I heard a lot about Sony’s over-ear 1000 XM2 headphones. I never had the chance to try them, and now they’re up to the second version, the 1000 XM2, and I’ve been using them for a few weeks now. My experience with them has been great.
Design
I actually like the design of the 1000XM2 headphones. They make a subtle statement. There’s no overbearing Sony logo. I have the champagne gold color. And even though I’ve been rockin’ the headphones with makeup on, I have been able to maintain their color. You will notice that many headphones look like these now. This minimal look is catching on. Even after several weeks of use, the headphones have remained intact. I recommend using the carrying case as much as possible.
Experience and Features
Comfort
During the summer, over-ear headphones aren’t my favorite, otherwise, I use them as earmuffs during the winter. They serve a dual purpose of headphones and earmuffs. But I was psyched to have the 1000XM2 because I heard they sound phenomenal. I feel that most over-ear headphones will start to cause fatigue after a while. The XM2 are light considering their size but are still a bit heavy for me. The I could go a few hours with them on without having to adjust them. Since this summer has been insanely humid (and rainy), I found myself adjusting them more often when I was outside. Lately, I’ve been wearing them indoors more than out.
Sound and Connectivity –
The 1000XM2 are easy to pair. The 1000 XM2 have Sony’s Adaptive Sound Control (with the Sony Headphones Connect app), which is supposed to allow you to adapt the sound to your environment. What that means is that you can adjust the level of noise cancellation based on your needs.
While I don’t use these for phone calls often, the voice focus mode is great when doing so, that way you don’t end up yelling at aloud because of the noise canceling.
On the more technical and audiophile side, you may not know that the 1000 XM2 have codecs to help your listening experience. A great phone to test with is the LG V30, which has a quad DAC. AptX is one of the more common codecs. These headphones have AptX HD, which is supposed to sound better. While I don’t know all of the specifics myself, I do know it enhances music sound by controlling the audio balance, which allows for better detail (sound). Music sounds richer and more natural all at once.
At full volume, you will get some sound bleeding. For the most part, there is a good balance of bass and voice. Neither one drowns the other one out. You don’t need to be an audiophile to enjoy these. If you enjoy the loud sound, you will have a blast with these.
Battery Life
I mostly use the headphones wirelessly, so decent battery life is key for me. I use the headphones in 2-3 hours spans for the most part, which give me plenty of time in between to charge them. I ended up charging them every 9 days or so, which didn’t inconvenience me at all. They charge quickly too. Thumbs up in the battery department.
Price and Availability
The 1000XM2 headphones are available in 2 colors; black, and (champagne) gold. They have dropped in price since it’s been almost a year since their release. I’ve seen them as low as $265.99
Verdict
I was not disappointed at all in these. While the gestures may be a bit glitchy at times, the sound and comfort overrule that small nuisance. If the price or design is not your style, you may want to go with the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2. The noise-canceling is not as strong, but neither is the price.
