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Customer Ratings & Reviews

Your price for this item is $219.99
The comparable value price is $349.99

Customer reviews

Rating 4.7 out of 5 stars with 12197 reviews

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Rating by feature

  • Sound Quality

    Rating 4.9 out of 5 stars

  • Battery Life

    Rating 4.8 out of 5 stars

  • Connectivity

    Rating 4.7 out of 5 stars

94%
would recommend
to a friend
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 25 Showing 481-500 of 12,197 reviews
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Sony Headphones

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Very nice headphones, great service from the Snellville Best Buy team!

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from SonyListens
      Posted .

      Hi AmaniP, Thank you for sharing such an excellent shopping experience. We are glad that you are satisfied with your purchase and you are enjoying the features of your WH-1000XM4 headphones. The WH-1000XM4 is a new design, with intelligent and intuitive Ambient Sound Control features that include improvements to Multipoint connection and our industry-leading Noise Cancelation, exceptional sound quality, and Smart Listening that adjusts to your behavior and location. Thank you so much for your purchase and for the 5-star rating! -Jess Sony_US

  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    These are a steal.

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I highly recommend these earbuds especially for the price.

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from SonyListens
      Posted .

      Hi JaimeN, we're glad you like our product! The WH-1000XM4 is a new design, with intelligent and intuitive Ambient Sound Control features that include improvements to Multipoint connection and our industry-leading Noise Cancelation, exceptional sound quality, and Smart Listening that adjusts to your behavior and location. If you haven't already, please check our Sony Headphones Connect app which will let you fine-tune your music to your liking! Thank you for choosing SONY! ~Earl Sony_US

  • Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    They hold up

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    Posted . Owned for 1 year when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Im super pleased with these. They arent the best, but i am happy with them. They hold up to my kids beating them against the wall lol

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from SonyListens
      Posted .

      Hi GabrielleD, Thank you for the great feedback! We're thrilled to hear you appreciate the amazing built quality of your Sony WH1000XM4. Intelligent and intuitive, the WH-1000XM4 headphones offer further improvements to our industry-leading noise cancelation, exceptional sound quality, and smart listening that adjusts to your behavior and your location. Using the Sony Headphones Connect app, Ambient Sound Control lets you adjust the volume of background sound and gives you the option to allow voices alone to be heard. Meanwhile, the Equalizer lets you customize sound levels to suit your music. Thanks for choosing Sony. -Sam Sony_US

  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Sony headphones

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    These headphone have been great for me since i’m in college

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from SonyListens
      Posted .

      Hi JoeC,

      Great! We're thrilled that these headphones are perfect for your lifestyle. Intelligent and intuitive, the WH-1000XM4 headphones offer further improvements to our industry-leading noise cancelation, exceptional sound quality, and smart listening that adjusts to your behavior and your location. Using the Sony Headphones Connect app, Ambient Sound Control lets you adjust the volume of background sound and gives you the option to allow voices alone to be heard. Meanwhile, the Equalizer lets you customize sound levels to suit your music. Thanks for choosing Sony!

      -Ralph Sony_US

  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great headphones!

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    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    These headphones are great! The noise cancelling works very well and the sound quality is incredible. I’ve been wanting these for a while and was really happy when I got them on sale. The setup was also very simple

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from SonyListens
      Posted .

      Hi reviewer, You've made a great choice! We're happy to hear you like the incredible sound quality and noise cancelling feature of these headphones. Intelligent and intuitive, the WH-1000XM4 headphones offer further improvements to our industry-leading noise cancelation, exceptional sound quality, and smart listening that adjusts to your behavior and your location. Using the Sony Headphones Connect app, Ambient Sound Control lets you adjust the volume of background sound and gives you the option to allow voices alone to be heard. Meanwhile, the Equalizer lets you customize sound levels to suit your music. Thanks for choosing Sony! -Sam Sony_US

  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Still stands tall

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    Posted . Owned for 9 months when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    As much as I’m aware that there are newer and more updated versions of this headset, these still blow me away.

