Hamilton VS Burr, Edison VS Tesla, and now Bose VS Sony. These two tech giants have been consistently producing premium noise-canceling headphones.

The Bose 700 and the Sony WH-1000xm3 headsets are both fantastic products, with a lot of similarities, but they’re different in ways that could be significant for you.

It can be a difficult and time-consuming task to filter through the rubbish to find an absolutely perfect pair of headphones, but once you get there the right product can make your week from bad to brilliant.

Maybe you’ve managed to narrow it down to these two options but you don’t know how to make the final decision.

Hopefully, this article will make coming to that conclusion a little easier as we break down the similarities and variations between the Bose 700 and the Sony WH-1000xm3 wireless headphones. 

Sound Quality 

It would be remiss of me not to talk about the sound quality when comparing headphones, so let’s get it out of the way. Both products sound great, boasting plenty of detail.

The most significant contrast between the two is that the Sony 1000xm3 features a digital sound amplifier, whilst the Bose 700’s amplifier is analog. This might not mean a lot to you, so I’ll just explain the practical differences. 

The Sony 1000s have fantastic depth with thumping bass and enough detail to pick out each and every different instrument and effect.

The warm, vibrant sounds are so crisp and perfect, if you closed your eyes you can be transported from your daily commute to feeling like you’re standing in the middle of the artist’s studio. 

The balance on the Bose 700s is completely different and yet still absolutely superb. The dynamics are precise and agile, whilst being completely clear. The bass and detail are somewhat lacking when compared to Sony, but still, nothing to complain about. 

Noise-Cancellation

Whether it’s babies crying on a plane or school kids shouting on the bus, sometimes the world can be way too loud, and all you want to do is block out the sounds.

Noise-cancelling technology has come a long way in the past couple of years, and these two products can boast the best that this tech has to offer.

Sony uses a Headphones Connect app through which you can adjust the intensity of the noise-reduction. They can also detect the surrounding atmospheric pressure in order to optimize their noise-canceling capabilities. 

In comparison, Bose includes new digital signal processing that runs from their own noise-canceling chip. What’s most impressive however are the 11 possible increments of noise-cancellation to choose from.

From complete “I don’t want to hear a single thing that isn’t this music” isolation to “I need to listen out for my stop on the train” transparency, as well as everything in between. 

Price

The exact price for both of these products differs wildly across different sites and with different sales and discounts.

That said, across every platform, the Sony WH-1000xm3 typically comes in cheaper than the Bose headphones, though it’s important to remember that when you’re shopping premium, the price is always going to be a pretty good indicator of quality.

However, due to both headphones being up to a great standard, the Sonys could be said to be more cost-effective.

Battery

If you’re anything like me, then remembering to charge your wireless headphones just isn’t something that you can realistically be expected to do. Or maybe you’re actually pretty good at getting them on charge every evening, but only because you wear them for your entire workday.

If either of these applies to you, or any other variation, then you’re in luck, because both of these headphones have phenomenal battery life and an equally impressive charge time. 

First off, the Bose 700 boasts a 20-hour battery life whilst using their noise-canceling and Bluetooth. Which is very impressive and should get you through a day or two of traveling or working. They also go from empty to full in 2.5 hours and can give you 3.5 hours of playback after just a 15-minute fast charge. 

The Sonys however can get up to a 30-hour playback after charging for just 3 hours (going from an empty battery to a full one). As well as this, just 10 minutes of charging gives you a massive 5 hours’ worth of playback. It hardly seems fair to compare the two. 

Design

Both Sony and Bose have years of experience making elite headphones perfect for long journeys or commutes so it’s no surprise that both have an extremely high-end production value.

Considering their long play-back time, these headphones have been designed to be able to be worn for long stretches of time without causing discomfort or getting clammy like other models. 

The Sony 1000xm3s have a plastic headband covered in thick memory foam that makes them very comfortable. These headphones are particularly commuter-friendly because they’re incredibly lightweight, and fold down completely so that when you’re done with them they can be put away in their sturdy case.

