Sony's headphones, the "WH-1000XM3," are being adopted for ANA's international first-class flights. These aren't just for blocking out ambient noise; they offer a personalized noise-canceling experience for a comfortable journey through the skies.

The Sony "WH-1000XM3" has been chosen for adoption in ANA's international first-class cabins. Initially deployed on the Japan-Honolulu route in May 2019, it received high praise, leading to this decision.

Equipped with the newly developed "High-Resolution Noise Cancelling Processor QN1," which boasts approximately four times the processing power of its predecessor, the noise-canceling performance has been significantly enhanced.

It effectively reduces not only low-frequency noise, such as airplane engine sounds, but also mid-to-high frequency noise like human voices and ambient chatter, claiming industry-leading performance.

It also features an "NC Optimizer" that optimizes performance based on the user's wearing condition and environment.

After wearing the headphones, a long press of the NC button plays a test tone, detecting factors like individual wearing differences (hairstyle, presence of glasses, fit) in seconds. This function optimizes the noise-canceling characteristics for each user.

Furthermore, an integrated barometric pressure sensor in the headphones optimizes the noise-canceling function in response to changes in air pressure during flight. This ensures an ideal noise-canceling effect, regardless of the usage environment.

To ensure comfort during extended listening sessions, the internal structure has been redesigned, resulting in a 20-gram weight reduction compared to the previous model.

The ear pads now use a new low-resilience urethane material. This increases the flexibility of the ear pads, expanding the contact area with the head by 20% and distributing pressure more evenly.

Additionally, the headband has been refined for a better fit, contributing to a sleek and stylish design.

Even when noise cancellation is active, by touching the entire touch sensor control panel on the right housing with your hand, the music volume is temporarily lowered, allowing ambient sounds to be heard more clearly. This is useful for announcements or brief conversations.

Regarding the adoption, ANA Executive Officer Hideki Kunugi commented, "At ANA, under our brand concept 'Inspiration of JAPAN,' which offers an experience unique to a Japanese airline, we have consistently provided high-quality service with a focus on Japanese technology and meticulous attention to detail. While we have previously introduced noise-canceling headphones in our first-class cabins, the product we have adopted this time, with its ability to personalize noise cancellation according to air pressure and individual head shape, aligns perfectly with our brand concept. Especially in our first-class suites, which offer a high degree of privacy and comfort, our passengers relax, watch movies, listen to music, and spend their time as they please. The adaptive functionality of these headphones, responding to how our passengers choose to spend their time, will further enhance their in-flight experience. This personalization also resonates with our spirit of hospitality, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration to share Japanese hospitality with the world."

*Flight schedules for applicable routes may be subject to change due to the impact of COVID-19.
For details, please check the ANA website.