Sony WH-1000XM4

£259 FROM sony.com

Sony’s popular WH-1000XM4 headphones have a unique aesthetic and fold down to a portable size. With 30 hours of battery, a 10-minute charge will get you another five hours of playback with an optional AC adaptor. Alexa and Google Assistant are supported, as well as a feature that pauses playback if you speak. They use the LDAC codec, which transmits at a higher bit rate and boasts a frequency response of 4Hz-40kHz. Wired operation is also available.

The soundstage is pleasingly wide and rich, and the headphones handle dynamics brilliantly, producing a powerful sound. They are excellent with music, movies, and also when making calls. The onboard QN1 noise cancelling processor constantly monitors audio and noise both inside and outside the cups, resulting in excellent noise cancellation performance. A companion app provides useful tweaking and set-up options.

VERDICT

Superb sound Excellent ANC performance Comfortable and stylish Good app