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from SonyListens
      Posted .

      Hi AsianBran, You've made an excellent choice! We're glad you're enjoying your Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones. Intelligent and intuitive, the WH-1000XM4 headphones offer further improvements to our industry-leading noise cancelation, exceptional sound quality, and smart listening that adjusts to your behavior and your location. Using the Sony Headphones Connect app, Ambient Sound Control lets you adjust the volume of background sound and gives you the option to allow voices alone to be heard. Meanwhile, the Equalizer lets you customize sound levels to suit your music. Thanks for choosing Sony! -Sam Sony_US

  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great sound

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    It lives up to the hype. Highly recommended for music buffs

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Nice

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I was debating for a minute because of the price.... but totally worth it Love the color

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from SonyListens
      Posted .

      Hi JessicaG,

      You made the right choice! We're glad that you like the color of the headphones. Intelligent and intuitive, the WH-1000XM4 headphones offer further improvements to our industry-leading noise cancelation, exceptional sound quality, and smart listening that adjusts to your behavior and your location. Using the Sony Headphones Connect app, Ambient Sound Control lets you adjust the volume of background sound and gives you the option to allow voices alone to be heard. Meanwhile, the Equalizer lets you customize sound levels to suit your music. Thanks for choosing Sony!

      -Ralph Sony_US

  • Rated 1 out of 5 stars

    Do Not Buy! Manufacturer Faulty Part

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    Posted . Owned for 5 months when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I was in love with these headphones until the hinge on my right headphone broke while i was literally just standing and putting them over my ears. It rendered the right side pretty much useless. They come with a warranty, I called as this is definitely a faulty design/piece and they classified it as “cosmetic/physical damage” so i’m stuck with repair costs after spending almost $400 on these. save yourself the money/stress and go with Bose pair since Sony is refusing responsibility. there are threads of countless people who have had this issue so it’s a manufacturing problem.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from SonyListens
      Posted .

      Hi Aspen, We regret to hear that the headphone hinge broke. This is definitely not the experience we'd like you to have. We'd love to help you troubleshoot your problem and turn your experience around.

      May we contact you to help and get more information? If so, please email the below information to socialsupport@am.sony.com.
      Apologies if you disclosed some of this information in your review and to customer service, we just want to ensure that we have your accurate details at the time of communication.

      Full Name:
      BBY Username:
      Telephone Number:
      Model Number:
      Additional Information regarding your experience with the WH-1000XM4

      We are sorry for the inconvenience and hope to speak to you to resolve this matter.

      Sincerely,
      Erin

      Thank you, Sony_US

  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Sony Headphones

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This is the best headphone i had have own it i love my sony produc

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from SonyListens
      Posted .

      Hello EDWIN,

      Awesome! We are glad you love the headphones. The WH-1000XM4 is a new design, with intelligent and intuitive Ambient Sound Control features that include improvements to Multipoint connection and our industry-leading Noise Cancelation, exceptional sound quality, and Smart Listening that adjusts to your behavior and location. Thank you for choosing Sony!

      Regards,
      David Sony_US

  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    The Jerry Lee Lewis of ANC Headphones

