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Sony WH-1000XM3 vs Sony MDR-1AM2

Side-by-side comparison — scores, specs and which one fits your setup.

HIGHER SCORE
Sony WH-1000XM3
8.2
/ 10
Over-earHigh end
Sony MDR-1AM2
7.8
/ 10
On-earHigh end

Specs comparison

8.2/10
SCORE
7.8/10
16Ω
IMPEDANCE
16Ω
109dB
SENSITIVITY
100dB
No
NEEDS AMP
No

Analysis

The Sony WH-1000XM3 scores 8.2/10 with 16Ω impedance and 109dB sensitivity. At 16Ω, it drives well from most phones without an external amp.

The Sony MDR-1AM2 scores 7.8/10 with 16Ω impedance and 100dB sensitivity. At 16Ω, it can be driven directly without extra hardware.

Based on our scoring, the Sony WH-1000XM3 scores higher overall. However, the right choice depends on your full audio chain — use our analyzer to see which fits your actual setup.

Own one of these headphones?

A high headphone score doesn't mean your audio sounds great. Your DAC, amp or source might be the real bottleneck.

Analyze my setup →Sony WH-1000XM3 details →Sony MDR-1AM2 details →

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