Our quick take
Alternatives to consider
Sony WH-1000XM2 - 5.0 / 5
- The best Bluetooth headphones 2018: top on/over-ear wireless headphones
Quality design doesn’t depend on plastics
- Folding with travel case Premium finish with leather ear cup coverings Design follows original model Weigh 275g
Clever noise-cancellation and ambient modes make these headphones
- Active noise-cancellation (ANC) Ambient sound modes Great voice detection option
Sony Headphones app enables the automatic switching
- Detects move via smartphone motion Automates the whole process EQ control and more in app
Auto mode switching has a bit of a problem
Sony WH-1000XM2 performance is excellent
- 30 hours battery life 4 hour recharge
Should I buy the MDR-1000X or WH-1000XM2?
To recap
Combining excellent sound quality with the best noise cancellation you’ll find, Sony’s twist here is giving you more control through the app and enabling automatic switching. That could be a little smoother in implementation, but that doesn’t detract from what is an excellent pair of headphones.
