Customer Ratings & Reviews

If you have ever used any of Sony’s 1000X Series headphones, you probably already know what to expect. But if you have not, you are getting Sony’s premium sound and comfort in a lightweight, sleek package. The Sony WH-1000XM4C over-ear headphones deliver an immersive listening experience that makes music, movies, gaming, commuting, and even working in a noisy home or office much more enjoyable. Let’s take a look at what the XM4C has to offer. Noise Cancellation Over the years, I have tested and used quite a few pairs of Sony 1000X Series headphones, and the noise cancellation is easily one of the best features here. These headphones do a great job reducing everyday sounds like traffic, people talking, office noise, fans, and the general background noise you deal with while commuting or traveling. They do not make the world completely disappear, but they quiet things down enough that you can focus on your music, podcast, movie, or work without needing to crank up the volume. One really useful feature is Adaptive Sound Control, which can automatically switch between ambient sound and noise cancelling based on your location and activity. There is also a feature called Speak-to-Chat. When you start talking, the microphones pick up your voice and automatically pause your music or podcast while adjusting the noise-cancelling settings. You can choose how long the headphones wait before your audio starts again, depending on your preference. If those automatic settings are not for you, there is also a physical button on the headphones that lets you switch between noise cancelling and ambient sound manually. You can also manage these settings through the Sony Sound Connect app. I also wanted to share a personal experience that shows how effective the noise cancellation really is. I recently took these headphones on a short flight from Chicago to Atlanta, and there happened to be a cranky baby onboard. Of course, there is only so much a baby can do, but a crying baby on a plane can make a short flight feel much longer. That is where the noise cancellation really shined. It blocked out a lot of the background noise and made the overall experience much more relaxing. Sound Quality What are headphones if they do not sound great? Fortunately, you will not have to worry about that with the XM4C. The sound quality is excellent, with clear and full audio, punchy bass, clean vocals, and plenty of detail. They work well with just about anything—music, movies, games, YouTube videos, and podcasts all sound great. DSEE Extreme helps make compressed music files sound richer by restoring some of the higher-frequency detail that can be lost during compression. LDAC support is also a nice bonus if you use compatible devices and high-resolution audio sources. If the default sound is not exactly to your liking, you can customize it in the Sony Sound Connect app. The 10-band equalizer makes it easy to adjust the sound based on your preferences, whether you want more bass, brighter vocals, or a more balanced setup. The app also includes shortcut settings, listening history, Safe Listening tools, and other options to make the experience feel more personalized. These headphones are made for more than just entertainment. They also work well for calls and multitasking. Calls come through clearly thanks to Sony’s Precise Voice Pickup Technology, which uses multiple microphones and signal processing to help your voice sound clearer. The multipoint connection is another feature I appreciate because you can pair the headphones with two Bluetooth devices at the same time. For example, you can listen to music on your laptop and have the headphones automatically switch over when a call comes in on your phone. Controls The earcup controls are simple and intuitive. You can tap, swipe, or double-tap to play music, pause, skip tracks, and adjust the volume without having to pull out your phone. Once you get used to the gestures, they are very convenient for commuting, working, or relaxing. Battery Life Battery life can be a sticking point for some people because no one wants to run out of power in the middle of a movie or a good music session. On a full charge, the XM4C provides up to 27 hours of listening time. If you forget to charge them, a quick 3-minute charge can provide up to an hour of playback. I actually tested this while on a flight when I forgot to charge them beforehand. I plugged them into my laptop for a few minutes, and they had enough power to get me through the rest of the trip. That quick-charging feature is definitely useful when you are in a rush. Comfort and Portability Last but certainly not least is comfort. The XM4C headphones are designed for extended wear and still feel lightweight and easy to wear during long listening sessions. The earcups have a soft, leather-like finish with memory-foam cushioning that creates a comfortable fit, even after wearing them for hours at a time. The foldable design and included carrying case are also especially convenient for travel, commuting, or storing them neatly in a backpack. Final Thoughts Overall, the Sony WH-1000XM4C headphones are a great all-around option if you want strong noise cancelling, excellent sound, useful app features, a comfortable fit, and long battery life. They are a great choice for commuting, travel, working from home, watching movies, gaming, or simply enjoying music with fewer distractions. My only small complaint is the color. Lavender is a nice option and will definitely appeal to some people, but it just was not the right color for me personally. Other than that, these are excellent headphones that offer premium performance and plenty of everyday convenience.

I love these headphones. Sony basically brought back the XM4 line in all its glory, with foldable earcups, better styling (in my opinion), and updated Bluetooth. They cut back a few features from the original XM4, but nothing that is a big deal. Pros: - Design - Comfort - Sound quality - Durable - Foldable Cons: - Lower battery life - No NFC Setup: The device is designed to work with the Sony Connect app. I am not a huge fan of the app as it is designed ideally to work with location always on when using the headphones which I find annoying for battery life purposes (on the phone), but it does help with some features. The app itself is your go-to hub for controlling every aspect of the headphones including EQ, codec, DSEE, noise cancellation tuning and much more. Just getting your device paired is easy, turn it on, find your device in the Bluetooth menu and you are good to go with basic settings. Connectivity: This model has been upgraded to support Bluetooth 6.0. Multi-device pairing is supported so switching between, for example, your phone and laptop is seamless once set up. I tested with AAC and also LDAC and the connection was strong in both setups with 24-bit 192Hz audio, never dropping the signal for me or buffering. Sound Quality: Amazing is the only way to say it. The 40mm drivers deliver all frequencies accurately and clearly. One song I like to test headphones with is Kore de E by Atarashi Gakko! The song is 24-bit (on supported services) and has lots of vocals, bass guitar, electric guitar plucking, trumpets, and chimes. It is great for picking out the details of a song. These headphones deliver every single detail in crystal clear quality with no frequency being overpowering, just well leveled. Obviously if you want more control, the EQ provides that as needed. As for ANC, it is some of the best in the industry. It is hard to hear anything in any environment when ANC is fully on. Sony has a great feature where you can put your hand over the right earcup, and it will seamlessly switch to transparent mode for talking or hearing something outside. It is kind of shocking how well that feature works. You can also turn on conversation detection in the app, but it is somewhat annoying if you like to sing with the music. Transparent mode is good, but I wouldn’t say it is the best as it still sounds somewhat filtered. Comfort and usability: These are wonderful as you can fold them and put them in their compact case. The earcups are great for long wearing sessions and do not get too hot or feel tight. When not wearing, the headphones are comfortable around the neck and fold flat there as needed. Controls are great. I am generally more of a fan of buttons as opposed to touch surfaces, but this headphone does it right. On the right earcup, tap it to pause/play, swipe up or down to change volume, or forward/backward to change songs. It works great. Battery: I couldn’t run the battery down on these in my week of testing! They are rated at 27 hours which is a bit less than the original model, but I fail to see any way to run them out unless you are running them constantly with LDAC and ANC on.

