Sony MDR-1000X

Dynamic highs and punchy bass ; Extremely comfortable ; Great battery life ; Thoughtful real-world features

Touch controls don’t always work perfectly

The Sony MDR-1000x are a feature-packed pair of noise-cancelling headphones, and the best we have ever tested overall. While some headphones offer slightly stronger noise cancelling, and others distinctly crafted sound signatures, never have we seen...

Light and comfortable ; Excellent noise-cancelation ; Superb sound quality ; Adjustable ANC level ; Excellent mic for calls ; Long battery life

There's a knack to the touch controls

Hands-down the best noise-cancelling headphones on the market – and they’re wireless, too.

Quick Attention mode ; Noise cancellation ; Lengthy battery life ; LDAC codec for brand loyalists

Finicky Ambient Noise mode ; More expensive than Bose

If you're sick of the Bose hype or own a Sony handheld that supports Hi-Res Audio, the MDR-1000X are a still fantastic pair of headphones a few years after they first launched.

Exceedingly comfortable ; Noise canceling doesn't get any better ; Long battery life ; Great sound quality for Bluetooth headphones

Fiddly touch controls ; Materials are sturdy, but underwhelming for $400 ; MicroUSB charging is so very 2016

Who says you can’t have wireless and noise canceling in one great pair of headphones?

Impressive noise-cancelling ; Excellent Bluetooth audio ; Balanced, expressive sound ; Clever features ; 20-hour battery life

Touch controls can be hit and miss

A stunning effort from Sony. These superb noise-cancelling cans are up there with the very best at the money

Powerful audio performance with rich lows and strong clarity in the highs. Can be used passively with included audio cable. Noise cancellation is independent of wireless functionality. Ambient mics work quite well. Functional, comfortable design.

Expensive. Noise cancellation is good, but not great. Included audio cable lacks inline remote.

Conclusions The Sony MDR-1000X looks and feels luxurious, and delivers strong audio performance and solid noise cancellation. But the Bose QuietComfort 35 costs less, sounds better, and delivers the best noise cancellation you can get. If the MDR-1000X...

Outstanding noise cancellation, comfort, convenience for travel, sound performance

Needs battery power to perform

Sony's aim with the MDR-1000X is to take down market leader Bose. And with a clever application of technology Sony has achieved wonderful results, which easily put them above and beyond the Bose QuietComfort 35, if you're ok with the slightly larger...

Excellent noise cancellation. ; Sturdy and durable build quality. ; Great active features.

Slightly inconsistent sound when wireless. ; A bit leaky at high volumes.

Excellent sound quality ; Impressive ANC ; Comfortable

Expensive ; Not ideal for workouts

The Sony WH-1000XM2 sets a good bar for Bluetooth ANC headphones. They might not quite match the Bose QC35 when it comes to high-end noise cancellation, nor for staying on your head – but when it comes to sound quality they’re incredible and provide a...