Sony WH-1000XM4 Review (noise cancelling headphone)

[staticV3]

Where did you get these from?

I got them directly from oratory1990 on Discord.

 

[bevok]

Sony have implemented an interesting new guided EQ feature in the app (beta) which takes you through several screens allowing you to adjust settings 'blind' on whatever you have playing and spitting out an EQ at the end. Quite a good idea although I think it would be helpful at each stage to give some clue as to what you're assessing (e.g. treble) so you can focus on that aspect.

 

[617]

I tried that. I'd much prefer they just include one or two more eq sliders. I had much better results that way.

Sony is really trying to expand the definition of what a headphone is with these devices. The conversation recognition, location based anc, motion based anc. It's a bit too much for me personally, but it's really not right to compare these to normal headphones.

They will also use pictures of your ear to eq the sound. How they do this I have no idea.

Sony have implemented an interesting new guided EQ feature in the app (beta) which takes you through several screens allowing you to adjust settings 'blind' on whatever you have playing and spitting out an EQ at the end. Quite a good idea although I think it would be helpful at each stage to give some clue as to what you're assessing (e.g. treble) so you can focus on that aspect.

 

[radix]

I recently bought the WH-1000MX5 to replace some lost QC 35II. The sound and comfort of the Sony is great, and the touch controls (once I got used to them) are great. The ANC is fantastic. I used for about 20 hours over 4 flights (757-200). The only downside is they do not pack away as well as the Bose, but without their bulky case it's not too bad. I'll try to send them into Amir.

 

[FakeAudiofileWannabe]

I need to test the Bose and Beats to see how bad they are. Hopefully someone will send them in.

I’d like to send you my skull candy anc2’s. Is there a thread you can link me too that tells me how to do that?

 

[IXentimenTI]

By far, and I mean by far, best tuned NC headphones Sony made were WH-H900n turned on with NC off (NC ruins the sound). Pretty depressing how they went under the radar but oh well.

 

[LunaRay]

I use them with wavelet on andorid to have flat response and let me tell you this are 10/10 headphones. Sound comfy, not tiring ears, a bit soft. And ANC is gold. Especially during long train rides. And battery is easily of the greatest also, I can use them for 2 weeks easily. One downside can be mic, works only in rooms, outside is hard to talk to someone. I have them over 2 years already. INSTALL WAVELET RIGHT NOW, this makes them 100x better

 

[LunaRay]

And they fold, so take a little space in backpack!

 

[Bl00dWolf]

Great headphones for mobile use, especially on airplane, subway, etc.

In Moscow they help me a lot to reduce the noise level in the subway while still being able to hear music.

I think they sound good for their class.
They conveniently fold up without taking up a lot of space. They hold a long charge.

I have been using them for about 5 years. Unfortunately not without problems. ANC sometimes makes a very strong "beeping" noise for the first 3-5 seconds when turned on. (started around about 3 years after purchase)
You can google “WH-1000XM4 screeching”.
It goes away, but it is an inconvenience, I have not been able to "cure" it.

 

[Snarfie]

I use them with wavelet on andorid to have flat response and let me tell you this are 10/10 headphones. Sound comfy, not tiring ears, a bit soft. And ANC is gold. Especially during long train rides. And battery is easily of the greatest also, I can use them for 2 weeks easily. One downside can be mic, works only in rooms, outside is hard to talk to someone. I have them over 2 years already. INSTALL WAVELET RIGHT NOW, this makes them 100x better

Use Wavelet slider to correct linear for personal transparency mostly 63% depending how music is masterd great feature in Wavelet.

https://imgur.com/Qa89SX5

 

[LunaRay]

Great headphones for mobile use, especially on airplane, subway, etc.

In Moscow they help me a lot to reduce the noise level in the subway while still being able to hear music.

I think they sound good for their class.
They conveniently fold up without taking up a lot of space. They hold a long charge.

I have been using them for about 5 years. Unfortunately not without problems. ANC sometimes makes a very strong "beeping" noise for the first 3-5 seconds when turned on. (started around about 3 years after purchase)
You can google “WH-1000XM4 screeching”.
It goes away, but it is an inconvenience, I have not been able to "cure" it.

they released a recent update, maybe it's worth checking?

 

[Bl00dWolf]

they released a recent update, maybe it's worth checking?

Firmware?
I updated every time there was a new one. It didn't work for me.

Sometimes it's ok when turned on, but not often.
I have to turn them on and don't put them on my head for 10-20 seconds until these ANC noises go away. Otherwise you can damage your hearing =(

 

[t$$]

By far, and I mean by far, best tuned NC headphones Sony made were WH-H900n turned on with NC off (NC ruins the sound). Pretty depressing how they went under the radar but oh well.

I have these too and sadly my earpads dry rotted and fell apart. The replacement pads I've found all stink, so I've moved on to using the XM4 exclusively, which are pretty good with Wavelet using Amir's EQ.

 

[IXentimenTI]

I have these too and sadly my earpads dry rotted and fell apart. The replacement pads I've found all stink, so I've moved on to using the XM4 exclusively, which are pretty good with Wavelet using Amir's EQ.

Yeah, the aftermarket earpads are terrible sound wise. I spent a lot (A LOT) of time playing with different combinations and the only way to get aftermarket ones sounding remotely close to the original (Id say 90%, but still noticeable) was to dissasemble the pad, reuse original plastic base and mesh fabric while using the aftermarket sponge and leather part but tightening it by A LOT (original earpads are about 18mm thick, aftermarket ones are about 22 and my modified are just 14mm). Now, general presentation is VERY similar but there is a slight treble peak and lack of definiton in the mids which is a result of inferior PU film (grey creased thing on the inside that flakes off) and leather.

 

[RDoc]

One thing about these (XM3 and XM4) is that they only will charge on a USB-A charger even though they have a USB-C socket. That's why the Sony cable is USB-A to USB-C.
Kind of pathetic IMHO.

 

[NTK]

My XM4 shows charging at 2 W (5 V @ 0.4 A) with my USB-C charger.

 

[617]

My XM4 shows charging at 2 W (5 V @ 0.4 A) with my USB-C charger.
View attachment 450469

Same with mine, I use a usb c/c charger. Probably my best audio purchase honestly, those things are great.

 

[Jimster480]

One thing about these (XM3 and XM4) is that they only will charge on a USB-A charger even though they have a USB-C socket. That's why the Sony cable is USB-A to USB-C.
Kind of pathetic IMHO.

Probably because Sony didn't want to pay for a PD compatible charging chip. There are many wireless headphones like this; but I wouldn't expect to see such behavior from Sony.... its more of a cheaper brand thing, since they tried to pinch pennies and use older MicroUSB era charging chips electrically wired to USB-C.

 

[ZolaIII]

Lol MX 4 and 3 use Qualcomm BT SoC and there for don't support rival PD over QC. Nothing to do with Sony what so ever. MX 5 ended this practice so it would probably work with PD but you don't have Apt X codec anymore (lose less and low latency where useful while HD whosent bad).

 

[Jimster480]

Lol MX 4 and 3 use Qualcomm BT SoC and there for don't support rival PD over QC. Nothing to do with Sony what so ever. MX 5 ended this practice so it would probably work with PD but you don't have Apt X codec anymore (lose less and low latency where useful while HD whosent bad).

Qualcomm devices all support PD. PD was never a rival to QC because QC is a quick charge platform that was on USB-A and it also works with USB-C. So there would be no reason that USB-C PD wouldn't work.