Music is a huge part of my day-to-day activities. It helps me escape. While I own a good pair of earbuds, there are times when I need the over-the-ear envelopment of a headset that isn’t a gaming headset. And this is where this newest Sony wireless headset comes into play. First off, I love the fact that this headset comes with a hard-shell carrying case. You don’t see that too often these days. Setting up/pairing this Sony wireless headset is extremely easy. It had about 60% battery life right out of the box, so I could dive right into the audio pool. I enjoy a wide variety of music. Ghost, deadmau5, some blues, video game symphonic soundtracks, and classical orchestral music. All are important for the best audio experience. I wasn’t disappointed when the latest episode of A State of Trance played first. And this was before I downloaded the Sony Sound Connect app that allowed me to customize the equalizer. You won’t feel intimidated by the options. There are plenty of preset selections. Or you can customize to your heart’s content. It’s quiet: I’ve had my share of noise-cancelling earbuds and headsets, but I have never had such a profound experience as I did with this headset! With the power on but no music playing, I placed the headset over my ears and the world went quiet. My air conditioning was blowing when I placed the earcups on, and I thought the unit had turned off because I didn’t hear anything but quiet. I lifted the headset off only to hear that it was still running. It was somewhat surreal. Even as I am writing this review, I cannot hear any of the mechanical clicks from my keyboard. There are options for having the ambient sound on or turning it off altogether. What’s cooler is that you don’t need to access the app to turn the Noise Cancellation on/off. This headset allows you to tap the left earcup to cycle through the options. You can do more with this quick access after you’ve set it up through the app. I liked this because I don’t have to use muscle memory to feel for a button to execute a function. Quality: The sound performance is astounding. I played Ghost’s live concert album, and it sounded like the same concert that I had attended earlier this year, but I was hearing it as if I were backstage. Not even my favorite earbuds did this. I also paired this headset with my television because I wanted to hear what it would sound like when I was playing my PlayStation 5. The creepy atmosphere sounds that were in Mortal Shell 2 were delivered with perfection. I dare say that it was better than the premium gaming headset that I use. However, you cannot pair this headset with your PS5 directly, which is why I paired it through the TV. If you’re looking for a supreme audio experience while watching your movies/series on your device? Use this headset! I fired up one of my favorite movies, F1 The Movie, and that opening race was just insane to hear. Comfort and Smart: One of the reasons why I wanted a headset again is because when I skateboard, I listen to music, but my earbuds get itchy. This Sony headset doesn’t get itchy, clamped, or hot. I can ride comfortably. And if you’re anything like me, you might fall asleep while listening to music or a podcast. With earbuds, they will fall out, and then you’re looking for them between the cushions. This headset feels natural to a degree. The headset will rest comfortably over your shoulders when needed. Whatever you’re listening to will pause when you take off the headset, much like when you do the same with earbuds. The app will also learn how I use the headphones and adapt accordingly with the sound control. Comfort and Sound are Bliss: I think you can tell that I am a fan of this headset. There’s nothing negative I can think to say.

There is nothing quite like listening to music on a set of Sony headphones! It is a sort of experience that fundamentally changes how you understand music and sound in general. Having been using Sony’s flagship over-ear headphones since their earliest days, I highly recommend the Sony WH-1000XM4C, as they are not only an unbeatable deal, but pack in a large set of world-class modern features and undeniably fantastic sound quality. Returning back to the classic folding design of the Sony WH-1000XM4, the headphones are highly portable and extremely comfortable to wear for extended periods. They are very light and cover the ears fully to provide a cushioned seal from outside sounds. This, paired with active noise cancellation that, to me, sounds on par with the WH-1000XM5, creates an almost silent buffer from the everyday soundscape of the outside world. To put this into perspective, wearing these outside by a busy road cuts out almost all of the sound of cars passing, birds chirping, and the underlying hum of a busy day. Passing by a loud lawnmower, it can still be heard, but at more of a “whisper” volume than a “shout”. With average-volume music playing, most outside sounds are virtually imperceivable. Listening to music and other media with these headphones is consistently a 10/10 experience. I can confidently say that while the XM5 and XM6 model headphones probably “technically” provide minutely better sound performance than the XM4C, it’s probably by such a thin margin that most people couldn’t differentiate; the XM4C are absolutely premium, top of the line headphones, right up there with the other modern WH-1000X-series headphones! It is definitely worth the buy alone to be able to hear the intricacies of music the way artists and producers intend with these headphones, especially with noise cancelling on to really hone in on the isolated sound of the music. Having Hi-Res Audio and LDAC support is a must-have and definitely makes a clear difference in the sound! Other features that make these headphones great is their fast charging, fantastic microphone quality for calling (I was told it sounded like I was using my phone’s microphone during a call made with these, which is great!), and the ambient passthrough mode, which is still some of the best in the industry today. Both the gesture control using the right earcup and button shortcuts are also super easy to use and intuitive (especially cupping the right ear for instant pass through), and controlling the 10-band equalizer from the app is an awesome updated touch for customizing the sound you want from these headphones! The final thing worth noting is that you can get a lot more out of these headphones using the Sound Connect app! There are several app-only configuration modes such as EQ modes, wind-resistant noise cancelling, connecting more than one bluetooth device at the same time, and much more! You will definitely want to download the app! *Packaging note: the headphones come with a nice carrying case and a cable for connecting your headphones via 3.5mm wired connections, but does not include a USB-C charger in the box.*

I was intrigued when I heard the XM4 flagship headphones would be reborn and return with updated features. I own the earbuds from that legendary generation of Sony audio. Bumping up to bluetooth 6.0, 10 band equalizer and some under the hood tweaks for better overall sound and ANC improvements. The XM4C do not disappoint at all. My music sounds great, custom EQ dials in the bass, mids and treble for my preferred sound. ANC is likely improved over the original. Environmental noises are nearly gone. Even at lower volume you are isolated to your audio of choice. The included semi hard zipper pull case is very good quality and includes a diagram to line up how these fold to fit. Case includes a 3.5mm cord (male to male). Lastly, XM4C are very comfortable to wear and all day battery gives you plenty of time between charges. All features and sound add up to the XM4C being all positives for me. Deeper dive: The Sound Connect app is very thorough and includes several functions I typically do not use, but you might. Other than dual connect, tap/swipe controls, ANC and EQ profiles most will use. The app includes several other useful features. 360 Reality Audio setup, Speak to Chat, Noise Cancelling Optimizer, Find your EQ, assign quick access to ANC button and few more tweaks when you dig further for how the headphones behave when removed. App is very easy to follow and understand. Audio is better than great and the preset profiles are good, although a bit conservative to my ears. I prefer the 10 band EQ to push the headphones a bit more in the rock/pop/country genres I listen to most. I will always wish for more bass, but these push hard enough at 40-60% volume. You will benefit most if you have high bitrate music. My personal offline collection is a mix, and some songs fall a bit flat. No fault of the XM4C, if the audio is not there. The XM4C does not upmix or create better music from the source. So, if you stored your music at low bitrate to save space. The XM4C might sound flat compared to the lossless tracks or better streaming subscription options. Spotify is natively featured for use. I mentioned comfort. The XM4C has a good amount of clamp force on my big man head. Running might be doable, walking is definitely good to go. Glasses when needed are fine. The head/ear cushions are very soft and leather like. Interiors of the cups are labeled L & R on a spongy fabric. The left cup has a proximity sensor and includes both, and only, buttons for Power/BT and ANC/Quick access and 3.5mm jack. The right cup is where you will tap and slide your finger to control media and connect USB-C to charge. Tap/slide is very responsive so far. Typically headphones have been bulky to me. The XM4C is fairly slim and look nearly minimal on head. No complaints. I see why the XM4 were so beloved.

The Sony WH-1000XM4C Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are a solid product. From the unboxing to the actual use of the headphones — I’m impressed. The Sonys come in a handsome, semi-hardshell storage case - perfect for travel. The case has a kind of subtle tweed look it, as shown in the pictures. Classy. Once you master the twisting and turning, the headphones are easily and quickly stored as you approach your destination. Included in the case is a standard headphone jack cable with gold plated contacts, in case you’d rather not use the updated bluetooth connection capability. There is also enough room for a USB-C cable and a small charger (not supplied). A set-up tutorial and owner’s manual are quickly accessed via QR code. This provides some captivating reading while you give the headphones their first charge. Note: right out of the box, the Sonys were at approximately 60% charged. If you don’t already have it, you’ll want to load Sony’s Sound Connect app. I already had the app on my phone for a different Sony device, and it was extremely easy to add the WH-1000XM4C headphones to my account. Once this is done, you’ll have multiple ways to customize your headphones, not the least of which is the 10-band equalizer. The 10-band EQ allows you choose presets or customize each frequency band to your liking. The sound reproduction of the Sony WH-1000XM4C Headphones is incredible. Whether it’s Tool’s Invincible or Barber’s Adagio for Strings, you’ll be extremely satisfied. When streaming Hunt for Red October, I felt like my head was inside a theatre room with a finely tuned sub-woofer. Just the right amount of rumble. Sony’s noise cancelling is one of the best, if not the best, in the industry. When you initially power up the headphones and want to initiate the NC functions, you can hold in the button on the left earpiece to Optimize the NC to suit your current environment. Notice the capital ‘O’ — that’s because you’ll hear a voice response acknowledging your command with both at the start of the process again at the finish (along with some other techie tones). This only takes seconds, but customizes everything to your needs. From that point, you can either use the same button, or the controls on the app, to choose between full-on noise cancellation, ambient sound, or simply ‘off.’ I also like the fact that when in full-on NC mode, if I notice someone trying to speak to me, I can simply cup my hand over the right earpiece and the system will allow the ambient sound of the voice to be heard. No fumbling around with buttons or removing the headphones necessary. Good job, Sony. There is much more that you’ll learn as you get used to your new headphones, like the finger-swiping, button-free commands on the surface of the right earpiece. And, yes, I said ‘your new headphones.’ You gotta pull the trigger on these. You’re welcome.

