Device hub · Headphones · Desk research
Sony WH-1000XM2
XM2 is the leftover pre-QN1 1000X: 40 mm LCP, LDAC + aptX HD, 275 g, a 30/38-hour music table, and a real fold on micro-USB.
Product images
Placeholder — OEM press not licensedSony WH-1000XM2
Credit: GadgetShowdown labeled placeholder (not a Sony asset). View official product image
Studio still only. Manufacturer press JPEGs are not hosted here. See the official product page for the real product photo.
Placeholder — OEM press not licensedNumeric rows come from Sony’s published specification sheet, not from a photo.
Credit: GadgetShowdown labeled placeholder (not a Sony asset). View official product image
Studio still only. Manufacturer press JPEGs are not hosted here. See the official product page for the real product photo.
In short
XM2 is the leftover pre-QN1 1000X: 40 mm LCP, LDAC + aptX HD, 275 g, a 30/38-hour music table, and a real fold on micro-USB. Buy it used only as history — not for QN1, multipoint, or USB-C.
Who it is for
- Owners already on XM2 who want an honest 2026 OEM record (micro-USB, Bluetooth 4.1, no multipoint).
Who should skip it
- Anyone who wants QN1/QN3, USB-C, or Multi Device Connection. Those start on later 1000X generations.
- People who think XM2 is the current 1000X. Sony’s current flagship is WH-1000XM6.
- Buyers who need Bluetooth 5.x or LC3.
Key differentiators
- Last 1000X before QN1. Keep that extra — do not promote a QN processor onto this page.
- 40 mm aluminum-coated LCP dome; 275 g — heavier than XM3/XM4’s ~255 g class.
- Codec table includes aptX and aptX HD as well as LDAC. Bluetooth 4.1.
- Folds. Micro-USB. 30 hours NC on / 38 hours NC off. Approx. 4 hours full charge.
Caveats
- Every battery and ANC line is a Sony claim. GadgetShowdown has not lab-tested XM2.
- Sony Media Room, 31 August 2017, prints $349.99 MSRP. Numeric battery/weight/codec rows come from the still-live spec sheet (30/38 wireless), not the press’s 40-hour wired-NC line.
- Help Guide operating-time tables can print different hour splits by codec — copy the specification-sheet 30/38 music row as the first-table claim.
- Sony product photography is not hosted here.
Headphone-category specs
Same rows on every over-ear page (Sony 1000X, Bose QC Ultra, AirPods Max, Momentum, and later Px / Studio pages).
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Closed, dynamic; circumaural | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications |
| Drivers | 40 mm dome, CCAW voice coil, neodymium magnet, aluminum-coated LCP diaphragm | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications |
| Frequency response | 4–40,000 Hz; Bluetooth 20–20,000 Hz (44.1 kHz) or 20–40,000 Hz (LDAC 96 kHz / 990 kbps) | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications |
| Impedance | 46 ohm (1 kHz) via cable with unit on; 14 ohm (1 kHz) with unit off | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications |
| Sensitivity / SPL | 103 dB/mW (1 kHz) via cable with unit on; 98 dB/mW with unit off | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications |
| Active noise cancellation | Digital noise canceling; Ambient Sound; Personal NC Optimizer / atmospheric-pressure optimizing on product copy. Not QN1 | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications / product lineage |
| Awareness / transparency | Ambient Sound Mode | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications |
| Bluetooth version | Bluetooth Specification Version 4.1 | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications |
| Multipoint | Not offered on this generation. Multi Device Connection arrives on WH-1000XM4 | Sony 1000X feature lineage |
| Battery — playback (OEM) | Max. 30 hours music (NC ON), max. 38 hours (NC OFF). Standby max. 40 hours (NC ON), 200 hours (NC OFF) | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications |
| Charging (OEM) | Micro-USB, approx. 4 hours full. Sony Media Room, 31 August 2017: Quick Charge 10 minutes ≈ 70 minutes | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications; Sony Media Room, 2017-08-31 |
| Wired audio | Detachable approx. 1.5 m OFC cable; gold-plated L-shaped stereo mini plug; passive operation Yes | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications |
| Weight | Approx. 275 g (US sheet: 9.7 oz) | Sony WH-1000XM2 specification sheet |
| Fold / travel | Swivel ear cups fold into the supplied carrying case | Sony WH-1000XM2 product / Help Guide |
| Companion app | Sony | Sound Connect (formerly Headphones Connect) | Sony current app branding |
| Microphones / calls | Noise-sensor / call microphones on product copy. Count not itemized as a single integer on the spec block | Sony WH-1000XM2 product copy |
| Voice assistant | Phone assistants via the connected device. Dedicated Google Assistant hardware path lands on later 1000X | Sony WH-1000XM2 feature lineage |
| Water / sweat resistance | Not published | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications |
| Finishes | Black and Beige / Silver-class finishes on launch-era lists | Sony WH-1000XM2 product lineage |
| Device compatibility | Bluetooth audio devices. NFC listed on regional sheets. LDAC / aptX HD need a compatible source. | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications |
| US MSRP (launch) | $349.99 (31 August 2017). US authorized dealers from September 2017 | Sony Media Room, 2017-08-31 |
| Price band | Legacy flagship leftover (launch $349.99; 2026 used often low) | Derived from $349.99 launch |
| Announced | 31 August 2017 (IFA) | Sony Media Room, 2017-08-31 |
| Availability | US from September 2017 at Sony authorized dealers. Used as of 19 September 2026 | Sony Media Room, 2017-08-31; live support specifications |
Sony WH-1000XM2 extras
Unique to this line or SKU. Other over-ears keep the first table aligned and swap this extras list.
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| DSEE HX | Yes | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications |
| S-Master HX | Yes on sheets that print the row | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications |
| NFC | Yes on sheets that print the NFC row | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications |
| Charge port | Micro-USB — not USB-C. USB-C arrives on XM3 | Sony WH-1000XM2 specifications |
| In the box | Headset; micro-USB cable (approx. 50 cm); 1.5 m audio cable; carrying case | Sony WH-1000XM2 Help Guide |
Overview
WH-1000XM2 is the 2017 folding 1000X before QN1. Sony’s support sheet is still the 2026 source of truth: 40 mm LCP, Bluetooth 4.1, SBC/AAC/aptX/aptX HD/LDAC, 275 g, 30/38-hour music table, micro-USB, fold.
First table: headphones-v1. Sibling hubs: XM3–XM6.
Battery (OEM)
| Mode (Sony’s words) | XM2 claim |
|---|---|
| Music, NC ON | Max. 30 hours |
| Music, NC OFF | Max. 38 hours |
| Standby, NC OFF | Max. 200 hours |
| Full charge | Approx. 4 hours |
Sources
- Sony Media Room — three 1000X models, 31 August 2017 ($349.99 XM2) — accessed 2026-09-19
- Sony USA — WH-1000XM2 specifications — accessed 2026-09-19
- Sony UK — WH-1000XM2 specifications (275 g) — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Does XM2 have QN1?
No. QN1 arrives on XM3. Keep that extra off this page.
Does XM2 fold?
Yes. Swivel cups fold into the supplied case. Keep the headphones-v1 `fold` key.
What charges it?
Micro-USB, about 4 hours full. Sony’s 31 August 2017 press also prints Quick Charge of 10 minutes ≈ 70 minutes. USB-C starts on XM3.
Does it have multipoint?
No. Multi Device Connection arrives on XM4.
Official product page: Sony WH-1000XM2. Tech specs: Sony WH-1000XM2 specs.