Sony WH-1000XM2

What are the Sony WH-1000XM2?

In 2016, the Trusted Reviews award for Best Headphones went to the Sony MDR-1000X, excellent wireless and noise-cancelling headphones with an intelligent set of features. The Sony WH-1000XM2 are their successor, and they’re a little better in almost every way.

The market is tougher now, and Sony faces fierce competition from the Bose QuietComfort 35 II and B&W PX. But the new 1000X get so many things right it’s hard to fault them. They sound great, the noise cancellation is effective, and most of the features are genuinely useful.


If you’re looking for an everyday pair of headphones, these are hard to beat.

Sony WH-1000XM2 – Design

The MDR-1000X had an excellent design (like DENON DJ HP1100 ) that didn’t need fixing, so Sony has basically left it alone. That’s fine, since it meant the company could spare some resources towards expanding the 1000X range – check out the Sony WF-1000X wireless earbuds.

Anyway, the Sony WH-1000XM2 are more of a facelift than a makeover – there are a few minor improvements over the original, but unless you’re really looking for them you probably won’t notice.

They still look very smart, with the same streamlined silhouette and hardly any branding. The body is mainly plastic, with polished metal in the headband and good quality synthetic leather at the ears.

The paintjob is a little different: the beige version is now closer to champagne gold, while the black version is more gunmetal greyish blue. This adds a little visual flair, but the overall effect is no less subtle. If you want something with an executive vibe, the 1000XM2 will do nicely.

The synthetic leather on the outside of the ear cups has been swapped for a more tactile alternative. It’s less smooth to the touch – some might say it’s more plasticky – but I feel it’s thicker and tougher. I welcome this change, because the smooth finish of the original always seemed at risk of scratching. Now I feel a little less bad throwing them straight into my bag without first using the protective carry case.


What hasn’t changed is the polyurethane foam stuffed into the headband and ear pads. They’re as squishy as ever, and the 1000XM2 are as comfortable as their predecessors. Clamp force is just right; they hold the sides of your head but never squeeze. As before, the headband expands with satisfying clicks. The earcups can fold inwards on hinges, as well as swivel flat.


The buttons have been streamlined. Power/pairing remains where it is, but noise cancelling and ambient sound adjustment have been merged into one. That makes it a little harder to press the wrong thing, which might sound minor, but there’s value in being able to just get on with your listening.

Sony WH-1000XM2 – Features

The improvements to the features list is a lot less subtle. There have been quite a lot of tweaks and additions.

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The Bluetooth has been upgraded. The WH-1000XM2 are compatible with aptX HD, a higher quality Bluetooth format that can handle hi-res audio up to 24bit/48kHz. LDAC is also included, and it can handle 24bit/96kHz, but it’s a proprietary Sony format, limited to Sony devices. The left ear has an NFC chip for quicker Bluetooth pairing.

The touch-sensitive control pad on the right ear cup has been tightened up, so your inputs feel more accurate and responsive.TheQuick Attention mode, where you hold your palm to the right ear to mute, remains unchanged.


The Ambient Sound feature is smarter. It still allows audio passthrough so you can be more aware of the outside world, but now it’s adaptive. The strength of noise cancellation will vary according to what you’re doing – sitting around, walking around, riding in vehicles or running for the bus.