📦 UNBOXING: Inside the box, you’ll find a decent quality soft shell case. Inside the case is the headphone and a 1.2m analog 3.5mm cable. Strangely omitted is a USB Type-C cable. I can understand not including a charging adapter, but excluding a charging cable seems like a strange cost-cutting measure. Not everybody has an excess of cables lying about their house, so I found that to be a strange omission. Other than that, the box includes some very basic documentation, and the packaging omits plastic in favor of more sustainable materials. 💪 BUILD: The WH-1000XM4C retains much of the same build of the original XM4 launched in 2020, but it does make some changes. New on the XM4C is a user-replaceable battery under the right ear cup. You’ll need to remove the earpad, remove a foam dampener and unscrew the housing, but there should be a battery that is user-replaceable without worrying about prying it away from adhesive. It weighs in at approximately 253g making it competitively lightweight compared to many other ANC headphones on the market, including Sony’s more recent flagship WH-1000XM6. ⚙️ CONTROLS: The left earcup is home to the power button, ANC/AMB button, 3.5mm analog input, and internal wear sensor. Double-pressing the ANC/AMB button can also start playback from Apple Music, Spotify or YouTube Music, but you’ll need to configure which via the Sony Sound Connect app. Holding the ANC/AMB button will start the ANC optimizer that will adapt the ANC to your current environment. Pressing the power button will tell you the battery status via voice. The outside of the right ear cup retains its touch controls, and USB-C input that supports charging but no data transfer, so you won’t be able to use it wired over USB. Swiping forward and backward skips tracks, swiping up and down controls volume, double-tap will play/pause, and holding your hand over the right earcup enables Quick Attention mode. Additionally, holding a finger on the right ear cup for 3 seconds can spawn your device’s voice assistant. Quick Attention mode temporarily enables the ambient sound mode while also attenuating the volume of whatever you’re listening to. In theory, this could be useful when needing to have a very brief conversation with someone or hearing an announcement while on a train or in an airport. More on ambient mode later. ☁️ COMFORT: Not much has really changed about the XM4C’s comfort from its original launch in 2020, and for some that may be great, but for me, I think this is one area Sony should have made some improvement. In my opinion, the XM4C’s headband is the weak point for me. The foam that they use is not very plentiful, but it’s also stiff. As a result, I can’t really wear it for hours at a time without a break. The cheaper Sony ULT Wear not only has thicker headband padding, but is also softer, so they don’t create a pressure point at the apex of my scalp like the XM4C do. The clamping force of the earpads is reasonably strong without being overbearing, but the cushions are a step backward for 2026 standards. For my preferences, the ULT Wear has thicker pads and roomier ear cups which lends to much longer listening sessions. As someone who wears glasses, firm ear cushions create pain at my temples over time. Admittedly, the ULT Wear’s aesthetic is bulkier because of its thicker cushioning, but for people like me who are very particular about headphone comfort, that bulk is worth the compromise of aesthetic if it means that I can use the headphone for many hours at a time. I wouldn’t declare the XM4C as an “uncomfortable” headphone, but I’ve reviewed many other ANC headphones around this price range in the past 6 years, and the XM4C just isn’t in my list of most comfortable ANC headphones. 🎧 SOUND QUALITY: Sound quality is one area where Sony has made some modernizations since its original launch of the XM4 in 2020. The WH-1000XM5 had smaller 30mm drivers and delivered a bloated bass response out of the box, but it seems that Sony has modernized the tuning of the XM4C to more closely resemble the tuning on the newer flagship XM6. With its returning 40mm drivers, the XM4C’s default sound profile has an elevated bass response, but it’s not so excessive that it completely muddies the midrange and loses excitement. It still presents itself as a darker sounding headphone in terms of its treble response, which can be preferable for long listening sessions where brighter treble can often cause fatigue. Across a variety of music genres and even playing video games, I felt that the overall sound signature was pleasant, but it also didn’t “wow” me in terms of technical performance. Instrument and stereo separation remains decent on the XM4C, so it’s perfectly viable for a wide range of listening purposes like movies, TV shows and casual gaming. 🔊 ANC / AMBIENT SOUND: The XM4C improves upon the original in terms of its ANC performance, making it a still relevant performer among active noise canceling headphones in 2026. On my head, I was able to get a very good seal and didn’t notice any hissing with ANC enabled—and that’s even while wearing glasses. Running the optimizer by holding the ANC/AMB button can improve ANC performance. It is possible that some folks will feel the pressure effect that some ANC headphones bring, but I didn’t find it egregious. The XM4C attenuates lower frequency noises particularly well. So HVAC systems, fans and other droning noises will be suppressed in favor of whatever content you’re listening to. Higher frequency noises like speech are still attenuated reasonably well, but you shouldn’t expect to put these on and expect silence when someone next to you is speaking. However, when you’re listening to music, it will be very difficult to understand what anybody is saying, even at lower listening volumes. So no, this will not function as ear protection at a shooting range, but it’s great for office environments, at home, on an airplane, and while commuting. I found the ambient sound mode to still remain a bit muffled when compared to even the cheaper 2024 Sony ULT Wear, but its noise floor remains very low. More than anything, I find that if you speak with ambient sound mode enabled, you will find that your own speech is more muffled and you can hear yourself speak in your head, while others speaking to you will sound more natural and clear. 🎙️ MICROPHONE QUALITY: Microphone quality is adequate, but lacking behind the advancements made in more recent ANC headphones. Sony is still employing 2 MEMs microphones on each earcup for the XM4C while the XM5 jumped to 4 per earcup and the XM6 jumped to 6 per earcup. So comparably, its microphones are not the most detailed and they pick up more background noise. If you’re in a noisy environment like a busy street or a busy office, those who are on the call with you may get a bit distracted by background noise picked up by the microphones. The XM4C struggles to isolate your voice in windy conditions, so it is best used in quieter environments. 💿 SOFTWARE: Software is limited to the Sony Sound Connect app. From this app, you’ll be able to switch your Bluetooth connections, enable connecting to 2 devices simultaneously or use LDAC mode with supported devices, enable adaptive sound control or speak-to-chat, and configure the 10-band EQ. Recent Sony headphones have allowed users to use this app to select which sound modes they want— ANC, AMB or OFF, but the XM4C unfortunately omits this. I personally don’t use the OFF mode as I primarily use it with noise canceling or with ambient sound mode, so I’d prefer the button on the headphone to simply toggle between those two options. So I’m left having to press the button an extra time just to toggle to the mode I actually want to use. The 10-band EQ is the newest feature added to the XM4C that was more recently introduced with the WH-1000XM6, and I think this is a great addition. Users who don’t like the out-of-box sound profile can create two custom presets and an additional “manual” preset that serves as your most recent modification to one of the built-in presets. There is also a “Find Your Equalizer” feature that can help you dial in your EQ preferences while listening to your own music if you are unfamiliar with EQ and need a starting place. 🔋 BATTERY: Sony reports 27 hours of playback with ANC enabled, and I think that’s a realistic target based on my usage. In my experience, it can easily get through a long day of use and will likely get fairly demanding users through multiple days of use before needing a charge. That’s 3 hours less than the original, but this is still quite competitive with the best performing ANC headphones on the market. It should also be noted that the headphone can be used passively via 3.5mm when powered completely off, but it won’t sound as good as it does when powered on with the DSP enabled. The microphone can also work over 3.5mm, but only when the unit is powered on. Additionally, when charging via USB, the unit cannot be powered on and will be immediately turned off, so you should make sure it is charged sufficiently when you want to use it wirelessly. 🧐 CONCLUSION: Overall, the Sony WH-1000XM4C is an incremental improvement over the older XM4 released in 2020. It retains much of the same DNA as the original, with some minor improvements like a user-replaceable battery, a 10-band EQ, and improved ANC performance. But in 2026, it also lacks LE Audio despite also adopting the newer Bluetooth 6.0, still retains the weaker microphone quality of the original design, and doesn’t support USB audio. There are headphones that have been released in the past couple years that can do some things that the XM4C cannot. But if what matters most to you is listening to music wirelessly while silencing the world around you, the XM4C still remains a good choice, even if it’s not particularly exciting or ambitious.