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I could just as well throw the rest of my headphone collection away now that “The Killer” (JLL’s nickname) has arrived. The Sony WH-1000XM4 is the newest flagship of Sony’s wireless, active-noise-canceling headphone line-up. I have read many complimentary things about Sony’s noise reduction technology and have been eager to try one of their high-end examples (I have a lesser model that I use when mowing the lawn). It turns out that the ANC is just one part of the package for this over-the-ear headphone. Probably the number one feature of these cans (I feel like an early ‘70s hipster using this term, but it is a requirement in headphone reviews) for me is the control interface. My-oh-my, the simplicity and elegance of how this works is just so awesome! And it works well! On the right side ear cup, swipe up or down to incrementally adjust the volume, swipe forward to skip to the next track, swipe back to go back to the beginning of the track, and double-tap to pause or play (or answer and hang up a phone call). This means there are only two traditional, “hard” buttons to use and they are on the left ear cup. One controls power on/off and the other is a “Custom” button that can be programmed via the mobile app to operate “Ambient Sound Control”, “Google Assistant”, or “Amazon Alexa”. I did not see an option for “Siri”, but on the box, small print states that the Voice Assist Function is compatible with Siri. The sound reproduction of high quality music source material is on par with my wired headphones that sold for twice the price of these - enough said. I did notice some variations between the music stored on my iPhone in the phone’s native “Music” app and the same song when streamed via the Deezer app, and the Deezer version sounded noticeably better as the high-hat cymbal was present. Using the DSEE Extreme feature on the song stored on the phone did nothing to restore the lost musical information in that file. The DSEE feature is supposed to use Artificial Intelligence technology to accurately upscale compressed music - I’m not sure how missing information in compressed files are supposed to be recreated, but maybe the type of compression used plays a role in how well this feature works. The “Headphones Connect” app that Sony has developed offers a mind boggling variety of features, customization, and options for tailoring the 1000XM4 to your exact needs. Once you get used to some of the features these headphones have, you will most definitely miss them in other company’s products. If having your music pause when you remove the headphones (and resume when you put them back on) isn’t cool enough, they can also be set to automatically pause when you start talking to someone, and the noise cancellation also shuts off so you can hear their reply (Sony calls this “Speak to Chat”). The only thing that would have been better is if the external microphones would pick up their voice and play it through the drivers in the phones. The design of this headphone is elegantly simple, while fit and finish are superb. The exterior is monochromic in color with a tiny splash of the two rose-gold colored “SONY” logos - very understated. The materials are not metal and leather, and I’m sure this allows Sony to spend the money on the performance of the product, but none-the-less they have a high quality feel to them. I had the opportunity to compare the XM4 against three other over-the-ear, active-noise-canceling headphones, and I used my gas-powered lawn mower as a noise source. My findings are subjective as I don’t have the equipment to make accurate measurements. The most disappointing ones were my low-end Sonys and a set of $500 “premium brand” headphones that try to make up their shortcomings on style alone. The XM4 narrowly edged out a set from the other big name in ANC headphones by a small margin in my non-scientific test. Besides sound signature, comfort is the other big subjective characteristic of headphones, but in my opinion these are the most comfortable ones I have ever used for extended periods of time. The ear pads are much softer and more cushioned than my headphones that have leather covered ear pads. The included charging cable plugs into a USB-C port on the right ear cup, so no more squinting to see which way the connector is to be inserted. But…this cable is only 8 inches long - probably not an issue since you can get 5 hours of playback time when charging the battery for only 10 minutes. The included case is sufficiently sturdy to offer proper protection - other manufacturers that include a drawstring bag take note, you look cheap. There is also a cord with 3.5mm mini-phone plugs on the ends and an airplane adapter included in the box, but no AC adapter for charging. The XM4 gives outstanding volume from a computer or phone - way more volume than I get from my Air Pods, which is nice. As a side note to this, there is a statement in the instructions that reads “because the headphones achieve a tight seal over the ears, forcibly pressing them against your ears or quickly pulling them off can result in eardrum damage”. I did not attempt to check the validity of this statement, but I mention it for those who do not thoroughly read instructions. Also of note for those who are out and about while wearing headphones, these are not waterproof. Taking into account other products in the marketplace, I think the Sony WH-1000XM4 is an excellent value for the price and has outstanding performance that should not disappoint anyone.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Good sound quality and best noise cancellation

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    Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    My main purpose was to use it for my office meetings and have a good NC headphones for travel and it checks both boxes for me. So far no issues

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from SonyListens
      Posted .

