The Sony WH-1000X M3 over-ear, noise-cancelling headphones are the third iteration of Sony’s already great 1000X series. Just as it seemed as though Sony would slip behind the rapidly improving competition, however, the 1000X M3s arrived in 2018 and rectified almost every issue the series has had so far, with 29990 ₹ price. But after 2 years, it is available on the online market in India at around 19990 ₹. Although Sony launched its new WH-1000XM4 in 2020 with 29990 ₹ with improvements. But are 1000XM3 still worth it to buy?
Let’s break down both pairs to see which emerges on top.
The two headsets look nearly identical — Sony hasn’t been too adventurous on that front — but the incremental improvements are not to be overlooked. Changes come with sacrifices though, so you may ultimately find yourself reaching for the old man instead of the new-comer.
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| SONY WH-1000XM3 |
Both pairs of noise-cancelling headphones offer touch controls on the right ear cup that let you play, pause, adjust the volume, and skip tracks with a series of taps and swipes. Controls have stayed largely the same, though the sensitivity is night and day. Where the Sony WH-1000XM3 was extremely sensitive and often suffered from accidental inputs, the WH-1000XM4 is the opposite. Both pairs are equipped with same HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1, noise-cancelling power is great. Having a dedicated NC processor also ensures the reproduction of your music is never compromised due to processor performance.
But new XM4 is using a new algorithm, the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 then applies noise-cancelling processing in real-time to a range of acoustic environments. Working together with a new Bluetooth Audio SoC (System on Chip), it senses and adjusts to music and noise signals, as well as acoustic characteristics between the driver unit and ears, at over 700 times per second.
Both headsets are tied when it comes to software features afforded by the Sony Headphones Connect app (available on iOS and Android). You may create EQ profiles or use presets, and can tap into Sony 360 Reality Audio. Sony’s app is also a must-have if you want to create noise-cancelling profiles for different environments or prioritize connection stability over sound quality.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 also feature sensors that detect whether or not you’re wearing the headset. Playback stops as soon as the sensors recognize that you’ve removed the headset, which turns out to be the quickest way to stop the music. As soon as you speak to someone, Speak-to-Chat automatically stops the music and lets in ambient sound so you can conduct a conversation—handy if you want to keep your headphones on, or your hands are full. So, you are missing out of some helpful features in XM3.
Deciding which pair have better the connection quality relies on what phone is in your pocket. Apple users will probably prefer the Sony WH-1000XM4 for the multipoint connectivity. However, Android users may be tempted to grab the older WH-1000XM3 as AAC just isn’t great on non-Apple devices.
the two pairs are not exactly identical in their sound emphasis. The WH-1000XM4 offers more of a neutral-leaning sound, while the WH-1000XM3 boosts the bass by around 5dB, which makes a perceptible difference. Ultimately, this means that drums and bass guitars will sound a bit louder on the older pair, and it might be the go-to for EDM lovers.
Claimed battery life is the same on both headsets - up to 30 hours with noise cancelling switched on, 38 with it off - although the MX4 handles things a little differently that will make life easier. Both can be charged from flat to full in around three hours, using USB-C. But, the XM4 is capable of being recharged for around five hours of playback with just 10 minutes of charge time.
Both devices are compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri voice control.
Final Decision.
If only the answer were quite that simple. The new Sony WH-1000XM4 can do just about everything its predecessor can. We tip our hats to the WH-1000XM4, which really is the king of the castle.
But The Sony WH-1000XM3 is no slouch and beats just about everything else on the market. In fact, Amazon has reduced the price of the Sony WH-1000XM3 significantly, making it an absolute steal for premium noise-cancelling headphones. You are not missing out a lot in WH-1000XM3. So if you are looking for best in class noise-cancelling headphones under 20k ₹ in India, then you can definitely go for 1000XM3.
But if you are enthusiastic, who wants the latest Tech. available in the market and willing to pay the higher price, then you should go for 1000XM4 with quite new features.
Either way, you are getting an excellent pair of ANC wireless headphones that will make your money worth it. Peace!
