True Showstoppers…

FOR Fine timing; refined highs, punchy lows; noise-cancelling

AGAINST Touchpad controls take a bit of practice

With The Great British Bake Off back on our screens, it seems apt to start with a hi-fi based baking analogy.

Sony had all the right ingredients in place with its MDR-1000X headphones, mixing excellent audio quality over Bluetooth with a splash of fine comfort and class-leading noise-cancelling. In Bake Off terms, Sony was the master baker.

But after barely a year in production, the MDR-1000Xs have been replaced by the WH-1000XM2s. The new cans feature a few more ingredients, which begs the question, has Sony enhanced the flavour, or has it over-egged the pudding?

Finishing touches

The WH-1000Xs look similar to the MDR-1000Xs but a Champagne Gold finish replaces the original Beige, and the Black option isn't quite the same.

The headband and earpad cushioning carry across, which means comfort is still high and the headphones sit securely on your head without feeling vice-like.

Sony has done a spot of consolidating with the WH-1000XM2s, but it has also added a couple of extra features. The Sense Engine and Personal NC Optimiser make a return, but the integrated Atmospheric Pressure Optimiser is new for the WH-1000X. A tiny pressure sensor in the left earpiece detects changes in atmosphere and applies a filter to compensate. Perfect for air travel.