Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
Keywords: closed-headphonesdynamic-headphonesheadphoneshigh-endnoise-cancellationover-earsonywireless-headphones
Product Gallery
Product Overview
Sony WH-1000XM4 is the 4th-generation over-ear wireless noise cancelling headphones in Sony's award-winning 1000X family of premium headphones. They combine features from the popular WH-1000XM3 with additional intelligent features.
Delivering Sony's best ever noise cancelling performance, the WH-1000XM4 uses two microphones on each earcup in a Dual Noise Sensor setup, passing data to Sony's HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1. A new Bluetooth Audio SoC (System on Chip) senses and adjusts to music and noise at over 700 times per second.
Using Edge-AI, DSEE Extreme more accurately rebuilds audio lost during digital compression for a full fidelity experience. Edge-AI analyses music in real time and recognises instruments, music genres and individual elements of each song to restore the high range sounds lost in compression for a richer, more complete listening experience.
Further, WH-1000XM4's smart Adaptive Sound Control learns to recognise locations that you frequently visit such as your workplace, gym or favourite café, and tailors sound to suit the situation.
New to the WH-1000XM4 is 'Speak-to-Chat': Just simply say something and the headphones will recognise your voice, automatically stop your music and let in ambient sound so you can conduct a conversion without removing your headphones.
Last but not least, the WH-1000XM4 can be paired with two Bluetooth devices at the same time. When a call comes in, your headphones know which device is ringing and connect to the right one automatically.
In April 2021, Sony introduced a special edition of the WH-1000XM4 in a new Silent White color that retails at a premium.
Ratings
What we found**
Pros
- 30-hour battery life
- Powerful active noise cancellation
- Great audio customization features
- New Precise Voice Pickup technology
Cons
- Bass-heavy sound profile may not be preferred by all
What external reviewers found***
External score 85% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
- Good call quality
- Excellent sound quality
- Great noise-cancelling performance
- Excellent companion app
- Solid audio performance
Cons
- Lackluster call quality
- No aptX or LDAC support
- No aptX or aptX-HD support
Price Comparison
Specifications
Connectivity
Ports
Gold-plated L-shaped stereo mini plug
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.0, NFC
Construction
Cable
Single-sided (detachable)
Drivers
1.57 ", dome type (CCAW Voice coil), Aluminum coated LCP
Magnet
Neodymium
Function
Bluetooth Codecs
SBC, AAC, LDAC
Bluetooth Profiles
A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
Performance
Battery Life
30 h (NC on) / 38 h (NC off)
Frequency Response
Wired: 4 Hz-40,000 Hz | Bluetooth: 20 Hz–20,000 Hz (44.1 kHz Sampling)/20 Hz–40,000 Hz (LDAC 96 kHz Sampling, 990 kbps)
Sensitivity
105 dB / mW (1 kHz)
Production
Availability
2020 Summer
Debut
2020-08-06
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Launch Comparison
Clear List
3rd-Party Review Videos
External Reviews
cnet[1]
Reviewer score 87%Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones sound really good. They're dynamic sounding, but have enough warmth that you don't experience listening fatigue. There's a new mode called Speak-to-Chat that's essentially hands-free quick attention. The headphones charge via USB-C and there's a cable for wired listening.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Great noise-cancelling performance
- Improved touch controls
- Great battery life
Cons
- Touch controls won't work in cold weather
digitaltrends[2]
Reviewer score 85%Sony claims that DSEE Extreme — which uses onboard artificial intelligence — is trained to analyze music in real time through a partnership with the company's SonyMusic division. The XM4 possess such good balance among the various frequencies — accompanied by a wonderfully wide and well-defined soundstage — that it's superb when it comes to getting a rich and satisfying listening experience.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Excellent battery life
- Good call quality
Cons
- No aptX or LDAC support
laptopmag[3]
Reviewer score 92%The Sony WH-1000xM4 are some of the smartest headphones on the market. The headphones have five microphones working to block out noise and amplify your voice. Despite wearing the headphones for 20 hours over the course of 3 days, the headphones still have 30% battery life. But for $349, I want more precision from the touch panel and stronger ANC.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent audio quality
- Accurate noise cancelling
- Excellent call quality
- Comfortable fit
Cons
- Lackluster call quality
pcmag[4]
Reviewer score 88%The WH-1000XM4 headphones deliver excellent ANC. Music playing on speakers nearby is significantly reduced in volume. The ANC does produce the slightest hint of high-frequency hiss. The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 headphones still have a slight edge in the ANC realm, but Sony is closing the gap.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent noise cancellation
- Excellent battery life
- Solid audio performance
Cons
- No AptX support
rtings[5]
Reviewer score 47%The Sony WH-1000XM4 are decent for neutral sound. While they have a very bass-heavy default sound profile, you can customize them to your liking using the graphic EQ and presets available in the Sony | Headphones Connect app. They have over 37 hours of continuous battery life and can be comfortably worn for long listening sessions without a lot of fatigue.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Outstanding noise isolation performance
- Over 37 hours of continuous battery life
- Comfortable fit for long listening sessions
Cons
- Bass-heavy default sound profile
- Bulky design
t3[6]
Reviewer score 94% Wireless connectivity is via Bluetooth 5.0, which is sufficient to get nice big hi-res audio files on board. But it only supports SBC, AAC and Sony's proprietary LDAC codecs. There's no sign of aptX, let alone the aptX HD the XM3 supported. The XM4 is capable of summoning real intimacy from a singer, as well as stacks of character.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Clear, detailed sound
- Excellent noise cancelling
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- No aptX support
techadvisor[7]
Reviewer score 78%The WH-1000XM4 are Sony's latest noise-cancelling headphones. They use the same dedicated QN1 noise cancelling processor as their predecessor. Sony claims to have improved cancellation further by curtailing high and mid frequencies. Adaptive Sound Control is geo-aware and can adjust automatically based on locations that you frequently visit. Smart AI learns your voice so that it can pause music when you speak.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Superb noise cancelling
