Sony WH-1000XM2 review

The WH-1000XM2 has the same minimalistic design as its predecessor. For the most part, reviewers found them well-made and very comfortable to wear even after extended use thanks to the padded bridge and faux-leather earcups.

Though they seemed fairly sturdy, some reviewers worried the plastic arms of the headphones and hinges might break if they applied enough force.

Like its predecessor, these headphones use touch controls on the right ear cup to adjust volume, control playback, and answer or end calls. Critics found they generally worked well, although some felt they lacked responsiveness.

In addition, they discovered the touch controls stopped working when connecting the included 3.5mm cable to their phone.

While Sony left the design more or less alone, they made multiple tweaks and additions internally.

They now have upgraded Bluetooth to handle high-res audio and an NFC chip for quicker pairing. Critics recommend using these with Android devices that support the aptX HD standard or LDAC codec. Luckily, reviewers add they still sound great with an iPhone.

So how does it sound? With 40mm drivers for each ear, most reviewers were impressed with their overall robustness and volume. In fact, some said there is almost too much volume thanks to the efficient noise-cancellation.

They noted some sound leakage, but it only happens at higher volume settings. In general, most had no issue with audio quality.

And what about the noise cancellation? Many considered the previous generation best in class, and Sony upped the ante with the WH-1000XM2. Whether they were walking down a busy street, on a crowded train, or on a plane, critics were impressed with how well the headphones reduced or even eliminated noise altogether.

This is mostly thanks to the improved Optimizer feature. Not only does it scan your head to measure the seal, factoring in sunglasses or hairstyle, it also comes with a pressure sensor so it can adjust the drivers based on the barometric pressure in your immediate surrounding. Most experts were quite happy with its calibrations.

What impressed them more than the noise reduction and elimination was its ability to allow some noises through in Ambient Noise mode. They were able to hear announcements over the PA, giving them time to switch to Quick Attention mode by cupping their ear. Critics found they used this mode quite often as it allowed them to quickly listen to external audio without taking off the headphones.

It also comes with its own smart features to measure whether the wearer is at rest, walking, or in transit. Depending on the mode, it would adjust noise cancellation accordingly. For example, when critics were in “Staying” mode, the headphones would let some voices in so they could know if a co-worker needed their attention. When walking, it would allow more ambient noise in so they could be aware of traffic.

While good in practice, not everyone appreciated these self-adjustments and some found it to be somewhat inconsistent. This system can be turned off if you don’t like it.

So do all these features kill the battery life? Experts were able to get up to 30 hours wireless or up to 40 when wired. Quick charge allowed around 70 minutes of play time with just a 10-minute charge.

Despite a few small issues, overall reviewers highly recommend the Sony WH-1000XM2. Tech Radar states, “...the Sony WH-1000XM2 are exceptional business-grade noise-canceling headphones...not only do they keep sound out extremely well, but they’ll make incoming audio sound great as well.” Pocket Lint adds, “...Sony has created perhaps the best noise-canceling over-ear headphones we’ve ever tested.”