Sony WH-1000XM4 $348
AT FIRST GLANCE, you might not get the sense that these headphones contain some serious power under the hood, as this power is hidden under an elegant and sleek body. Its smooth matte monocolored finish pushes the idea that Sony wanted sophistication with substance.
Comfort is great with the WH-1000XM4. Slightly more padding on the headband and cups may be helpful, but using these headphones all day feels almost effortless. The memory foam soft-touch leather creates a perfect cushion for your ears.
The headphones are seriously featurepacked. Active noise-cancellation plays a huge part in the immersive experience. Without playing music, they cut pretty much all background noise out. They are great for VOIP, while using the ambient mode is great for communicating without interrupting your musical listening experience. All these features don’t seem to affect the battery life, as you can get 30 hours of playtime with ANC on. Google Assistant and Alexa are also integrated, for all of you virtual assistant lovers out there.
Along with this, the right cup is where you find the touch playback controls, again keeping Sony on the forefront of features and ensuring a seamless listening experience.
We probably should mention that they sound amazing! The headphones produce a progressive and powerful soundstage, treating your ears to copious amounts of bass and crystal-clear clarity at the top end. Sony’s 360 Reality Audio is excellent when paired with a supporting streaming site such as Tidal. The sound produced engulfs you.
As far as gaming goes, the result is very similar—you feel a part of the game.
The only few setbacks include an inadequate mic, no water resistance, and the use of plastic over some more premium materials. Nevertheless, they produce magnificent sound and boast marketleading noise-canceling technology.