I've had a Bose QC15 for years that was also very good in terms of noise canceling. Downside was the only durability of the ear pads and headband. You can replace the ear cushions yourself, but they cost 35 euros and break down fairly quickly.
Because I also missed the Bluetooth option, I started looking for new headphones.
The Sony WH-1000XM2 did not make it in most reviews against the Bose QC35 II, but the XM3 surpassed it in the first messages and it could also "Noise-cancel" without having to turn on the music, the XM2 not, from my understanding.
Because of the disappointing durability of the - also expensive - Bose I chose the Sony WH-1000XM3.
The headphones are delivered in a sleek box, which is not inferior to Apple. In addition to the headphones, the box contains a USB-A to USB-C cable, a 3.5 mm plug cable and an adapter for the two-prong connection in some aircraft. Furthermore, a hard case to store the headphones and a short manual. A scan code takes you to an extensive digital manual. This is not necessary to get started, because the Sony works immediately and the instructions in the quick manual are clear.
The first impression of the quality is excellent. Plastic, but solid with a noble appearance. What is immediately noticeable is that the comfort quality of the headband and ear cushions does not seem less than the soft materials from Bose. The Sony fits great, spacious around the ears (on mine anyway, and they aren't particularly small) and super soft, very comfortable. They close so well that without turning them on, little sound can "leak" into them.
When you turn it on, you immediately hear that it can be much quieter, the noise canceling is really exceptionally good. You notice a clearly audible difference with the QC15, in which it is particularly noticeable that the Sony not only "captures" monotonous sounds, but also varying sounds in an unheard of good way. In a word: superb. I was really pleasantly surprised. And no "pressure" on the ears like the QC 15 did in the form of a kind of noise.
You can choose "ambient" with a button on the bottom of the left ear cup and as if by magic you can hear people speak intelligibly again. This is done via the microphones on the ear cups. This option is also nice when you're on the phone, because you don't have such a boom of your own voice in your ears.
The button with which you turn on ambient also serves to turn that off again and then also to turn the noise canceling (anc) back on.
That anc can be set at different levels, depending on how much noise has to be canceled: are you inside, outside, on a train or plane, for example. Also a fantastic option. Finally, the je anc can also calibrate to your ad hoc conditions, whereby the air pressure can also be included - useful when you are flying and the cabin pressure can therefore be different than the 1 atmosphere on the ground. It all happens very instinctively with the app.
The main operating area is located on the right earcup. A touchpad that lets you volume (up and down), next-previous track (swipe horizontally), pause (tap twice) and launch Siri (I'm using Apple). The operating options are very user-friendly, the Sony really becomes your best buddy right away because everything is so instinctive. If you want to listen acutely to something or someone in your environment, you put your whole hand on that touch pad on the right, and immediately the music is muted and the outside world can be heard better. Hand away, and the music is back.
Pairing with the iPhone was a breeze, it happened before you know it.
I find the sound of the Sony particularly good: clear highs, transparent middle and a powerful, but tight, bass. With the help of the app you can tinker with this by means of an equalizer and also with a sound processor with which you can adjust the place where you hear the sound coming from and also the acoustic illusion of an Arena, a Club etc etc. Nice gadget, but not important (in my opinion), but it is wonderful to hear that the sound can come from the front left, rear left, front right, etc. How they do that is a mystery to me, but it sounds quadraphonic.
Making calls is remarkably easy and clear. Sony has now shown that it has enormous know-how in the field of sound, because these headphones also sound very good as a telephone, whereby the often disturbing hearing - or not hearing - of one's own voice is almost completely eliminated.
The battery is also a minor miracle. I first charged the headphones a bit - in the box it had a 10% charge - to get started right away. Ten minutes would be enough for five hours of listening and I have no reason to doubt. But after fully charging the Sony it seems that it cannot be empty. After a few days of fairly intensive use - not constantly, but throughout the day - there was still 90% charge left. You can hear that charge by pressing the power button (charming lady then calls the charge in your ear), see it on your iPhone (swipe left on your home screen) and also see it in the app. The thirty hours it should be able to last on a charge seems to me to be easily surpassed.
In conclusion, despite the high price of 379.00 euros, I am very happy with this purchase. I (also) use it to work with when I need to be able to concentrate and the silence the Sony offers is unparalleled, without the "pressure" (a kind of noise) I experienced with my Bose. It is an extremely pleasant device, where controlling the volume, jumping to the next song or repeating and taking a phone call are all instinctive and natural. The sound quality is superior, with clear tones throughout the frequency range with tight, well-defined bass. There is still a lot to adjust with the equalizer, whereby it is striking that the bass never distorts, but always remains tight. Sony calls it Clear Bass and that name is appropriate.
This is a technical masterpiece and an absolute must for lovers of noise cancellation and good music reproduction.
