For a very long time, Bose has been the favourite among seekers of proper noise-cancelling headphones. The wheel seems to have turned. Sony has brought to the game a very worthy competitor in the new WH-1000XM3 noise-cancelling headphones.
Unbox Therapy and JimsReviewRoom have created stunning video reviews comparing the Sony WH-1000XM3 and the Bose QC 35 II. Watch the videos and read the rest of our story to find out why the Sony headphones are an excellent alternative to the Bose.
You can also check out this full-on spec matchup by RTINGS.com
What makes the Sony WH-1000XM3 Great
The Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones feature excellent noise cancelling ability with the use of their proprietary and specialised noise-cancelling processor QN1. Many reviewers reckon it is superior to the Bose QC 35. The adaptive noise-cancelling feature is super cool and works like a dream. It is always aware of your movement and adapts the amount of ambient sound you can hear. This is extremely useful when waiting for announcements at the airport or hearing traffic while walking in the city.
The sound reproduction is excellent with great resolution of detail, an exciting forward sound signature and deep warm bass. It handles frequencies from 4 Hz all the way up to 40 kHz, which classifies the WH-1000XM3 as a Hi-Res Audio product.
When travelling you always need a lot of play time so battery life is important. The WH-1000XM3 stuns with 30-hour battery life. This is far superior to the Bose QC 35 II with 20 hours of play time. The quick-charge capability is super useful too when on the go. A 10-minute charge will render 5 hours of play time.
What makes the Bose QC 35 II Great
The Bose QC 35 II has a more comfortable fit with more breathability, so you’d be comfortable wearing them for longer than the Sony. The sound reproduction is very good and although the Bose features less bass than the Sony, it has an overall more balanced sound that is easier on the ear over longer listening periods. Although not great compared to more high-end headphones, the Bose creates a more open sound stage than the Sony – better for critical listening.
On a connectivity front, the Bose QC 35 II features a fairly standard multiple devices Bluetooth pairing. The Sony, on the other hand, lacks big time in this field being able to pair with only one device at a time. This scores points for the Bose. It must be mentioned though that the Sony WH-1000XM3 features NFC (near field communication) Bluetooth pairing which makes pairing compatible devices easier and faster than with the Bose.
