Customer Ratings & Reviews

After trying the Samsung buds pro, I was very surprised how uncomfortable they were, and how there was almost no noise cancelling. I also tried the Bose 700 and the Bose QuietComfort earbuds, I was dissatisfied with the design and noise canceling level. Also their app was not working properly. After seeing that the Sony was on sale, and after reading great reviews, I bought them. I was instantly impressed. The app has many more features, and works perfectly. The noise canceling is great. One of the greatest features, is that without even having my Bluetooth turned on on my phone, I can place the back of the left ear piece against the back of my Samsung Galaxy phone, and through NFC, without the app even running, and the headphones powered off, the headphones power on, and turn on Bluetooth on my phone and connect. When you connect the included cable between the headphones and your device, for some reason the noise canceling is even better. I am going to check into this to see why this might be as it does not make sense. The app allows you to adjust the ambient sound so that you can go from complete noise canceling all the way to being able to hear cars and noises around you. Most of the options for the headphones can also be controlled by buttons or swiping on the earpieces. It's been decades since I've owned a Sony product, and this reminds me of the quality that I remember seeing in Sony products. Since I don't want to always have bluetooth on because I'm not sure of the health risks involved, my research showed that when you plug in the cable it turns off the Bluetooth in the headphones. I tested this out by trying to reconnect via Bluetooth while the cable is plugged in. The phone was unable to find the headphones, which supports what I read, namely that Bluetooth is turned off in the headphones when you plug in the cable. Luckily found these on sale and had rewards points making them a great deal with super quality. They are also comfortable, lightweight and seem to have great battery life and quick charging via USB C. The only potential problem that I've discovered is that when wearing them outside in the wind, I do hear some of the wind. However these were not mainly purchased for outdoor use.

Many years ago I had purchased a Bose Wireless Headphone set and at the time I thought they were great. The only complaints I really had about them was they clamped too hard on my head and I would get headaches and the charge didn't last long enough to be reasonable. I understand they have made them more comfortable now, but, they just didn't quite have the bass like I wanted. So I waited a long time before getting a new Wireless Headphone set. I am very happy to say that the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones have far exceeded my expectations. They are very light and don't clamp so hard on my head. They are very comfortable and really perform as advertised. I have worn them for periods of over 6 hours at a time. The battery life is outstanding. I charged to a full charge on initial receipt and didn't have to charge again for at least around 30 hours of use. With the simple quick push of a button on the left headphone, I can hear a voice telling me the percent of charge left. I can pair with two bluetooth devices at the same time and easily switch between them with a simple tap on the right earphone; such as my phone to answer phone calls and to listen to my computer or TV. I can easily pair to other devices and easily switch to them. The app is great, but I rarely use it as the headphones are easy to operate and understand what to do once you familiarize yourself with their operation. If someone says something to you, all you have to do is start talking and the music or sound will go on pause and you can talk and hear, then a simple tap on the right and whatever you are listening to will resume. The sound is what I like, just enough bass without booming my head out, but deep and rich with the other frequencies being just as clear as needed. The noise cancellation is outstanding in my opinion. When I get a phone call, the music is stopped automatically and with a simple tap I can answer the phone and the conversation is easily understood at both ends. I am very pleased. I highly recommend this Headphone set. Note: I use these for enjoyment. I am not a professional that can answer every question in the world about them. All I can do is give my opinion about the headphones and how much I like or dislike them. So far, I don't have any dislikes. Read the specifications for them and watch a video on YouTube about them. I am 69 years old and really enjoy these headphones.

These headphones truly are the best! They are extremely comfortable to wear – even with glasses – and the noise cancellation is truly exceptional. Taking meetings in office, on an airplane or train, listening to music – they're really a game changer! Also love that you can connect two devices at the same time, so switching from my phone to laptop is seamless!

