MDR-1000X

"The bass response is solid, better than the AKG K550's by a good margin."

The sound quality is generally well-regarded, with users noting good bass, clear mids, and a pleasant overall profile, though some find it too warm or lacking in treble.

"The MDR-1000x made my ears hotter than any headphone I have ever used."

Comfort is a mixed bag, with many finding them comfortable initially but experiencing pressure or ear heat during longer sessions, while others find them perfectly comfortable.

"Battery life is amazing. Most amazing to me has been the affect active noise cancelling has on listening to music."

Battery life receives mixed reviews, with some users reporting it as 'amazing' and lasting for days, while others find it disappointing and not meeting advertised hours.

"I've been looking for a pair. The problem I have is that people've been experiencing creaking and even having their head bands break due to the weak plastic."

While some praise the premium feel, there are notable concerns about the build quality, specifically regarding hinges and potential plastic weaknesses, leading to breakages.

"When calling with the MDR-1000X in a semi noisy environment, callees have often complained that they can hear what's going on around me better than they can hear me."

Call quality is frequently cited as a significant drawback, with users reporting that callers can hear background noise more clearly than the user's voice.

"The 1000X has an on/off button for NC and a toggle for ambient noise/voice. I prefer that over the single button on the WH-1000XM2, which has one button to switch from NC/Ambient/NC OFF"

Features like ambient sound modes and gesture controls are appreciated, but connectivity issues like the lack of USB-C audio and occasional Bluetooth quirks are noted.

"For a noise-canceller, these sound incredible. They have the Sony house sound. It’s thick, rich, warm, and powerful, with enough detail in the highs that nothing becomes muddled."

The sound quality is described as superb, balanced, and detailed, with a warm signature that pleases most listeners, even outperforming competitors in clarity.

"They’re not the absolutely most-comfy headphones on the planet, but only because their weight and clamp means they don’t totally disappear on your head."

The headphones are generally considered comfortable for long periods, with good padding and a secure fit, though some mention they can get warm and the clamping force might be noticeable.

"Battery life is very long and the 20-hours figure Sony advertises turns out to be a bit conservative, as I was able to squeeze more than that."

Battery life is consistently rated as excellent, meeting or exceeding the advertised 20 hours and proving sufficient for long trips.

"The construction is primarily plastic but it feels tough rather than tacky."

The build quality is generally seen as solid and premium, using good materials, though some reviewers noted potential concerns about plastic hinge durability and minor creaking.

"The microphone to perform phone calls works decently well and can capture your voice even in relatively loud environments."

Call quality is described as decent and functional, with the microphone performing well even in noisy environments, though not always equating to the best available.

"This might as well be the entire review, right here. This is a FEATURE PACKED pair of headphones, to the point of absurdity."

The headphones are packed with innovative features like Quick Attention and NC Optimizer, and offer robust Bluetooth connectivity with support for multiple codecs, though multi-device pairing is absent.

"These Sony's sound better, has better noise cancelling, and in my opinion looks more expensive then the Bose."

The sound quality is frequently cited as a major strength, with multiple users stating it's better than competing models.

"A little less comfortable though, and they got hot quicker."

While some find them comfortable, a notable number of users report they are less comfortable than competitors and can get hot.

"No problem with battery life."

Battery life is generally considered good for travel, though there are some specific complaints about notifications and auto-off features.

"Sony MDR-1000X headband cracked"

Several users report significant build quality issues, including cracking headbands and creaking earcups, with some suggesting design flaws.

"The other problem is accidently clicking next track and having trouble resuming from where you left off."

While features like touch controls are mentioned positively, some users experience minor annoyances like accidental track skipping and Bluetooth connectivity quirks.