      Hi Hrudhay, Awesome! We are so glad to hear that you are enjoying your new WH-1000XM4 headphones! The WH-1000XM4 is a new design, with intelligent and intuitive Ambient Sound Control features that include improvements to Multipoint connection and our industry-leading Noise Cancelation, exceptional sound quality, and Smart Listening that adjusts to your behavior and location. If you haven't already, please check our Sony Headphones Connect app which will let you fine-tune your music to your liking! Thank you for choosing Sony! -Carl Sony_US

  • Rated 3 out of 5 stars

    Read all before buying

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    Posted . Owned for 1.5 years when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Not what I thought it was my research that didn’t play out. Noise canceling on my end but as for the other person they heard my loud call center

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from SonyListens
      Posted .

      Hi Delos2310, We are sorry to hear that the WH-1000XM4 did not meet all of your expectations, we'd love to troubleshoot the issue that you are having with the WH-1000XM4 and make this a better experience for you. May we contact you to help? If so, please email the below information to socialsupport@am.sony.com
      Apologies if you disclosed some of this information in your review and to customer service, we just want to ensure that we have your accurate details at the time of communication.

      Full Name:
      Best Buy Username:
      Telephone Number:
      Model Number:
      Issue:

      Regards,
      Carl Sony_US

  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Excellent

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    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Excellent they definitely do what they are supposed to do. Got them for black Friday and I would definitely recommend.

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from SonyListens
      Posted .

      Hi Leoo, Thank you for purchasing the Sony WH-1000XM4! We're thrilled you're enjoying the overall features and performance of your new Sony headphones. Intelligent and intuitive, the WH-1000XM4 headphones offer further improvements to our industry-leading noise cancelation, exceptional sound quality, and smart listening that adjusts to your behavior and your location. Using the Sony Headphones Connect app, Ambient Sound Control lets you adjust the volume of background sound and gives you the option to allow voices alone to be heard. Meanwhile, the Equalizer lets you customize sound levels to suit your music. Thanks for choosing Sony! -Sam Sony_US

  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Superb noise cancellation

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    Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Excellent product. Sony rocks as always. Noise cancellation is far superior than anything else out in the market

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from SonyListens
      Posted .

      Hi Sravan, Great! Good to hear you like the industry-leading noise cancellation of your Sony WH-1000XM4. Intelligent and intuitive, the WH-1000XM4 headphones offer further improvements to our industry-leading noise cancelation, exceptional sound quality, and smart listening that adjusts to your behavior and your location. Using the Sony Headphones Connect app, Ambient Sound Control lets you adjust the volume of background sound and gives you the option to allow voices alone to be heard. Meanwhile, the Equalizer lets you customize sound levels to suit your music. Thanks for choosing Sony! -Sam Sony_US

  • Rated 1 out of 5 stars

    Waste of Money

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    Posted . Owned for 11 months when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    After having this product for less than a year, the hinge on one of the ear cuffs broke as I was folding it as it was designed to fold. I contacted Sony customer support regarding a warranty, and they don't cover poor craftsmanship on their part for their products falling apart. These were good headphones, but as a word of caution, spend your money on sturdier products, and also with companies that will cover design flaw issues as part of their warranty.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from SonyListens
      Posted .

      Hi DanV,

      We're sorry to hear about what happened to the WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones. We apologize for the inconvenience. If the headphones are physically damaged, consult a Sony Service Center. Go to Product Repair: https://us.esupport.sony.com/support/s/service?language=en_US.

      In any case that you need our assistance, please email the below information to socialsupport@am.sony.com or chat with us from Sony’s e-support webpage. Apologies if you disclosed some of this information in your review and to customer service, we just want to ensure that we have your accurate details at the time of communication.

      Full Name:
      Best Buy Username:
      Telephone Number:
      Sony Model Number:
      Additional Information regarding your experience with the WH1000XM4:

      We are sorry for the inconvenience and hope to speak to you to resolve this matter. We appreciate you and thanks again for shopping Sony!

