Our Verdict
Above-average for neutral listening. The Sony WH-1000XM2 do not have the treble inconsistencies of the MDR-1000X. They also benefit from a good parametric equalizer that you can access through the app to personalize their sound profile. Unfortunately, their mid-range is not as balanced as the MDR-1000x and since they're very isolating they do not have the soundstage of more neutral listening oriented headphones. Lastly we have yet to test their sound quality codecs.
- Excellent noise cancellation.
- Great active features and app support.
- Comfortable and premium looking design.
- Poor latency for watching videos.
- Not ideal for making calls.
Good for commuting. The Sony WH-1000XM2, like the MDR-1000x, have one of the best noise cancellation that we've tested so far. They will block enough noise to be suitable for most public transits, they're comfortable and have a good control scheme. However, they're a bit bulky so they won't be the easiest to carry around on your person.
- Excellent noise cancellation.
- Great active features and app support.
- Comfortable and premium looking design.
- Poor latency for watching videos.
- Not ideal for making calls.
Decent for sports. They're a bit bulky and will make your ears a bit warm after a while. But they're comfortable, have a decent control scheme, and they're stable enough for jogging. They just won't be ideal for very intense exercises and workout routines due to their breathability, stability and size.
- Excellent noise cancellation.
- Great active features and app support.
- Comfortable and premium looking design.
- Poor latency for watching videos.
- Not ideal for making calls.
Good for office use. They block a lot of noise which is ideal if you have a lively office and need to cancel some of the ambient chatter. They're comfortable and don't leak much but may be a bit distracting if you like to listen to music at higher-than-average volumes.
- Excellent noise cancellation.
- Great active features and app support.
- Comfortable and premium looking design.
- Poor latency for watching videos.
- Not ideal for making calls.
Sub-par for gaming. The Sony WH-1000XM2 are comfortable, they have an above-average sound and have a good wireless range. Unfortunately, they have a poor mic quality and a lot of latency which is not really suitable for gaming. They also tend to make your ears a little warm during long gaming sessions and are not compatible with consoles via Bluetooth.
- Excellent noise cancellation.
- Great active features and app support.
- Comfortable and premium looking design.
- Poor latency for watching videos.
- Not ideal for making calls.
- Excellent noise cancellation.
- Great active features and app support.
- Comfortable and premium looking design.
- Poor latency for watching videos.
- Not ideal for making calls.
Changelog
- Updated Dec 20, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 07, 2022: Added Sony's 360 Reality Audio feature to Virtual Soundstage.
- Updated Mar 11, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
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Popular Headphone Comparisons
The Sony WH-1000XM2 are a well-built and premium looking noise-canceling headset. They have a good sound and lots of customization options thanks to the new app support. They're also one of the best noise canceling headphones we've measured which makes them a good choice for commuters and travelers. However, their bulky design might not be as versatile as some of the headphones they are often compared to. See our recommendations for the best wireless headphones, the best closed-back headphones, and the best noise cancelling headphones.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are better headphones than the Sony WH-1000XM2 Wireless. The WH-1000XM4 are more comfortable, their ANC can block out even more background noise, and their continuous battery life is longer, too. You can also pair them with up to two devices at a time.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are better headphones overall than the Sony WH-1000XM2 Wireless. The Bose have easier-to-use controls and are more lightweight and comfortable than the Sonys. The Bose also have a better-balanced and neutral sound profile that packs an equal amount of bass as the Sony but sounds a bit clearer with instruments and vocals thanks to their better balanced mid and treble ranges. The Sony, on the other hand, have a bit more features and support multiple high-quality audio codecs that we haven't had the chance to test yet. They also look more premium and have a slightly better ANC feature.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 are a better headset than the Sony WH-1000XM2, although not by much. The XM3 have a more comfortable over-ear fit thanks to the headband redesign and softer ear cup pads. They also have better noise cancellation, mostly due to their lower self-noise, and a better battery life performance, with a customizable auto-off timer and a quick charging USB type C connector. This makes them a bit more convenient in case you forget to charge them overnight. On the other hand, the XM2 now offer a better value for your money since they are now at a lower price point than the XM3. They also have a great noise isolation performance and a decently well-balanced sound quality that's not very different from the XM3. Their metal headband also feels slightly more unique than that of the XM3 and gives them a slightly more classy look and feel.
The Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 are a slightly better wireless headset than the Sony WH-1000XM2 Wireless. They're a bit more comfortable and better balanced than the Sonys. The Bose sound quality packs a good amount of punch and still sound sufficiently detailed with instruments and vocals, thanks to their better-balanced mid and treble ranges. The Sony, on the other hand, have more control over their noise canceling feature, which can also be optimized for the environments you're in. The Sony also have a more premium-looking build quality and a better list of features, including the touch-sensitive controls and customizable sound quality.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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