Sony WF-1000XM4 Full Review and Sony WF-1000XM4 price Is it worth buying? It’s Features. Already we published an article about the Sony WF-1000XM4 release date.
Unboxing and introduction
There are decent, fantastic, and Sony’s WF series – the gold standard in TWS headphones – when it comes to truly wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation.
The WF-1000XM4 is the second version, and it aims to replace the WF-1000XM3 as the go-to for high-fidelity TWS earbuds with NC. After an unboxing, we’ll discuss how they compare to the WF-1000XM3.
The newly redesigned casing, the buds themselves, two extra sets of ear tips in various sizes, and a USB cord are all included.
Features and design
Sony’s earbuds will now enable both rapid USB-C charging and Qi wireless charging, bringing them up to industry standards. The case is straightforward but sturdy.
The ear tips are one of the most significant advancements in this generation. Sony went with polyurethane foam instead of silicone, which has a few advantages. Foam is far better at isolating noise than rubber, and it adapts to the ear more easily, resulting in a superior fit.
When you take the buds out or put them back in, you get the normal infrared sensor for automated pause and play. For better voice pickup during phone calls, four beam-forming microphones and a bone-conduction sensor work together.
A touch-sensitive pad on each bud circles through Ambient Sound mode and Noise Cancellation with a tap on the left. Playback is started and stopped by tapping the right button. For the next track, double-tap, and for the previous track, triple tap.
Internal Hardware
The WF-1000XM4 boasts a long list of enhancements over the XM3. The V1 replaces the existing QN1e chip, which includes both the ANC processor and the Bluetooth SoC.
The V1 has a new Digital to Analog converter circuit, as well as an amplifier called DSEE Extreme, which upscales music to near-Hi-Res levels and using artificial intelligence to recreate missing frequencies.
The WF-1000XM4 also contains Sony’s LDAC codec, making them the first earbuds to do so. LDAC can send Hi-Res music via Bluetooth at speeds of up to 990Kbps, compared to the regular SBC codec’s 328Kbps.
Physically, the WF-1000XM4s are superior to their predecessors. Even if these aren’t the most compact TWS earphones available, the buds themselves are 10% reduced in volume and weight, which is a step in the right direction.
Google Assistant and Alexa support
The WF model, like the over-ear Sony WH-1000XM4, has to Speak to Chat. When the buds detect that you’re talking to someone, they’ll instantly switch to Ambient Sound mode, allowing you to carry on your conversation.
The WF-1000XM4 adds to their hands-free capabilities by supporting both Alexa and Google Assistant. Simply speak “Hey Google / Alexa” and the buds will activate the assistant. This is particularly useful because it can be used to check the battery life of the buds, as well as to activate ANC or Ambient Mode.
Finally, Android phones include Fast Pair, which prompts you to connect to the WF-1000XM4s when they are in pairing mode via a pop-up on your screen.
WF-1000XM4 Audio quality, noise cancellation
The Sony WF-1000XM4 earphones are without a doubt the best-sounding earbuds we’ve ever tried at HQ. A 20 percent bigger magnet and a redesigned high-compliance diaphragm help the 6mm driver produce superior sound.
From beginning to final, the music is rich and forceful. Bass is always present, providing a solid basis for the music without becoming overpowering. Throughout, the middle is quite detailed, and there is plenty of loudness. Seriously, they are the loudest earbuds we’ve ever used, easily drowning out the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro.
The WF-1000XM4’s sound is perfectly calibrated, establishing a solid balance between crowd-pleasing bassy and loud, but also mature. The voices and instruments stand out.
The WF-1000XM4’s sound quality is comparable to that of much larger headphones. There are none of the tinny, stretched-thin sounds that TWS earbuds produce when they try to be more than they are.
The fidelity of Ambient Sound mode has vastly improved. It’s no longer an artificial enhancement of human voices that made you feel uneasy while also making you feel like you had super hearing. We can use the WF-1000XM4s in Ambient Sound for hours; it’s natural and allows us to talk without taking the buds out.
The Sony WF-1000MX4’s true trump card, however, is noise cancellation. To begin with, the buds provide more passive isolation than other in-ear models we’ve tested, thanks to the foam ear tips and upper design.
The sounds of the outside world vanish as soon as noise canceling is turned on. At first, the experience is a little startling. It’s something we can’t explain; as is the case, it has to be felt or heard.
Sony claims a 40% improvement over the already excellent WF-1000XM3’s, which is insane. When it comes to ANC, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro and Apple’s AirPods Pro are nothing compared to these Sonys.
Comfort of WF-1000XM4
The WF-1000XM4 can give their larger WH-1000XM4 rivals a run for their money in terms of noise reduction. Perhaps it’s because pushing a foam ear tip into your ear canal provides more isolation.
That’s a fantastic way to get to the biggest flaw in these otherwise excellent earbuds: fit. There’s no getting around it: the WF-1000XM4s is large, perhaps too large for some. We tried to show the buds to a few girls, but they didn’t even give them a second glance.
After around 30 minutes of wearing the WF-1000XM4s, this reviewer experienced some pain. The pain is focused on the so-called ear concha, but for other people, the fact that you have to force the buds into your ear canal snugly is a problem in and of itself.
WF-1000XM4 battery life
The WF-1000XM4s are said to have a combined battery life of up to 36 hours, which is a 4-hour improvement over its predecessors. What’s more impressive is the claim of 8 hours of battery life from the buds with ANC turned on, compared to 6 hours for the outgoing pair.
We came close to Sony’s figures. With ANC turned on, you can listen to music for up to 7 hours at full volume. Without ANC, you should expect to be awake for up to 12 hours.
From 5 minutes on the cord, quick USB-C charging provides an hour of playback. It took around an hour and 20 minutes to complete the top-up.
WF-1000XM4 Pricing
The Sonys are, unsurprisingly, at the high end of the market, costing £250 / $280 / AU$450. That puts them in direct competition with other five-star competitors like the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 (£279, $299, AU$499), Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (£249, $280, AU$399), and, of course, the Apple AirPods Pro, which cost between £199 / $199 / AU$300 and £249 / $249 / AU$329.
- Sony WF-1000XM4 price in Amazon
- Sony WF-1000XM4 price in BestBuy
- Sony WF-1000XM4 price in the US
- Sony WF-1000XM4 official price
Conclusion
So, will you purchase the Sony WF-1000XM4? It’s a resounding yes as long as you can afford them! We haven’t heard any earbuds with greater sound quality or better noise cancellation in a TWS form factor. We could even go so far as to suggest that the audio quality and noise cancellation are on par with bigger headphones. The WF-1000XM4s are the best of the best.
These are the headphones to get if you’re serious about music on the go or want the best noise cancellation in a portable compact. Just make sure it’s within your budget and that it doesn’t hurt your ears.
Sony WF-1000XM4 Manual & Help Guide
As usual, Sony releases the official manual of Sony WF-1000XM4 & help guide for Sony WF-1000XM4 here
OUR OPINION
There aren’t many true wireless earbuds that come close to matching the Sony WF-1000XM4’s all-around perfection.
Best for
- Bass performance that is clear and detailed
- A wonderful musicality sense
- Battery life is among the best in its class
Bad for
- Sony’s Multipoint function isn’t available.
- When it comes to ear tips, there aren’t many options.
- aptX HD isn’t available.
Overall, The WF-1000XM4s are the best of the best.