Oh my goodness, where do I begin? Pros: Definitely is noise cancelling. I finally found one where I can truly drown out the noise. Really good sound/bass Comfortable on the ears I can enjoy doing my choirs with greatness again. Cons: I haven't fully mastered all the amazing features.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are easily some of the best headphones I’ve used. The sound quality is excellent, with deep bass, clear mids, and crisp highs that make music, videos, and calls sound amazing. Everything feels balanced and premium. The noise canceling is the standout feature. It blocks out background noise extremely well, whether I’m in public, studying, or just trying to focus. It genuinely makes a difference and creates a quiet, immersive experience. Comfort is another big plus. The ear cups are soft, lightweight, and comfortable enough to wear for long periods—even with glasses. Battery life is also impressive, lasting well over a full day on a single charge. Overall, the Sony WH-1000XM4s are absolutely worth it for their sound quality, comfort, and industry-leading noise cancelation.

I RESEARCHED HEADPHONES FOR OVER 1.5 MONTHS. I WANTED BEST AUDIO QUALITY BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES, FOR HIGH QUALITY (FLAC) MUSIC. YES I KNOW, "WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT WIRELESS THEN???" CONVENIENCE AND FLEXIBILTY BETWEEN DEVICES. I NEVER HAD ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLING BEFORE, AND QUITE FRANKLY I WAS SKEPTICAL. I WAS CONCERNED IT WOULD DEGRADE MUSIC DUE TO CANCELLING NOISE AT SIMILAR MUSIC FREQUENCY. SO I TRIED TO AVOID A.N.C., HOWEVER THE MAJORITY OF MY RESEARCH ALWAYS POINTED BACK TO THESE. I WAFFLED BACK AND FORTH FOR A LONG TIME, THEN THEY WENT ON SALE AT SAME LOW PRICE AS NOV 2020 BLACK FRIDAY. KICKED IN MY $100 REWARDS AND FIGURED IT WAS WORTH THE RISK FOR SUCH LOW COST. OMG, ONE OF THE BEST PURCHASES I MADE IN QUITE SOME TIME! AUDIO GREAT! ANC GREAT! BATTERY LIFE EXCELLENT!! AND COMFY FOR MY BIG HEAD!!! FOR EXAMPLE, I LISTENED TO MUSIC FOR 3 STRAIGHT HRS, 3 STRAIGHT DAYS W/ANC ON. BATTERY WAS 88%! AFTER 1 WEEK OF USE IT WAS 45%. THEN THEY SAT UNUSED FOR 1 WEEK AFTER TAKING OFF CHARGER. WHEN I TURNED ON, THEY WERE STILL 100%.  IF YOU CAN CATCH A SALE, OR MONEY IS NOT AN ISSUE, YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU PURCHASED THEM. ONLY NEGATIVE THING I CAN SAY IS THE TOUCH CONTROLS (SPECIFICALLY FOR VOLUME) IS TRICKY TO MASTER. WILL NEED MORE PRACTICE.

Wow! Talk about the entire package - quality, sound, ruggedness, design and looks, and battery life. What else could you want?! Oh yes, comfortable as well! This is my first set of Sony headphones, and I am so glad I went with this set. I could not be more happy with this purchase, and have recommended them to several friends. Keep up the great work, Sony!

These are my first set of premium Bluetooth headphones and long story short, these are highly rated and recommended for a reason. It’s a great product, and worth the price in my opinion. SOUND QUALITY: The sound quality is fantastic out of the box, and with the app you can change it to your preferred way of listening to music. It has enough bass that you can feel it, but it’s not overwhelming. Also the noise canceling and ambient sound modes are also fantastic. The noise canceling could nearly cancel out a vacuum running right next to me without even playing music! The headphones are awesome for movies as well! COMFORT: I can wear these headphones for a long time without any issues, they’re very comfortable and lightweight. I can almost forget that I’m wearing them, even after hours of use. CONNECTIVITY: The Bluetooth for me has been very stable, I can’t recall any drop outs or skips even when walking away from my phone throughout the entire house, it’s been great! No complaints about the 3.5 cable option either. I have NOT used the 2 device pairing feature so I can’t comment on how well that works, but it’s nice that it’s there. BATTERY LIFE: The battery life has been stellar, I’ve only had to charge a few times when using them for hours every day for a month. I also really appreciate that you can check the current battery percentage at any time by pressing the power button. They charge up very fast for the amount of battery life that you get in return. CONTROLS AND EXTRAS: The touch controls are pretty neat, they work well once you figure out how to use them. And I really like the case that they come with, it’s high quality, looks nice, is fairly compact, includes a storage area for the cables, and it’ll protect the headphones well. They also shipped and arrived very fast with no issues at all. FINAL THOUGHTS: I honestly have no complaints with these headphones, everything works very well, you get what you pay for and I recommend these any day of the week. I would absolutely buy them from Best Buy again!

