Obviously, these headphones are magnificent in basically every area. They're comfortable for long periods, cancel noise like nobody's biz, sound amazing, and have more features than you can shake a stick at. If I didn't already own like six pairs of headphones, I'd probably just buy them right now—heck, I might anyway.
If you have the money and want a top-tier pair of headphones for modern life, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is the way to go. The combination of high-quality Bluetooth codecs, great sound, improved noise cancelling, good battery life, and smart features like auto pause and Bluetooth multipoint makes these the best all-around option for most people.
The much-anticipated new version of Sony's top noise-canceling headphone has finally arrived, and it makes small improvements to an already top-notch product.
I’m a massive fan of the Sony WH-1000XM4. I liked them so much. I bought them. I did this after trialing the Sony and Bose side by side. Each one is excellent, and should you have a preference; either way, you are entirely justified in your choice. If you are new to the world of noise-canceling headphones and want the absolute best, then yes, these headphones should be right on your list.
If you have the money and want a top-tier pair of headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM4 are the way to go. The combination of high-quality BLUetooth codecs, great sound, improved noise cancelling, good battery life, and smart features like auto pause and BLUetooth multipoint makes these the best all-around option for most people.
For the same price as its previous flagship, Sony has delivered small but very useful improvements in the WH-1000XM4, which is enough to crown them as the new king of personal audio.
It seemed like there wasn’t much to improve after the WH-1000XM3. Perhaps that’s why Sony waited so long to introduce a new model. At any rate, the company has added a bunch of small changes that combine to make a big difference. The M3 was already a near-perfect set of ANC headphones, and the M4 edges closer to the pinnacle. A refined design, improved audio and new features firmly plant WH-1000XM4 at the top of our best headphones list right out of the gate. Now we’ll wait and see if anyone can dethrone the king.
If you're looking for a pair of the best over ear headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM4 are an exceptional wireless model. Both the sound quality and noise-canceling abilities are field-leading, able to deliver powerful lows, crisp mids, and sparkling highs whether you're sitting in the silence of your living room or dealing with the raucous din of a crowded train station (or working from a less-than-silent home office). A few convenient touches like the ability to link to multiple devices at once, touch-sensitive controls, and an auto-pause sensor complete the package. As long as you can stomach the relatively high price, you're almost sure to love the Sony WH-1000XM4.
Regardless, the 1000XM4s live up to the strong reputation that Sony has built and offer more powerful noise-canceling capabilities than ever before. If the company makes good on its multipoint fix, you’re probably looking at the new top pick for noise-canceling headphones.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are the best noise-canceling headphones in their price range. Sure, for Apple users, the AirPods Max are better, but they’re also a whole lot more expensive. If you don’t want to spend $550 on a pair of headphones, the WH-1000XM4 headphones are the way to go.
If I believed in fate or serendipity or whatever you want to call it, I would say there's something a little spooky about the fact that the Sony WH-1000XM4 came into my life right at the point where I'd decided to give up on wired headphones and Lightning dongles altogether for my portable listening. Around the house, sure, I'm still going to rock my open-backed planar magnetics connected to a good headphone amp, but for on-the-go listening, I'm finally completely ready to embrace the convenience of wireless connectivity for good.
With the WH-1000XM4, the extra money you pay go towards the wireless capabilities, the extreme comfort, and some smart features, like auto-adjustments for noise cancelation and ambient sound.
This is because you end up with a very good pair of headphones that deliver numerous modern technologies. In everyday life, you will quickly get used to features such as Ambient Noise Control and Quick Attention mode, and somehow it would be very difficult to live without them after that.
The better noise cancellation, the flatter, more natural sound quality, the slightly more comfortable feel, and the tried-and-true build quality all make the Sony WH-100XM4 a no-brainer if your pockets are deep enough. Whether you need something that will be comfortable enough to get you through a work-from-home day, or you want something that sounds great and will blot out an airplane roar, these headphones are just fantastic.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a set of premium ANC headphones that essentially offers everything you need. They offer everything the XM3 did plus improved ANC, dual device pairing, and automatic play/pause, giving you a seamless listening experience.
With improvements across the board, the Sony XM4s are our new favourite headphones bar none and, most importantly of all, they’re still an absolute joy to listen to. It seems that all our headphone recommendations need updating, pronto.
While the Sony WH-1000XM4 has some of the best noise cancelling and features of any wireless closed-back headphone I’ve used, it unfortunately trades off in terms of sound quality to a significant degree. Its default tonality is a boomy yet aggressive sounding experience that isn’t done any favors by both its frequency response or its technical ability.
While they aren't the most portable headphones, their hard carrying case can help protect them while you're on the go. They have over 37 hours of continuous battery life, and you can comfortably wear them for long listening sessions without a lot of fatigue. Also, their ANC can block out bass-heavy sounds like the rumble of engines as well as mid-range sounds like commute chatter, meaning you can enjoy your music without distraction.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones deliver excellent noise-cancellation and surprising sound quality all in a lightweight, comfortable design. While they don't look significantly different from their predecessors, a number of new features including multipoint pairing, DSEE Extreme upscaling, conversational awareness and auto-play/pause using a built-in sensor all help the WH-1000XM4 claim the title of best headphones in 2022.
