Ever had the desire to completely block out your surroundings? Bose has long dominated the market for noise-cancelling headphones, but now Sony is making a move to dethrone them with its MDR-1000X over-ear model.
Investing in noise-cancelling technology can be pricey, and the 1000Xs offer a robust combination of metal, plastic, and faux leather, making them sturdier yet lighter than many competitors. They can be conveniently folded into a more compact form for easy transport by tucking the ear cups in toward the cushioned headband. While they are undeniably large, they rest exceptionally comfortably over the entire ear without squeezing the sides of your head, unlike some larger models. You can choose between two colors: black or a murky beige, and they can connect to your phone/device either wirelessly via Bluetooth or with a standard 3.5mm audio cable. A useful adapter for airplane use is included, along with a carrying case.
How do they perform?
The left ear cup is equipped with three physical buttons for powering the headphones on and off, activating ambient mode/voice, which lets nearby voices through while blocking out other noises (ideal for eavesdropping while appearing occupied), and for noise-cancelling.
Sony 1000X headphone evaluation
Connecting to your phone is quite simple – just press and hold the power button for seven seconds, and then select the headphones from the list of Bluetooth devices on your smartphone.
Noise-cancelling is where the 1000X truly excels. Activating them is more than enough to drown out the noise of a bustling office, the hum of an airplane cabin, and even the rumble of the subway. It’s truly impressive, making it challenging to revert to lesser/non noise-cancelling headphones afterward.
Sony 1000X headphone evaluation
Another standout feature is the sound optimizer. Long-pressing the noise-cancelling button engages microphones that detect both internal and external sounds, which they cancel using inverted frequencies. The optimizer, a sequence of tones and beeps lasting a few seconds, evaluates the shape of your head and whether you’re wearing glasses. This allows for quick adjustments to the sound, preventing leakage through gaps caused by sunglasses, hats, etc.
A somewhat ineffective attempt
The right ear cup includes some clever touch gesture controls, enabling you to skip tracks, pause, or modify the volume by swiping forward on the flat surface of the cup, tapping twice, or swiping up or down, respectively. Holding your palm against the surface pauses your audio until you remove your hand, which is quite useful for responding to questions or tuning into your surroundings. You might accidentally tap the cup and pause a song, but it generally does a decent job of distinguishing between intentional gestures and accidental touches.
Sony 1000X headphone review
That said, I still found myself skipping tracks and adjusting the volume the old fashioned way – on my phone. This is probably more down to muscle memory than anything else, but my logic is the gestures can’t have been significantly more convenient if I didn’t end up using them.
Sony estimates the battery life at around 20 hours, but I actually found it lasted closer to a full day. That’s not something you can say for the majority of slimmer wireless headphones, which tend to need recharging after six to eight hours of listening, and leaves you free to use them for days in a row without the niggling fear you’re going to get caught short in the middle of your commute.
Sounds expensive
The main rub is the price. The princely sum of £330 is more than a lot of people would be willing to pay for a pair of headphones, and there are plenty of others available for significantly less money. But the 1000X’s main selling point is its noise-cancelling, which is second to none.
Should you buy the Sony 1000X?
Luckily, the 1000Xs sound as good as they look. The sound quality is excellent and the noise-cancelling is exceptional. The price is galling, but if you’re looking to invest in a pair of excellent quality noise-cancelling headphones which will last, I can’t recommend the Sony 1000X enough. Should I buy… Sony’s MDR-1000X Headphones?