They work great, much better than my old Beats headphones. Not to mention that over-the-head headphones, over time, do not damage your hearing as earbuds do. Great connectivity Sound is by ar better than Beats Long lasting battery life

This is my second pair for a reason. They sound amazing, have good battery life, have good noise cancellation, and work well wired or wireless. They have all the features I want, and are at a reasonable price. My first pair eventually quit powering on after several years, so something likely went wrong with the button. They still work great wired, but I got this pair to be able to go wireless again.

Don't let the price fool you. These headphones are amazing. The spacial and clear sound is one of the best headphones you can get on the market today. Pros: -Battery life -Bluetooth (can connect up to two devices at the same time.) And never had any issue connecting to various devices. -Enhances music that has been recorded at lower bitrates -Comfortable, even after wearing for several hours. Vent holes to prevent sweaty ears. -Has more bass sound than the Bose equivalent. -Has a feature where if it detects that you are speaking it will pause the music and turn off the noise cancelation. -Noise cancelation is top notch. Check it out in the store to hear what I mean. And it will adapt to your environment and routine if you wish it to. Also can temp cancel noise cancelation by hold your palm up to the right ear. -Can adjust EQ through the software. Cons: -Software is OK. Its pretty bare bones and not a lot of options. (But does upgrade firmware to the headphones). -Sony makes s big deal about this 360 sound. And it does sound amazing. However, very limited content that supports it. And that is even using Sony's own app. -Limited available colors -Price can be a turn off. But given the quality of headphones that these are. I find it well worth it. -Bluetooth microphone is ok. Not horrible but sometimes it doesn't come out as clear as it should on the other end of the phone call. I would recommend these to just about anyone that really loves to hear the best their music has to offer and wants top notch noise cancelation as well. The software is lacking and the much hyped 360 sound available content is disappointing to say the least, But that is just considered a bonus honestly. While pricey, these are one of the best sounding headphones I have used in a long time

I got these at full price and then almost immediately after purchasing them, then went on sale. Dang it. Oh well, it's fine. These are my first decen pair of over the ear headphones. While I was looking at these, I was debating between the Bose 700's, Sony XM4's, and the Airpod Max's. I went and watched plenty of reviews to come to my decision: spoiler I got the XM4's. I decided on the XM4's due to (mainly) 2-3 things. -sound -price -Quality/extra bits (sorry poor wording) Most of the reviewers I watched compared the Sony's XM4s to the Bose 700's and to not only the reviewer, but to me, the Sony's sounded better than the Bose 700's. The Bose 700's MSRP price is $379.99 vs the Sony's XM4s MSRP price is $349.99, which yes doesn't seem as much in comparison. However, the XM4's sounded better and as the reviewer noted was more comfortable and had extra features than the 700's. Features that were better were: -sound quality (NOT in terms of the mic, the Boses honestly sounded better) -price (the Sony's went down to I think 299 on sale after I got them which was good) -had detachable cable -longer battery life -comfortability The 700's do actually have better mic quality for calls, however that wasn't a feature I was too interested in. The reasons I chose this over the Airpod Max's was essentially due to the cost of the Max's. In a way I just wished I saved up more for them, but I think buying the XM4's was still a good purchase nontheless. I do however, really dislike the noise bleed and the app for these headphones. It is very annoying and even the littlest thing could trigger the headphones to completely stop the music and stop the noise cancellation mode. I *think* these headphones have touch controls, but quite honestly, I don't know how to use them and I've given up. I tried the ear scanning that is available on the headphones which you use with the app, but it wouldn't work(?) Somebody might correct me on this, I'm not sure. I will add that the sound is good and works well. The bluetooth pairs fast and there is a voice to tell you when the battery goes low or needs to be charged. It does use USB type C so that is a definite plus. The sound does have a bit of a punch. It can get loud. Pretty bassy (which is not always a good thing), but I don't *feel* it muddys the sound. (I am no sound expert, this is just how I feel and experienced with these headphones.) I do think it can get to the point it can give you a headache and or make your ears tired and take them off. So please be warry of that. In summary, I think these ARE good headphones for a lot of people. The sound quality is good, the mics are maybe not as on par as the Bose 700's, but I think it's more than just acceptable. I think these are a good alternative to something like the 700's and Airpod Max's in terms of feature to price. Definitely good for on sale price if you can get them. I don't like the app and I don't really use it, however that's an individual thing whether they use it or not. I don't want to rate it as excellent, but I DO feel they are better than just good. so 4.5 stars.