They sound fantastic, have effective noise-cancelling and long battery life. They support multipoint Bluetooth 5 for connecting two devices at once, high-res music with the LDAC format and an instant ambient sound mode for listening for announcements, too.
From the comfortable, lightweight fit, to the thorough noise cancellation, intuitive smart features and the refined audio performance, Sony has knocked it out of the park with the WH-1000XM4. They’re beaten by the WH-1000XM5 but at their lower price, I’d struggle to think of a reason not to invest in one of the best-sounding ANC headphones. Well, unless you have the money to the latest model of course.
Sony WH-1000XM4 are the best noise cancelling headphones you can buy. By keeping the sound as good as it always was to satisfy music lovers and adding some extra features tech heads wanted, Sony manages to keep its nose just in front of Bose, Bowers & Wilkins and Beats by Dr. Dre. There's nothing better in the world of headphones right now.
Oct 23, 2020
Obviously, these headphones are magnificent in basically every area. They're comfortable for long periods, cancel noise like nobody's biz, sound amazing, and have more features than you can shake a stick at. If I didn't already own like six pairs of headphones, I'd probably just buy them right now—heck, I might anyway.
Lee Neikirk
Reviewed
read full review
Feb 08, 2023
Enhanced noise cancellation, DSEE Extreme technology, multiple synchronization, sound quality, comfort.
Cultural Sonora
Cultural Sonora
read full review
Nov 18, 2022
If you have the money and want a top-tier pair of headphones for modern life, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is the way to go. The combination of high-quality Bluetooth codecs, great sound, improved noise cancelling, good battery life, and smart features like auto pause and Bluetooth multipoint makes these the best all-around option for most people.
Adam Molina
SoundGuys
read full review
Dec 12, 2020
The much-anticipated new version of Sony's top noise-canceling headphone has finally arrived, and it makes small improvements to an already top-notch product.
David Carnoy
CNET
read full review
May 28, 2021
The Sony WH-1000XM4 ups the ante in every way to challenge the Bose 700 for the title of best noise-cancelling headphones.
Alex Bracetti
Tom's Guide
read full review
May 04, 2022
I’m a massive fan of the Sony WH-1000XM4. I liked them so much. I bought them. I did this after trialing the Sony and Bose side by side. Each one is excellent, and should you have a preference; either way, you are entirely justified in your choice. If you are new to the world of noise-canceling headphones and want the absolute best, then yes, these headphones should be right on your list.
Audiophile On
Audiophile On
read full review
Jul 01, 2022
If you have the money and want a top-tier pair of headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM4 are the way to go. The combination of high-quality BLUetooth codecs, great sound, improved noise cancelling, good battery life, and smart features like auto pause and BLUetooth multipoint makes these the best all-around option for most people.
Adam Molina, Ryan Haines
Android Authority
read full review
Aug 06, 2020
For the same price as its previous flagship, Sony has delivered small but very useful improvements in the WH-1000XM4, which is enough to crown them as the new king of personal audio.
Simon Cohen
Digital Trends
read full review
Aug 06, 2020
It seemed like there wasn’t much to improve after the WH-1000XM3. Perhaps that’s why Sony waited so long to introduce a new model. At any rate, the company has added a bunch of small changes that combine to make a big difference. The M3 was already a near-perfect set of ANC headphones, and the M4 edges closer to the pinnacle. A refined design, improved audio and new features firmly plant WH-1000XM4 at the top of our best headphones list right out of the gate. Now we’ll wait and see if anyone can dethrone the king.
Billy Steele
Engadget
read full review
Jan 18, 2022
If you're looking for a pair of the best over ear headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM4 are an exceptional wireless model. Both the sound quality and noise-canceling abilities are field-leading, able to deliver powerful lows, crisp mids, and sparkling highs whether you're sitting in the silence of your living room or dealing with the raucous din of a crowded train station (or working from a less-than-silent home office). A few convenient touches like the ability to link to multiple devices at once, touch-sensitive controls, and an auto-pause sensor complete the package. As long as you can stomach the relatively high price, you're almost sure to love the Sony WH-1000XM4.
Max Mutter and Michelle Powell
Gear Lab
read full review
Aug 12, 2020
Regardless, the 1000XM4s live up to the strong reputation that Sony has built and offer more powerful noise-canceling capabilities than ever before. If the company makes good on its multipoint fix, you’re probably looking at the new top pick for noise-canceling headphones.
Chris Welch
The Verge
read full review
Aug 06, 2020
Sony's terrific WH-1000XM4 headphones combine top-notch noise cancellation with audiophile-friendly sound quality.