      Sincerely,
      Jay Sony_US

  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    This is the only good thing to come out of 2020!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Ok, I"m gonna cut to the chase at the very beginning of this review. If you are in the market for a pair over over-ear headphones, buy these Sony XM4's. For the price range, these are the best it gets. Let me start out by saying that I have a minor hearing issue in my right ear. Because of that and just my overall preference, I have always used earbud style headphones. I've owned both generations of the regular Airpods and I also have the Airpod Pros, as well. Before wireless, my go to were the Klipsch buds. However, here lately, I've been having issues with the outer edge of my ear canal getting irritated and dry feeling. This did not start until I began regular use of my Airpod Pros - must be the silicon or the way they fit. I can't quite figure it out, as I've tried all three tips and I'm back to using the default Mediums. This has gotten me to looking into over-the-ear headphones here lately. My first pair I purchased was the fairly new Razer Opus and I have to say, those are amazing. But after reading and hearing about the "legacy" of the Sony XM3 headphones (I've done a LOT of research on them)...I wanted the new XM4's as soon as I heard about 'em. So, I got them. I initially wanted the black, but wound up getting the Platinum Silver instead. To be honest, I kinda wish I'd gotten the black - but the Silver is slowly growing on me. I call it "Playstation Grey", as it resembles the color of the original PS1 system. Once I realized that, I accepted the color more, lol. But that's just the color - not sure how well the Silver will hold up over time, but the sound is where it's at. The first thing I want to say is that these puppies are the most comfortable thing I have every placed on my head. I work from home and I can wear these 4-6 hours with ZERO problems. None. Nada. Zilch. After a while, I totally forget I have them on. They can get a little "warm" if wearing for a greater number of hours, especially if you keep your house on the warmer side (yes, we are demons who keep the regular house temp at about 73-74 in the Summer, haha). Outside if this, they're PERFECT. Ok, sound. Like I said, I do have a small hearing disability in my right ear. I've tried wireless over-ears before in the past by a few other brands and just found the overall volume to be...lacking. The only way to improve it was to connect the wired cable, which I thought was silly and surprisingly, this seems to be the case with a lot of Bluetooth over-ear headphones. Not these. These have a digital amp build into them and in the music I have listened to, I keep my phone volume (iPhone 11 Pro Max) at about halfway and it's perfectly loud for me there. I go a tad higher when I really wanna jam out. NO complaints on the audio side here. There is an equalizer within the Sony Headphones app, as well and it works wonderfully. Next up, lets talk about the various features. As I mentioned above, the Sony Headphones app is the central hub for everything you do with these and it was super easy to set up. I immediately paired the headphones and the first thing it did was a firmware update. After that, it gives you a brief tutorial and you're on your way. One thing I love about these Sony's is, much like my Razer Opus cans, when you take them off and set them down or put on your neck, it auto-pauses your audio. This is an amazing feature and I'm so happy Sony implemented this into this XM4's. There is a Noise Cancellation button (an "optimizer" on the headphones themselves. You can press and hold the button to customize that. You can also set this within the app. The speak-to-chat function is pretty good, too. When you talk to someone, your headphones detect this and temporarily pauses the music and lets in ambient sounds to you can conversate. This is great in theory, but if you work from home or are home a lot and you have animals...which you talk to...lol - well, this may get annoying. I turned this feature off since I don't really have a need to use it for it's intended purpose. Finally, there is a multi-device connection option you can enable so you can connect your headphones to both your iPad and iPhone (for example). With this, you can listen to audio on say, your iPad and then take a call from your iPhone. However, I did have it happen a few times where there was a delay in switching over to the phone for the call and it wound up being kind of a hassle. I disabled this one as well because I mostly just use one device anyway. I don't remember the details, but I think there is something else that you lose by enabling this feature... The touch panel is great and I've not had any issues there, either. I've heard that the XM3's had issues with function in that department in cold weather. The XM4's are supposedly improved in this area, but I did not get to test that, as it's Summer where I live. There is also a quick charging feature. By default, these headphones have about a 30 hour battery life. Out of the box, they were at 100% and to be honestly, I've still not had to charge them yet. However, Sony says 10 minutes of charging time nets you about 5 hours of playback. That's insane! So, as you can see - these cans are pretty much loaded and I consider these to be the BEST Noise Cancelling headphones on the market, with second best being my Airpod Pros. If you're in the market for a pair of headphones, just go ahead and get these. Don't wait for anything else to come out (like the rumored Airpod Studios)...these are gonna be the cans to beat and likely, the top rated headphones for 2020 and at least the next few years. I will even go so far as saying this - I love these SO MUCH, I'm almost tempted to get the black pair as well. So yeah, that should say something. 5 stars, well deserved. It doesn't get any better than this. Buy it now.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Best headphones