Great Well balanced audio with EQ tuning EQ has been expanded to 10 band ANC is very good even without any audio playing Bluetooth 6.0 support User replaceable battery Support for conventional stereo jack connection Very comfortable for long listening sessions Light for the size Foldable Includes carrying case Easy to use gesture controls Reasonably breathable for over the ear design No so great Microphone quality is poor Passthrough Ambient passthrough sounds muffled and unnatural Less battery life than predecessor No USB audio support Ear detection inconsistent when sweating Music can be audible to others and potentially disruptive No charger or charger cable included Design 8/10 The overall design is very similar to many other Sony headphones and looks nearly identical to the old 1000XM4. The plastic has a soft touch finish which makes them feel more premium. The faux leather pads are soft and pliable. The only concern is the hinge design looks very similar to some previously owned Ult headphones which broke within a few months. That said, Sony replaced the original Ult headphones quickly and the replacements have held up much better so maybe the first pair were defective. The carrying case feels very nice and is rigid to protect the headphones from damage. Inside is a diagram to indicate which way to fold for storage. The headphones also only fold in one direction fully. Included is a stereo audio jack, but no charger or USB-C charging cable. Setup 7/10 Setup was not horrible but still needs improvement. The packaging instructs you to down the Sony Connect app. If you do this and try to add the headphones it doesn’t work as smoothly. When turning on the headphones, they immediately start saying pairing. After a bit, the Sony Connect app shows to choose the headphones. However, once you tap on the headphones it brings up a connection box that never shows the headphones. The only workaround was to open up the Bluetooth settings to pair, then return to the app which would then show them to be chosen on the connection list. If you simply start by pairing the headphone via Bluetooth, then you are prompted to download the app where the same final connection process works more smoothly. After setup, it gives you a brief tutorial of features and drops you into the app to explore yourself. It doesn’t prompt you automatically to go through EQ tuning or anything of the sort. Depending on your professional level and patience this could be good or bad. Controls 9/10 Sony has arguably some of the best controls for headphones available. While some prefer buttons, the issue is unless they protrude out, they can be hard to locate. Even then they can be slower to use. For the main controls, these use gesture controls on the right earcup. There is no need to feel around for a specific button or are to tap. Just swiping up, down, forwards, backwards, or tap gets you all the primary playback controls. The only issues are that tap behavior is occasionally finicky but overall, it feels very natural. Combine that with the soft touch finish makes controls feel premium. The one issue is if you ever lay down with your hand or arm up near your head you may brush up against them and change tracks. The same cannot be said for things like ANC control. The button is very small and hard to feel, but thankfully they are used much less often. The one area where the controls fall a bit short is the on head detection. If you are sweating too much wearing these headphones it seems to cause the on head detection to fail. You can remove the headphones and playback will continue as it can’t tell you have removed them. However, during normal usage the same feature works flawlessly. Comfort 9/10 While over the ear headphones are nice for not putting pressure on or in your ear, they usually compromise on either being too heavy, too hard, putting too much pressure on your head, or holding in too much heat. Well, these headphones have almost none of those issues. The soft padding combined with the light weight means they don’t put a lot of pressure on your scalp. The way they are shaped also means they don’t have to exert a lot of pressure on the sides to stay in place. They do stay in place pretty good for exercise and hold in less heat than most over the ear, but they still hold some and that is the probably weakest aspect of comfort. Sound Quality 9/10 The default is relatively neutral out of the box with maybe a bit of extra bass, but not an excessive amount. The good thing is with the 10-band equalizer it is fairly easy to tune them to your liking. There is also a Find My Equalizer option in Sound Connect which allows you to try your favorite with different presets to find your preferred settings and saves it to EQ Preset 2. However, in my case none of the presets came close enough so I created a manual profile to tune further. Combine that with AAC and LDAC support and Bluetooth 6.0 and these headphones are respectable. They sound pretty good out of box, but you can fine tune them better to your preference and the drivers can deliver in most cases except maybe if you love extreme bass. ANC 9/10 The new ANC isn’t groundbreaking compared to my last Sony headphones, but it is improved. When ANC is on it doesn’t have that unnatural feeling of being in a void. It just sounds quiet. You can hear a very faint sound almost like a distant fan being left on, but it is barely audible and is just a faint white noise sound. Once audio is playing you don’t notice anything at all. In fact, even when playing audio low any outside sounds are inaudible. You can be in a room full of people talking but keep your music low and you won’t hear anything. It does make one wonder if it might work too well and prevent you from hearing emergency sounds such as a siren or alarm, but I never tested that. Microphone 3/10 The microphone is definitely a weak spot of these headphones. They may work great for ANC but if you are thinking of using these headphones for calls you are going to need a quite room. The voice quality feels muffled, and it picks up any environmental sounds. The person you are speaking will hear every clatter of a keyboard even if it seems silent to you. Even setting down a coffee cup can be ear piercing on the other side. Calling outside makes it extremely challenging for the other side to understand you. While these headphones can technically handle phone calls you can tell they weren’t the main purpose of the microphones. Battery 7/10 The battery life is down from the previous generation. While this might seem like a downgrade the silver lining is the battery is now user replaceable so you could potentially keep them going for many years to come. While the overall battery life isn’t class leading it is still much longer than most would every use at one time and charging back up is quick. Final Thoughts Considering the popularity of it’s predecessor, it was smart for Sony to refresh the original WH-1000XM4. While a better microphone would have been appreciated, it is nice that Sony further refined them for their main purpose without making any drastic changes. If you are in the market for a premium mid-range set of headphones and a good customizable EQ and solid ANC is more important than call quality, then the WH-1000XM4C is a solid offering.