Ended up choosing these over the Bose QC-35, after years of wanting the Bose headphones and have no complaints, honestly. The sound quality without any of the optional sound adjustments are exceptional, you can download the app to adjust the sound quality to your preference if needed. The noise cancelling on these are are above and beyond even at no sound. The battery usage is miniscule to where there isn't much of a necessity to charge the headphones on a constant basis (like other headphones in the market today). Product wise, the Sony XM4 feels very light on my head, and I use it quite often when I walk to work in the NYC area. I looked for consistency and comfort, these pack a punch in both of those categories. Jumping from normal AirPods to these felt like a great investment. If you're looking for simple, over-the-top headphones with adjustment options, don't look further than these.

I had read about these new Sony 1000XM4 Wireless Noise-Cancelling headphones with their promise of being one of the best on the market. I was looking forward to getting my hands on them myself. I received my pair in white. They come in a compact semi hard case with a mini plug for plugging into headphone jacks, plane plug for air travel and a USB-C charging cable. Unfortunately the charging cable is only 8 3/4” long and was a letdown when charging the headphones. A three foot cable would have been better for charging. But all in all that was the only short fall for the 1000@XM4’s. The sound quality is outstanding with clear, clean sound that provides plenty of low end without being boomy. I have several pairs of noise canceling headphones that claim to eliminate outside noise, but none of them come close the Sony’s ability to put you in a sound cocoon, isolating you from the outside world. The ear cups fit snug without feeling fatiguing and the head strap is virtually undetectable when wearing them. Setup is very easy with the provided instructions. Using your IPhone camera to scan a smart label in the instructions, you are brought to the Apple store or Google play store to download the Sony 1000XM4 app. Once downloaded simply follow the instructions. You can also simply use your phone’s Bluetooth to connect directly without the app, but then you don’t have the opportunity to use the apps features such as multiple device setup, speak to chat and equalizer settings to customize the sound to your liking. There are only two buttons on the headphones, the power button and a custom button. The custom button, when pressed analyzes your areas noise and personal sounds you make to tailor the noise canceling performance. To change volume levels you simply slide your finger up in the outside center of right headphone to increase the sound and from the top down to lower the volume. To move to the next song, move from back to front and to play the previous song, slide your finger from front to back. To pause / play and to answer a call just tap the center of the outside right headphone. It takes some practice to get the right touch to control the touch control to work with proficiency, but once you do it’s easy. Once I charged these headphones they seem to play for ever. Weather I’m cutting the lawn, walking or using the elliptical, I get hours of use out of them. One feature I never knew that I needed was the ability to connect to two different devices at the same time. For example watching a move on one device and also being connected to my iPhone allows me to still answer the phone and pause the movie until the call has ended. This feature is great. All I can say is these would be my favorite headphone for the sound quality alone and all of the other great features pushes them even higher!!

