The over-ear design and the integrated noise-canceling shields external noise sufficiently for my taste. The sound is very balanced, copes with different music styles and can also be customized via app. The wearing comfort is also convincing: I tested several models from other manufacturers in advance and found the perfect fitting headphones for me in the WH-1000XM3 - the pads in the earpiece are incredibly soft and I never had a disturbing feeling even when wearing them for a long time. Only the Sony are not waterproof, but this is not a real disadvantage for me personally, because I use my in-ears out. Conclusion: I would buy the Sony WH-1000XM3 again and again! It doesn't seem to remember the selected Equalizer setting. Have to reset most times I start to listen to music.

Given this history of constant innovation, it's hardly surprising to learn that the company has a strong reputation for headphone design. Iconic large-padded models like the MDR-V6 (introduced in 1985) have been a mainstay in living rooms and around the heads of pedestrians for generations now. And since then, the pace of development hasn't slowed. I had a similar experience with it while using the WF-1000XM4 as I did with the WH-1000XM4. Some songs benefit from the improved positioning of audio cues but it’s rather hit-and-miss and can feel a bit forced. That’s an impressive list, but the improvements don’t stop there. The charging case can now be topped up wirelessly, Sony’s Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE), which upscales lossy audio formats, has been upgraded, and the buds have had an IPX4 rating for water resistance slapped on them. The headphones shed about 1 ounce (22 grams) off their predecessors' design. That might not seem like a big deal, but considering you’ll be wearing these for an extended period of time like, say, a transcontinental flight, every ounce helps.Sound Quality – The Sony's tend to offer slightly better audio compared with the QC 35 II, although this isn't a clear win for the XM3.

Essentially, there’s nothing to complain about here. The clarity and detail offered means that a recording’s sonic flaws can become exposed, but that’s hardly the Sonys’ fault. The generally crisp, sparkly treble is ample compensation as far as we’re concerned.Being able to customise how much sound makes its way into your ears in those four scenarios is very useful, and the noise cancellation on offer is top drawer. It isn’t quite class-leading – Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds still hold that crown – but it was able to drown out a sizable chunk of the noise on a busy train full of jubilant England football fans, which is no mean feat. That being said, the XM4 are a clear improvement over the XM3 across the board and although no longer the best noise-cancelling headphones (thanks, in the main to the WH-1000XM5) there still seems to be plenty of life left in the model.

Sony has improved the quality and increased the quantity of microphones used for voice calls, so whoever you’re talking to should hear you more clearly. But if you’re more concerned with keeping the outside world at bay, Sony has also improved its already superb noise-cancelling. You can now set the function to be permanently on, even when not playing anything, meaning that you can use the noise-cancelling to quieten everything down for a peaceful nap. All that effort has paid off, because the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones offer a clear sonic upgrade over the preceding pair, to the extent that the M2s, which we loved at the time, sound closed-in and almost dull by comparison. It works consistently well and can be customised to suit your needs. Out of the box, voice detection sensitivity adjusts automatically based on your environment, but you can choose low or high sensitivity if you find this doesn’t work for you. I wear glasses half the time, which means the headphones’ cushions don’t form a perfect seal around my ears. To my ears, the Optimizer makes a difference in improving the quality of noise cancellation. One of the WF-1000XM4’s most useful features is Speak-to-Chat. It debuted in the over-ear WH-1000XM4 and works in exactly the same manner here. When toggled on in the Headphones Connect app, it automatically pauses your music and cranks ambient sound right up whenever it detects your voice, allowing you to have a conversation without taking the buds out of your ears.Noise cancellation – We've talked about this already in the context of the WH-1000XM3, but what does it mean? Basically, when you listen to any set of headphones, external noise will intrude to some degree. No headphones are entirely shielded from the outside world, and this can often cause serious losses of audio quality. Designers achieve this in a couple of ways. Firstly, they use shapes and materials to manipulate sound. The “ear muffs” associated with older headphones are there to screen out external noise. But that can only go so far. More modern noise cancellation technology takes an “active” approach. In this case, headphones detect external noise, and then create a sonic antidote to cancel it out. Think of it like “anti-noise.” The result is often a dramatic improvement, with annoying drones and buzzing eliminated, and this doesn't just benefit music fans. It's also a massive benefit for phone conversations. So if you intend to use your headphones with a smartphone, noise cancellation is a handy feature indeed. The WF-1000XM4 deliver the goods in the sound quality department as well. Like their predecessors, they communicate dynamics in an enthralling fashion. But they nail every other important element of musical presentation, too.

However, the XM4 take sound quality to another level, producing a wider soundstage and uncovering even more layers of detail than the XM3. With the feature on and “automatic switching based on actions” enabled in the app, the earbuds will switch between noise cancelling and ambient sound modes depending on what you’re doing at the time. Like the Bose 700, the WH1000XM3 uses touch panels on the earcups to control play, pause, skip and volume. Buttons and sliders would be an easier means of control, perhaps, but less elegant design-wise. Take a bit of time to get used to the touch controls and you'll probably end up liking them, despite the occasional missed or misinterpreted tap. Further controls and customisation options are available via the Headphones Connect app, available for Android and iOS. The options contained within aren’t terribly useful, but if you want to tweak how much noise-cancelling is deployed for certain activities, or disable the auto-off feature, this is where you need to do it. Their audio skills are hugely impressive, too. These Sonys are wonderfully rich, thanks to bass performance that's full, but not overwhelming by any means, along with meticulous attention to sonic detail. There is an EQ available in Sony's app if you want to tweak things, but I am not sure it's needed.Finally, I put on the Sony WH-1000XM3 and stood by a busy roundabout, teeming with noisy London buses and taxis. Not one vehicle managed to interrupt my music, which I didn’t even have to set to loud. Oh, and wind noise – bane of every pair of NC headphones I’ve ever tested – is much less of an issue. So both headphones offer sensational noise-cancelling, and both feature 40mm drivers – but what about serious audio ability? Are the XM4 worth the extra money? In word, yes, and here's why... Should you choose to use volume controls instead of one of the above options, a single tap raises your volume while long-pressing decreases it. Due to the way the WF-1000XM4 handle noise cancellation, I didn’t mind sacrificing ambient sound control in favour of volume control. It would be nice to access all three sets of controls simultaneously, however. The QN1 chip also benefits audio performance. It can handle 32-bit audio signal processing, and includes a DAC and analogue amplifier on the chip. Sony tells me this leads to a higher signal-to-noise ratio and lower distortion. All the better to make the most of higher quality audio codecs, such as LDAC and aptX HD. While it will connect with each of my computers etc, it refuses to connect to my partner's MacBook Pro even when its little blue light is flashing indicating it is pairing mode - it just doesn't appear in the list of nearby devices. Have given up trying to get a connection.