The Sony WI-1000X are versatile around-the-neck headphones that are suitable for everyday casual use. They have a great active noise canceling feature that isolates a lot of ambient noise, making them a great choice for commuting and office use if you want to focus on your favorite tracks. They have a more premium look and feel than most around-the-neck headphones we’ve reviewed so far, and they also come with many tip options for you to find the most comfortable fit. They have an above-average sound that lacks a little in bass but since they have a good companion app, with an excellent EQ, it won’t be much of an issue. Unfortunately, the WI-1000X do have quite a bit of latency, like most wireless in-ears, so they won’t be ideal for watching videos or even gaming on your phone. On the upside, they can be used wired, which is pretty rare for a wireless in-ear and makes latency less of a concern when you have the cable on you.
Pros
+Good noise isolation and low leakage
+Good controls
+Can also be used wired
Cons
-Slightly sharp on already bright tracks
-In-ear, neckband design won’t be for everyone
DESIGN
Type: Wireless around-the-neck in-ears (can also be used wired for audio-only)
Enclosure: Closed-Back
The Sony WI-1000X are around-the-neck in-ears that look and feel high-end but don’t particularly stand-out. They are fairly comfortable and come with 7 tips options so that you can find the best fit for you, although their in-ear, around-the-neck design may not be for everyone. On the upside, they are fairly lightweight and have a good and complete control scheme that’s easy to use. The in-ear design is also very breathable if ever you do decide to use them for running, although they won’t be the most stable option for this use case due to the somewhat bulky neckband. Overall the WI-1000X feel well-built and more solid than most around-the-neck headphones we’ve reviewed so far. However, the neckband is a little rigid and won’t be as portable as other similarly designed headsets like the Jabra Elite 65e or BeatsX. On the other hand, they have better cable management, with slots on the band for the cable to slide into when not in use, which is pretty convenient.
SOUND
The Sony WI-1000X are decent sounding closed-back in-ear headphones. They have an extended, consistent and well-balanced bass, although they may lack a bit of kick and rumble when compared to some of the other in-ears we’ve tested. They have a very good and even mid-range and a good treble. However, the higher frequencies can feel a bit sharp on S and T sounds, but not everyone may experience it at the same intensity, depending on the size and shape of your ear canals. Overall, they have a well-balanced audio reproduction that will be versatile enough for a variety of music genres, from bass-heavy to vocal-centric music. Also, if you feel like they lack bass, or the treble is too piercing, they have a great companion app that lets you customize the sound to your liking thanks to an excellent EQ, presets and room effects, making them versatile enough for a wide range of listeners.
ISOLATION
Noise canceling: Yes
The Sony WI-1000x have good noise isolation performance thanks to their ANC feature. They block a lot of ambient noise, especially in the lower frequencies, where engine rumbling noises sit, which means they are a great option for your daily commute and even for international travel. They also isolate a decent amount of ambient chatter so that you can use them in an office and their in-ear fit takes care of most of the higher frequency noise provided you get the right air-tight fit with the tips provided. Also, since they are in-ears, they don’t leak much, which means you’ll be able to mask even more background noise, by raising your listening volume, without bothering people around you.
MICROPHONE
Mic type: Integrated
Like most Bluetooth headphones, the Sony WI-1000X have a mediocre microphone. It won’t be ideal to make calls with it since speech sounds thin and muffled. It also may be prone to lower frequencies sounds and pops. In noisy environments, it struggles to separate speech from ambient noise, even in moderately loud environments, like a busy street. In very quiet environments, people should still be able to understand you, but your voice will still lack detail. This is to be expected from all Bluetooth integrated microphones.
ACTIVE FEATURES
Battery life: 10.3 hours
Charge time: 3 hours
App support: Yes
Passive playback: Yes
The Sony WI-1000X have a decent 10-hour battery life that should last you a whole day with ANC on. They can also enter a standby mode if you don’t use them for a couple of minutes, so they extend battery life instead of simply dying without using them. You can also use the included audio cable to use them passively, even if the battery is dead, which can be very convenient if you don’t have a charging cable with you. They are also compatible with the Sony Headphones Connect app, which is one of the most complete applications for headphones. It offers presets, room effects, a great EQ, and ANC control. It is one of the better-designed headphones companion apps and is very easy to use.
CONNECTIVITY
USB dongle: No
Bluetooth: Yes
Wired: Yes
Wireless range: 59ft
Latency: 206 ms (151 ms with aptX)
The Sony WI-1000X are Bluetooth headphones that have excellent wireless range, and surprisingly, they can also be used wired with the included 1/8” TRS audio cable. However, if used passively, the microphone can’t be used on consoles and PC. They also have too much latency, even with the aptX codec, meaning they won’t be a great choice to watch video content or gaming. On the upside, using them wired will get rid of these latency issues. They also have NFC support for quicker and easier pairing, and can also be connected to 2 devices simultaneously, which is very convenient if you want to switch from a computer to a phone often.
WHO SHOULD BUY THEM?
If you like around-the-neck design and are looking for a versatile pair of headphones that can do it all, get the Sony WI-1000X. You’ll be able to use them in your daily commute thanks to their good ANC feature and their low-leakage performance will be suitable for the office as well. Their breathability and stability will be suitable for sports, and you can also use them wired if you want to watch video content on your phone without latency issues. They have a decent audio reproduction and come with an excellent EQ, so you’ll be able to listen to your favorite songs during different use cases, at any time of the day thanks to their 10-hour battery life. However, they won’t be ideal for gaming and calls since their microphone isn’t the best. On the upside, they have a companion app which lets you EQ their sound signature to your preferences, and they are one of the better-built around-the-neck headphones we’ve reviewed so far.
Shop Now: $198
To see all our measurements and our test results of the Sony WI-1000X, please go here.
