Bose and Sony offer two of the top premium noise-cancellation headphones available today, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 and the Sony WH-1000XM3. Choosing between the two is a touch call, and you’ll have to closely look at their best features and weigh them against any shortcomings. To help you get started, here’s a detailed comparison between them below.
Listen to music and make phone calls anywhere without being disturbed with the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. Features powerful noise cancellation, gorgeous sound, and impressive voice pickup.
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Bose 700 vs Sony 1000XM3 Comparison Chart
| Model | Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 | Sony |
 |  | |
| Price | Check Price at Walmart | Check Price at Walmart |
| Dimensions | 2″ x 6.5″ x 8″ | 2.94″ x 7.31″ x 10.44″ |
| Foldable Design | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.55 lbs | 0.56 lbs |
| ANC Levels | 11 | 3 |
| Touch Controls | Yes | Yes |
| Voice Assistant | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours | 30 hours |
| Charge and Listen | Yes | No |
| Fast Charging | 15 minutes for 3.5 hours | 10 minutes for 5 hours |
| Audio Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, aptX, LDAC |
Design
The Bose 700 has a sleeker design and build than the Sony 1000XM3.
Design differences between the two headphones produce distinctive looks, which is easily apparent with a side-by-side look. Most noticeable is the slim stainless steel headband of the Bose 700 headphones, which features an ultra-soft bottom layer so it sits comfortably. In contrast, the entire length of the Sony 1000XM3 is nearly uniform in thickness, and has an ergonomic plush leather finish.
Comfort-wise, the ear cups on the Bose 700 is made from synthetic leather for durability and softness. It’s designed for all-day wear and comfort, much the same as those on the Sony 1000XM3. Both feel light and fits snugly without being overbearing, though overall comfort level will still be subjective. It’s recommended that you try their fit first if possible so you can judge which one feels better on you.
Overall, both headphones look designed for different audiences. You’ll likely find the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 more suited to casual settings. Its minimalist appearance looks positively modern and sleek compared to the Sony
Setup and Controls
Both headphones feature voice and touch controls.
Getting either headphones playing out of the box requires only a few simple steps of downloading their respective apps to set them up and pair them with your mobile device. Once done, you can use a combination of traditional buttons and touch controls to set volume, change tracks, adjust mic levels and make phone calls. Both sets of touch controls are located on the right earcup. The Sony
For the most part, the touch controls are all intuitive: you swipe up and down to control volume, left and right to switch tracks, and so on. Both headphones also come with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built in. You simply press a button on the right earcup of the Bose 700 or touch that of the Sony
If you already have the Soundbar 500 or 700, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 can sync easily with them. You’ll get independent volume controls so you can turn the soundbar way down and still keep your headphones as loud as you wish.
Noise Cancellation
The Sony
With its dedicated HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1, Sony’s
There are three different levels of ANC that you can get on the Sony 1000XM3’s earcup controls, though there are 20 more available via the mobile app. It will also adapt noise cancellation levels to what you’re doing. You’ll hear important announcements if you’re simply waiting at a terminal and car horns if you’re walking down the street. Its Ambient Sound Control lets you further adjust this so you can stay alert when on the move.
Whether you're working from home or flying on a plane, the Sony WH-1000XM3's topnotch ANC won't disappoint.
Bose’s ANC on the 700 Headphones are still excellent, and easily makes it the best contender after Sony’s. With 11 levels of noise cancellation, you can fine-tune which noises you’ll still be aware of when you’re somewhere loud. At its highest setting almost all low and mid-range noises vanishes. However, it’s not as great as Sony at making important noises audible when needed. It’s recommended that you turn its ANC way down if you’re walking, since you need to still be aware of your surroundings.
Sound Quality
The Bose 700 has a slightly better audio quality than the Sony
With full ANC on, it becomes easier to compare the sound quality these premium headphones are capable of. Right away it’s noticeable how bass-heavy the Sony
Meanwhile, the sound output of the Bose Headphones 700 is a bit more balanced, with its treble toned down and its bass slightly boosted. It has an open and flat signature that reproduces sound accurately. However, its active EQ feature trims the bass down when you crank the volume up, so it might not give you the hardcore beats you’re looking for. Still, its clean and smooth tones are fantastic when combined with high ANC settings. You’ll be able to really immerse yourself in your favorite music from premium quality audio.
Finally, you can get up to 30 hours of music playback with the Sony
Verdict
Get the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 if you’re after sound quality and the Sony
Listen to music and make phone calls anywhere without being disturbed with the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. Features powerful noise cancellation, gorgeous sound, and impressive voice pickup.
Whether you're working from home or flying on a plane, the Sony WH-1000XM3's topnotch ANC won't disappoint.
Though both premium headphones offer user-friendly controls and comfortable designs, we found that each is just slightly better than the other in specific categories.
We recommend going for the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 if immersive music experiences are on top of your list. You’ll love how smooth and clear it sounds especially with all background noises failing to reach your ears. With multiple levels of active noise cancellation within easy reach, you can customize how much you’ll hear. Plus, the Bose 700 headphones simply look more stylish with its premium stainless steel build.
Now, if you’re looking for the best noise cancelling headphones in the market, the Sony WH-1000XM3 is our top pick. It offers much more flexibility in tuning out and letting in ambient sounds so you can either mute everything down or filter important noises if needed. With a longer battery life and better portability, they’re also the better choice if you travel a lot.
FAQs
Sony’s noise canceling is better overall, as can be seen with the
Yes, the WH-1000XM3 is among the best noise-canceling headphones available with the sound quality to match.
Yes, the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are worth buying because of their decent sound quality and noise cancellation performance in low end ambient sound.
Both headphones are excellent in their own right, but the