- Excellent battery life
- Smart AI features
Cons
- No aptX support
- No Bluetooth aptX
techhive[8]
Reviewer score 86%The WH-1000XM4 feature the same HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 as the previous generation. This chip processes ambient noise samples captured by a pair of sensors on each ear cup at a rate of 700 times each second. Sony's companion app lets you tailor noise cancellation to your situation.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent noise-cancellation
- Excellent battery life
- Excellent companion app
Cons
- Noise cancellation can be disorienting
- No wireless charging
techradar[9]
Reviewer score 88%The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are Sony's latest noise-cancelling headphones. Dual Noise Sensor tech uses two mics in each earcup to suck in sound and analyse it with the QN1 noise cancelling processor. The introduction of DSEE Extreme, an AI-driven process that looks to restore detail from lossy compressed formats, does well to bring clarity to even the lower quality formats and files.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Superb noise-cancelling
- Great battery life
Cons
- No aptX HD support
theverge[10]
Reviewer score 87%The 1000XM4s have gotten modestly better at reducing mid-high frequency sounds. Sony also says it has improved the optional feature that upscales compressed music. With no outward design changes, I'm a little perplexed about what took Sony so long to release these.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Improved sound quality
- Improved multipoint
- Improved battery life
- Improved noise cancellation
Cons
- Multipoint can’t be used simultaneously
- No wireless charging
tomsguide[11]
Reviewer score 86%The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a strong contender for the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy. Bluetooth 5.0 delivers strong wireless performance, keeping connections stable for music streaming and Skype calls. NFC is spot-on, letting you pair the cans by placing the back of any compatible smartphone.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent noise-cancelling
- Excellent battery life
- Excellent call quality
Cons
- Call quality could be better
trustedreviews[12]
Reviewer score 87%HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 chip is back to suppress high and mid-frequency sounds via Sony’s Dual Noise Sensor. Quick Attention Mode lets sound pierce through the noise cancelling veil when the wearer holds their hand to the right ear cup. Battery life remains the same as at 30 hours with ANC on with 38 hours possible with ANC turned off. A ten-minute charge is enough for an extra five hours of use.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent noise cancellation
- Comfortable fit
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- No aptX or aptX-HD support
whathifi[13]
Reviewer score 97%Sony's WH-1000XM4s are among the best noise-cancelling headphones in the market. Soundfield appears wider, with the headphones able to use the extra headroom to uncover even more detail. Sony's DAC and analogue amplifier combination worked extremely well in the XM3s and it impresses once again.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Impressive noise-cancelling
- Impressive battery life
- Comfortable fit
Cons
- Can’t connect to more than one device simultaneously
wired[14]
Reviewer score 93%The WH-1000XM4 use the same noise-canceling chip as the 1000XM3. Sony has improved the upscaling algorithm it applies to Bluetooth audio. USB-C port is quick-charge enabled and allows you to get five hours of battery with just 10 minutes plugged in.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent noise-canceling
- Excellent battery life
- Comfortable fit
- Great noise cancellation
Cons
- Lackluster call quality
User Reviews
Comments
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References
- ^ Sony WH-1000XM4 review: A nearly flawless noise-canceling headphone. [cnet]. https://www.cnet.com/news/sony-wh-1000xm4-review-a-nearly-flawless-noise-canceling-headphone/. 2020-12-12. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Sony WH-1000XM4 review: The best headphones get even better. [digitaltrends]. https://www.digitaltrends.com/headphone-reviews/sony-wh-1000xm4-review/. 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Sony WH-1000XM4 review. [laptopmag]. https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/sony-wh-1000-xm4-headphones. 2020-08-07. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Sony WH-1000XM4 Review. [pcmag]. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/sony-wh-1000xm4. 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones Review. [rtings]. https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/sony/wh-1000xm4-wireless. 2021-08-25. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Sony WH-1000XM4 review: the T3 Awards 2021 winner for best noise-cancelling headphones . [t3]. https://www.t3.com/reviews/sony-wh-1000xm4-review. 2021-10-04. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
- ^ Sony WH-1000XM4 review. [techadvisor]. https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/review/sony-wh-1000xm4-3794224/. 2020-08-14. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Sony WH-1000XM4 review: Our favorite noise-cancelling headphones get minimal but welcome upgrades. [techhive]. https://www.techhive.com/article/3570288/sony-wh-1000xm4-review.html. 2020-09-11. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones review. [techradar]. https://www.techradar.com/reviews/sony-wh-1000xm4-wireless-headphones. 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Sony WH-1000XM4 review: the best noise-canceling headphones get better. [theverge]. https://www.theverge.com/21356313/sony-1000xm4-noise-canceling-headphones-review-price-specs-features. 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Sony WH-1000XM4 review: The noise-cancelling headphones to beat. [tomsguide]. https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/sony-wh-1000xm4. 2021-02-23. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Sony WH-1000XM4 Review. [trustedreviews]. https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/sony-wh-1000xm4. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Sony WH-1000XM4 review. [whathifi]. https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sony-wh-1000xm4. 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Review: Sony WH-1000XM4. [wired]. https://www.wired.com/review/sony-wh-1000xm4-headphones/. 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
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These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.
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