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    Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Best headphones I’ve ever owned! The customizability is amazing along with the noise cancelling.

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from SonyListens
      Posted .

      Hi Steven, Thank you for giving the product a perfect rating! We're glad you like the excellent noise cancellation and amazing customizability of your Sony XM4. Intelligent and intuitive, the WH-1000XM4 headphones offer further improvements to our industry-leading noise cancelation, exceptional sound quality, and smart listening that adjusts to your behavior and your location. Using the Sony Headphones Connect app, Ambient Sound Control lets you adjust the volume of background sound and gives you the option to allow voices alone to be heard. Meanwhile, the Equalizer lets you customize sound levels to suit your music. Thanks for choosing Sony! -Sam Sony_US

  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Still the best ANC headphones out there

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    A lot of you probably by now have heard the top-rated Sony WH-1000MX3 by now. And you’re obviously curious about what the differences are between the WH-1000MX3 against the newly launched WH-1000MX4. Well to cut a long story short, the changes are more subtle and not a radical improvement. So does this mean the WH-1000MX4 is not a good buy? Let’s find out with my first impressions of the Sony WH-1000MX4. On the aesthetics side, both the XM4 and XM3 are generally the same with Sony indicating the cuffs are slightly larger (10%) and the headband cushion a bit thinner. But truth be told this in my opinion is quite negligible as I can’t notice the difference unless both are side by side. Sony boasts of a new DSEE chip called DSEE Extreme which provide better audio. But Sony even admits that the changes are subtle. And to my ears they are indeed subtle. But for those who aren’t familiar with the Sony sound signature, the same 40mm drivers put out balanced highs and mids. And compared to other Sony headphones has a stronger bass almost comparable to Sony’s WB series but with a little less distortion. One new feature of the XM4 is the addition of multipoint Bluetooth meaning you can pair two devices at the same. And though other brands of headphones have this already, it is still a welcome addition. And at least Sony listens to its customers. You probably also know that if you put your right hand on the right ear cuff, the sound is muted. Well Sony also included wearing detection that if you remove the headphones, the music will stop and continue once you put them back on. Again, Sony is not the first on this one. But then again, Sony upped the ante by adding a “Speak to Chat” feature wherein the music stops once you start speaking. (From my initial fiddling with this feature, it seems you have to manually start again the music.) And in case you do not want these features, these can be turned off in the Sony music app. The XM4 AFAIK still uses the same QN1 chip for noise cancelling so I am assuming there’s not much to add here. But the XM4 now has a custom button wherein you can use the default noise cancelling control or program it to use Alexa or Google Play with the latter AFAIK to be discontinued in September by Google. This is not entirely new since my Sony XB900N already has this feature. Like the XM3 and other models such as the XB900N, the XM4 also boasts a battery life of thirty hours. But oddly enough, I had the need to charge my XM4 within 24 hours of having it. Obviously, this is way below what Sony claims. But perhaps I still need to cycle the battery around three times to attain the battery’s full performance capabilities. These are my initial impressions of the XM4 and is highly recommended. But if budget is a concern, the XM3 is still a good buy and prices are already dropping. But if you are willing to pay full price, the XM4 will be a good purchase.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Better Noise Cancelling and improved materials...

