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Sony WH-1000XM3 · Photo source

Sony WH-1000XM3
Photo 1 of 15

Sony WH-1000XM3 · Photo source

Sony · WH headphones

WH-1000XM3

Released September 2018

Foldable noise-cancelling headphones with LDAC, aptX HD and passive playback through a headphone cable.

Model history · 3 models, 2016–2018
  1. 2016MDR-1000XCompare
  2. 2017WH-1000XM2Compare
  3. 2018WH-1000XM3
Type
Over-ear
Noise cancelling
Yes
Battery
30 h
With case
–
Best codec
LDAC
Weight
255 g

What reviewers say

Reviewers agree on effective noise cancelling, comfortable padding and a spacious sound with substantial bass. The touch controls take practice, and TechRadar finds calls adequate rather than outstanding. What Hi-Fi? considers the plastic headband less premium than the sound and comfort suggest.

From whathifi.com, expertreviews.co.uk and techradar.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Sound

Type
Over-ear
Noise cancelling
Yes
Transparency mode
Yes
Driver size
40 mm
Back
Closed
Bluetooth codecs
SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD and LDAC
Chip
HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1
Drivers
40 mm dome drivers with aluminium-coated liquid crystal polymer diaphragms, CCAW voice coils and neodymium magnets; wired frequency response 4 Hz–40 kHz. Impedance is 47 ohms powered on and 16 ohms off; sensitivity 104.5 dB/mW on and 101 dB/mW off.
Noise cancelling detail
QN1 processor and dual noise sensors; Personal NC Optimizer and Atmospheric Pressure Optimizing; Ambient Sound Mode, Quick Attention and Adaptive Sound Control
Audio features
DSEE HX upscaling; Bluetooth frequency response 20 Hz–20 kHz at 44.1 kHz sampling, or 20 Hz–40 kHz with LDAC at 96 kHz and 990 kbps; QN1 includes a DAC and amplifier

Battery

Listening time (maker's claim)
Up to 30 hours
Battery life detail
Maximum 30 hours with noise cancelling or 38 hours off uses AAC with DSEE HX off. The manual lists 24 hours with noise cancelling for aptX, aptX HD and LDAC; SBC is 28 hours with noise cancelling and DSEE HX off.
Charging case
USB-C charging; about 3 hours for a full charge; USB does not carry audio
Fast charging
10 minutes gives up to 5 hours with a USB adapter rated at least 1.5 A

Design

Weight
255 g
Bluetooth
4.2
Two devices at once
Yes
Headphone cable
Yes
Controls
Right earcup touch panel for playback, volume and calls; holding a palm over it activates Quick Attention; separate power and NC/AMBIENT buttons
Microphones
Internal and external microphones for noise cancelling; built-in microphones for Bluetooth calls
Fit and ear tips
Circumaural ear cushions; adjustable headband and folding earcups; carrying case supplied
Works with
Bluetooth A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and HSP; NFC pairing. Multipoint connects one music source using A2DP and another device for calls using HFP/HSP, without two music sources; unavailable with Google Assistant or Alexa assigned. The supplied cable allows passive listening, but disables Bluetooth and does not carry the headphone microphone.
Colours
Black, Platinum Silver
In the box
Headphones, carrying case, 1.2 m headphone cable, approximately 20 cm USB-A to USB-C cable, in-flight plug adapter

Pros and cons

Pros

  • LDAC and aptX HD Bluetooth codecs
  • Up to 30 hours with noise cancelling; 10 minutes of charging gives 5 hours of playback
  • Supplied headphone cable works with the battery empty

Cons

  • Multipoint separates music on one device from calls on another; it cannot switch music between two devices
  • USB-C is for charging, without USB audio playback
  • The headphone microphone does not work through the supplied audio cable

Closest rivals

Model
TypeNoise cancellingBatteryWith caseBest codecWeightReleased
SonyWH-CH700N
Over-earYes35 h–aptX HD240 g2018
BeatsStudio3 Wireless
Over-earYes22 h–AAC–Oct 2017
SonyWH-1000XM2
Over-earYes30 h–LDAC275 gSept 2017

Previous model: WH-1000XM2. Newer model: WH-1000XM4.

Sources

  1. sony.co.uk/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/wh-1000…
  2. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/wh1000xm3/v1/en/print.pdf
  3. sony.mediaroom.com/2018-08-30-Sony-Introduces-Next-level-Noise-Cancellation-wit…
  4. sony.jp/headphone/products/WH-1000XM3

Photo: sony.jp

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