Customer Ratings & Reviews

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.

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.

Sony Wireless Noise Canceling Stereo Headset WH-1000XM4 This headset is packed in an attractive and functional travel case. Included in the case are the headset and the cables needed for charging and connecting options. My unit arrived fully charged which was a nice touch. If yours needs charging out of the box, then you’ll want to take care of doing that first. A full charge can last up to 30 hours, so you can spend your time listening to music instead of constantly having to recharge the device. If your battery does run low, 10 minutes of charging time will give you up to five hours of additional playback, and, going from empty to a full charge only takes about three hours. So, you’re getting up to 10 hours of play time for each hour of charging. That’s not a bad deal. You’ll want to download the Sony Headphones Connect app from either the Android or Apple Store. Then use the app to do the initial set up of the headset, including connecting to your Bluetooth device(s) (You can connect to two devices at the same time). Use the app to make additional changes to your preferences as needed. One option I really like is the Speak-to-Chat feature that you can turn on using the app. This feature lets in ambient sound so that you can start to conduct a conversation with someone once the headset hears your voice. Speak-to-Chat automatically turns off the music when you start to speak, so that means you can conduct a conversation without first having to fiddle around trying to manually turn your music off. In addition to face-to-face conversations, this feature also comes in handy when you want to talk to someone on your phone. Then, 30 seconds after you stop talking, your music resumes playing where it left off. Another neat feature that I really like is the headset’s ability to let you know when you get notifications on your phone. If you want, it will then read them to you. And, of course, you can make and receive phone calls on your headset, too. Finally, it supports Alexa and Google Assistant. You control the various functions such as power, volume control and skip forward via gestures on the left and right earphones themselves. These earphones are “cushy comfortable” and the sound quality is excellent. I don’t think you’d expect anything less from a high-end Sony product such as this. It’s definitely a top-of-the-line product.

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.

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.

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!

After testing both the Bose QC Ultras and the Sony XM5s, I find the XM4s to be exceptionally well-rounded. They are, without a doubt, the most comfortable headphones I've ever used. The ear cushions of the XM4s are incredibly soft, allowing for extended wear without discomfort. The noise cancellation is outstanding, and the sound quality is superb. Additionally, the case is compact and easy to carry. The microphone quality is decent and suffices for my needs. In conclusion, the XM4s are definitely a worthwhile purchase.

I've tried Bose 700 a few months ago, but decided to return because of weird connectivity issues with all of my devices and difficult controls... These headphones are simply better in everything - comfortable, easy to use, easy to make adjustments through the app, easy to switch between multiple devices (2 at the same time, but easy to have more devices and switch in a few seconds if needed), sound quality is good, battery life is very long (using every day for multiple hours, but charging 1-2 times per week). Basically, not having any complaints after a month of usage I also tried these in close to 0 degrees temperature, and they worked fine (although some touch controls were slow to respond because it was raining) All in all, it was very much worth waiting for these ones instead of settling for slightly better looking, but much worse Bose option

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.

The Sony WH1000XM4 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones offer an exceptional audio experience that is hard to beat. The sound quality is incredibly rich and clear, with balanced tones that work well across all genres. The noise cancellation is one of the standout features, blocking out almost all ambient noise, making them perfect for travel, work, or relaxation. The comfort is generally good, with soft ear pads and a lightweight design, although I did find them to feel slightly heavy after extended use. This was a minor issue, but it's worth noting for those who might prioritize long-wear comfort. Battery life is impressive, lasting all day with quick charging, which is perfect for busy schedules. The headphones are also packed with useful features like customizable sound modes, but I did find the app experience a bit lacking in terms of user interface and functionality. Overall, the Sony WH1000XM4 headphones are fantastic for anyone seeking top-tier noise cancellation, clear sound, and great comfort for most uses. While the app could be better and the fit might be slightly heavy for long periods, these headphones are still an outstanding option for those who value premium audio quality and effective noise isolation.

