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J & # 39; have had a review of the WF-1000XM3 earlier, but they arrived while I was traveling. It was a disappointment for two reasons. The first and most obvious is the fact that I hate being late with a criticism. Secondly, and more selfishly, I really wanted to try them on those 16-hour flights that I had just taken to Hong Kong.
This is a case of use for Sony new fully wireless headphones. The company has clearly targeted the Bose market with a pair of premium heads featuring long battery life and active noise suppression.
As I noted in our overview a few weeks ago, companies tend to go in one of two directions with these devices. There are the most active fitness products (see: Jaybirds and Powerbeats) and those of general lifestyle (Airpods, and others). It's clear that the market that Sony is targeting here – it's exactly the same market it followed with its QuietComfort over-the-ear headphones.
The XM3s (as we will call them later to save our poor "0" touch) lack obvious features like waterproofing and ear stabilizers for those who like to run with their headphones. If this last element applies to you, it will suffice, but you may want to look for a partner for the race (Sony has the WF-SP700N, which has the same name, for that). Those looking for a traveling companion on the other hand, could do a lot worse.
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As Beats did with the Powerbeats Pro, Sony opted for battery life rather than portability with the XM3. Sony's case is not as big as Beats', but it's probably too bulky for most pockets. The good news, though, is that with six hours of active noise canceling battery (eight without), you should be able to leave the case at home most of the time.
Add the charging box to the mix and this figure is a full day of music playback with ANC and 32 hours without. The use of the USB-C port at the bottom should allow you a 90-minute reading with a 10-minute charge. There is no wireless charging option – like the AirPods – that says "gen two".
The XM3 retain an oblong design similar to that of the 700N, sportier. They are small and subtle in black or silver, unlike the bright white AirPods that catch the eye. In fact, they look a bit like Bluetooth headsets. To get the right fit, insert them in the ear down and rotate them 90 degrees. I admit that I let him face down the first time I tried them in demo. Beginner error.
The headphones come with interchangeable silicone tips, although I found the default setting to be perfect for my own ears. There is no mechanism to keep them in place, but they are small enough to not move too much, even with a light jog. Again, I caution against this because Sony has not proposed anything here to prevent sweating.
The audio quality has changed a lot since the beginning of the Bluetooth earpiece. I was impressed by Sony's ability to incorporate such a small form factor. This latest generation of headphones has clearly shown that the smaller size does not involve more compromises on the sound. And, indeed, the XM3 offers a solid sound for a pair of Bluetooth buttons, with a rich and full sound with a good balance and many bbad.
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Active noise suppression is even more impressive, which until recently was supposed to be sacrificed on a pair of small wireless heads. Pressing the side touchpad will enable and disable noise suppression and an ambient mode that will allow more sound for those instances, if any. The latter is probably another step towards a world in which we pursue conversations in person without leaving the headphones. But we were going that way anyway. At least, Sony has done a good job implementing the technology here.
Interestingly, both headsets form their own individual Bluetooth link to the synchronized device. This helps reduce the delay and also means that they can work independently of each other. In some cases, I had problems with cutting a bud, which was a little embarrbading, but there is something to say for the other to maintain its connection. The independence of the left and right sides also means that audio reports such as battery levels are reported separately.
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At $ 230, the XM3 interpose between AirPod and Powerbeats. IPhone users will miss the lack of automatic pairing with the W2 chip, but NFC means faster pairing for Android users. All in all, there is a lot to love about these buds. They have good sound, excellent noise cancellation and a long battery life.
These are not great sports mates like Powerbeats, but they are not really designed to be. For those who travel a lot or simply want a strong helmet everyday, the XM3 are among the best on the market.
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