I used to work at an electronics store that sold a pretty large selection of headphones. Without question, the Bose QC series was one of our top sellers. Although the noise canceling was awesome, I just couldn’t dig the lifeless sound. It seems as though the Bose line has evolved since then, but still, nothing I’d write home about – especially the wireless models that followed. SBC (or AAC for that matter) just suck for wireless audio. AptX is not bad, but still not quite like having a cable. It wasn’t until CanJam NYC 2017 that I found myself blown away by a wireless NC model, the Sony MDR-1000x. I decided to order a set when they recently went on sale for $350. Only a few weeks after ownership, I also picked up a Sony NW-A35 to test out and really use LDAC. The pairing is everything I had hoped it to be.
Build Quality:
While many headphone companies are switching over to lightweight metals and woods, Sony keeps things 2001 with a mostly plastic/faux build. With that said, the MDR-1000x doesn't give off any sense of "cheap." The faux leather looks ok and serves as a suitable surface for the swipe controls (more on that later.) The band is what looks to be aluminum with a discrete, but comfortable amount of padding. Overall, I like the build quality despite the plastic. Everything seems reliable, ergonomic, and incredibly discreet. Flashy, these are not; which is good for the NYC environment I use them in.
Noise Cancelation:
The noise canceling features are phenomenal, and the calibration feature is one of the best things to happen in the NC world. On my commute, I usually encounter lots of street noise for the first 15 minutes of walking, 30 minutes of being on a subway, and another 5 minutes of street walking before I’m at my office. Being able to quickly re-calibrate for each phase of my commute is worth the 10 seconds it takes. Additionally, you can quickly and easily turn off the NC feature and let in external sound using “ambient mode” which utilizes the external microphones to let sound in – or voice mode, which blocks some sound but tries to let voices in. You can also briefly disable NC and music by putting your palm over the right ear cup. This feature is incredibly handy for me – listening to train announcements or interacting with a store clerk. Sony deserves props for all of this, as I feel the NC industry has been stagnant as of late. Sony has rejuvenated the category and will likely force Bose into bettering their offering to remain king of the NC options.
Sound Quality:
I feel these sound pretty awful powered off, in full passive mode. The sound is veiled, some of the liveliness of the headphones powered on is simply lost. When powered up, they sound phenomenal, so that's what this review will be based on. Powered on, the 1000x signature is a slight V shape that seems to work well for most genres.
Bass:
Much to my surprise, the bass was full and rather dynamic. Sony certainly adds a bit of emphasis to this area, but not to an uncomfortable or bass head level. I did encounter a little bit of distortion with more demanding tracks.
Midrange:
I 100% expected these to have sucked out mids, and I was almost wrong. For BT headphones, especially compared to the Bose QC line, mids are much more present and emotional. Vocals have great weight, despite existing in a mild-V shaped headphone.
Treble:
Not the strong suit here, but maintain a decent enough level of resolution and reach. They extend just north of neutral. With slower paced music, things can get quite sparkly – especially if you are using LDAC. Standard SBC Bluetooth via my Pixel sucked out that quality.
Bluetooth and NFC Performance:
SBC bluetooth is awful -- we all know that. With that being said, the 1000x has excellent tonal characteristics that make SBC tolerable. When paired with an AptX or LDAC device, the sound quality improves greatly -- near cabled level. As the info stands here on 4/6/17, Android O is bringing LDAC support (as long as phone manufacturers put it to us.) I imagine that this will do wonders for the wireless audio industry, finally making it worthwhile for enthusiasts. NFC pairing is certainly the way to go with the 1000x, especially if you plan on using them with more than one player. You can simply tap your device to the left earcup and be done.
Touch controls and other minor thoughts:
I don't like touch controls. If any product of any type comes out with a tactile variant, I go with that. The 1000x was the only time I broke that habit, but I had listened to them BEFORE learning about the touch controls, so give me a pass. Swipe up and down (with one finger, I noticed it seems to matter) for volume, back and forth for tracks, tap for play/pause. Easy. My only complaint is that it is a bit too sensitive. I always seem to hear a beep or two while just putting these on. Doesn't appear to impact the experience, but something to note. I know touch is all the rage, and Sony executed it decent enough, but give me buttons!
Final Thoughts:
Sony has stepped up their headphone game as of late, and the MDR-1000x is just another demonstration of this. The NC is not only adaptable, but performance is industry leading. That -- combined with an excellent sound signature and design, make for an easy recommendation. I look forward to what the wireless market will have to offer as more options with LDAC and AptX-HD start to land. This is truly an exciting time for the headphone world.