Quick Sony WH-1000XM4 Review | Sony Wireless Headphone

sony wireless headphone review
Image credit: Sony

Thanks to industry-leading noise-canceling technology, you will hear every word, note, and song with remarkable clarity no matter where you are. The WH-1000XM4 noise-canceling headphones from Sony wireless headphone selection have an extra microphone to isolate high- and mid-frequency sounds, further reducing noise pollution.

Specs:

Headphone Type: Closed, dynamic

Driver unit: 40 mm, dome type (CCAW Voice coil)

Input: Gold-plated L-shaped stereo mini-plug

Frequency Response: 4 Hz-40,000 Hz

Frequency Response Bluetooth: 20–20,000 Hz (44.1 kHz sampling)/20–40,000 Hz (LDAC 96 kHz sampling, 990 kbps)

Cord length: Headphone cable (approx. 1.2 m, OFC strands, gold-plated stereo mini-plug)

Volume control: Touch Sensor

Features

Sophisticated design and supreme comfort come together in the WH-1000XM4 headphones from Sony. Foamed urethane ear pads with super-soft, pressure-relieving foam provide a solid fit by increasing contact between the ear and the pad. You won’t even know you’re wearing them because of their lightweight design. 

You’ll be able to keep going for lengthy periods, thanks to the 30 hours of battery life. With the optional AC adapter, you can receive 5 hours of charge in only 10 minutes if you need to recharge quickly.


Price: $348.00 at Amazon

Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones
Image credit: Sony

Sound Quality

The Sony WH-1000XM4’s sound quality is one of the tinier details that Sony improved over the previous model (100XM3). That’s not to argue that the WH-1000XM3 sounds terrible—it sounds excellent—but the older model has more of a consumer-friendly boost in the low end.

The more neutral-leaning frequency response in the lows leads to a sound that doesn’t have a tremendous bass surge as you’ll get on some other headphones. While it isn’t for everyone, most individuals won’t have an issue here. If you want greater low-end emphasis, you can constantly simply adjust the EQ setting in the app.

If you want to play Bach’s violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor by Hilary Hahn at a whisper-quiet level, you’ll love the bass’s current state. They also sound amazing in Pixel Empire by Madeon, and you can detect the subtle changes in rumbles throughout. The same attention to detail is evident in the mids as well.

The song’s words are easily heard in Constellations by Darwin Deez, regardless of what’s going on. Other instruments like cymbals and shakers also benefit from the increased loudness. These, in general, sound fantastic.

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Microphone

The Sony WH-1000XM3’s microphone is excellent, which also holds here. Bluetooth headphones often have a slight dip in frequency response between 150 and 200Hz, but this is more prominent than the previous model. The quality should still be enough for phone calls and Zoom meetings.

According to data gathered as of March 24th, 2021, 4,286 readers thought this mic sample was decent to good. This is a good outcome for wireless headset microphones, and it’s at the high end of what you might reasonably anticipate.

Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones
Image credit: Sony

Comfort and Style

Elegant design and outstanding comfort come together in the WH-1000XM4 headphones. Foamed urethane earpads with super-soft, pressure-relieving foam enhance contact between the ear and the pad for a more secure fit. You won’t even know you’re wearing them because of their lightweight design.

With hands-free calling, you can have a more natural conversation. Simply double-tap to talk instead of pulling out your phone. Better sound quality to the other party through the WH-1000XM4 thanks to its innovative audio signal processing and Precise Voice Pickup Technology (PVPT), which combines five internal microphones.

The WH-1000XM4 headphones may be linked to two Bluetooth devices at the same time for maximum convenience. When a phone call comes in, your headphones immediately connect to the correct device. Switching between the two devices will also be a cinch with the press of a button.

Battery Life

When it comes to battery life, Sony believes they will offer you roughly 30 hours of continual listening, the same as the previous WH-1000XM3. In our tests, we switch the headset’s ANC on in Bluetooth and play music with a peak output of 75dB(SPL) (SPL). Under these circumstances, the WH-1000XM4 lasted precisely 19 hours, 59 minutes.

This is certainly still amazing and more than good enough for most people, but I find it weird this doesn’t last as long as its predecessor, which clocks in at roughly 24 hours. It’s also likely that, given that the unit tested is a pre-production device, some software gremlins still need to be rectified. 

You can charge the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones through USB-C and receive 5 hours of playback in only 10 minutes, which is great if you’re already running late for the bus or train.

Final Verdict: WH-1000XM4 Sony Wireless Headphone

It’s an overall great upgrade if you loved the Sony WH-1000XM3! It’s just the previous model but better!

Here’s a helpful video for additional insights.