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WolfChop

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#240787 26-Sep-2018 09:26
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Sony WH-1000XM3B Wireless Headphones for $460 (Amazon price: $348USD, or roughly $525NZD):

 

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/audio/portable-audio/headphones/sony-wh-1000xm3b-wireless-noise-cancelling-headphones-black/prod165781.html

 

Also, for the previous gen model (WH-1000XM2B) for $351 (Amazon price: $348USD (why???), or roughly $525NZD):

 

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/audio/portable-audio/headphones/sony-wh1000xm2b-flagship-1000x-wireless-noise-cancelling-headphones-black/prod159417.html

 

 

 

Just an aside: I'd been eyeing these headphones for a week before release. They officially released today at Noel Leeming. Before that, the price for preorder was $575, yet is now heavily discounted.

 

Strange that Noel Leeming would offer 20% off on a brand new pair of wireless headphones that just released today. But oh well, our gain.

 

 


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sbiddle
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  #2096595 26-Sep-2018 09:37
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The exact same thing happened last year - the week or so after launch they had a big sale with a similar discount off Sony equipment. I picked my XM2 headphones up there.

 

Ironically last year I couldn't even get them from Noel Leeming as they had no stock but JB happily price matched.

 

 

 

 




scottjpalmer
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  #2096597 26-Sep-2018 09:43
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Ooooooh

landcruiserguy
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  #2096612 26-Sep-2018 10:09
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Sony store also has the WH-1000XM2 on closeout for $350.  Sony store also price matches everything so if you prefer to buy off them you could get them to match the Noel's price on the M3.

 

 

 

I am still rocking the first model (1000X) and they are life changinly good.  I would like to pick up the M3 but will wait for the price to drop a bit more than it already has.

 

 

 

If anybody does buy the M3s I would be curious as to what the call quality is like.  It's been bad on the previous two models (voice call mics are just the noise cancelling ones) so I have a completely separate pair of headphones for voice calls.  One day I will own the perfect headphones that do everything...




hairy1
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  #2096614 26-Sep-2018 10:13
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I've jumped and bought them. Will post a short review when they turn up (hopefully before the price finishes on the 2nd) Based on what happened to the M2 pricing they should be even cheaper on special by Christmas.




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Nikras
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  #2096616 26-Sep-2018 10:13
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Tempting!! I bought the QC 35 II's last year. I hear the Sony pair has better sound quality but the call quality's still rubbish. 

 

Will stick to my Bose for now


sbiddle
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  #2096617 26-Sep-2018 10:15
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landcruiserguy:

 

If anybody does buy the M3s I would be curious as to what the call quality is like.  It's been bad on the previous two models (voice call mics are just the noise cancelling ones) so I have a completely separate pair of headphones for voice calls.  One day I will own the perfect headphones that do everything...

 

 

With no sidetone the Sony's are unusable for audio calling. I really can't believe they forgot such a basic essential feature! I've seen no mention of sidetone on the XM3

 

The QC35s are awesome for calling.

 

 

 

 


 
 
 

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WolfChop

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  #2096618 26-Sep-2018 10:15
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landcruiserguy:

 

Sony store also has the WH-1000XM2 on closeout for $350.  Sony store also price matches everything so if you prefer to buy off them you could get them to match the Noel's price on the M3.

 

 

 

I am still rocking the first model (1000X) and they are life changinly good.  I would like to pick up the M3 but will wait for the price to drop a bit more than it already has.

 

 

 

If anybody does buy the M3s I would be curious as to what the call quality is like.  It's been bad on the previous two models (voice call mics are just the noise cancelling ones) so I have a completely separate pair of headphones for voice calls.  One day I will own the perfect headphones that do everything...

 

 

 

 

For a person who owns the Audio Technica ATX-M50s, can I ask you how different these wireless headphones compare to a wired pair like the M50s? I'm hearing that audio quality is just not on par with wired pairs, but how dramatic is that difference? Considering I purchased my M50s for roughly $150, I'd imagine a pair of $460 wireless pairs would sound close enough to them right?


networkn
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  #2096627 26-Sep-2018 10:29
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My wife is going to kill me. 

