darko.audio/2018/09/the-dap-days-are-over-part-4-sony-wh-1000xm3/

Sony's latest (3rd) version of their wireless noise-cancelling headphone 1000X-series.

US$349.




(Again, with touch-controls.)

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Sony webpage - www.sony.com/electronics/headband-headphones/wh-1000xm3

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Darko reviewed the original, now 2 year old, Sony MDR-1000X model - describing how the touch-control feature works.

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WHAT HIFI weigh in with a rather positive review, for this latest iteration, the WH-1000XM3....

" The WH-1000XM3 headphones offer a clear sonic upgrade...to the extent that the M2s, which we loved at the time, sound closed-in and almost dull by comparison. "

" This is an open, spacious sound that gives every instrument, effect and vocal room to breathe... Combine that spaciousness with greater detail and enhanced dynamic subtlety... Tonally, there’s a generous extra helping of lovely, deep bass, which... simply reinforces the overall delivery, adding weight and richness in a pleasant, natural and, dare we say it, analogue way. "

" A superb all-round package.. "

" The best noise-cancelling out there. "

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

As mentioned, I have a set of the Sony WH-1000XM3 in-house presently, so was keen to have a play with them.

Comfort is good, weighing only 254gm.
The synthetic leatherette covered foam cups are sizeable enough to envelope the ears (mine anyway) effectively.

You can listen using them as un-powered headphones but when powered on, they sound better, livelier & a few db louder.

The phones can be connected via Bluetooth or using a (short) plug-cable supplied.

2 buttons on the LHS ear-cup control power on/off & mode functions.
The RHS ear-cup has rather cool touch-control mute & volume up/down.
(The touch vol control seems to work only in Bluetooth mode.)

There is an in-built 'Optimiser' function which should be run in every different environment where you intend to use the Noise Cancelling.

There are 3 powered modes (selectable via an ear-cup button) :

- 'Ambient Sound' (which is used when you want to have room sound picked up by in-built mics & audible through the headphone).

- 'Ambient Sound Off' (ie straight listening, no Noise Cancelling).

- 'Noise Cancelling On'.

Listening impressions coming up soon....

Pic of the Sony WH-1000XM3 (middle) flanked by Sennheiser HD6XX (Massdrop's HD650 issue, on the left) & a well-used set of Sony MDR-7505 Professionals.

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Sound:

Bass is 'meaty' & full - contributing to a warm, rhythmic tone overall.
As supplied, the bass is balanced very strong & may need to be trimmed using the Sony 'Connect' app via Bluetooth.

With Noise Control on, the sound is affected slightly (compared with NC off/Ambient Sound off) - depending on your environment, around here, the NC removes a few dB of LF ambient noise (urban noise, computer fan, etc). However, also there is a minor reduction in upper freq presence, extension, slightly less 'bright', slighter 'smoother' toned, with NC on. On the other hand, depending on your environment, reproduced dynamic range can be increased audibly - more drama & 'bounce'.

Thus, it is important to use the NC Optimiser - it can benefit even regular listening, depending on your local environment, because of the way the NC lowers noise floor.

Comfort is fairly good, esp if you're accustomed to the feeling of 'sound pressure' with Closed Back type h'phones.

Overall, certainly excellent sounding NC headphones, good enough for regular audio pleasure.

Only when comparing with an established 'audiophile' Open Back set like the Sennheiser HD 650, can one become a bit more critical of the sound (I think I prefer Open Back sound) or comfort (bigger enveloping ear cups on the Senns) of these Closed back, NC Sonys.

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What’s the best Noise Cancelling Headphone?

NZ$369.99

Now that's a good price.

www.dicksmith.co.nz/dn/buy/sony-wh-1000xm3-wireless-noise-cancelling-headphones-black-sony/?utm_campaign=personalised_department_plain&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dse

Do Dick Smith maintain online sales from Oz to NZ nowadays?

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

I think they've been online only for several years now, ever since kogan bought them out in 2016?

yep, when dickie smith went tits up kogan aus bought dickie's IP and rebooted the brand as an online only store.

www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/79621339/koganrun-dick-smith-website-hits-the-net-as-stores-close

A long term update:

The SONY WH-1000XM3 'phones have left the house, I'm afraid to say.
J has sold them... gone.

On a long haul flight, I found them to be 'OK', but a bit unexciting.
As said, they are overall 'warm' & 'full' tonally.

J advises that unless you use the SONY Connect app (via Bluetooth with the app loaded to your smartphone - which I did not), then the sound he found ultimately to be 'muddy' & 'bloated' (to his younger ears).

The Connect app allows you to tailor (EQ) the tonal balance & adjust the bass level, but unfortunately if you want to use other sources, eg. a computer, DAP or laptop, this 'EQ' facility is not available.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

First listen I found this to be a tubby bass bloated lump of lard.

Updated the software to the latest version and all is restored. Set sound to "Vocal" and its even better.

Overall, still a little soft but that's only in comparison to LCD 3's costing ~10x. Overall, a very good sounding hp with great NC features. Only downside is the call quality can only be described as adequate.

A great buy now what with the new M4 out now.