If you love music and want to invest in high-end hardware, you’ve come to the right place. I have been testing the new ones for several weeks Sony WF-1000XM4, a noise-canceling in-ear headset that few competitors have on the market. Also, what comes closest to it, at the moment, is the previous WF-1000XM3 which I also tested a few years ago. Sony has renewed one of its flagships and has done so with enthusiasm. Of course, in advance that if you plan to spend a little, these headphones are not for you: Sony put all the meat on the grill and that it is reflected in the final price.
Sony WF-1000XM4 Review : A completely renewed and more comfortable design
If I start with the design of the headphones, it is essential to talk about the change in design from the previous ones. They are not even similar: Sony changed the whole body of headphones and also the way they rest on the ear. While on the XM3 most of the earpiece was out of the ear, now on the XM4, most headphones rest inside.
This is due to its considerable reduction in size. I took the scale out for a walk and the data speaks for itself. The XM4 weigh 7 grams each, while the XM3 weigh 10 grams. They are smaller and rounded. Now it is easier for them to fit your ear well even if it is smaller than normal.
Placing them is extremely simple, as they have a only way for them to rest properly on the pavilion. In addition, several adapters of different sizes are included for you to play with. I recommend that you take a few minutes to choose the one that’s right for you, as the difference can be huge.
The XM4 still has touch screens in each of the headphones, which is larger and better hidden than in the XM3. It works perfectly and it’s easy to get used to knowing where to press.
I can confirm that Sony has made a great job with the design of these headphones, because now they are more comfortable, lighter and it is easier to forget that you are wearing them. In addition, having a body that is inserted further into the ear, the isolation is greater.
You might have skipped the on-ear anatomy class, which is why I’m anticipating some users: of course the design on the headphones is very relative and every human has a different ear. In my ear the headphones fit perfectly and yours might not. It doesn’t mean they’re uncomfortable, just that your ear is different from mine. Now I can’t tell you if I have a common ear or a rare ear …
The box, another great design success
Probably the most criticized of the WF-1000XM3 was the your box size. At the time, but also today, it is one of the largest charging boxes on the market. Sony has managed to optimize resources and now the size of the box is a 40% smaller.
- WF-1000XM3 | Helmet + Box: 92 grams
- WF-1000XM4 | Helmet + Box: 55 grams
The whole does not weigh half, but almost. The case is now incredibly smaller and more transportable. Carrying it in your pocket is no longer uncomfortable and it is on par with the rest of the in-ear headphones of this style. Of course, the box is all plastic, although this one is not shiny and is quality.
Despite a considerable reduction in size and weight, Sony has allowed itself the luxury of include wireless charging. Yes, you can charge the headphones by leaving them on a standard Qi charger. If you want a cable, you can use the one from your smartphone, because it is a Usb-c.
The only downside I put to the box is the small clearance that the cover has in relation to the body. I don’t know why it’s there, and it’s small, but it is. It may be necessary for everything to fit perfectly inside. It is to put a blow, because after 5 minutes we forget.
High-end sound and near-perfect noise cancellation
Of course, the most important part of any headset is its ring. As you can imagine, Sony hasn’t forgotten about sound. The headphones have renewed their internal components, especially the sound and noise canceling chips. Is it noticeable compared to the XM3? If you compare them directly, yes. Well, if you’ve got a good ear.
The reality is that these Sony WF-1000XM4 they sound better than other in-ear headphones on the market. The summary may be too brief, but it is the reality. These headphones have a sound of very high quality which is merged with excellent noise cancellation.
All frequencies have a good presence and the bass doesn’t work on the mids or highs, which happens with much of the catalog of in-ear headphones on the market. The volume is loud, energetic and is supported by the great isolation so you only need 50 or 60% if you want to listen to really loud music.
If you come from helmets at 30, 50 or 70 euros the difference is abysmal. All of the build quality, noise cancellation algorithms, and sound quality will take you to another league. The big question here is whether you need this quality.
You can settle for lower quality and save money, but the the key to these XM4 is in noise cancellation. It’s the best on the market and takes you to an empty room with reinforced concrete walls. That’s why you really want to spend almost $ 300 on these headphones.
There is no other product on the market that has this noise canceling, having so much battery and being so portable. You will find headphones with the same or even better sound quality, but not with that quality and the same noise cancellation.
If you lend him one minimal attention to the quality of the music you listen toIf you travel a lot or work in a noisy environment, these headphones are likely to be a very good life companion. Of course, the investment you have to make will be high. They don’t cost $ 100, and they don’t cost $ 150 either. Its official selling price is 280 euros in Spain.
Additional details of WF-1000XM4 which are very cool
These headphones include some aspects and features that are not found in the rest of the options in the market. I have to start with his drums, which is really crazy. According to Sony, they offer 24 hours of battery life between charging the headset and the case. It is difficult to test such autonomy, but I can say that at no time did I have any problems.
A full charge gets you forget to go through the socket for days. If you listen to 2 or 3 hours of music a day, you will need to recharge them, at most, once a week. This is if you don’t follow my strategy of putting them on the wireless charger every time I use them. If they still rely on one, forget to use the charging port.
In addition, its charge is no longer slow. Now the headphones allow fast charge and with just 5 minutes on the plug, you can enjoy 60 minutes of music. This is one of the most important things because if you take them and they don’t have a battery, it will only take you a few minutes to be able to use them for hours.
Another incredible detail of these XM4s are their adapters. The tip of common earbuds is made of silicone here is moss. And yes, it can be less durable over time, but the experience goes to another level. These foams offer superior sound quality and better adaptability to the pavilion. You need to press them lightly before inserting the headphones into your ears and they will finish fitting. It is similar to the behavior of a shape memory pillow.
On the software side, there are two key new additions: the wind drops and pauses when you speak. The former offers a significant improvement when it is windy, which in the XM3 could be annoying. Now the the microphones capture the wind and reduce it considerably therefore it does not hinder noise cancellation.
If you activate the option to automatically pause when voices are detected, you will be in the Olympus of technology. It is a function that detects when they are speaking to you – or you are speaking – and pause music playback. It does this perfectly and you don’t have to long press the touchpad anymore.
The first word someone presents to you causes audio playback to stop and the microphones to turn on to hear what they are saying. The function works so well that it should be deactivated if you like singing or humming music: it also activates if you speak.
There are cheaper mobiles than these Sony WF-1000XM4
I have always shown that these are expensive headphones and that they are not made for everyone. his the price is 280 euros, about 330 dollars. It is one of the highest prices for commercial branded in-ear headphones.
The good news is that you will also have the best experience on the market and that its price will drop over the months. I can only recommend them Sony WF-1000XM4 for users who take music seriously that they are listening to and which, in turn, need noise cancellation to be able to enjoy that music.
After testing them for a few weeks I can say that these are the best noise canceling in-ear headphones that you can buy right now. They don’t have the best value for money, but if you want the best, and price isn’t an issue, you should buy them.
