Let’s talk music for a change. Am not an audiophile person by any means. I just like good solid gear that works, and I can say when a product is good. The new Sony WH-1000XM3 noise-cancelling headphones are such a product. Spent hours comparing them to more expensive top brands – and the longer I am using these Sony, the more they grow on me. They offer some amazing tech, like – honestly – stopping the busy world around you, to completely immerse you in hi-fi grade music.

Again, am not an audiophile, but I like good quality stuff, be it good quality food, good quality photography, good quality sound. And, to be honest, I always want the best, and over time you learn that it’s better to spend once for the right product than several times for compromises, which in the end costs you more. Getting the right audio experience, however, is quite a challenge. Really good headphones cost serious money.

As I am not willing to spend a few thousand bucks on headphones, and since much about headphones is about personal preferences and perception, the headphone of choice comes down to a personal choice. Every headphone sounds different to every pair of ears, while my preferred audio settings don’t please your ears, and vice versa.

Yet, here comes Sony. We know what they were able to pull off in the world of photography. Sony’s in no time has become the undisputed leader in full-frame mirrorless photography. A similar feat they’re pulling off in the world of audio. Of course the world of headphones and loudspeakers is highly competitive, yet Sony recently announced a pair of headphones that, of course, aren’t perfect, but pure bliss at least to my delicate, spoiled ears.

First, in a nutshell, the basic tech. The WH-1000XM3 is the third iteration of Bluetooth noise-canceling headphones that have risen in not time to become the industry standard. Yes, I tried the former, for a long time unrivaled king of noise-canceling headphones, the Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II, but not only are the super comfy Bose heavier than the Sony, their also not as comfy to wear for hours and – more importantly – the Sony offer the fuller, more rounded, more spectacular sound quality. Not to mention Sony’s noise canceling. Their’s is the new industry standard. Period. Full stop. Giving Bose a run for their money.

Sony offers three basic sound-control options, which you button-controlled on the left ear-piece: ambient sound, ambient sound off and, of course, noise canceling. Sony developed the new HD Noise-Canceling Processor QN1, a dedicated NC processor that ensures crisp, uncompromised reproduction of music. Noise is not 100% blocked, you can still hear some murmur when sitting at a table, but none of this is a deal breaker. Sitting in a plane you won’t hear the engines. It’s just quiet. Maybe some loud passengers around you can be heard remotely, but it’s practically dead silent.

Now imagine the experience walking through a city without background sounds. And whatever your favorite music is, no need to turn up the volume. You can be in a noisy environment and enjoy your music at low volume. Of course that’s not only good for your mind, it’s also good for your hearing in the long run.

Let’s talk materials and wearing comfort. They feel super nice in your hand. No metal, no aluminum, no steel or real leather like with much pricier headsets, but the Sony don’t feel cheap at all. On the contrary, this is soft-feeling premium material that’s practically weightless over your ears and head. Wear them for hours and they don’t bother. The only thing that you’ll notice is the music.

Songs are controlled by finger swipes over the right ear-piece, such as next song, pause and volume up and down. Works like a breeze and quickly becomes second nature. Or let’s say you have NC on and have to talk to someone without taking your headphones off. Simply place your hand over the right housing to turn the volume down for instant conversation.

Phone calls? Answer hands-free phone calls with a double tap. Perfect sound quality on both ends. Didn’t face any of the quality issues some reviewers reported. And of course the stellar batter life. Sony says 30 hours, and you can get five hours’ worth of charge after just ten minutes. While I didn’t clock the 30 hours myself, I keep on listening and listening with them and juice is still strong. For commuters one full charge should easily last for a week, and don’t worry about those intercontinental flights to block out voices and noise for complete peace of mind. As a neat gesture, the M3 comes with a dedicated adapter for airplane entertainment systems.

I never used the model’s predecessor, the M2. Consensus seems that Sony improved about everything, from materials to wearing comfort to sound processing. Which leads us to the all-important sound quality:

I measured them up against some mighty performers, such as the benchmark studio headphones Beyerdynamics DT 1990 Pro which are considered to be the reference headphones for studio use. The Beyerdynamics are wired, heavier, with much more complex driver technology. Their sound output is mighty clear and detailed, they just overwhelm you with nuances not many other headphones can deliver. But you know what? It’s studio headphones. They sound less lively, less fun and less voluminous than the Sony M3.

Also compared the M3 to my favorite in-ears, the RHA T20i, which are noise-isolating and at least in my book have the truest bass an in-ear can have for a reasonable budget. But even the T20i sound shallow and hollow compared to the M3.

This Sony has true timbre. Vocals are not as precise and crisp as the Beyerdynamics’, but still clean and overall sound experience is more complete, fuller, richer and warm-blooded and full-bodied, with a beautiful, large soundstage. To me the Sony has true wi-fi sound with precise, punchy, dynamic bass. Me, as a bass lover, I even have to raise treble, and while this might sound highly subjective, this Sony starts truly shining its colors when played for a few minutes and warmed up. Give Paper Moon a try on these. Enjoy that tight, clean instrument separation?

For the fine-tuning Sony offers its Headphones Connect app for iOS and Android. And no, at least me I can’t tell wired from Bluetooth sound quality. Hardcore audiophiles will still plug in their Bluetooth headphones to squeeze out that extra performance. Since these Sony do such a good job, the hearing ability of most people is simply not able to tell wired and Bluetooth apart from each other. And volume setting? 1/2 to 2/3, never more. More than enough power, and don’t we wanna keep our hearing until old age.

The Sony has 40-millimeter drivers with aluminum-coated, liquid crystal polymer (LCP) diaphragms, enhancing the headphone’s handling of heavy beats and reproducing a full range of frequencies up to 40 kHz. Most people can’t hear any of those frequencies, but there are some who claim these frequencies nevertheless add to the overall hearing experience.

The Sony don’t come cheap at $348 in the U.S. The European prices are some $50 higher. For what you get, it’s money well spent. These premium Sony will bring you a lot of fun. Whether for listening in the comfort of your home, when traveling, on the street or in a plane, the Sony WH-1000XM3 with swivel foldable structure is simply the ultimate portable Bluetooth, noise-canceling headphone. These Sony sound cups, combined with state-of-the-art tech, immerse you in sound wherever you are. They’re the king of noise-canceling headphones. The only caveats?

Headphones Connect app should be usable as well when wired. And these Sony are sure not your first choice for the gym or jogging. For exercising and workouts I can highly recommend the KZ ATE S. Don’t get offended by their price. You won’t be disappointed, they get raving reviews and have great punch.

+++ You can order the Sony WH-1000XM3 on Amazon and eBay. The M3 comes in the flavors black and silver, with nice copper accents on the black version.