I've had my Sony WH-1000XM4s for three days. They are my first over-the-ear headphone purchase since the 1980s or so. For the past few years I've been using Apple Earbuds and/or various lightweight, cheap on-ear headphones, but I’ve never loved them. I decided to get some “real” headphones and get back to enjoying music like I used to... largely as a diversion from all the bad news that started in early 2020. Since the Sony XM4 and Bose 700 seemed to be the noise-cancelling top contenders, I read several reviews for both (in addition to reviews of a few open-back headphones) over a period of five days, and the XM4 seemed to be the better choice for me. To make sure, I drove 40 minutes to the nearest Best Buy for an in-person listen. I tried three Sony models and a couple of Bose models. I was clueless about the concept of noise cancellation, and I wasn't sure that I wanted or needed it. I went back and forth to the various models, repeatedly testing audio quality and comfort, and settled on the XM4s although I wasn't totally wowed by the audio quality. The demo songs weren't the type of music that I listened to, and everything sounded too bass-boomy, with very little nuance. In short, everything sounded like a box with a pillow over it, and I think noise cancellation was a big part of it. When I took the XM4s off, I was amazed at how loud the huge store sounded, even though it didn't sound loud before I put the headphones on. I was almost ready to go home empty-handed, but I decided to chat with two very friendly salesmen about my concerns. They confirmed what I had read in the reviews—that you can tweak the EQ in the app that comes with the XM4s, so I left with a set, knowing that I had 14 days to return them if necessary. Antsy to do a real-world test on my own headphones, I drove the 40 miles home and got started. Mine sounded way better than the store's demo model after I turned noise cancelling off. But the sound was still lackluster, to put it mildly. So I downloaded the Sony Headphones app and set the EQ to the "Bright" preset suggested by a couple of reviewers. Some improvement, but they still didn't sound like $350 headphones. I searched on line and found a suggestion on Reddit for a manual EQ setting. WOW! They sound so good now that I can't take them off! I'm addicted, and have been listening to all kinds of music that I knew by heart, to see if they sounded different with these cans. YES! (A few times, while listening with the free five-month Apple Music subscription that came with the phones, I’ll come across a song that needs a little more treble, so I turn on the Boost Treble setting in iOS settings for just that one song. However, most music in any genre sounds incredible.) Using various fairly high-quality phones in the past, I usually ended up with sore ear edges after extended listening sessions. These XM4s are SO comfortable that I have not had any ear fatigue whatsoever. They’re large enough that my ears fit inside with room to spare. Even with noise cancellation off, these things seal out sound extremely well, due to their luxurious construction. I flushed the toilet and thought it was broken, because I couldn’t hear it! I vacuumed the apartment yesterday with them on and could barely hear the vacuum cleaner. Someone was mowing grass outside my open window, and I couldn’t hear it at all. I turned off the Speak to Chat feature because it was annoying, and putting my hand over the right headphone worked perfectly fine when I needed to bring back the ambient noise or talk to someone. It took a few tries to master the touch controls, but they’re like second nature now. I have these headphones paired with a MacBook Pro, an iPhone, an iPad Pro, and I've had my Sony WH-1000XM4s for three days. They are my first over-the-ear headphone purchase since the 1980s or so. For the past few years I've been using Apple Earbuds and/or various lightweight, cheap on-ear headphones, but I’ve never loved them. I decided to get some “real” headphones and get back to enjoying music like I used to... largely as a diversion from all the bad news that started in early 2020. Since the Sony XM4 and Bose 700 seemed to be the noise-cancelling top contenders, I read several reviews for both (in addition to reviews of a few open-back headphones) over a period of five days, and the XM4 seemed to be the better choice for me. To make sure, I drove 40 minutes to the nearest Best Buy for an in-person listen. I tried three Sony models and a couple of Bose models. I was clueless about the concept of noise cancellation, and I wasn't sure that I wanted or needed it. I went back and forth to the various models, repeatedly testing audio quality and comfort, and settled on the XM4s although I wasn't totally wowed by the audio quality. The demo songs weren't the type of music that I listened to, and everything sounded too bass-boomy, with very little nuance. In short, everything sounded like a box with a pillow over it, and I think noise cancellation was a big part of it. When I took the XM4s off, I was amazed at how loud the huge store sounded, even though it didn't sound loud before I put the headphones on. I was almost ready to go home empty-handed, but I decided to chat with two very friendly salesmen about my concerns. They confirmed what I had read in the reviews—that you can tweak the EQ in the app that comes with the XM4s, so I left with a set, knowing that I had 14 days to return them if necessary. Antsy to do a real-world test on my own headphones, I drove the 40 miles home and got started. Mine sounded way better than the store's demo model after I turned noise cancelling off. But the sound was still lackluster, to put it mildly. So I downloaded the Sony Headphones app and set the EQ to the "Bright" preset suggested by a couple of reviewers. Some improvement, but they still didn't sound like $350 headphones. I searched on line and found a suggestion on Reddit for a manual EQ setting. WOW! They sound so good now that I can't take them off! I'm addicted, and have been listening to all kinds of music that I knew by heart, to see if they sounded different with these cans. YES! (A few times, while listening with the free five-month Apple Music subscription that came with the phones, I’ll come across a song that needs a little more treble, so I turn on the Boost Treble setting in iOS settings for just that one song. However, most music in any genre sounds incredible.) Using various fairly high-quality phones in the past, I usually ended up with sore ear edges after extended listening sessions. These XM4s are SO comfortable that I have not had any ear fatigue whatsoever. They’re large enough that my ears fit inside with room to spare. Even with noise cancellation off, these things seal out sound extremely well, due to their luxurious construction. I flushed the toilet and thought it was broken, because I couldn’t hear it! I vacuumed the apartment yesterday with them on and could barely hear the vacuum cleaner. Someone was mowing grass outside my open window, and I couldn’t hear it at all. I turned off the Speak to Chat feature because it was annoying, and putting my hand over the right headphone worked perfectly fine when I needed to bring back the ambient noise or talk to someone. It took a few tries to master the touch controls, but they’re like second nature now. I have these headphones paired with a MacBook Pro, an iPhone, an iPad Pro, and an Apple TV. They connect flawlessly. I haven’t tested phone answering yet, since I get very few calls in this era of texting and emailing. The battery takes a long time to need recharging. I charge mine with my iPad charger. The carrying case for these headphones is very sturdy and looks beautiful. To anyone who is "on the fence" about these, I highly recommend the Sony WH-1000XM4s. Just make sure you tweak the EQ.an Apple TV. They connect flawlessly. I haven’t tested phone answering yet, since I get very few calls in this era of texting and emailing. The battery takes a long time to need recharging. I charge mine with my iPad charger. The carrying case for these headphones is very sturdy and looks beautiful. To anyone who is "on the fence" about these headphones, I highly recommend the Sony WH-1000XM4s. Just make sure you tweak the EQ.