 

 


tieke
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  #2096628 26-Sep-2018 10:29
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landcruiserguy:

 

If anybody does buy the M3s I would be curious as to what the call quality is like.  It's been bad on the previous two models (voice call mics are just the noise cancelling ones) so I have a completely separate pair of headphones for voice calls. 

 

They've added three mics to the left earcup solely for call voice capture, so the call quality has improved. I did read a couple of cases of people describing weird echoey sound on calls which went away after Sony provided replacements.


landcruiserguy
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  #2096679 26-Sep-2018 11:04
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WolfChop:

landcruiserguy:


Sony store also has the WH-1000XM2 on closeout for $350.  Sony store also price matches everything so if you prefer to buy off them you could get them to match the Noel's price on the M3.


 


I am still rocking the first model (1000X) and they are life changinly good.  I would like to pick up the M3 but will wait for the price to drop a bit more than it already has.


 


If anybody does buy the M3s I would be curious as to what the call quality is like.  It's been bad on the previous two models (voice call mics are just the noise cancelling ones) so I have a completely separate pair of headphones for voice calls.  One day I will own the perfect headphones that do everything...



 


For a person who owns the Audio Technica ATX-M50s, can I ask you how different these wireless headphones compare to a wired pair like the M50s? I'm hearing that audio quality is just not on par with wired pairs, but how dramatic is that difference? Considering I purchased my M50s for roughly $150, I'd imagine a pair of $460 wireless pairs would sound close enough to them right?



I don't own the ATX-M50s so can't do a direct comparison but here are my thoughts.

Wired vs wireless just comes down to the quality that you lose by transmitting it over a lossy Bluetooth codex. Bluetooth was built for voice calls to the default codex (SBC) is crap. Apple went screw that so they created AAC. AAC is otherwise known as the transportable codex and if you are playing already compressed music (like mp3s) it sends the digital data too the headphones and the headphones decide the music. All the other codexs encode, transmit and then decode the music.

Quallcom created aptx and then aptx HD which are just better (less lag and less quality loss) versions of SBC.

Sony created LDAC which is basically a better version of aptx and if all the codexs it had the highest data transmission rate and therefore quality.

You need the codex to be supported at both ends for it to work so up until recently the only way was to buy an xperia phone and Sony headphones. At this point you realise the Apple people are laughing at us.

All that changed with Android 8 as aac, aptx, apt hd and ldac are now a standard part of Android. Your phone has all these fancy codexs so you just need headphones that support it. The only headphones that support LDAC are the Sony ones which brings us back to the 1000xm3.

So go buy those fancy headphones as they will work on any apple or Android device and will always run the highest quality codex available. They also come with a wire so you can plug them in if you so desire.

nzkiwiman
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  #2096689 26-Sep-2018 11:26
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None of either model in Dunedin, though I should have a pair of XM3's coming from another supplier that I pre ordered for $415 .. so hopefully they come through. If not, I'll check stock levels on the 2nd. Thanks for the heads up


 
 
 

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pgsheng
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  #2096696 26-Sep-2018 11:41
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tieke:

landcruiserguy:


If anybody does buy the M3s I would be curious as to what the call quality is like.  It's been bad on the previous two models (voice call mics are just the noise cancelling ones) so I have a completely separate pair of headphones for voice calls. 


They've added three mics to the left earcup solely for call voice capture, so the call quality has improved. I did read a couple of cases of people describing weird echoey sound on calls which went away after Sony provided replacements.



Always thought the echo sound was by design...I had similar problem with both qc35 and current 1000xm2, maybe I should go ask for replacement...

SpartanVXL
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  #2096728 26-Sep-2018 11:44
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How long did the XM2 take to hit $350? I remember regretting not getting them at that price back in April sales.

 

 

I would go for the xm3's but would rather get them at $350 considering that the series historically end up at that price in a few months.

hairy1
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  #2096803 26-Sep-2018 13:03
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Mine have shipped and should be delivered tomorrow.





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tieke
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  #2096805 26-Sep-2018 13:07
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SpartanVXL: How long did the XM2 take to hit $350? I remember regretting not getting them at that price back in April sales. I would go for the xm3's but would rather get them at $350 considering that the series historically end up at that price in a few months.

 

XM2s came out in October and hit ~$350 twice, in Feb and April.


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