Sony WH-1000XM4

Sony’s premium wireless headphones deliver another sonic masterclass

The arrival of the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless noise-cancelling headphones could be the biggest headphone launch of 2020. They replace the What Hi-fi? Award-winning WH-1000XM3S, one of the most popular pairs of headphones on the planet. So, they’re quite a big deal.

Instead of just rebadging the old model, Sony claims the WH-1000XM4S deliver a more comfortable design, better noise-cancelling, better audio, better call quality and more useful features compared with their predecessors. Priced £350, the Sony WH-1000XM4S are in the same bracket as rivals such as the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (£350) and Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless (£350).

Subtle changes

Sony hasn’t exactly gone back to the drawing board for the WH-1000XM4S, but there are a few subtle differences. The plastics used around the earcups and sliders are slightly more textured compared with the smooth surfaces of the XM3S, helping give the impression of being sturdier. They don’t look quite as stylish as a pair of B&W PX7S or the Sennheiser Momentum 3s, but they give the impression that they’re built to last. The WH-1000XM4S use the same 40mm drivers found in the previous model and there are the same finishes too: Black or Platinum Silver. The WH-1000XM4S' earcups are a thinner design than those used on the XM3S, while the pads used are softer and 10 per cent larger. The head cushion is also slightly slimmer. Overall, the XM4S are 1g lighter, too (254g vs 255g).

All these factors combine to produce a comfortable fit. There’s just enough pressure to grip your ears and get a solid seal around them without the headphones feeling too loose.

However, because the grip isn’t as vice-like as some rivals, and the headphones don’t have an IP rating (for water and dust resistance), we wouldn’t recommend using them during exercise.

The power button, a USB-C charging port and 3.5mm headphone socket have all carried over from the XM3S. So too has the Ambient/nc button, now renamed ‘Custom’ on the XM4S. It carries out the same duties as before, such as switching between noise-cancelling and Ambient Sound modes.

Before using the headphones for the first time, we run Sony’s NC Optimiser. It’s an auto-calibration program that optimises noise-cancelling based on factors such as the shape of your face and whether or not you wear glasses. If you’re a frequent flyer, they will even take into account changes in air pressure.

The headline feature for the WH1000XM4 is the introduction of a brand new sound processor. Sony has switched from DSEE HX to a new DSEE Extreme engine. The new engine not only attempts to upscale compressed music to near hi-res quality, it also adds Edge-ai technology. Developed with the help of Sony Music Studios Tokyo, it analyses music in real-time to reproduce a sound more faithful to the original track.

There’s no aptx or aptx HD support, but Sony's own LDAC technology allows you to stream high-quality audio wirelessly from a compatible source, including select Android smartphones running Android 8.0 or above.

If you subscribe to a streaming service that supports tracks encoded in Sony 360 Reality Audio, the WH-1000XM4S can also be used to experience the immersive audio format.

The Quick Attention feature on the XM3S, where you can cover the right earcup with your hand to hold a conversation, carries across – but Sony has taken the conversational skills of the WH-1000XM4S to a whole new level.

Neat party tricks

The ‘Speak to Chat’ feature allows you to talk to someone while the headphones are still on your head. The XM4S recognise that you are talking and will stop playback and switch to their Ambient Sound mode automatically.

It’s a neat party trick and we find it works pretty well. There is a slight delay between starting to speak and the mode kicking in, but you can set the sensitivity in Sony’s Headphones Connect app to stop it going off accidentally during an over-enthusiastic sing-along.

Another new feature is ‘Wearing Detection’. The headphones use a proximity sensor and acceleration sensors in each earcup to pause playback when you remove the headphones, and then to start playing again automatically when you put them back on. It’s a feature we’ve come across in other headphones, including the B&W PX7S, but it’s nice to see it appearing here too.

Sony has also given its Adaptive Sound Control feature a boost for the

WH-1000XM4S. The XM4S can use GPS data from your phone to change the noise-cancelling and ambient sound levels based on particular locations. You can set up profiles and geo-fence areas using the Headphones Connect app, so the WH-1000XM4S will automatically switch modes when you enter them.

One criticism of the WH-1000XM3S was the inability to connect to more than one device simultaneously. This has been rectified for the XM4S, thanks to the new ‘Multipoint’ feature. You're now able to switch between two Bluetoothconnected devices.

Battery life remains among the best in class, with a full charge lasting up to 30 hours with both Bluetooth and noisecancelling enabled. This rises to 38 hours without noise-cancelling. Charging the headphones with an AC adapter will give you five hours of battery life from just a ten-minute burst of power.

Cancelling culture

Sony has been making waves in the noise-cancelling headphones market for a few years now, and it claims the WH-1000XM4S are able to cancel out more midrange and high-frequency sounds than ever before. Its HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 uses a brand new algorithm and works in tandem with a new Bluetooth System on Chip (SOC). Together, they are able constantly to monitor audio and noise signals, plus the relationship between the speaker drivers and your ears.

This is all happening in real-time, a first for Sony headphones, and the technology is claimed to give greater control over how the noise-cancelling performs. It translates into a hugely impressive performance, which leaves you free to enjoy the music being fed into your ears. The Sonys have no trouble cutting out extraneous noise, from the rumble of a train to the hustle and bustle of a busy high street.

So it’s all good news so far, but how do the WH-1000XM4S stand up to sonic scrutiny? The answer is exceptionally well. We listen to a range of tracks, and it’s soon apparent that Sony has managed to squeeze out even more performance from the WH-1000XM4S. The soundfield appears wider, with the headphones able to use the extra headroom to uncover even more detail. The WH-1000XM4S sound more composed and confident, especially when it comes to lower frequencies. There’s power, punch and a sense of poise that makes even the WH1000XM3S sound a little tubby.

Play Ramin Djawadi’s cover of Seven Nation Army and the clarity and definition of the strings shines through. There’s a newfound smoothness in the treble that makes the old model sound a bit unrefined in comparison.

Sony’s WH range has set a benchmark for timing and dynamics, and the XM4S continue this trend, communicating dynamic shifts with ease. Their ability to slot into the groove of a track and follow it faithfully means they can entertain you with the most basic of beats then switch to more complex arrangements without a second thought.

We weren’t sure if Sony could improve on the XM3S, but the WH-1000XM4S have managed it: they’re as comfortable as ever; they introduce useful features that elevate the user experience; and, more importantly, you’re getting a serious hike in sound quality.

Their sense of musicality remains as addictive as ever, but you can also hear big improvements across the board. We’re in no doubt these sensational Sony headphones will be tough to beat.

“The WH-1000XM4S sound more composed and confident. There’s power, punch and a sense of poise that makes even the XM3S sound a little tubby”