Tim Gideon
PC Mag
read full review
Feb 08, 2022
The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are the best noise-canceling headphones in their price range. Sure, for Apple users, the AirPods Max are better, but they’re also a whole lot more expensive. If you don’t want to spend $550 on a pair of headphones, the WH-1000XM4 headphones are the way to go.
Christian de Looper
BGR
read full review
Oct 12, 2020
If I believed in fate or serendipity or whatever you want to call it, I would say there's something a little spooky about the fact that the Sony WH-1000XM4 came into my life right at the point where I'd decided to give up on wired headphones and Lightning dongles altogether for my portable listening. Around the house, sure, I'm still going to rock my open-backed planar magnetics connected to a good headphone amp, but for on-the-go listening, I'm finally completely ready to embrace the convenience of wireless connectivity for good.
DENNIS BURGER
HomeTheater Review
read full review
Jun 28, 2022
With the WH-1000XM4, the extra money you pay go towards the wireless capabilities, the extreme comfort, and some smart features, like auto-adjustments for noise cancelation and ambient sound.
Preslav Kateliev
Phone Area
read full review
Jul 06, 2021
This is because you end up with a very good pair of headphones that deliver numerous modern technologies. In everyday life, you will quickly get used to features such as Ambient Noise Control and Quick Attention mode, and somehow it would be very difficult to live without them after that.
Benjamin Lucks
Nextpit
read full review
Dec 10, 2020
The better noise cancellation, the flatter, more natural sound quality, the slightly more comfortable feel, and the tried-and-true build quality all make the Sony WH-100XM4 a no-brainer if your pockets are deep enough. Whether you need something that will be comfortable enough to get you through a work-from-home day, or you want something that sounds great and will blot out an airplane roar, these headphones are just fantastic.
Jason Schneider
LifeWire
read full review
Dec 11, 2020
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a set of premium ANC headphones that essentially offers everything you need. They offer everything the XM3 did plus improved ANC, dual device pairing, and automatic play/pause, giving you a seamless listening experience.
Peter Cao
Android Central
read full review
Jun 08, 2020
With improvements across the board, the Sony XM4s are our new favourite headphones bar none and, most importantly of all, they’re still an absolute joy to listen to. It seems that all our headphone recommendations need updating, pronto.
Simon Lucas
Wired
read full review
Sep 01, 2020
While the Sony WH-1000XM4 has some of the best noise cancelling and features of any wireless closed-back headphone I’ve used, it unfortunately trades off in terms of sound quality to a significant degree. Its default tonality is a boomy yet aggressive sounding experience that isn’t done any favors by both its frequency response or its technical ability.
Andrew Park
Headphones.com
read full review
Sep 16, 2020
While they aren't the most portable headphones, their hard carrying case can help protect them while you're on the go. They have over 37 hours of continuous battery life, and you can comfortably wear them for long listening sessions without a lot of fatigue. Also, their ANC can block out bass-heavy sounds like the rumble of engines as well as mid-range sounds like commute chatter, meaning you can enjoy your music without distraction.
Jake Thauvette, Kieran Dunn, Olivier Gariepy
rtings.com
read full review
Nov 20, 2022
The Sony XM4 headphones are still some of the finest noise-cancelling headphones on the market, despite the arrival of their successors
What Hi-Fi?
What Hi-Fi?
read full review
Jul 06, 2022
The Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones deliver excellent noise-cancellation and surprising sound quality all in a lightweight, comfortable design. While they don't look significantly different from their predecessors, a number of new features including multipoint pairing, DSEE Extreme upscaling, conversational awareness and auto-play/pause using a built-in sensor all help the WH-1000XM4 claim the title of best headphones in 2022.
Gerald Lynch, Nick Pino
Techradar
read full review
Jan 25, 2021
They sound fantastic, have effective noise-cancelling and long battery life. They support multipoint Bluetooth 5 for connecting two devices at once, high-res music with the LDAC format and an instant ambient sound mode for listening for announcements, too.
Samuel Biggs
The Guardian
read full review
Nov 29, 2022
Improved audio, more effective noise cancellation and smart new features make the Sony WH-1000XM4 the over-ear headphones to beat
Andy White
Expert Reviews
read full review
Jun 27, 2022
From the comfortable, lightweight fit, to the thorough noise cancellation, intuitive smart features and the refined audio performance, Sony has knocked it out of the park with the WH-1000XM4. They’re beaten by the WH-1000XM5 but at their lower price, I’d struggle to think of a reason not to invest in one of the best-sounding ANC headphones. Well, unless you have the money to the latest model of course.
Kob Monney
Trusted Reviews
read full review
Jul 08, 2022
Sony WH-1000XM4 are the best noise cancelling headphones you can buy. By keeping the sound as good as it always was to satisfy music lovers and adding some extra features tech heads wanted, Sony manages to keep its nose just in front of Bose, Bowers & Wilkins and Beats by Dr. Dre. There's nothing better in the world of headphones right now.
SIMON LUCAS
T3
read full review