This is probably my 10th set of wireless headphones (excluding earbuds).  Why, because they keep getting better.  My current favorites are B&W, Sony, Bose and Sennheiser. These Sony WH-1000MX4C seem so familiar. I had the original 1000MX4 in 2020, I essentially wore them out, the ear pads became flaky and the battery would not hold a charge for longer than a couple of hours.  I replaced them in January 2024 with Sony's WH-CH720 headphones, which were always a little heavy for me and their ANC was improved, but several others had better. Today my favorite headphones are the pricey B&W Px8 S2 (for sound quality), but even though they are very comfortable, their weight becomes uncomfortable on long (overseas) flights. I had no problem pairing the Sony WH-1000MX4C with my iPhone 17 Pro and my Google Pixel 10 (Android 16 Phone, that I use only for music).  The headphones use Sony's Sound Connect app which I already had paired with Sony's link buds (I use when riding my eBike).  The app allows you to install multiple headphones/ear buds (and connect to 2 pair at a time).  Before doing any testing I fully charged the head phones.  I then proceeded to break in using the headphone burn in the app: SQZSoft.  This also allowed me to test the battery life (to some extent).  I set SQZsoft to run for 24 hrs, after that the Sound Connect app showed the battery life had dropped from 100% to 15%.  Which given the 27hrs Sony specs the battery life of the 1000MX4C's; seems just about right.  Speaking of batteries, the 1000MX4Cs were brought back to life by Sony by now offering has a user replaceable battery (required in the EU in 2027) and several significant enhancements.  The general sound curve has been improved (less bassy then the original 1000MX4s.  The included graphic EQ is now 10 bands (vs 6) and the Noise Cancelation has been greatly enhanced. My first general impression was that the sound had a very nice tight sound. Without the deep thump that the 1000MX4s had.  A much more mello sound with great clarity, and effortless highs. Horns, piano and vocals are pushed forward with bright detail and exceptional midrange clarity.  The high treble frequencies are executed with exceptional precision.  I did a quick comparison with the WH-CH720s, and these just based on sound quality were richer, with a fuller soundstage.  The Sony Noise Cancelling worked exceptionally well, I took them to my backyard where the pool pump and A/C run continuously in the summer.  And the Sony WH-1000MX4Cs completely eliminated the humm of each (turning of ANC proved that point easily). In my opinion the headphones work much better with NC enabled. You can turn it off or enable the passthrough mode to better hear the external sounds.  The Headphones include a RCA 3.5mm to RCA 3.5mm stereo connector, but no USB-C charging cord (they do support fast charging).   You also cannot use a USB-C to USB-C cable to wire the headphone to your phone (A feature I do like on my: Beats, Boses, B&Ws, Sennheisers and Soundcores).  In fact when the headphones are being charged they drop BT connectivity (you can't charge and listen at the same time - Boo - minus 1 Star). Now to some music from Boston and Pink Floyd listening wirelessly to my iPhone; The transition from "Foreplay to Long Time", has some great surround stereo separation, softly swirling from ear to ear.  The WH-1000MX4Cs were deeper but airy.  But I found the mid-ranges complexity was well handled. The overall balance of the lows and highs on the 1000MX4Cs was very captivating.  As "Smokin's" bass built the 1000MX4Cs certainly get and keep your attention.  Now on to Pink Floyd's classic; DSOTM.  Speak to Me sounded tremendous, I knew I was in for a treat.  The volume level was wonderful, the bass a little predominant, which I dialed back from the EQ settings.  The subtle sounds in the opening of the song were perfect now. I had the headphones at about 60% volume and that was fine (for now), but knowing they could be driven louder later. The subtle tones were absolutely excellent as the song builds; it had real oomph that you could feel, that higher volume went.  The highest notes in Time were all encompassing sounding wonderful, these headphones provide a sharp, crisp, clear airy high end.  Then came the "Great Gig In the Sky" ethereal voices, wisp around the soundstage, with highs higher than I'm accustomed to hearing and with the bass building as it should have, it was just superb, a most fantastic 3D soundstage.  "Money" got me drumming, it sounded so real, the tom-toms had a real kick to them, and it was even a little louder.  "Us and Them" was tremendous, it literally had me turning my head, like I could tell where each of the different instruments were coming from, with a real dynamic sound stage.  The music came from all around.  As we ended with "Eclipse" I felt like the little voices in my head would persist.  Most Excellent! I wanted to compare my Google Pixel 10 to my iPhone 17 (both with BT 5.3).  I used PowerAmp Pro on the Android and Apple Music on the iPhone. I listened to the live version of Deep Purple Smoke on the Water (FLAC-BT) on both, as synchronized as I could get them, with very similar volume levels.  As I went back and forth the iPhone had a generally smoother overall tone.  The android had a little kickier bass. Both sounded very good; I'd have expected the iPhone (with a better DAC) to clearly sound better.  But the Android Phone held its own.  I also listened to some Kansas Live and thought the Android might have had an edge in presenting better highs.  I could go and tweak either via the EQ, but I was content to say that the latest Android phone was just as good as an iPhone's audio. All told, I think that these are the best headphones for the money musically.  After listening for several hours, I found them comfortable. I just spent 5+ hours with them, and rarely thought about them (other than how good they sounded, their soundstage is exceptional).

I have been loving these headphones since unboxing them last week. The overall quality and comfort of these headphones is what is really drawing me to them. Firstly, the unboxing of this product is amazing, they are encased in a travel clamshell and are nearly ready to go right out of the box. Aside from the aesthetics, these headphones have a lot of built in tech too, but let me first touch on the comfort. The exterior build of these headphones is amazing. Comfortable, spongy head-strap, and overall feel is amazing. The vibrant lavender is very eye catching and the overall look and feel really comes across as superior to others. Then inner ear is soft to the touch and the outer ear is smooth as well. The buttons are crisp and responsive yet very delicate looking. I really like what I am seeing. From a technology standpoint the sound clarity is amazing. The noise cancelling is amazing as well, I have been using these at work and have notice a significant reduction of exterior noise vs my last pair of headphones. The battery life is also noted to be 27 hours which is beyond what I have experienced in my past. Syncing to my phone was pretty straight forward, no required app or anything like that. All in all these headphones are some of the most comfortable ones that I have ever used. The noise cancelation is not notch too and is noticeably better than others. If you are needing a high quality pair of headphones with a stylish design then I would recommend these as a possibility.

Sony 1000X Series headphones set the industry standard for active noise cancellation (ANC) and ultra high end wireless sound quality. Carrying on this tradition of excellence, Sony just introduced the new WH-1000XM4C wireless noise cancelling headphones (M4 2nd Gen) for 2026. I am immediately impressed upon opening the box. Sony includes a carrying case with compartments to protect these headphones, plus hold an aux cord & charging cable. The case has a zipper closure for protection. Connect with the free Sony Sound Connect App to enable features galore. The 10-channel graphic equalizer lets you dial in the audio just as you choose. You can even select preset environments, such as club, arena, or outdoor stages! Another great feature of these headphones is Adaptive Sound Control. You can sit, walk, run, or enter a noisy environment, and they automatically adapt to your listening background as you move. You can select noise cancelling or ambient sound function; you can even fine tune the volume of the ambient sound that is filtered in. Audio quality is absolutely superb!! Deep bass is thunderous without stepping over the precise high frequencies or midrange. I have not heard better sounding headphones, even those that cost several times the price. CONCLUSION: Sony WH-1000XM4C headphones have every modern feature imaginable, along with proven ANC & premium audio. They are a foldable, lightweight 253g design with up to 27 hours of battery life for a full day of enjoyment. Phone calls are clear on both ends. I have collected headphones for years and these are my absolute favorite. They earn my highest recommendation!

Bottom Line: Even though the Sony WH-1000XM4C is essentially a refresh of an older model, it still delivers solid ANC and consistently good sound. Pros: good ANC; clear, balanced audio; touch sensor works well Cons: sound stage is a little too far forward; case and accessories could be more travel friendly Review: For transparency’s sake, Sony’s WH-1000XM4C is not a brand-new release. Rather, it’s a hardware refresh of the WH-1000XM4, an earlier generation I also own. The originals were a fantastic pair of over-ear headphones, and the XM4C proves the design still holds up really well. The XM4C’s ANC does an excellent job with low-frequency noise. At home, that means eliminating the constant hum of our central AC - both the outdoor condenser and the airflow through the vents. When gaming, it also knocks out the whir of the laptop’s cooling fan. However, mid and high frequencies aren’t completely reduced. I could still hear dialogue from a TV show in another room, and, in my test with television static, the noise came through. In terms of audio quality, I generally like how the XM4C performs. The tuning is well-balanced, with solid clarity across the full frequency range. Bass can hit with a low, rumbly presence or a tighter punch depending on the track, while mids and highs stay clean. The app’s equalizer also allows users to tweak the sound to their individual preference. My only issue is that soundstage feels a bit too forward, so rear-channel sounds never quite register as coming from behind you. As with Sony’s other ANC headphones, you can toggle between ANC, ambient noise, or turning the ANC system off. This can be done using one of two buttons on the left ear cup or in the app. Additionally, I enjoy automatic ANC mode, which is handled using location data in the app. For example, the app will turn off ANC if you’re walking and turn it back on if you are stationary; this feature is quite useful if you’re in a busy, noisy area but need to stay alert to traffic. The touch controls on the right ear cup work well, and I found that play/pause, track skip, and volume adjustment controls were all accurate and responsive. One of the minor improvements that I really like over the original XM4’s is that the left and right ear cups have giant letters (L and R) printed inside them. That makes it really easy to figure out which way they should be worn. Last, one minor complaint is that the accessories for the XM4Cs are not as travel-friendly. I like to attach the headphone case to my carry-on for easy access to the headphones during flights, but there’s no place to do so on this case. Additionally, the XM4Cs do not include a dual-prong 3.5mm airplane adapter nor a USB-charging cable (a 3.5mm cable, however, is included).

