To many, even those who avidly use them everyday, noise-cancelling is a binary thing. A toggle. On or off. Yes or no. Click - and the silence makes makes the music sound better. It's nice, but often another box to tick on the average feature-set of today's over-ear headphones.

Very versatile noise-cancelling; Sound great

Touch controls still a bit gimmicky; Conventional; albeit convenient; form-factor

The original Sony MDR-1000X blew us away back in 2016. Those over-ears quickly became our preferred headphones, they won awards and awards and awards, they created a buzz that saw talk of noise-cancelling headphones shift from Bose to Sony.

Great sound quality; class-leading noise cancellation; customisation of modes; comfortable

Automatic mode switching is a little rough

The champion of noise cancelling returns to face a very competitive field

Exceedingly comfortable; Noise cancelling doesn't get any better; Long battery life

Fiddly touch controls; Sound quality has been surpassed by better rivals; MicroUSB charging is so very 2016

Sony's WH-1000XM2 may not be quite as comfortable as Bose's QuietComfort 35 II, but in some respects it's a superior headphone.

The Sony WH-1000XM2 is an excellent-sounding, comfortable wireless headphone with effective noise canceling that measures up to Bose's for muffling ambient noise; Its battery life has been improved and it has some nifty extra features geared toward frequent travelers

It should perform a little better as a headset; Battery isn't replaceable

The Sony WH-1000XM2 wireless noise cancelling headphones are in a class of their own and combine brilliant audio quality with superior noise cancellation with wireless convenience.

The flagship Sony WH-1000XM2 sounds incredible, offers intuitive features and great battery life. It is a great pair of headphones, excusing a few minor drawbacks.

Excellent audio clarity; Warm; rich audio timbre; Great punch in bass delivery; Much improved soundstaging; Seamless gesture-based playback controls; Good battery life

High frequencies lack the same definition as the rest; Exterior noise filters through while on call; The battery is not replaceable

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II and the Sony WH-1000XM2, carrying on a battle started by their predecessors, are two of the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy. Your choice will depend, then, on your sound signature preference and whether you need features such as high-res audio playback.

Here at MajorHiFi, we have been long awaiting the arrival of the Sony WH-1000xM2. The first time around, the original WH-1000x blew us away with its noise cancelling technology, impressive functionality features, and great sound quality.

Sony WH-1000XM2 noise cancelling wireless headphones are attractive, comfy, and sound great.

The Sony WH-1000XM2 is the best noise canceling headset in the market. Exceptional battery life, excellent comfort levels and the uncanny ability to turn down the volume on your surroundings make it an excellent purchase for anyone who flies a lot or simply wants a quieter environment around them.