Sony releases cheaper version WH-1000XM3 headphones with noise cancellation

Sony releases the WH-XB900N Extra Bass. These wireless headphones can broadly be regarded as a cheaper version of the top model, the WH-1000XM3. The new headphones also get noise cancellation and a lower suggested retail price.

Sony says the WH-XB900N wireless headphones place a strong emphasis on powerful, amplified bass response. In addition, digital noise suppression has been applied, with which disturbing ambient noises should be kept to a minimum. As with the WH-1000XM3 and other noise canceling headphones, noise filtering will mainly be limited to low tones such as the noise in the cabin of passenger aircraft.

The WH-XB900N looks largely the same in design as the WH-1000XM3, which together with the Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones are often considered the best wireless noise canceling headphones. An important difference is the chip for the noise canceling. An editor from Gizmodo was able to try out the WH-XB900N and reports that the new headphones do not have the chip from the WH-1000XM3. That may also mean a slightly lower sound quality, because Sony indicated when the WH-1000XM3 was introduced that the chip is also responsible for the sound through the collaboration with a built-in dac and an analog amplifier.

The new model is completely comparable to the WH-1000XM3 in a number of ways. For example, the WH-XB900N has the same 30-hour battery life, NFC and Bluetooth support, a built-in microphone for calls and Google Assistant commands and a touch-sensitive panel for adjusting the volume or pausing a song. The WH-XB900N will be available in July for 250 euros.