Over-Ear
Nectar Hive
85Outstanding
$197
Full review dataNectar Hive vs Sony WH-1000XM3: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Nectar Hive comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 85. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Nectar Hive - Outstanding overall at around $197.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Nectar Hive
Sound9.0
Value7.0
Sony WH-1000XM3
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery9.0
Calls7.0
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | Nectar Hive | Sony WH-1000XM3 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $197 | $110 |
| HearWiki score | 85 / 100 · Outstanding | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2022 | 2018 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | Electrostatic | dynamic |
| Driver size | - | 40 mm |
| Drivers per side | - | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-7kHz | 4-40000 Hz |
| Sound signature | Bright neutral | - |
| Impedance | - | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | - | 104.5 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | - | 4.2 |
| Bluetooth version | - | 4.2 |
| Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | - | No |
| Wireless range | - | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | - | 38 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 30 h |
| Full charge time | - | 180 min |
| Quick charge | - | 10 min = 5 h |
| Wireless charging | - | No |
| Features | ||
| ANC type | - | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | - | No |
| Companion app | - | Yes |
| Custom EQ | - | No |
| Wear detection | - | No |
| Controls | - | touch |
| Voice assistant | - | Google Assistant, Alexa |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 370 g | 255 g |
| Water resistance | - | none |
| Foldable | - | Yes |
| Detachable cable | - | Yes |
| USB-C | - | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 4 |
| Call noise reduction | - | Yes |
What reviewers said
Nectar Hive
The Nectar Hive is a wired electrostatic over-ear headphone priced around $600, weighing just 370 grams. It delivers a bright neutral sound signature with a frequency response spanning 20Hz to 7kHz, offering a detailed and airy presentation that leans toward analytical clarity. This model earns high marks for its tonal balance and technical performance, making it a strong contender in its price bracket for listeners who prefer a crisp, revealing sound.
- Pro:Excellent tonal accuracy and neutrality
- Pro:Impressive technical detail retrieval
- Pro:Featherweight design for comfort
- Con:Bright tilt may be fatiguing for some
- Con:Limited bass impact due to electrostatic nature
- Con:Requires dedicated amplifier for proper use
Sony WH-1000XM3
The Sony WH-1000XM3 is a versatile over-ear headphone with adaptive noise cancellation, delivering a balanced sound signature and impressive 30-hour battery life with ANC on. It's comfortable for long sessions and supports high-quality LDAC streaming, though its plastic build and lack of water resistance may disappoint some. Touch controls and multipoint connectivity add convenience, but no custom EQ limits sound tweaking.
- Pro:Effective adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Long 30-hour battery life with ANC
- Pro:Comfortable for extended wear
- Con:Plastic build feels less premium
- Con:No water resistance rating
- Con:No custom EQ in app
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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