[tdx]

Thanks for the write up. I have a couple of questions too:
- can you check if you can connect to more than one device and then switch between them without having to disconnect each time? The new MDR1000X are a pain with this so wanted to know if thats also the case with WFs.
- Some videos make it look like there are some constantly blinking lights when you're using the earbuds. Is that the case?

Thanks!

 

[joshnor713]

It's not on the bestbuy website, but I saw three pairs of them stocked at my local Best Buy (Everett, WA) yesterday. I feel like Sony didn't really push this one, the employee had never heard of the model when I asked for them.

Whoa, I live near Everett. Did they sell to you?? I'll go there right now and buy them, lol

 

[Tim Le]

Whoa, I live near Everett. Did they sell to you?? I'll go there right now and buy them, lol

Haha that's pretty cool, I didn't end up buying them because I just bought some other IEMs here on head-fi. If you do get them, let me know how they sound compared to some of your other gear.

 

[rkw]

- can you check if you can connect to more than one device and then switch between them without having to disconnect each time? The new MDR1000X are a pain with this so wanted to know if thats also the case with WFs.

AFAIK, no Sony wireless headphone has this feature, and there is no mention of it in the WF-1000X instruction guide: http://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000x/v1/en/index.html

I agree it's a hassle. It can switch with NFC, but that isn't useful for switching between phone and laptop. It's a glaring omission in Sony products compared to competitors.

 

[theGatMan]

Looks like they won't be widely available from mainstream outlets in the USA till the 20th of October. Will pick up a pair when I visit Tokyo next week.

 

[joshnor713]

Haha that's pretty cool, I didn't end up buying them because I just bought some other IEMs here on head-fi. If you do get them, let me know how they sound compared to some of your other gear.

Ugh, went there and they were there. Went to check out and the damn thing wouldn't ring up. They checked their system and of course it said unreleased and cannot sell. Freakin crap, frustrating. Why did Sony push back the release date.

 

[DaejeonCitizen]

Ugh, went there and they were there. Went to check out and the damn thing wouldn't ring up. They checked their system and of course it said unreleased and cannot sell. Freakin crap, frustrating. Why did Sony push back the release date.

Wow, that's annoying. I'm going to go and check out the Sony Store in Seoul next week and am planning to buy if I like what I hear. They're pretty expensive here though at $265.

 

[rebelx]

I'm very interested in this model, solely because of the active noise canceling.

How would these fare on a train with high pitched screeching? I know the Sony MDR1000x did a fairly decent job muffling the sound (definitely better than the Bose QC15). Would tthese be better?

 

[ubs28]

I heard these and they are very good for the price.

But I didn’t buy them since I need more than 3 hours of battery life.

However, you get alot of sound for such little money for an IEM.

Now I have to try their new wireless headphone (there is a new version of the MDR-1000X apparently)

 

[ricthaman]

Upon reading the responses (thx guys!) I've checked two things:

- Connection with 2 devices: I connected them to my mac and my iphone, and in order to switch I just needed to connect to them from the other device. They will automatically disconnect from the other, and voila! So let's say I'm connected and streaming to them from my mac. When I go on my iPhone's BT settings, select them from the list, they will disconnect from the mac and connect to the iPhone. It's quite simple actually.

- NC compared to MDR-1000X: The MDR-1000X is more effective in it's NC, however, the WF-1000X's are sealing IEM's meaning they will block sound naturally as well. So they do eventually block more sound, but not due to the NC solely. The NC is nice for annoying background noise such as transportation and office noise. Also, the speech functionality is really nice since I work in an office and I can hear when people are talking to me without taking out the buds.

- As far as the blinking lights are concerned: I actually need to check that, as I never see myself wearing them. I will try to get back on this! If I forget, just ask me again

Lastly: the companion app from Sony is not finished yet. On their website it states that a version with EQ options will come available in October this year. I'm really hoping they put features like clear bass and VPT in there, that'd be awesome!

I will update the OP with some real-life pictures.

Cheers!

 

[ezekiel77]

Thanks for the info. Might pick one up in the future. Always wanted to try a true wireless but only recently did the big boys come to play. I think Bose has one out too.

 

[Ajay John]

Wow! I have been actively tracking all reviews for these IEMs and am glad you have opened a discussion thread for this. Thanks for your review!
I had a couple of queries that I was hoping to ask you (some might even be a bit noobish).
Kindly help out if you can clarify any of them.

1. Does the Sony companion app have an option to upgrade the IEM firmware when new releases are out? I know bose and many other manufacturers already do this via their apps and even add new features over time, but I do not have experience with Sonys and also heard that the MDR-1000X never got any updates to its firmware. I may be wrong though.
2. Do you think the WF-1000X has a secure enough fit to be used while running or any other exercises? The marketing material somehow never mentioned anything about any kind of sports usage.
3. Does the lack of the so-called Hi-Res audio codecs like LDAC or APTx in these IEMS, result in any evident loss of quality in regular day to day use? (Considering that these support only SBC and AAC)

@Ritchaman: Would you be able to answer any of these, please?

 

[ricthaman]

@Ritchaman: Would you be able to answer any of these, please?

Sure!

1: I have no clue. At the moment, I can't find such an option. However, since the case has a USB connection and BT is too unreliable for FW upgrades, I guess they would do this over USB. I'm wondering about this too, since it seems they've delayed the release which might mean a newer FW will ship on release day. Obviously I would want to upgrade mine.

2: This is a hard one to answer, since ears are different person to person. However, mine don't fall out. It's strange and illogical, because you actually expect them to fall out by the way they sit. But they just don't. I've moved my head in every direction, shaking it and everything, but they stayed in place perfectly. Didn't even loose the seal! I don't know how they did it (I suspect the little 'wing' which sits in your ear) but it works perfect for moving about, and walking around (even with a fast pace).

3: To answer this question, I've set them up to use SBC on my MacBook. The sound lacks punch, dynamics and detail. It's perfectly listenable though, but when switching back to AAC streaming the difference is immediately noticeable. So to answer your question: yes, the loss in quality is evident. But this is due to the very nature of SBC vs. AAC. However, for day to day use you still get the same benefits as far as SQ is concerned. It's just that they're even better with AAC.

A personal sidenote: Since the other models in the series seem to have Apt-X streaming aboard, it wouldn't surprise me if they delayed these to add support for Apt-X (remember that Sony's own phones/players don't even support AAC BT streaming). On the other hand, perhaps the lack of Apt-X was done just to save costs.

I hope I've answered your questions

Cheers!

 

[rkw]

- Connection with 2 devices: I connected them to my mac and my iphone, and in order to switch I just needed to connect to them from the other device. They will automatically disconnect from the other, and voila! So let's say I'm connected and streaming to them from my mac. When I go on my iPhone's BT settings, select them from the list, they will disconnect from the mac and connect to the iPhone. It's quite simple actually.

The feature that we're talking about is easier and doesn't require going into settings or manually switching. Simply hit pause/stop (e.g. on Spotify) on the first device and start playing on the second device, and it automatically switches. The Bose QC 35 and other headphones have this feature. It will connect to 2 devices simultaneously and automatically switches between them depending on which one is playing audio.

 

[ricthaman]

I am aware of that feature, and no, the Sony's don't have this. Maybe with an update, who knows

But switching isn't too much of a hassle either, that's all I was aiming at

Cheers!