Sony WF-1000XM3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones Review

Today I am writing a review on Sony WF-1000XM3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones which I have purchase in Dec 2019. Having used it close to six months now, I would say it is a fair headphones. Definitely not the best but an average headphones pricing at SGD349.

Let's list down some of the features when you want a wireless headphones to help in your daily work.

• Build quality
• Sound Quality
• Comfort
• Noise Cancelling
• Bluetooth connection stability
• Microphone
• Hear through mode (able to hear outside sound together)
• Multi-device connections
• Ease of use of the earphones
• Ease of use of the app

Let go through go through each item and put a score to it.

Build quality 8/10

The build quality of the headphones are good. The case however get easily scratched with its smooth metallic painting. The plastic quality and build does not make the earphones looks cheap in any way. The case looks good but since it get scratch easily, you might end up getting a silicon case to cover it completely. Guess what, there are plenty of design for them.

Sound Quality 10/10

Sony being a music device manufacturer, it didn't fail in this category. If they do, I think they cannot be still in the market till date. Every song you play you can hear and enjoy good quality playback. You can also adjust the EQ in the app. This is where they excel.

Comfort 8/10

For the comfort level, there are multiple size of silicon tips for the ear bud. So you can choose what that fit you most. In fact, the right one would be one that stuff in your ear and hold it there without dropping. I have no problem wearing it for long period of time. However, it can still slide off for me with some heavy head movement. If they were smaller like the Jabra close to your ear, it could be less weightage to drop off.

Noise Cancelling 8/10

It has the usual noise cancelling. Of course since it is a in ear device, it cannot isolate the sound completely like an over ear headphones does. In this case, it serve it's purpose.

Bluetooth connection stability 2/10

This is what ignores me most. And just do a google search, you can find a lot of forum discussion. Pairing a device is fine and works seamlessly. However, the pain comes when you are in a call and it start to end you call abruptly. 

The next ignoring thing is when you are in a call or music, the left ear piece will lose it connection with no sound. Workaround is to place it back to the case to disconnect it and take it out again. This can happen anytime, and many times. Next the connection is not stable, even with the right ear still having sound, it still will disconnect on and off and connect back by itself.

Now this is the part, whether its first time connection or re-connection, there are chances that the connection will end up with lots of white noise. You will have to place the ear piece into the case to disconnect and wear it back again. Every incoming call will be in white noise more than half of the time especially using one side of the ear piece.

So other than pairing is seamless nothing else solve the rest of the issues. Whether is it a firmware upgrade or a service center repair. These things keep coming back.

Even their WH-1000XM3 headphone suffer the same fate if you google it around. Seems like Sony doesn't learn and just create one wireless headphones from their over-ear headphones and inherit all the same issues.

Even my Huawei FreeBuds which cost half the price works better.

Microphone 4/10

If you are in a quiet place, your other party will hear you loud and clear, however when your background start to have some noise, the other party will hear them very clearly. The microphones seems to pick up all the sound in your background include your voice. This is not a very smart microphone intelligence build in.

Whether on a PC or a mobile phone, it happens.

Hear through mode (able to hear outside sound together) 5/10

This feature in Sony is called Ambient sound. So yes it does have that capability. I really like that however it has an auto mode which fails big time. Often than not, I rather activate as and when I need it.

Multi-device connections 5/10

Yes it can be paired to multiple devices but it can only be connected to one at anyone time. This is something I thought could be improve. My Bose headset can at least do it with two at the same time. Jabra can do the same as well.

Ease of use of the earphones 4/10

Sony try hard and include more function but the hardware has only one touch surface. This results in trying to create function by tapping once, twice or thrice. It get so complicated that half the time I can't remember what each does. Including new functions is great but when you didn't device the hardware to be part of it, it makes memory skills requirement a must.

One thing to note, you are able to use one earbud and that is the only right side allowed.

Ease of use of the app 7/10

The app is nicely done. Not the best, but once you use it enough you will get to understand how to use it easily. I didn't put a very high score for this is because, firmware update via the app is really slow. No matter the connection speed of the data you are on.

Finally verdict, would I still pay the same price to get this Headset if given a choice? The answer would be No. The usability is very important as a wireless headset and since this is not even meant for sports and price as much as those on the market with water resistant ability, it is not worth. I am doubting to get another Sony headphones till they resolve the major usable issues.

If you add the wire and remove the mic, the headphone is perfect but not at this price.

Update 4th May 2020

Having turn off DSEE HX mode to test out the connection. Will update in a few days.