I own many different types of Bluetooth headphones for various uses and wanted a nice pair of over-the-ear headphones with noise cancellation for travel. Sony is a leader in audio technology, so I naturally wanted to try the Sony WH-1000XM4C headphones. To get the most out of these headphones, you must download the Sound Connect app and create an account. The app is easy to navigate and you can customize many settings. I like the adaptive sound control setting the most. If activated, the headset will determine if letting in ambient sound is appropriate, depending on your activity. I found the noise cancellation worked very well with most ambient noise being reduced to a muffle without music playing. When listening to music, the headphone eliminated all ambient noise. I experimented with the 10 band EQ settings, but found the 5 preset equalizer settings sounded great and did not have to make any adjustments. Sony did include a manual and 2 additional custom settings, which are automatically saved, if you want to customize the listening experience. The spongy earpieces and headband are very comfortable and could be worn for a long-time. However, the earpieces did trap in some heat, which made my ears quite warm. The sound output these headphones produced was great while listening to music and during phone calls. However, my voice was reported as sounding far away with Ambient Sound Control off, muffled with Ambient Sound on, and only decent with Noise Cancelling on. I plan on using these while traveling, so I liked how compact the headphones fold into the case and was happy to see a 3.5mm connector included for use during flights. Overall, I would recommend these headphones. The audio quality is great, for the price, and are very comfortable for long-duration use.

SUMMARY UP FRONT: I am torn on how many stars to give this. I wish I could rate these headphones a 4.5 or even 4.75 because they are not perfect. However, in this case I am going to round up to 5 because they do the two primary things they are intended to do excellently. Those two things are the sound and the active noise canceling. Also, for the most part, the controls are very good in that you can tap or swipe on the right unit to control volume and playback very easily and dependably. Connections are very stable as well. The extensive 120 page "Help Guide" (user's manual) is very good and you can download it - which is mandatory IMHO. However, there are some shortcomings. While you can toggle through the noise cancelling modes with a dedicated button, there is no voice response to tell you what mode you are in. Given that there are other voice confirmations, this is deficient. Also, for some reason, listening via the supplied 3.5mm cable does not produce the greatest sound. Having said, I suspect this feature will not be used often. The supplied carrying case is ok but should be better for this class of headphones. There is no moisture resistance, but this is common for over the ear headphones. Finally, I believe the comfort of the phones is just ok. I point that out since Sony really plays up the comfort and lightweight of the device, but I didn't think it was all that awesome. DETAILS: Unboxing - There is no charging cable included, but a 3.5mm- 3.5mm cable is included to listen while wired (see more about this below) - The case is decent - but not the same quality of other cases I have received with premium headphones before. ○ The material is similar to hard card-board type with a "plasticky" feeling zipper. - There is a reference guide included but that is really just a bunch of notes. Printing is very small and no one will read it. - HOWEVER, there is a QR Code and printed URL which takes you to the "Help Guide". You can download this as a 120 page PDF document which I prefer. ○ The guide is well laid out that way and very good, but there is a lot of repetitive information. Hey - at least it is there. I give Sony kudos for that. Setup - Setup was very easy. Using your phone, you use the Sound Connect app. I had that on my phone already from previous Sony earbuds. It recognized the WH-1000XM4 easily. - The manual does state how to pair with a device other than a phone/computer/tablet but not until page 74. I have a number of dedicated MP3 players. ○ The guide does finally mention that you can enter pairing mode manually by holding the BT button for about 7 seconds. And you do hear the voice guidance say "pairing." ○ I also easily paired my PC to test a number of Hi-Res audio tracks I have stored there as well. - I ran the noise cancelling optimizer. It only took a minute or so. - I set my Android phone profile to use LDAC (instead of AAC or SBC) and it worked well. - The phones do support multipoint connections but I don't generally use that because you cannot use LDAC in this mode. - I appreciate the 10 band customizable graphic equalizer and played with that to get the sound that was optimal for me. Operation - The controls sensor panel is on the right unit only. - Controls with these headphones are easier to remember and use than ear buds. You can swipe up/down for volume control and front/back to skip or replay tracks. ○ You can also fast forward / fast reverse by swiping and holding (not releasing) which is convenient. ○ You can also continuously increase/decrease volume by swiping and holding. Also nice. - There is a dedicated button for the three ANC modes (ANC, Ambient Sound , off). However, there is no audible voice verification of what mode you are on when you press the ANC button. This is deficient. ○ There are different sound responses when you press the button, but I still strongly believe there should be a voice response - especially since there are voice responses for other functions. - Also - the Quick Access control feature seems wonky. I never got it to work with Spotify. That is not a big deal for me. I tried it a few times, but gave up. Perhaps you need Spotify Premium. ○ I received audio guidance stating that “App assigned to the Quick Access is not launched on the mobile device." ○ For YouTube Music, if you try it, it explicitly states you need a premium plan. - You can check percentage of battery remaining by tapping the power button once which is convenient. ○ Of course you can check the display of that in the Sound Connect app as well - There is a mode called "Quick Attention Mode" that lowers the volume and allows you listen to ambient sound by placing your hand over the right unit. That is a great feature. - The optional speak to chat function works well as it pauses the music when you begin to speak. - Power is rated to be maximum 20 hours with ANC/LDAC, 19 with ANC/AAC, or 34 hours with AAC/SBC with no ANC. Performance - In a word - awesome. This is why I felt I could give these five stars. - The sound quality is great. I can hear all the notes. Bass levels are fantastic without being muddled. - ANC is fantastic. I used it around a very large and noisy lawn mower. The job it did of reducing the amount of noise was amazing. ○ But given the warnings about not getting these wet with sweat, I probably do many chores or work out with these. ○ I just returned from travel and have no flights planned over the next few weeks so I have not tested on a plane yet. However, I can anticipate plane noises being reduced a great deal. - I used these in a fitness center (before I was sweating!), and it significantly reduced the noise from the chatter. - Call quality was good and clear. Taking calls was fine. Comfort / Style - These new generation phones are advertised to be light and comfortable. They weigh 253 grams (less than 9 ounces) - I felt the comfort was fine, but no great shakes. In fact, after wearing these for a long time, I felt a little bit of pressure around my ears. - The headphones I received are lavender in color. That color is nice and they look good - my spouse loved the color - but chose your color to fit your style. - Note that even though I tested this while mowing the lawn, the manual explicitly states not to touch the headset with sweaty hands or let it get soaked with sweat. ○ It states the unit is not waterproof and to avoid using in rain or snow. ○ I do wish there was some level of moisture resistance. Wired Connection - I probably will hardly ever use these headphones with a wired connection, and I suspect that will be the case with most users, but I still wanted to test it. Unfortunately I found it to be disappointing. - I found the sound to be a bit muddled. Sounds were not very bright. It wasn't horrible, but just not as awesome as I expected. - I compared the same music with my BT connection and it sounded better - even when using an inexpensive portable MP3. ○ This surprised me so I almost always will use via BT - not only for convenience but because it sounded better. - I used my very high end receiver's phono output jack, a portable CD player and an inexpensive MP3 player and results were similar. - I had to unplug the phones in order to change sound settings / equalizer using the app. I disconnected the wire and then changed the equalization, ANC and other items using my phone to see if I got better results. ○ My results were the same - the sound seemed muzzled and much less full and bright than using BT. This result shocked me. BOTTOM LINE: Great headphones, great performance, great controls and awesome noise cancelling. I do wish for voice confirmation of the noise cancelling mode, a bit of a nicer case, and some moisture resistance. I feel like I may be compromising my integrity a bit by giving these a perfect 5; however, because the performance and ANC is so good, I am compelled to go the full 5. Having said, if I could, I would probably rate these a 4.5-4.75 due to the deficiencies I have noted.

