Sony WH-1000XM4

The new award winning headphone from Sony couldn’t come at a better time.

Released in August 2020, I was one of the first few to own the Sony WH-1000XM4 when it was officially released. I pre-ordered the headphones and it arrived close to launch day.

I have been in the market for a new pair of headphones, ever since I started using my Jays primarily for computer and gaming and because of that, I no longer use them outside anymore while I am commuting or working in the office.

I heard great things about the XM3, the previous model and I was glad to hold off on my purchase when rumours started circulating on the internet that a new model was just around the corner. So I waited and I was not disappointed with the wait.

This is my first time owning an active noise cancelling headphones. I only know that Bose makes some of the best noise cancelling headphones. But I think, Sony is now taking over Bose as producing some of the best sounding, and most capable noise cancelling headphones at a decent price point. And I couldn’t disagree more.

The Sony headphone is super comfortable. Very lightweight, almost plasticky in the overall feel of the headphones but sturdily built nonetheless. It has super soft pads that doesn’t feel uncomfortable after hours of use. However, because I live in the equator and the weather is hot all the time, wearing this outdoors may cause sweating around the ears, so, it is better to use the headphones indoors where there is air-conditioning, at least where I live.

The size is just right for me, comfortably covering my entire ear, without any sound leakage. The bands are tough and flexible, making storage a breeze. They can seriously take a beating and you don’t have to worry about them being warped while storing in your bag.

How does it sound then? Well, I can safely say, that for the price, it sounds terrific. I was pleasantly surprised that the headphones produced really warm sounds. Bass is powerful, but not being too overpowering. I actually prefer my bass to be a little tighter and punchier, but this headphone is no slouch when it comes to producing deep powerful bass. Mids are warm, vocals are crystal clear and highs are not tinny at all.

As for the noise cancelling capabilities, I can’t say much as I never owned an active noise-cancelling headphones before. But one thing I can comment on is that the new Sony headphones do not have that pressurised feeling when active noise cancelling is turned on. Unlike other older headphones with the same feature that gives you that pressurised effect, this new Sony headphones does not give that feeling. This is good as it gives a more comfortable and pleasant wear than other headphones with the same noise cancelling feature.

The noise cancelling is excellent. Aided by several microphones in and around the headphones, it constantly listens to your environment can creates an opposite noise frequency to cancel out environmental sound. The new model has improved capabilities to it, including better noise cancelling on higher frequenting environmental sounds and even voices. And through the headphone app, you can control the amount and type of environmental sounds coming through the headphones.

Battery life is amazing. 30 hours of continuous use with 5 hours of usage after a 10 minute charge. It charges using the USB C cable which is a bonus.

The headphones comes with a sturdy pouch for travelling and storage. It’s very handy and a nice addition as part of the entire package.

At almost S$550, this pair of headphones is not cheap. However, you get what you pay for and the the Sony WH-1000XM4 is just packed full of features. Excellent noise cancelling implementation, ultra-comfortable headband and ear pads with a long battery life and multiple microphones listening in to your surroundings. The list goes on and on. And all of these features are expertly implemented to give you a nice seamless, trouble-free listening experience. Just wear and listen. It’s that simple.