Sony MDR 1000x was launched in 2017 and promises to offer 20 hours of battery life with great noise canceling capabilities. It has an active Ambient noise canceling feature that can filter noise and allow listening to the surroundings or voice.
With 2020 approaching and many newly launched noise canceling wireless headphones now available in the market. This is the Sony MDR 1000x review 18 months later.
Build Quality
Having used the MDR1000x in countless flights, trains and different cities and countries – it survives the abuse and is truly durable. The headphones continue to work with fair amount of drizzle and snow. No problems with the headband, mic or the drivers in different environments.
I rarely use the included case and throw it in the bag by folding it. From the daily usage and the beating, I can confirm they are a rugged pair of ANC headphones.
There are a few scuff marks on the surface of the cans, but nothing as such that makes it look bad. The ear cushions are still like new and I use the headphones everywhere from a cold Irish night and on a hot Indian summer day.
The original 3.5mm cable that comes with the headphone also is of very good quality but I broke it while using in a flight. This was stupid on my part else the cable would have survived even today haha!
Audio Quality and App support
The Sony MDR 1000x has impeccable specs on paper for 2017. The audio quality delivered via the mm drivers is very good. The bass is tight and punchy, mids are bright but the vocals seem slightly suppressed. The headphone is very loud so its not recommended to listen at full volume to protect your ears.
Bonus Tip:
There is a built-in audio Optimiser that adjusts the sound and ANC quality. Wear the headphones as usual and hold the Noise canceling button to start the optimiser.
Where it lacks is App Support. Sony never published any official app to connect and explore the features of the headphone like BOSE or for Sony’s new MDR 1000xm3 headphones.
Comfort and Listening Experience
The clamping pressure on the head is still strong as ever and can be a concern for few people who don’t like too much pressure. The good side about that being the headphone never slips while walking or tilting your head.
They’re still my go-to headphones if I want to listen to anything and anywhere. They’re perfect on a cold evenings though your ears can quickly become warm on a hot summer day. It provides no ventilation to the ears and the cups collect sweat on the edges so make sure you clean them regularly.
One of the best features is the attention mode. You can cover the right headphone with your hand and can immediately listen to your surroundings. Its a truly helpful feature and works flawlessly every single time!
Calling and battery performance
Calling is where the MDR1000x really does a poor job. If you’re talking on the phone, the person on the other side cannot hear you clearly. Sometimes I need to cover the mic with one hand to be heard clearly on the other side.
The microphones are positioned high up and hence are far away from your mouth. The MDR 1000xm3 seems to have better performance but is nowhere close to the performance on the BOSE headphones.
The battery life is great and almost delivers 20 hours of listening as advertised. I charge them once a week via the low power mode on Xiaomi Power Bank. The headphones have a voice prompt but does not provide accurate battery percentages.
Overall Verdict – Is it a good buy?
Yes, setting aside the poor microphone, the headphones have proved worthy for the price paid. I purchased these for Rs. 24000 (300 Euro) from a Croma store in Hyderabad.
Bought the Sony after reading many reviews and watching the JimsReviewRoom review video on YouTube (please subscribe to his amazing channel).
I was looking at the Sony MDR 1000xm3, but the upgrade that it offers is not highly significant and these still work as new. Maybe I will upgrade if Sony launches something truly great!
Thank you so much for reading this article and you can read our SoundMagic ES18 earphone review here.