Verdict. The XM4C are great and worthwhile for probably every potential customer, unless you still have working original XM4 headphones. The original XM4 were my favorite headphones ever. I used them until the battery just couldn’t keep up anymore. I wasn’t interested in the XM5 because they didn’t fold so the case was slightly too big to fit in the front pocket of my travel backpack. I briefly considered the XM6, and then bought a different brand for higher sound quality. And then I saw the XM4C! While many of my favorite features remain (they are lightweight, exceptional Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), fold in a smaller-than-most case, and they have touch controls), there are only a few improvement since the original XM4, namely a better equalizer (10-Band EQ) and user replacement battery (which matters to me since I used the old ones until the end of the useful life of the battery). While I think that the XM4C looks more robust, the style also feels more dated than the XM6 styling. Setup. As you would expect. Setup through your Bluetooth menu is simple, and then I highly recommend using the app to maximize the value of the headphones through the added features. I was able to setup the headphones on both my iPhone and iPad. Sound. The sound quality on these headphones is fantastic. Of note, it has a slightly different tuning than the original XM4. Personally, I prefer more bass, which I got from the XM4, but the XM4C delivered crisper / clearer sound that is more enjoyable overall. The 10-band equalizer allows for detailed dialing-in of your custom sound… Thank you!. I would argue that the sound on these is as good as any model or brand (minus the High Def headphones), and just need to be tuned to each’s preference. ANC makes a huge difference in turning the world off and allowing full focus on the sound. Also, for some reason, this headphone design works better with my glasses… With many other headphones, I can notice the quality drop when wearing my glasses. With the XM4 and XM4C, the quality drop from the frame of the glasses entering the foam is minimal. Comfort. I find these headphones to be comfortable for hours at a time. I don’t have heard for added padding (lol), so I care a lot about adequate padding. These are adequate on the ears, and on the top, but a bit more plushness on the top would be welcomed. App. The Sound Connect app adds value to the experience with customizable controls, customizable hear-through behavior, a fantastic 10-band equalizer, and many of the automation that is not fairly standard (i.e. auto stop when removed, location profiles) Accessories. The headphones come with a nice case that is smaller than most headphone cases. It includes a 3.5mm cable, but not a USB-C cable for charging (??), It also doesn’t include the airplane double-prong adapter that the original XM4 had. Things I love: - Sound quality is fantastic - Excellent ANC; even works well with my glasses - LOVE the touch controls; it’s now the only type of headphones I buy. Seamless and fast to easy, and always accurate - Hear-through mode is super handy and easy to activate with touch controls - Comfortable for hours - 27 hours of battery life is wonderful for travel - I appreciate that the battery is replaceable since I used my original XM4 until the battery no longer held up - Quick charging in case you need a boost: 3 minutes of charging gives you an hour of power Things I don’t love: - No USB-C Charging cable - No airplane double prong adapter (but I still have mine from the original XM4) - Microphone performance could be better - Dated design; I think Sony missed an opportunity to add just a few upgrades, if not tech like the microphone, maybe as simple as colors, materials, and added plushness. Conclusion. This is a nice refresh of my favorite pair of headphones from Sony, so I am happy! But… I think they should have gone farther… maybe a slight update to styling, better microphones, and provide convenient cables to make this package more travel friendly. Nevertheless, they are a great pair of headphones that will last for a long time. You can’t really go wrong with these. I highly recommend the Sony XM4C.

SUMMARY: The original XM4’s were popular with people on the go that wanted a budget friendly alternative that sounded great but was easy to carry. A lot of folks were disappointed when Sony discontinued the XM4’s. Well… they’re back in a second-generation model! And arguably better. Improved ANC, a better sound stage with an improved equalizer, intuitive controls, a sturdy foldable design with included case, and a great app. All in all, the XM4c has benefited with Sony’s experience with its higher priced lines. One con, these are great for listening to music of all types, and watching tv, but they are only so so for phone calls. For comparison I had the original XM4, and the Apple Airpods Max. PROS: - Great Sound Quality and Stage. Very clear mids and highs. Great for listening to modern music with vocals. - Lightweight fit around the ears that is comfortable for all day listening. - Easy to control with just swipes and taps on the earcups. You can even set up your own shortcuts to customization. - Decent battery life for all day listening. - Very good noise canceling and transparency. Not industry best, but great for the cost. - Bluetooth 6.0., connecting was easy with no drops to two separate devices - Folds conveniently with included case to make carrying around easy. - Auto pause and off to catch those important Flight Attendant notices. - Great App for setting multiple listening options, a tweakers dream. A 10 band equalizer (up from 5). - An actual headphone jack for purists. A MATTER OF TASTE: - Plastic, Plastic, Plastic. This makes them light, saves cost, but some might find they don’t feel ‘Premium.’ - Doesn’t include a charger cable (or charger). Takes standard USB-C. I am fine with that, I have enough that I don’t need more cheaper verisions. - While the mids and highs are great for vocal, the base was not as punchy. I am not a basshead, but if you want booms and rumbles you should try them first. CONS: - It has multiple microphones, I can hear a call well but am told my voice is not as clear as normal. Is this a deal breaker? Very few headphones are good at this without a microphone boom. This seems to be a class effect. MORE WORDS: A lot of people, myself included, loved the original XM4’s. They hit the sweet spot of sound quality, comfort, portability, and value. Because they fold up and fit in a compact case they were the road warrior’s choice. If that’s you, you probably are already in line to pick up the second generation. I can’t recommend it to you enough, its exactly what you loved about the XM4, but improved noise cancellation, sound stage, and app. I know, I had the chance to test them while flying recently. Great for travel. If you are a student, another home run. They can fit in your backpack no problem. What if you are an audiophile? Well, if you want to pay more, you can get more, though perhaps not from sony. I do think for $200 more the Apple Airpods Max are more crisp. And I had a chance to listen to some Bowers & Wilkens for only $600 more… let’s be real. For the price the XM4c holds its own, but at 3 times the price? Then there is Sony’s confusing line of headphones. The XM4 is intended to be more budget friendly, but there is a reason the XM5 is constantly on sale. It’s a rigid design that doesn’t deliver on the sound quality for the price. The XM6 on the other hand, does offer great sound cancellation and sound, but again, you want more you pay more. In today’s economy the XM4c is going to hit the sweet spot for a lot of people. Sony realized they made a mistake when they discontinued the XM4, and they came back with an answer to get past XM4 owners to upgrade.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Sony audio products owning numerous headphones over the years, as well as a surround sound system and bluetooth speakers, so it was great to see them update a fan favorite with some newer tech. For reference with this review, I’m coming from a pair of XM3s but I have not owned or listened to the XM5s or XM6s, but I own some other higher end, over-the-ear headphones. Sound profile preference is always an interesting subject and from the reviews of the XM5 and XM6, many have apparently preferred the XM4s. I found the XM3s to be quite good but a little short of being amazing. They sounded rich and full but didn’t feel like there was great separation. With these XM4Cs, out of the box, I found thee to be nice and balanced but interestingly, I didn’t necessarily find them especially full. I’ve liked Sony’s somewhat signature “bumpy” sound in previous years and these weren’t like that out of the box, which I believe should actually please some folks out there. For me, I wanted a little bit more on the low end and using the “Hard” profile did the trick! That was the bumpy profile I was used to with some Sony products of the past which suits my particular listening tastes but I actually had to dial it down just slightly on the low end. These things can absolutely thump on the low end if you want them to. Clarity is stellar on these and a big upgrade from my XM3s which lacked in that department. They easily compare to some of the $400+ cans I own. There may be a little more definition on higher end headphones but it’s splitting hairs. These have amazing clarity for the money. But I’m overall quite impressed with these from a sound standpoint and feel they offer a lot for the money considering some of my experience with more expensive headphones. The customizable EQ in the app can provide plenty of different listening options based on not only the audio type but likely lots of different personal listening preferences. ANC is also quite good. With the TV on in the background at around a medium volume, I could barely hear it even without playing any music on the headphones. With music playing on the headphones, I couldn’t hear the TV at all. Comfort is top-notch with a cushy pad for the top of the head and nice, plush ear cups. They’re also surprisingly light so I can wear these for hours without discomfort. The only minor complain is that I wish the ear cups were deeper where my ears touch the inside of the cups. They don’t smash my ears by any means and they’re still quite comfortable but a deeper earcup is something I appreciate on some other headphones I own. On the flip side, making them deeper would also make them larger so I suppose there’s a trade off. Another minor complaint is that when removing them and putting them down on a table, the ear cups turn and face upwards. I wish they went face down to protect the drivers. I’m very impressed with these and are an excellent upgrade from my XM3s! Highly recommended.

