Review: Sony WH-1000XM4

What was that? Did the world suddenly mute itself? No, it was simply the Sony WH-1000XM4 initiating its impressively effective noise cancellation. While these headphones have been on the market for a few years, they remain a strong contender, especially now with prices dipping below 3,000 kronor. The WH-1000XM4 excels in almost every aspect, delivering a premium audio experience. However, a specific drawback prevents them from achieving a perfect score.

Sony WH-1000XM4 – The Overall Impression

The included case contains a 3.5 mm cable, an airplane adapter, and a USB-C cable.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 presents a discreet and stylish aesthetic. The design closely resembles its predecessor, so differentiation may not be immediately apparent. The right earcup features integrated touch controls, enabling users to manage playback, volume, and other essential functions with simple swipes and presses.

The headphones offer three distinct modes: Ambient Sound Control, allowing users to adjust the level of external sound; Ambient Sound Control Off, disabling active features and functioning as conventional headphones; and Noise Cancelling, designed to eliminate virtually all external noise. In the two active modes, Speak-to-Chat functionality enables the headphones to recognize voices and temporarily deactivate noise cancellation to facilitate conversations. Furthermore, numerous optimization settings are available to fine-tune the user experience, including atmospheric pressure optimization, ear shape analysis, and sound quality mode selection. The WH-1000XM4 provides a comfortable and secure fit.

Battery life is noteworthy, delivering approximately thirty hours of use with noise cancellation enabled. Disabling noise cancellation extends the battery life by approximately 8 hours. This capacity ensures sufficient power even for long-duration flights.

WH-1000XM4 – What Doesn’t Sound

Consistent, low-frequency sounds are effectively eliminated, creating an almost unsettling level of silence. Appliances such as washing machines, kettles, and fans become inaudible. Engaging noise cancellation to this degree can evoke a subtle feeling of vulnerability. Activating music or a podcast further isolates the user, ensuring complete auditory separation from the surroundings. This performance aligns with expectations for a product positioned as industry-leading alongside Bose.

However, this intense noise cancellation presents a drawback: it generates a noticeable pressure around the ears, which can become uncomfortable over extended periods. This sensation can be described as a feeling of pressure akin to that experienced during altitude changes. Users may feel the need to remove the headphones periodically to alleviate the pressure. While the WH-1000XM4 effectively isolates external sounds, the resulting pressure can make removing them a relieving experience. Ultimately, users must weigh the benefits of near-total silence against the potential for discomfort.

WH-1000XM4 – What Does Sound

The audio quality is exceptional. The soundstage is sufficiently wide to reveal previously unnoticed details and nuances in familiar music, a result of Sony’s advanced sound processor. In its effort to reproduce audio as faithfully as possible and enhance compressed audio sources, Sony has transitioned from DSEE HX to DSEE Extreme sound upscaling technology.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 handles all tested genres with aplomb. All frequency ranges are reproduced with excellent fidelity, requiring no adjustments to the built-in EQ. Thomas Bergersen’s – Empire of Angels exhibits remarkable clarity, while Agnes Obel’s – Familiär becomes captivatingly detailed. When listening to Dawn Upshaw singing Lorsque Vous N’Aurez Rien A Faire with noise cancellation activated, the external world fades away, allowing for complete immersion in the experience. The WH-1000XM4 provides this experience on demand. However, depending on the audio content, noise cancellation can slightly diminish the power and impact of the music. While subtle, the reduction in perceived pressure is noticeable in certain instances.

The WH-1000XM4 also performs admirably as a headset. While clear audio for the user is expected, the microphone also provides excellent clarity for the person on the other end of the call. While a beneficial feature, it’s somewhat secondary, as the WH-1000XM4 is unlikely to be purchased primarily for phone calls.

Conclusion

The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a strong performer in nearly every category. Noise cancellation is exceptional, audio reproduction is superb, and few shortcomings exist. However, the intensity of the noise cancellation can limit its usability for extended listening sessions. The ear pressure can cause discomfort and necessitate breaks. This must be considered in context; in noisy environments such as vehicles or airplanes, the noise cancellation is invaluable. However, in quieter environments, disabling noise cancellation mitigates these issues. Consequently, the WH-1000XM4 may partially negate its primary selling point in less noisy settings. In environments with significant ambient noise, it remains a top-tier choice.

• Playlist for testing
  • Thomas Bergersen – Empire of Angels
  • Seven Lions – Freesol
  • Solar Fields – Sombrero
  • Hans Zimmer – Mombasa
  • Agnes Obel – Familiär
  • Really Slow Motion – Dominus
  • Alan Jackson – Drive
  • Dave Weckl – Dis´Place This
  • Von Dinkelmeyer – Countach 1988
  • Ulrich Schnauss, Jonas Munk – Sirocco
  • Armin van Buuren – Beautiful Life
  • Dawn Upshaw – Lorsque Vous N’Aurez Rien A Faire (from Cherubin)

Sony provided a review unit for this evaluation. The provision of review materials does not influence our editorial process. We maintain an independent perspective, prioritizing the interests of our readers and consumers.