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 each individual element combined so well.

• +

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

• -

  Touch controls don’t always work perfectly

If you can overlook a few small drawbacks, the MDR-1000X is a top-notch wireless noise-canceling headphone that's stacked with features and sounds excellent.

• +

  The Sony MDR-1000X is an excellent-sounding, comfortable wireless headphone with effective noise-canceling that measures up to Bose's for muffling ambient noise. It has good battery life and some nifty extra features geared toward frequent travelers.

• -

  Not great as a headset; its adaptive noise-canceling is too noticeable at times.

The Sony MDR-1000X wireless headphones offer solid audio performance and noise cancellation, but the industry leader costs less.

• +

  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.

The Sony MDR-1000X are some of the best we've seen. If you're looking for one of the best pairs of Bluetooth headphones with great active noise cancelling, look no further.

• +

  Great ANC, Sound quality, Battery life

• -

  Price, Known creaking issues

There is no question that Sony has made an excellent wireless active noise cancelling headphone in the MDR-1000X. Sound quality is right up there with the best at its price range, its Bluetooth connectivity is stable and also seemingly has no sound quality sacrifices while its noise cancelling...

• +

  + Excellent sound, easy connectivity and state-of-the-art active noise cancelling performance coupled with well thought out convenience and safety features. Bass quality stands out for its depth and tunefulness. At its price, an excellent buy.

• -

  – The Sony MDR-1000X may seem too big for some buyers; there is also a higher level of creaks when moving one’s head during listening, which may bother some more than others.

Convenience is the number one thing with Sony's 1000Xs. Any time I'm going out, I pick them up ahead of the dozens of in-ear headphones I own, even though the latter are smaller, lighter, and often sound better.

• +

  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

With some fancy new technology, the Sony MDR-100X are pretty fantastic at noise-cancelling, but the overall sound quality is disappointing.

• +

  Excellent noise cancellation, Clever environmental awareness modes, Sony’s LDAC streams hi-res audio over Bluetooth with compatible source

• -

  Sound lacks sparkle in the highs and presence in low mids, Muddy sound in passive mode, Heavy build can get fatiguing over long periods

Times are changing for headphone reviewers. For years, a review of any headphone with active noise canceling had to include two things: a discussion about how much worse the headphones sound with ANC activated, and the mandatory “while not as good as Bose…” caveat.…

The world around us is a pretty noisy place, the sounds of cars horning, engines revving, people shouting. These are just a few things we now come to call noise pollution, it can affect our work believe it or not.

• +

  Sound quality, Portability, Gestures

• -

  None

The Sony MDR-1000X sets a new high bar for Bluetooth ANC headphones. They might not quite match the Bose QC 35 when it comes to high-end noise cancellation, nor for staying on your head – but when it comes to sound quality they’re unbeatable.

I own both MDR1000-X and QC35s. Bought the Sonys first and was very happy until my first long haul flight when I realised they cannot be used in noise-cancelling mode only, as they switch off after about 10 minutes with no audio input.

• +

  Bluetooth sound quality, effectiveness of noise cancelling, very comfortable

• -

  Auto power off

Before we can even talk about Noise Cancelling, sound quality needs to be covered and these are terrific. When they first came, I was a little nervous trying them for the first time. I bought them for the NC features and thought sound quality was going to suffer.

Finally an excellent sounding noise canceling headphone that isn't made by Bose. While Bose N.C. headphones are excellent I refuse to buy their products as by and large I'm highly unimpressed by them and refuse to give my money to their advertising campaign.

• +

  Noise cancelingComfortSound

• -

  Finicky when controlling the cans via swiping and tapping.

Build Quality You cannot expect to pay 400 USD for a NC wireless headphones, then after a couple of uses you can hear creaks all over, thus defeating the NC itself.

• +

  - NC

• -

  - - Creaking Noise all over the headphones after little use

The headphones are very good. The Bluetooth has a long range I bought this headphones to use on the plane. The noise cancelling is good but not excellent I'm happier with my Bose noise cancelling ear buds. Also they're a little less money and not as bulky as the Sony.

Have had Bose in the past and this product both works and looks better! Don’t fall for name brand.

I use these headphones when playing my guitar! The sound quality is impeccable, noise cancelling function is epic, and the ambient noise ‘voice’ means someone can grab my attention without having to take the headphones off

I bought these a month ago, mainly for use on plane journeys, and they are great to get rid on the constant noise of the plane! Also, I've used them for commuting and they give a great sound without the constant background noise.

Purchased these to use is a noisy office, noise cancelling is incredibly good.

• +

  Great sound, comfort, functions, battery life and noise cancellation. Am hooked now into this quality of cans that when they do spoil eventually, I would have to fork out money again just to get this same quality back.

• -

  Might possibly be a little flimsy at the joints where it bends. Aesthetically very simple and sleek, could be "cooler".