Sony WH-1000XM3

[What Hi-Fi?]

A superb pair of wireless noise-cancelling headphones

Sony WH-1000XM3 : Read more

 

[autopal]

I bought these headphones, eventually returned them. Superb sound, but I was disappointed and surprised it did not have multipoint connection. My 4 year old Bose, and my Son's $60 cheap headphone have multipoint. Seamlessly switching from my phone to my laptop without having to manually disconnect and connect is a convenience I'm not prepared to live with. I'm surprised all the praise being heaped on this headphone without mention of this glaring deficiency.

 

[CKS355]

But they do have multipoint...

 

[autopal]

But they do have multipoint...

They do not. The only premium headphones without multipoint.

 

[Joeyeti]

I would object to the all-around good sound... the bass is overly emphasized in these cans. That is why I bought Audio-Technica ANC900BT instead recently - and THAT one has a very well balanced sound spectrum with no area emphasized over any other.

 

[Diego Viola]

I have both the new XM3 and the first model MDR-1000X.

I find that the latest model has really too much bass. Really, really too much.
If you listen to something acoustic, like a piano or a guitar, the sound is not very natural.
In comparison, the MDR-1000X has a more natural and balanced sound.

However I have to say that the new model XM3 gives no listening fatigue at all and invites you to always increase the volume. Even with poor recordings, the sound is never too harsh while with the MDR-1000X you really had to decrease the volume.

The XM3 sound can be equalized with the Sony's app but, if you enable the equalizer, the Bluetooth connection automatically switches back to SBC codec (low quality codec).
It is very disappointing that you cannot use the equalizer with the high quality LDAC Bluetooth codec.
I hope that Sony will solve this very bad issue soon.

As an audiophile, I do feel uncomfortable with equalizers. My philosophy is that the headphones should sound right just out of the box. Can anyone suggest a good third-party equalizer? I mean, an EQ app that works well and does not degrade the sound quality too much.

Maybe What Hi-Fi should write a review about EQ apps. It would be very interesting.

Overall, I am not very satisfied with my purchase.

 

[Joeyeti]

I don't think there is any decent EQ app for Android. I do not understand why that feature is not integrated into Android itself, to avoid latency and quality issues as much as possible...

 

[Greenwich_Man]

Which device will work with a hifi system to use the Sony headphones wirelessly?

I've tried a TaoTronics device, but that didn't work.

 

[ErikBlues]

audio quality drops to that of a 128kbps mp3 (trash) EVERY TIME THE MIC IS ON!!

Completely useless for calls, meetings, online gaming etc.

More info:

https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/g3m22l

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/g3m22l/dont_wh1000xm3_audio_quality_drops_on_call/

 

[Bernie M]

I have had the WH-1000XM3 for over a year now. Was initially disappointed with the sound - it felt muffled - but have got used to it or maybe I have managed to tweak the equaliser settings to find ones I like more.

Very comfortable, can wear for hours, and the noise cancelling is good. Can't compare with Bose etc as these are the first high quality NC ones I have owned.

But I do have a few gripes with them:

• lack of multiple connection option; I have two MacBook Pros, an iPhone and an iPad - it is such a hassle to move from one of them to another, takes ages. Have to shut the bluetooth down on the first one (so the keyboard and mouse stop working as well) - simply disconnecting is not enough as they just reconnect to the same device again - and make sure nothing else nearby has bluetooth on, and then try to get the headphones to connect to the next device.
• When it is connected to a computer, the controls for the headphones via the app on my iPhone no longer operate of course, because the headphones are now bluetooth connected elsewhere. So no way of adjusting the Equaliser.
• While it will connect with each of my computers etc, it refuses to connect to my partner's MacBook Pro even when its little blue light is flashing indicating it is pairing mode - it just doesn't appear in the list of nearby devices. Have given up trying to get a connection.
• Same when trying to get it to connect via Bluetooth with my Sony TV - just never appears on the TV in the list of available devices.
• the touch controls are good, but if you are in wired mode (eg sitting on a plane for 14 hours plugged into their movies) then they no longer work. They only one that does work is putting your hand over the RH cup to mute the sound. Physical buttons would have been better, but how old fashioned.
• It doesn't seem to remember the selected Equalizer setting. Have to reset most times I start to listen to music.

 

[angelmf2704]

I would object to the all-around good sound... the bass is overly emphasized in these cans. That is why I bought Audio-Technica ANC900BT instead recently - and THAT one has a very well balanced sound spectrum with no area emphasized over any other.

Bass is over-emphasized. However is not that bad, and if you want you can use Wavelet app eq presets made for this cans. With this you get a more natural and balanced sound. Note: you can use this feature with high quality LDAC (990 Kbps)

 

[edisback]

felt compelled to post to the forum, specifically around how people are using headphones like this during lockdown ..... I am doing alot of voice calls and zoom calls from home with these now.... whereas I just used them on the train for music with noise cancelling....

However callers are always telling me I sound muffled and in the far corner of the room. Some mention a ringing noise . I have had these headphones sent away for repair by Sony (great service they offer there- but didn't fix the issue for me sadly) and still no joy.


question for What hifi reviewer RE review statement
"increased the quantity of microphones used for voice calls, so whoever you’re talking to should hear you more clearly"
did you review a voice call /audio call quality with someone on the other end ? did they give feedback on the clarity of your/the headphone users voice ?

Anyone else with the same problem?
Does good call quality with the built in microphone rely on use of the app/ software?

thanks

Ed