off and you have to make that modification on the app to let it be on. That and the need to shut it manually when off ears are something that the Sony engineers need to work on in the next version and if possible provide it by software changes rather than new version

I did quite a bit of research before making this purchase, and after seeing such great reviews for the previous model (last years), I went ahead and took a blind leap expecting Sony to move things in the right direction. Not only do these sound better than my Bose Quiet Comforts, they also rival them in comfort, and ALSO cancel out sound better. The app lets you personalize your music depending on what genre you’re listening to, and is phenomenal with the amount of customization added for ambient sound and noise canceling. If you’re a frequent traveler, or a music audiophile, I think these are the headphones for you. $349.99 is a hefty price, but I don’t regret the decision a single bit. The ability to cup the right side of the headphones and have the music dimmed to bear silence, is such a great feature... I can’t believe how many times it’s came in handy. ***Also, I was super hesitant on buying the gray pair... wanted the black and settled after they were back ordered on their release date. The off-white color is awesome! Way better than I was expecting.

I read and watched a ton of reviews on Noise Canceling headphones leading up to this purchase. It was really between these and the Bose QC-35II, as the Bose 700s had just come out and were (heck, still are) just too pricey. Simply put, I have been thrilled with my decision! Noise Cancelling: Top Notch. Sound Quality: Fantastic. Comfort & Fit: Great. Connectivity: Zero Issues. Build Quality: Very impressed - I was worried the touchpads would be easily scratch, but almost a year in and they look like new. I also really enjoy playing around with sound options on the app. The current price of these wonderful headphones is even lower than when I bought them, so get to it!

I bought these headphone because they came highly recommended and I’ve loved them since day one. My curiosity still got the better of me and I ended up getting the Bose QC 35 ii on sale to compare with the Sony XM3 and of course the XM3 beat the QC 35 ii hands down. The Sony XM3 has the best Noise Cancellation and Best battery life of the 2, the only advantage the Bose QC 35 ii had was the ability to pair 2 devices at a time

The audio quality of these headphones are great. They also have really good noise cancelling, and are probably the most comfortable headphones I've owned. They have a convenient carrying case with mesh pocket to put the detachable aux cord in. I really cannot think of one bad thing to say about these. They have become my daily headphones for when I want to immerse myself in music and block out the outside for about a year now. They even have an app to where you can adjust the sound profile to fit your tastes and decide which voice assistant to use, etc. If they could improve, I would say that making it easier to switch between multiple paired devices would be the main thing to improve upon.

I listen quite a few genres of music so finding a pair of headphones that can play all music types well is sort of hard. Up until a year or so ago, I got a pair of Bose QC35's and thought my search was over for the perfect pair of headphones. However, having got these Sony headphones, it's time to rethink my Bose...and I'm a Bose fanboy. My QC35 were pretty perfect in every way imaginable. They're light, great battery life, excellent sound and comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Pretty hard to beat that however these Sony WH-1000XM3, are giving my Bose a run for their money. These Sony's combine all the great features of my Bose and add better noise canceling, touch controls and even better battery life. Comfort, I still like the Bose. They sit well on my head and are super comfortable. However the Sony's are comfortable as well. They're very close to the Bose QC35 in terms of comfort but I still give the edge to the Bose in that respect. The Bose have a bit more room around the top portion of my head and just feel better. The comfort advantage is to the Bose but just by a little bit. Sound: both the Sony's and QC35 are pretty comparable in terms of sound however I'll give the slight edge to the Sony. One of the biggest features I like about Sony headphones are their extra bass feature. Normally, this can be switched on/off as needed however there is no such feature on these Sony headphones. However, they provide ample, punchy bass notes which I like. Those who listen to rap/hip-hop, it probably won't be as great since that music tends to have booming bass. For my music tastes, works great. Battery life. I would say both of these are pretty much the same. I believe the Sony's have a little more battery life than the Bose however I see no huge difference between them. One bonus is that these Sony headphones use USB-C so they'll charge a lot quicker and a nice upgrade from mini-USB connectors. Noise canceling: I'll give the advantage to the Sony's again. Bose noise canceling is great and does a great job at blocking out a lot of external noises. It's quiet and I've never had an issue with them. The Sony's noise canceling is really fantastic. It blocks out a lot of external noises, dare I say, even better than the Bose. The feature on the Sony headphones allows you listen to the outside world briefly by covering the right hand cup. Sounds kind of stupid but works really well and a nice feature. Touch controls: One of the things I wish the Bose had were touch controls. Initially I wasn't a big fan of these however, using the touch controls on the Sony, this feature is starting to grow on me. Simply swiping up/down/left/right on the right ear cup lets you control your music easily. Overall, I'm really impressed with these Sony headphones and are giving the Bose QC35's a run for their money. Will be interesting to see what the QC45's will look like but, for me, these Sony headphones are it.

I Usually Never Say Things Like This! My First Time Using This Was On a Plane. As Soon As I Turned It On And Put It Over My Ears The Screaming Baby Behind Us Just Went Away, OK Not 100% but I had to listen for the screening. LOL The Jet Engines I could hear a little and I was sitting right next to them. I love the feature where I can put my hand over the right errand push a little on it and the noise cancelation would stop so I could hear what the Pilot was announcing. Battery life is amazing. I didn't have to recharge it my whole trip I was on.

Absolutely awesome headphones! The bass is mind melting yet the highs and mids are also so crisp and present.

Phenomenal!! You would be hard pressed to find a better set of noise canceling headphones than these. They are exceptionally built, extremely comfortable and the sound quality is PHENOMENAL. The one drawback is that not all of the technology is accessible on an iPhone.