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    ...over the previous Sony WH-XB900N which I am directly comparing these to. I did not have nor have I listened to the XM3's so keep that in mind when I reference the 900N's, as they are a completely different model. Basically what you get with the XM4 is the XM3 + 900N merged into one. Most of the underlying features from the older XM3 along with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa features of the 900N. There are some subtle design changes (see photos) that offer a cleaner look. Along with that improved look (lack of visible screws being a big one) you are presented with significantly softer/more supple materials on the headband and the earcups. The moment I took the XM4's out of the box I could immediately feel the improvement in this department. The alterations to the looks (color aside) I didn't notice right away. Extremely subtle in nature. I reviewed the 900's for BestBuy (4-star review) and pointed out how the Noise Cancelling wasn't all that terrible, nor was it amazing. But, for the price-point, it was expected. (you can view that review for comparison by searching "Adjustments via the app" for the reviews associated with the product here = https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-wh-xb900n-wireless-noise-cancelling-over-the-ear-headphones-black/6347796.p?skuId=6347796) The XM4's improve upon it and keep the exact same MSRP. That's a win in my book and worth pointing out. I can't hear any ambient sounds with the full NC on and a low volume audio book playing, much less a song at mid volume. This was not the case with the 900N's. Just like those, you *have* to use the Sony app to get the most of these sound-wise. You will experience very flat sounding cans unless you go in and adjust your EQ. You have numerous presets as well as the ability to adjust each frequency to your own preference. After doing this they sound really good. Not something that can hang with $500, $1000, or $1500+ headphones, but much cleaner and offering more depth than a lot of other sub-$500 big name brand offerings. The bass isn't muddy, the highs aren't tinny, and you can actually hear the mids. You also still have the ability to allow some ambient noise in in select settings. The app and headphones work together to figure out when someone is talking to you and allow that to cut through the mix, really cool feature. There is also a semi-NC mode which allows ambient sound in so that you can hear a standard level and not be completely removed from your auditory senses out in the world. Sony also improved the upscaling chip as well as added a feature that pauses whatever you're listening to when you remove them from your head. There are also more and improved mics for calls when/if you use these for such a thing. I have only had a couple calls come through while having the XM4's on, but everything was fine on my side of things, and the caller didn't say anything along the lines of "I can't hear you" or "speak up" or "are you on speaker?" so I'm assuming it was great on their side, too). If you are looking at these as an upgrade from a Sony offering in the past year or two, really check out if those subtle features and improvements are worth dropping another ~$350. If you have the cash and don't mind, they won't disappoint. But, if you do *not* have any other headphones and want some excellent wireless Noise Cancelling cans, these are more than worth your attention, money, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for a quality listening experience.

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from SonyListens
      Posted .

      Hi BillnMish, we appreciate your in-depth review of the headphones. We're glad that you like the improvements we made on the headphones. Intelligent and intuitive, the WH-1000XM4 headphones offer further improvements to our industry-leading noise cancelation, exceptional sound quality, and smart listening that adjusts to your behavior and your location.

      To get the most out of your WH-1000XM4, download the Sony | Headphones Connect App. It includes Adaptive Sound Control—which automatically adjusts noise canceling based on your activity and an equalizer—which can be customized to fine-tune your music. Using our advanced noise canceling technology, we designed these headphones so you can block out noise and experience next-level silence. Plus, you have the ability to use the convenient smart features including Quick Attention, Google Assistant/Alexa/Siri compatibility, and touch controls. Thanks for choosing Sony.

      ~Ralph Sony_US