Sony's biggest upgrade for the WH-1000XM3 is a new noise-canceling chip, the QN1. The company claims it's four times better than the previous model at reducing external sound. Sony previously integrated noise canceling into the headphones' DAC, but the QN1 is a completely standalone chip. That separation also gives each of the components more room to work without getting in the way of the others. It's also why Sony is able to deliver 32-bit audio processing with the 1000XM3. While that won't make a huge difference for typical compressed music files, it should console people dedicated to their lossless tracks. The headphones also support the LDAC codec, which has three times the bandwidth of Bluetooth, but so far it's compatible only with premium Android phones and Sony's music devices.

There's something almost magical about a great pair of headphones -- they make music come alive, no matter what you're playing. The 1000XM3s are simply fun to listen to, with a healthy dose of thumping bass and sparkling clarity in the mid- and high range. They're definitely not neutral headphones, which many audiophiles prefer. Instead, the WH-1000XM3s are loaded with personality -- it doesn't matter that the bass is sometimes overbearing. Dare I say it: enjoyment matters more than accuracy.

It really didn't matter what I threw at it -- Led Zeppelin's discography, Tan Dun's sweeping and bombastic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero scores, or Yoko Kanno's classic nineties anime soundtracks (I'll never stop listening to Cowboy Bebop) -- the 1000XM3 proved itself to be one of the best headphones I've encountered. You know you're hearing something special when you can unearth new details in songs you've listened to hundreds of times. There were moments when the 1000XM3's sound stage was so transparent, as if I was listening to a live performance. I had to stop myself from clapping on more than one occasion.

I've tested plenty of high-end headphones that sound great but, for one reason or another, are a pain to wear for too long. Sometimes the headbands are too tight, or they end up hurting your ears. But in my dozens of hours wearing the 1000XM3 -- including on most of an eight-hour flight from NYC to Berlin -- I never felt any discomfort. The earcups and headband are pillowy soft, and they're breathable enough to keep my ears from getting sweaty. I also appreciated that these headphones are lighter than the last model -- at times I forgot I was even wearing them. My only complaint is Sony's touch controls on the right earcup. They work decently most of the time, but they occasionally skipped a track when I meant to turn up the volume.

What truly pushes the 1000XM3 into must-buy territory is its noise cancellation. In a head-to-head comparison with the previous model, the new headphones managed to block out noticeably more noise from a loudspeaker playing directly in front of me. It wasn't exactly night and day, but it was enough of a difference to tell that Sony isn't kidding about the advantages of its QN1 chip. During that flight to Berlin, the usual loud drone of the airplane cabin turned into a pleasant hum. And once I started playing music and watching in-flight movies, the cabin noise all but disappeared. Similarly, the headphones did a fantastic job during my commute, turning the noisy and crowded subway into a sanctuary of music and podcasts when I closed my eyes.