Sony has just made a big gamer changer when it comes to WH-1000XM4. I own 5 pair of differnt brands of headphones and another Sony headphones. These beat them all hands down. Being able to use the app has a lot to do wih that you can change the way you listen to your music if you like more bass you can have that you can make your own settings. Tese will stop playing when you talk and take out the noise cancellation so you can hear. The only problem with that is if you like to sign along with your music. So you might want to turn that function off. You can downlosd the 360 Reality Audio but that will be an extra charge you do get a trial for it from Sony. So the Sony headphone app is easy to download and you will want that for these you have all kind of functions on there to get the most of these. Battery life is great 30+ hours charge time 3 hours it has Google and Alexa Assist on these. Carrying case witch is nice thank you for that Sony. The last pair i had just had a bag not to good for protection. The phone audio comes in clear but i was told that i sounded like i was talking into a can but it didn't sound that bad compared to other brands. You can connect another set to these for sound sharing. Love that there is only 2 buttons on these makes it so nice and easy to function the swipe up and down for volume and forward and back to skip or playback. Double tap to pause and play. These will know if tou have them on your head or around your neck if they are off your head they will stop playing. I used these to power wash my deck and the next day to stain it they worked awesome light on the head easy to use the memory foam ear cups are very nice they don't get all hot over the ears. Sony knocked this out of the PARK you did a GREAT job on making these and i'm sure they will take over the market. Love the functions and the sound that come from these.