The Bose 700 on the other hand feel a bit more luxurious than the Sonys, due to their stainless steel headband and sleek design. They also feature ‘invisible’ hinges so that no element of their design is lost for practicality.

Again, these headphones are particularly lightweight, and although they cannot collapse completely like the Sonys, the earcups fold flat so that they fit into their very thin case. 

Both pairs should be kept in their original cases when not being used as the outside of the earcups can become scratched which would take away from the beautiful and striking design. 

Features

These headphones are both controlled in a similar way. They feature touch-sensitive panels on the earcups that you operate through touches, taps, and swipes that control volume and skipping through tracks.

There is also the capability to use Alexa or Google Assistant voice controls with either of the headphones, and the Sonys also include support for Siri. 

You can tap the Bose logo to get a reading of the battery level or hold down to decline an incoming call. The voice assistance is activated via a button on the bottom of the earcups, so you can’t accidentally trigger them to perk up in the middle of a song.

The intuitive design is really easy to pick up, although they can sometimes be a little bit sensitive on the Bose 700s. 

Onto the Sony’s, which are comparatively simple to understand, but feature the voice-controls hands-free so that you don’t need to stop what you’re doing in order to get something from Google or Siri.

A feature I find particularly interesting is the ‘quick attention’ mode that lowers the volume and intensity of the noise-cancellation just by cupping your hand over your ear making quick conversations much easier. 

Specs

Just in case none of this has made the decision any easier for you, let me list a couple of the specifications bare so that you can see exactly what you’d be getting, in the hopes that something here will win you over to one side or the other.

Bose 700

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700,Bluetooth, Over-Ear Wireless with Built-In Microphone for Clear Calls & Alexa Voice Control,Black 

Size: 8 x 6.5 x 2 inches
Weight: 9oz
Colors: Black, Luxe Silver, Soapstone, Black/Copper
Battery Life: 20 Hours

Sale
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700,Bluetooth, Over-Ear Wireless with Built-In Microphone for Clear Calls & Alexa Voice Control,Black
  • Powerful noise cancelling headphones: 11 levels of active noise cancelling let you enjoy music, podcasts, videos & calls without distractions
  • Astonishing sound: Crisp, clear details. Deep, full bass. These wireless headphones produce exciting, lifelike sound that’s full and balanced at every volume level
  • Unrivaled voice pickup: A revolutionary microphone system adapts to noisy and windy environments so your voice always sounds crystal clear on calls
  • Keep your head up and hands free: With easy access to voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for music, navigation, weather, and more, and intuitive touch control on the earcups — you can stay connected without reaching for your phone
  • Premium design and comfort: With a lightweight stainless steel headband and earcups tilted for the perfect fit, you can comfortably wear these bluetooth headphones for hours

Sony WH-1000xM3

 

Size: 10.4 x 2.9 x 7.3 inches
Weight: 9oz 
Colors: Black, Silver
Battery Life: 30 hours

Bose VS Sony

It is incredibly difficult to say which of the headphones are better, if a pair is lacking in one area, it makes up for it somewhere else. With both products, you get a premium pair of headphones that will make you the envy of the office, or the plane.

The Sony pair can’t really be beaten in terms of sound quality, but the Bose headphones have a more luxurious feel and better-implemented noise-cancelation.  Either way, you’re in for a treat and an improvement to your daily commute.

But which ones do I think are better? Well when it comes to headphones, I want the best sound quality I can to properly get immersed in the music.

Combine that with a lower price tag and an almost ridiculously long battery life, then I have to say that the Sony WH-1000xM3 win in my eyes. 

That doesn’t by any means suggest the Bose 700s are not completely worth the money, if you have the budget you will not be disappointed with the luxurious feeling headphones that can proudly claim the best noise-canceling technology in the business. 

Last update on 2023-02-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API