Sony WH-1000XM4 Review

Our Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones Experience

The XM4 might be the less impressive sibling to the newer generations, but that is sort of like saying one Helmsworth brother isn't as good as the other. Sure, one plays Thor, but no one is passing up time with the other if he offers.

The XM4 is a no-nonsense headphone with useful features. The straightforward design is clean and unassuming, almost to the point of being boring, but the inside technology works well. We love the cloth-covered carrier that feels luxurious and fancier than those covered in smooth or slick materials.

We liked the gentle clamping force of the band, and although it wasn't suitable for quick movements or stretching too far back, we found it to be one of the most comfortable for sitting. We even enjoyed them while wearing glasses, something we can't say about most headphones. The rotation of the ear cups improves the fit over those that don't rotate.

These headphones don't offer ground-breaking noise cancellation (at least not anymore), but the noise blocking is good. We wore these on an airplane, and they did a good job of decreasing the roaring engine and muting the harsh baby crying two rows ahead of us. For shorter flights, we think they work well, but the eight hours of comfortable wear might not be enough for transcontinental trips.

Sound Quality

The audio is thumpy and powerful, making music feel bigger, bolder, and just more fun to listen to; it makes you want to groove. We were generally impressed with the clarity and detail.

We definitely feel the thump, rumble, and boom in pop, country, and hip-hop tracks, but sometimes the lows can get a bit muddy, like in the bass-heavy hook of “Livin Life” by rapper Lord Sko.

The midrange is full and colorful, shining in stripped-down acoustic tracks. Listening to Joy Williams' “Front Porch, ” the harmonies at 0:46 are beautifully layered; distinct yet perfectly blended. The guitar and violin are warm and rich but never overpower Williams' delicate lead vocal. This simple arrangement shows off the headphones' capabilities. However, the mids can sometimes get a little cloudy when a strong bass line kicks in. The highs are a bit hit or miss. Usually, there's plenty of detail and presence, but occasionally, they become either piercing or distant.

The entire listening experience is customizable with the Sony | Sound Connect App. Here, you can elevate the lows with “Clear Bass”, customize the sound with the equalizer (EQ), or improve audio quality with the Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE), among a slew of other options.

We mapped the WH-1000XM4 frequency response curve to compare to our preferred Target Response curve, a benchmark for what we believe is the most enjoyable, genre-flexible tuning.

The XM4 deviates, with boosted lows and highs, and a short dip in the upper mid-range. This gives it an energetic, in-your-face sound that many listeners enjoy, particularly in genres such as pop, rock, alternative, hip-hop, and dance music. But the sound is far from the neutral, accurate reproduction that audiophiles value. Moreover, the midrange dip can sometimes leave vocals sounding distant.

Soundstage

The WH-1000XM4 does a good job of giving each instrument its own space, but it's not like being front row at a live show.

The experience is more dimensional than anything you'll find below $100, but it still falls short of XM5 and other premium models. 360 Reality Audio can enhance the experience, but you'll need to stream from a subscription-based service like Deezer, Nugs.net, Amazon Music HD, or Tidal.

Comfort and Fit

The XM4s are the kind of headphones your ears thank you for. They're comfy enough to wear all day, but the trade-off is a looser fit. We were able to wear them for up to 8 hours straight without issue, even with thick-framed glasses and dangly earrings.

The 250-gram weight feels light, and the plush, breathable padding provides all-day comfort without causing sore spots or a sticky, sweaty mess. The fit is a little loose. So dancing or speed walking might cause them to fall.

Noise Cancellation

Considering the price point, the XM4 has outstanding noise-canceling capabilities. It isn't on par with newer Sonys, but it's better than most budget options.

The XM4 decreases sound by an average of 27 decibels, whereas the XM5 blocks 31 decibels. In the low to mid-frequency range, where city rumbles and office chatter hit, active noise canceling technology (ANC) does the heavy lifting, keeping common distractions at bay.

At the high end of the range, where sirens are audible, sound blocking results from the passive noise-isolating properties of the earcups. We couldn't hear typing or coworkers talking, but we could softly hear microwave beeps.

Sometimes, the XM4 ANC can cause a stuffy feeling in the inner ear, which is not uncommon but still uncomfortable. The in-app Atmospheric Pressure Optimizer and customizable ANC slider helped reduce this feeling, making the XM4 still a viable choice for those sensitive to ANC.

The customizable Ambient Sound mode increases awareness of the surroundings. The technology sounds relatively natural and pleasant, but we still prefer conversations without headphones.

App and Controls

The XM4 offers numerous customization options to tailor the audio to your preferences, but the touch controls can sometimes behave unpredictably.

Controls

The XM4 features a combination of button and touch controls, including buttons for power and noise cancellation, as well as touch controls for pausing and skipping tracks. The buttons are flawless, but the touch gestures are stubborn. There are smart controls, such as Quick Attention Mode, Speak to Chat, and wear detection, which pauses the music when you place your palm over the earcup, speak, or remove the headphones. They simplify a multitasking life, but the Speak to Chat feature can become overly sensitive to noises besides your voice.

Customization

The Sony Sound Connect App provides the tools to fine-tune everything from sound to noise canceling. We tinkered with the adjustable EQ, enjoying the “excited” preset and the Clear Bass boost for extra oomph. There's also a hearing test that creates a personalized EQ.

The app has a slider to adjust the amount of ambient sound. This feature is easy to miss, but it's worth the search. There's also an Adaptive Sound Control that automatically switches between noise-canceling modes based on the environment.

Connectivity

The XM4 easily pairs with any PC/Android or Mac/iOS device. The connection is stable and never randomly cuts out or disconnects. The XM4 features Multipoint, allowing connection to two devices simultaneously; however, it doesn't work smoothly. Switching audio between a phone, tablet, and laptop wasn't automatic and often required a manual fix in the app.

Battery

The WH-100XM4 features a lengthy 35-hour battery life that surpasses many competitors. However, it's far from the 70+ hours some devices operating without ANC offer, but it strikes an excellent balance between power and performance.

The headphones support passive playback and can be plugged in with the audio cable for uninterrupted playback.

Call Quality

The XM4 is a good choice for frequent callers, as long as you're not calling from a subway or jackhammer convention.

Calling from a subway is a tough challenge for any headphone, including the XM4. Voices sound fuzzy, and background noise bleeds in, making conversations harder to follow.