I’ve had the WH-1000XM4C on my head all week between working at my desk and messing around the house. If you hated that Sony stopped making folding flagships, you’ll love the form factor here. More importantly, the app actually lets you fix Sony's usual bass-heavy tuning now. Active Noise Cancellation & Ambient Sound The ANC is genuinely wild. I wore them while doing dishes and walked off forgetting the kitchen faucet was running twice. You do have to bump the volume to around 75% for that total vacuum seal effect, but the hardware is phenomenal. My kitchen range hood sounds really loud when it’s on max, and these wiped it out completely. Ambient mode was weird around my desk fan (in a cool way). At first, you hear that immediate rushing air, but after a couple of seconds, it’s like the headphones figure out what it is and quietly filter the drone down on their own while still being able to hear the outside world like the office manager yelling for something. Palming the right earcup for Quick Attention works great. Obviously, you still have physical cups over your ears so people sound a tiny bit muffled, but you can easily order a coffee or talk to someone without yanking the headset off. Also really liked that when you let go, your music doesn’t just blow your eardrums out but instead it does this nice, smooth crescendo back to your volume level. Audio Quality, LDAC & That 10-Band EQ Straight out of the box with zero tuning? Not gonna lie, pretty muddy. The low-end was way too heavy, and it swallowed up vocals and guitar lines. Opening the Sony Sound Connect app and messing with the 10-band EQ completely flipped the script. With LDAC turned on and streaming lossless files, they went from muffled to easily the cleanest sounding wireless headphones I’ve heard. Instruments separated out, the bloat disappeared, and vocals popped right to the front. I ended up sitting at my desk just queuing track after track because it sounded so good. I did not want to stop listening to music! My custom EQ profile that fixed the muddiness: 31 Hz: 0 dB 63 Hz: -1 dB 125 Hz: -2 dB 250 Hz: -1 dB 500 Hz: 0 dB 1 kHz: +1 dB 2 kHz: +2 dB 4 kHz: +1 dB 8 kHz: +2 dB 16 kHz: +1 dB Clear Bass: 0 I found the secret is pulling back 125 Hz and 250 Hz. That dumps the boxy mud, and the baby bumps at 1k, 2k, and 8k bring back voice clarity and cymbal crispness. Fit, Controls & Portability I wore these through an entire 8 hour workday. Right toward the end I noticed a tiny bit of pressure on my jawline, and the earcups can get a little warm (you’d probably get sweaty on an 85° day), but with a fan going in my office, comfort was solid. I usually despise touch pads on headphones, but these are responsive even when my hands were still damp from the kitchen sink. Huge shout out to Sony for leaving the ANC/Ambient toggle as an actual physical button, too so no guessing games. Portability is where they absolutely smoke newer non folding models. They snap down into the case in one second flat. The hard case is slim enough to slide right into my backpack with my laptop, standalone keyboard, and mouse without having to smash anything down. Overall, I wouldn't write them off on day one with the stock sound profile. Take two minutes to punch in the custom EQ, feed them a lossless stream, and they’re incredible.

I’ve heard a lot about the Sony XM series headphones and went into this with what I now know were unrealistic expectations. In the box you get the headphones, a 3.5mm AUX cord, and the case. Out of the box you get amazing sound! Battery life is rated for about 27 hours. No need to worry if you run them out, a 3-minute charge will get you another hour of listening. I’ve been using them every day for a couple of hours and have not had to charge them yet. Connectivity of course is via bluetooth but you also get an aux cord to connect to devices that don’t have bluetooth like my ipod classic. I like that you don’t have to power these on to use the aux cord but this doesn't get you the best sound and you don’t get noise cancelling without power. With bluetooth, you can connect these to two devices and switch between them. Of course, there is an app for these and while you don’t need it to listen to these but you definitely want it for them. Sound wise, I was impressed right out of the box. The default sound profile is excellent. Mids are pronounced and clean and highs are crisp. I like my music with heavy bass and the XM4C’s really deliver. It’s not brain shattering but heavy enough to be heard. The bass also doesn’t overpower the mids and highs. If this isn't for you, there is a 10-band equalizer with five presets and two custom sets to choose from. There is even a feature called “Find your Equalizer” which walks you through various sounds and sets a custom value for you based on your selections. Phone calls sound incredible on both sides with no wind or background nose for the other person. Noise cancelling is where I was expecting more until I compared these to some of my other class-leading earbuds and headphones and realized my expectations were just wrong. The noise cancelling is excellent. And if it's not, there is an optimization routine you can run that corrects it and makes it better. I like that you can have the ambient noise switch between settings based on your location or what you are doing like walking or riding in a vehicle. The speak to chat feature is another nice feature. Unlike my earbuds that just lower the volume when they hear you speak; the XM4C’s actually pause the media and switch to transparency mode so you can have your conversation. Once they realize the conversation is over, your media resumes. There is a spatial sound option but it’s only for a few services that I don’t subscribe to. I like how the controls are touch activated on the right earcup. Tap and slide to control volume, track and playback. Overall, I am really impressed with these Sony XM4C’s - my new favorite headphones. I highly recommend them.

So I received my new Sony WH-1000XM4C Wireless Noise Canceling Headset a week ago and have been putting them through the paces. Now before I get started, it goes without saying that Sony has been an industry leader in many electronic products for decades including headsets. So when this headset came along, I knew I had to get my hands on it and try it. And boy am I glad I did. This thing is simply amazing and has been so much fun to use over the last week. First off, I have the Platinum Silver color, which I didn’t think I’d love but they absolutely look amazing. Unboxing: * Sony WH-1000XM4C Headset (Platinum Silver) * Carrying Case * Audio Cable * User Documentation Before I get into the features, let me just say these things are comfortable. The earcuffs feel so comfortable and natural on my ears and after wearing them for an extended period of time, there was no pressure or soreness on my ears. I almost forgot I was wearing them. The headset is also extendable for those with larger heads like myself. On the left earcuff is the audio port to connect them to your desktop or laptop or other mobile device with a 3.5 mm port, power button, as well as a NC/AMB (noise canceling/ambient) button. On the right earcuff at the bottom is a single USB-C port for charging. On the side of the right earcuff are controls for volume +/-, as well as play/pause, mute, and forward/rewind. They are a little tricky to get used to but once you master it, its second nature. Once you have them fully charged, simply pair them like you would any other Bluetooth device and you’re ready to go. It is recommended to download the Sony Sound Connect app from the App Store for iOS or Google Play Store for Android devices. There you can tweak different settings like the EQ to your liking as well as check for firmware updates. Now when it comes to sound quality, that’s where this headset really shines (both for music as well as calls). I will most likely use these for listening to music, however, I have used them a few times for phone calls and everyone says I sound crystal clear. So far battery life has been amazing as well. You can easily power through the day with these and still have plenty of charge left. I do love how quickly they tend to charge, and Sony claims you can get 1-hour of playback time just from a 3-minute charge. If there was one thing I could change about this headset, it is that I wish the earcuffs were cloth instead of this pleather type material, however, not a dealbreaker.