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 Headphones 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-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 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 Sony WH-1000XM2 Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC. They are more comfortable, noticeably better-built, have a better-balanced sound profile, and have a dedicated companion app with access to an EQ. On the other hand, the Sennheisers can also connect to two devices simultaneously and have lower latency on PC.
The Sony WH-1000XM2 are much better noise cancelling headphone than the Samsung Level On Wireless. The Sony have a better noise cancelling performance that isolates a lot more in noisy environments. They also have a more comfortable over-ear fit that most will prefer over the fit of on-ears although it is not directly comparable. They also sound better and have a lot more customization option both on Android and iOS, which the Samsung do not. On the upside, the Samsung are more portable. They're also a bit more suitable for watching videos since they have lower latency than the Sony if you have the right transmitter, and their auto-off feature is a bit better handled than the WH-1000XM2.
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.
Test Results
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