Wireless Active Noise Cancelling Headphones: Bose QuietComfort 35 (QC35) vs Sony MDR-1000X

I haven’t heard the MDR-1A, I'm afraid, so can’t compare either ergonomics or sonics.

Now, like you, I don’t travel by plane much (2-4 times a year), but I live in a flat and NC, whether active or passive, is not so infrequently a necessity for me. In the last few years, when travelling or needing the best isolation I can get at home, I’ve been using my UERM (custom IEMs), and previously the ER-4S (universal IEMs with incredible isolation) and, before that, another set of customs (Westone ES3X).

Due to the fact that for some odd reason I’ve had two ear infections in the last year (the last one in December)—odd because I hadn’t had one for over 25 years—, I decided to get a pair of ANC cans before a my Xmas trip.

Even though I have a pair of HD800s & HD600s, I’ve always been more of an IEM guy due to the practical nature of IEMs and how very soon I'd always found virtually every can fairly uncomfortable—the HD800 was the first I could use for hours on end. Thankfully IEMs have come a long way SQ-wise in the last 10 years (the Campfire Andromeda being my current favourite phone irrespective of form factor).

Anyway, even though my last ear infection is now long gone, I simply keep reaching for the 1000Xs — yes, to these ears they are that good sonically. The longest I’ve used them is 5 consecutive hours and had no comfort issues. That said, and judging by the pics I’ve seen online, the MDR-1A does look a bit more comfy, but who knows… Don’t forget, though, Sony had to try to come up with a product that would seriously compete with the ‘until very recently’ kings of ANC, the Bose QC35s, so they also had to deliver the goods in the ergonomics front as these expensive phones would be aimed, amongst others, at business people who tend to travel a lot. Let me remind you again, though, the QC35s are still slightly more comfortable. The Sonys, though, are really very, very comfortable, too, have excellent sonics, and some pretty good and useful features (one being just the ability to have ANC on or off with BT on, something the Momentum 2.0 and Bose’s don’t have). By now the touch-pad controls on the Sonys, incidentally, have become second nature and I have to say that I just love them.

The 1000X really is an outstanding headphone, and certainly more than I expected to get initially.

 

@blackships, here's someone on HF who's just received the 1000Xs and compares them to the MDR1As: http://www.head-fi.org/t/818871/sony-mdr-1000x/1410#post_13162202

Apparently the 1As are bassier and he says he needs to EQ the 1000Xs to add more bass — FWIW, I personally find the 1000Xs' bass just right.

 

I got mine this morning and can report that the noise canceling is eerie and the bass is much better than the MDR-1A. Touch controls work very well with my ZX100 and apparently I'm able to use Sony's LDAC thingy that streams higher quality than aptx. Supposedly.

 

A/Bing with my Andromeda, the Andromeda isolates as well or better and definitely sounds better. The MDR1000X definitely isn't as comfortable as the MDR1A and gets kind of hot after a little while. If I decide I really need a pair of over the ear closed headphones, I will keep them, but am leaning towards returning. I will give it another week and see.

 

UPDATE:

Over a week ago, unfortunately, I decided to return the MDR-1000X as it had a creaking noise on both cups (more noticeable on the left one) that, when listening at low volumes, was driving me crazy. Apparently more than a handful of people have had the very same issue with these Sonys, with a couple of people getting two sets (different batches) and having the exact same problem. For that reason I decided not to get a replacement.

Having recently decided to use IEMs a lot less, and appreciating what the current wireless technology has to offer, I decided to get the Bowers & Wilkins P7 Wireless (P7W) which I've had for the last 6 days; these are NOT ANC phones, but passive noise isolation is decent enough. I wasn’t able to directly compare the 1000X with the P7W as the return window for the Sonys didn’t allow me to have both sets at the same time. That said, I’ve been pretty happy with the P7Ws so far even though I won’t be using them on a plane or train (will likely use my trusted UERMs for that).

If anyone wants to hear more about how the P7W compare to the Sonys, let me know — won’t be doing that now simply because the P7W isn’t an ANC phone and so far all phones I’ve mentioned in this thread are ANC wireless cans, so I suspect there won’t be much interest in such comparison.

 

I've heard great things about the P7 from two people that I trust. They love them. I might grab a pair. I have a long flight coming up, in March. Taking my girl to Hawaii... Which it seems will be almost 16 hours traveling because we have a stop over. I hate flying as it is, I will be in hell. That's a lot of time on a plane for me. Thinking about ANC headphones, but not sure either since I don't fly that often, and iems have done me well.

 

definitely grab a pair of ANC headphones, doesn't hurt to use it for the trip to see how you like them and return them afterwards if unsatisfied. Don't let cabin noise affect your rest and the start of vacation. I used to use ear plugs for plane rides, but it just doesn't feel good after 5-6 hrs. Been using Bose's QC series since and I can't imagine flying without ANC headphones now.
Then again a friend of mine who hates getting his hair messed up by headphones uses the Bose QC20 and swears by its comfort. I've seen him having them plugged in for 15 hrs straight.

 

No worries about the hair, I have none. Lol.

 

Yeah, if I had to get a pair of ANC phones, I’d definitely get the QC35s — great ANC, very light weight, fantastic comfort, pretty decent SQ, great battery life, and they come with an excellent travel case.

The QC20s (ANC earphones) are pretty good, but SQ and ANC are definitely not as good as the QC35s (my UERM customs offer better isolation that the 20s but not quite as much as the 35s when used on a plane).

Yes, the P7Ws sound great in BT mode actually (they have aptX and AAC codecs), and sound better still (more balanced) in wired mode. All ANC cans I tried pretty much sucked when wired.

 

I was looking at this thread because today I was in Target puttering around and I put on a pair of the QC35's. I thought they sounded better than other Bose products that I've tried though the highs were indeed a bit grainy and seemed like they could get fatiguing. I would not mind having a product like this though for long trips. I don't think I'm willing to pay the Bose price though so I'll just stick with IEM's for now.

I had to laugh at music_4321. He kept going on and on about the Sony headphones throughout this thread and then in his very last post says he'd definitely get the Bose. What?! No wonder he's banned. That's some major heAD-fi behavior.