I was so hesitant on splurging on a pair of headphones since the price of these are quite outrageous to say the least, but I finally hit the trigger when it was $121 off. I’ve had these headphones now for probably 2 weeks and I must say, it has become my whole personality for the rest of the year. I wear these headphones religiously, even when I’m just out doing errands or going out on my walks. I immediately put these on as well if I’m doing school work and when I do light work out at the gym. The moment I turn it on, the atmosphere around me just immediately goes quiet. The noise cancelling on them are excellent (I can not really compare them to other noise cancelling headphones as these are my first pair) along with the sound quality of these headphones. I can also say that even after hours of wear on these headphones, it has never given me a headache. I’ve had problems with headsets/headphones giving me a headache after a while of wear due to me wearing glasses since I am very much blind and these headphones are the first ones to never give me a headache, I can literally wear them the whole say and I would be fine. (I also have problems with earphones making my ears feel sore and itchy, which is why I’m looking into good quality and comfy headphones.) I also have a small head and they fit me just fine. (: Oh and I forgot to mention, but the battery life on these are crazy, I have not charged mine for probably 5-6 days now and they’re still up and going. Overall, I love them! I’m not some headphones connosseur or anything or a pro at reviewing them to their fullest extent, but they’re very nice! It’s very much worth the price (especially when you get them on sale *wink wink*) and I would definitely recommend it to people who are thinking of getting them!

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

The Sony WH-1000XM4 offer top-tier noise cancellation, great sound, and 30-hour battery life. They’re comfortable, support multi-device pairing, and have LDAC for high-quality audio. Downsides? No aptX and touch controls can be finicky. Still, they’re among the best ANC headphones out there.

I was weary of the price but for me, it was worth it. The battery life lasts me a week at least. The noise canceling is truly unbeatable. My family jokes that if there was a fire in the house I wouldn’t notice because of the noise canceling headphones. They’re also EXTREMELY comfortable. I’ve fallen asleep with them on several times. It fits perfects on my head and I have no complaints even after wearing it for multiple hours. I have sensory issues so just having the headphones covering my ears even if they aren’t turned on helps muffles the noise which prevents me from being overstimulated. 10/10

Great pair of headphones! Sound quality & noise canceling are amazing. The battery life is pretty good. They are comfortable and not too heavy. I would definitely recommend! I received this as a gift and have purchased these headphones for both my son and daughter.

Really light weight for the size. I can wear them for long periods quite comfortably. The batteries last a long time! The noise canceling is really good. I have not found any other product that can keep my office from driving me crazy quite like these. The sound quality is adequate, but I don't use them as an audiophile. Mainly it is to drown out surrounding distractions and participate in conference calls. Occasionally I will watch some movies on a tablet and it works quite well for this. If I had one complaint - these do not seamlessly transition between devices. It isn't a nightmare. But it is not nearly as easy as it ought to be to use them on multiple devices. Switching between a tablet and a phone might require the previous device bluetooth to be shut off before turning them on to connect to the new device.

I have this for almost 2 yrs now and i would say it’s pretty good. The sound, the battery it’s still amazing. Comfortable to the ears and automatically connects to your Bluetooth if its on.

Let me start by saying that the noise isolation on these is unbelievable. When you first put them on, they seem very quiet off the bat. Once noise cancellation turns on though, it’s literally like you’re in space. You here nothing. Then the sound quality. Most consumer grade headphones sound like muddy and bassy garbage. The fact that I use audiophile grade headphones almost everyday at home makes me extra sensitive to this. But these surprised me, I didn’t expect it to deliver such rich and clear bass. There is no drowning out of vocals or highs even on bass heavy tracks. Wireless battery life is great as well. The build quality is phenomenal. It is plastic, but very high quality. Overall: A must-buy wireless headphone for anyone who can afford the price tag. I’ve seen these go down to almost $220, which is just robbery.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones have quickly become my go-to choice for both everyday use and travel. The sound quality is phenomenal, with rich, detailed audio and deep, punchy bass. The noise-canceling feature is top-notch, effectively blocking out ambient noise, whether I'm on a plane or in a busy café. The comfort of these headphones is another major plus. The ear cups are plush and fit snugly without causing discomfort, even during extended listening sessions. The lightweight design ensures that I can wear them for hours without feeling any strain. The battery life is impressive, easily lasting up to 30 hours on a single charge, and the quick charge feature is a lifesaver when I'm in a hurry. The touch controls on the ear cups are intuitive and responsive, allowing me to adjust volume, skip tracks, and take calls effortlessly. The WH-1000XM4's smart features, like adaptive sound control and speak-to-chat, enhance the user experience by automatically adjusting settings based on my activity and environment. The multi-device pairing is seamless, allowing me to switch between my phone and laptop without any hassle. Overall, the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones deliver an outstanding audio experience with superior comfort and advanced features. They are well worth the investment for anyone seeking high-quality, noise-canceling headphones. Highly recommended!