Great noise cancellation and very clear sound quality. I mainly use these for travel and work, and they do an excellent job blocking out background noise. They are comfortable to wear for long hours, the battery life is solid, and Bluetooth connection is stable. Overall, a very reliable and high-quality pair of headphones that’s worth the price.

I've had a lot of trouble finding headphones I liked. These are comfortable (even with my rx glasses, which has been an issue in the past.) The noise cancelling is killer, but the ambient sound is just as good! Battery life is also shocking. I use them 50/50 for PC gaming and listening to music, so the ability to have two devices connected is surprisingly handy.

TL:DR; Better than XM5s in many aspects. XM5s have that SLIGHT edge on the sound but I am so glad I went back to XM4s after tolerating the XM5s for two months. If sound quality is your top priority, get the XM5s, they do sound better but for everything else, XM4 wins. I used my first pair of XM4s for more than a year after ended up getting the XM5s when it came out because I thought it'd be an improvement. I was wrong. This is my second pair, thats why the ownership date is near to this review. I use my headphones over 5+hrs every week day. During the day, they are in an office environment, after work, I head over to gym for another hour or so of usage. I've had an XM3, XM4, and an XM5. Comfort... Very obvious even just from looking at the pictures that these have more padding. It does have the difference in feel for sure. After returning the XM5s and putting these back on, I immediately said "oh sweet realms of comfort" ... The only thing with these are they are just a little bit short for my head. But ... I do have a giant head (XXXL helmet) so I can't blame them and it is just short... like... barely. still have no problem putting them on during a long coding stints at work. Noise cancellation... In my honest opinion, these destroy XM5s. I was excited to see that XM5s have double the mic to help with the active noise cancellation but omg they are so annoying. XM5s constantly tries to adjust the sound deadening. XM5s wont let you just set a setting for the ANS because it is supposed to be clever but does not work so you constantly have ANS adjusting the outside noise. Even if you are a chewing gum, when the cups move a tiny bit, the amount of noise that comes in with XM5s changes. If XM5s stay idle (no sound playing), it tries to be smart and turns off sound deadening so all of a sudden you hear more of whats going on around you even though you just wanted more quiet. These ... set and forget. I don't hear anything and that is a constant status not a variable. Battery... These win again. After the same amount of usage, XM5s would go down to %30 at the end of the day and go to %20 after 10mins in the gym. These are always around %50+ even after leaving the gym. Love it... Storage... These comfy cups fold. XM5s do not. These are easier to travel with or to throw it in your backpack from folding and less foot print. App usage... These give you more options in the app than XM5s because as I said above XM5s tries to be clever with ANS and fail at that miserably. For example, in XM4s, you can set the amount of ANS you want but no such option with XM5s. Sound quality... As for the lesser sound quality on these compared to 5s, XM5s have that more clear mid range so you get to hear more of the instruments. BUT ... XM5s lack the base compared to these. So I don't know if it's clear because it has less base or just clear. I say these are not as good sounding compare to XM5s but in no way these sound bad. I do like that extra bass thump I get in these so it may even preferable to some. After having the XM5s for about two months, towards the end of my ownership, I started to even forget them at home so I had use my back up headphones at work. For me to forget my headphones at home is like forgetting to put on clothes. That is how much I was let down by them. I am so happy I went back to these guys. I loved my first XM4s before the upgrade and I am loving my current XM4s after the exchange even more.

I got this for 150 bucks during the black friday sale. Worth every penny, Great sound, excellent comfort, and a good noise cancellation with enough battery backup!!