Our Verdict
Decent for mixed usage. They have an adjustable active noise canceling feature which is useful for the office and commuting. The around-the-neck design is stable for sports and the compatible app makes it easy to customize the sound to your liking. Unfortunately, their high latency won’t be suitable for watching TV and gaming.
- Good noise isolation and low leakage.
- Good controls.
- Can also be used wired.
- Slightly sharp on already bright tracks.
- In-ear, neckband design won't be for everyone.
Their default sound quality is decent and relatively flat. They do lack a bit of low-bass and might be bright on some S and T sounds. However, they are compatible with the Sony Headphones Connect app which provides you with multiple sound customization options like a parametric EQ. You should also be able to find a comfortable fit with one of the seven tip options, but the in-ear fit might not be for everyone.
Good for commuting. They are ANC headphones and should block a good of ambient noise during your busy commute. They are comfortable for short trips, but the in-ear fit can be fatiguing for some, especially after long listening sessions like on a flight. They are easy to keep on you but aren’t the most portable design.
Suitable for sports. They are comfortable and stable enough for physical activity. You might not like the around-the-neck design, but it is suitable for sports. The cables might get caught on items of clothing, but this shouldn’t happen too often to be an issue. The good battery life should last you a few workouts and you shouldn’t have any problems with wireless range if you keep your audio source on you.
Above-average for office use. They isolate a good amount of ambient noise and don’t leak much, so you won’t bother your colleagues if you raise your volume a bit too mask more ambient chatter. The 10-hour battery life should be enough to last you through your whole shift, but the in-ear fit might not be the most comfortable for a whole day of work.
Bad for gaming. Just like for TV usage, the high latency makes gaming impossible with these headphones.
Changelog
- Updated Feb 04, 2022: Added Sony's 360 Reality Audio feature to Virtual Soundstage.
- Updated Feb 07, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sony WI-1000X are versatile headphones that are decent for every usage except watching video content and gaming because of their high latency. They are stable enough for sports and have an ANC feature which can be useful for commuting or at the office. The around-the-neck design won’t be for everyone even if they are lightweight. On the upside, they offer a lot of customization options with the Sony Headphones Connect app. See our recommendations for the best wireless earbuds, the best noise cancelling earbuds and the best sounding wireless earbuds.
The Sony WI-1000X are better headphones than the Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear Wireless. They have better sound quality; their app offers more customization and they also have a better isolation performance. They also come with more tip options to find a better fit. However, the neckband of the Sennheiser HD1 feels more high-end, and they come with a hard case that protects the headphones better than the Sonys' pouch.
The Jabra Elite 65e are slightly better headphones than the Sony WI-1000X. They have a better-built and are more comfortable than the Sonys. Their neckband is more flexible and the ear fit is more stable for sports. Both headphones’ isolation performance are very similar, although you really have to get the right fit with the Jabras to get the best isolation effect. On the other hand, the WI-1000X have better overall sound quality and a slightly better battery life. Their companion app also offers more than the Jabra Sound+ app.
The Bose QuietControl 30/QC30 Wireless and the Sony WI-1000X Wireless each have something good going for them. If comfort is the most important thing for you, get the Bose. If you prefer having sound customization, get the Sony, since their app offers an EQ, which the Bose are lacking. They are both pretty good ANC headphones, but the Bose leak a bit less. However, even if the Bose have a more neutral sounding sound, their treble range is less flat than the Sony. The Bose's build quality is slightly inferior to the Sonys with reports of the rubber coating of the Bose peeling off over time.
If you don’t like the around-the-neck design of the Sony WI-1000X Truly Wireless, then the Sony WF-1000X Truly Wireless have pretty similar sound quality, but they're truly wireless. However, the around-the-neck model has better noise isolation, longer battery life, and it has access to all the customization options in the Sony app, unlike the truly wireless model. On the other hand, the WF-1000X are more portable, and their case offers two additional charges.
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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