Odi Productions
In this article, I’m going to share my HONEST Sony WH-1000XM4 review for those who are wondering whether they are worth keeping or upgrading in 2026. I’ll be comparing the Sony WH-1000XM4 vs XM5, XM6, Bose QuietComfort, QuietComfort Ultra 2, Apple AirPods Max 2, Sennheiser Momentum 4, and more.
I’m going to do my best to share whether these headphones are worth it, and ideally who these headphones are for. I bought these headphones with my own money, and was NOT sponsored, paid, or received a free copy for review. All thoughts are my own.
I’ll be sharing my critical opinion with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, audio engineer, and tech journalist. I also run the RecordingNow YouTube channel with over 24,000+ subscribers and over 5 million views.
Let’s dive right in!
Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones Review in short
5 years after its release, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is still a reliable and well-loved headphone due to its pleasing sound quality and strong noise cancelling performance. I would personally skip the Sony WH-1000XM5 and upgrade to the Sony WH-1000XM6 myself, which has improved sound quality, noise cancelling, and features. Competes with Bose QuietComfort, Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2, Apple AirPods Max 2, Sennheiser Momentum 4, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Sony ULT Wear, and Apple AirPods Max.
Watch the Full Review on YouTube!
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Sony WH-1000XM4 Pros and Cons
- Great noise cancelling performance
- Very comfortable
- Compact foldable design
- Pleasing stock sound
- Officially discontinued
- Better sound quality options today
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Sound Quality
An important note on the stock sound…
I actually think I enjoy the stock sound profile of the Sony WH-1000XM4 over the newer Sony XM5.
These have a warmer, more cohesive sound out of the box.
For the most part, I could listen to these stock and be satisfied.
That said, I found that to get the absolute best sound quality out of the XM4, I had to spend some days with the Customizable EQ inside of the Sony app.
I’m quite pleased with the results, focusing on reducing that sibilance in that peaky treble which is this headphone’s achilles heel. The resulting sound is still warm and inviting, but a bit more detailed in the mids and less harsh in the treble.
Also, the XM6 supports the hi-res codec of LDAC (developed by Sony), leading to higher sound quality potential on paper.
To conduct this test, I used my Questyle QCC Dongle Pro to unlock aptX and LDAC support:
![Questyle QCC Dongle Pro [MFi Certified] USB-C Bluetooth Audio Adapter with LDAC,aptX Lossless&aptX-Adaptive,Low Latency Bluetooth 5.4 Dongle for PS5,Wireless Lossless Transmitter for PC/Headphones](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21jT-Cm5ZVL._SL500_.jpg)
If you’re an iPhone user, or if your phone doesn’t support aptX codecs, then I highly recommend you pick up the dongle above which will cover both LDAC and aptX Adaptive high-res codecs. It’s the only one of its kind that supports both, to my knowledge.
Best Equalizer Settings for Sony WH-1000XM4
- 400: -3
- 1k: +2
- 2.5k: +3
- 6.3k: -5
- 16k: +1
- Clear Bass: 0
Result: Much less muddiness, more clarity and detail in the mids, less sibilance. Overall more balanced, with the mids much more present.
Thoughts on sound quality after EQ…
The Sony WH-1000XM4 does indeed have very good sound quality, but it’s not quite perfect.
So far, these headphones have scored nearly perfect on every category including comfort and noise cancelling performance especially, but the sound quality is the one where we can be a little more critical.
To the average listener, the sound quality should be more than good enough to impress, and probably be happy with in blissful ignorance.
It’s when comparing these back-to-back with its wireless competitors like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 that you hear the shortcomings exposed quite quickly.
The Momentum 4’s for example, have much airier, sparkling vocals that instantly makes the WH-1000XM4 sound duller and more veiled in the treble region especially.
The plus side to this tapered-off treble is smoothness with no sibilance.
On the other end of the frequency spectrum, the Momentum 4 also exposes the lack of sub-bass extension in the Sony’s.
The Sony’s have an emphasis on the upper bass region that does create some muddiness in the lower mids.
If I could tune the stock sound signature myself, I’d reduce the upper bass and add that to the sub-bass for a more balanced sound.
I would still classify the overall sound signature of the Sony WH-1000XM4 as mostly neutral with a touch of warmth, but not as resolving as true audiophile headphones.
The other flaw to these would be a narrow and intimate soundstage, which can work for some genres but lacks the openness, depth, and width of a proper soundstage.
This gives the impression of a fairly flat and “2D” sound.
Vocals and instruments tend to be in your face, which is actually impressive at first listen, but can be a bit fatiguing and not as measured over time.
Overall, most people would have zero complaints with the Sony WH-1000XM4 in the sound quality department, that is until you hear the competition these days.
Audiophiles will know that “the devil is in the details”.
Sound Comparisons
vs Sony WH-1000XM5
Based on the stock tuning, I actually prefer the warmer and more musical XM4 over the newer XM5, which has a tendency to sound rather muffled and muddy.
But after applying custom EQ and LDAC, I find the XM5 to be slightly higher in overall sound quality and fidelity over the XM4.
The XM4 is still very pleasing to listen to, and I’ve received a lot of comments on YouTube from people who prefer the XM4 over the XM5.
Overall, the XM5 has higher sound quality potential, but needs more work to extract it.
vs Sony WH-1000XM6
The even newer Sony WH-1000XM6 is less offensive than the XM5’s stock sound profile, opting for a neutral dark and warmer sound.
I still do prefer the XM4’s stock tuning which is more musical, but I think the XM6 represents a noticeable step up in sound quality as a whole.
Like the XM5, the XM6 really benefits from custom EQ and listening through LDAC for the full potential.
After applying those, I think the XM6 is in a sound quality tier above the XM4, and simply has higher resolution, separation, and soundstage.
Not to mention, the bass is fuller and more controlled on the XM6.
vs Bose QuietComfort
Both headphones have a more consumer-friendly sound profile, with the Bose QuietComfort having the more impactful and deeper bass response.
Both headphones benefit from EQ, but both sound great stock as well.
After EQ, I prefer the Bose as a whole, which is more competitive with the newer XM5, in my opinion.
Sound Quality Score: 8.0 out of 10
Comfort
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is one of the most comfortable over-ear headphones that I have ever tested.
Upon putting them on my head, my first impression was that the leather earpad cushions and headband material felt very plush and forgiving.
Aside from the plush materials, I think the light weight of the headphones is one of the biggest factors.
Weighing just 251.6 grams on my scale, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is the lightest full-sized over-ear headphones that I have tested to date.
The Sony XM6 is actually one of the lightest in this class, as weighed on my scale:
- Bose QuietComfort (2023 model) – 236.1 grams
- Sony WH-1000XM5 – 245.9 grams
- Sony WH-1000XM4 – 251.6 grams
- Sony WH-1000XM6 – 252.8 grams
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (1st gen) – 254.4 grams
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) – 262.2 grams
- Beats Studio Pro – 268.6 grams
- Sennheiser Momentum 5 – 288.8 grams
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 – 292.9 grams
- Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S2e – 305.2 grams
- Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION – 311.2 grams
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 – 312.0 grams
- Sennheiser HDB 630 – 313.4 grams
- Sonos Ace – 318.1 grams
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 – 320.1 grams
- Bang & Olufsen H95 – 323 grams
- Focal Bathys – 350 grams
- Focal Bathys MG – 365.5 grams
- Bang & Olufsen H100 – 375.6 grams
- Dali IO-12 – 379.4 grams
- Apple AirPods Max 2 – 384.4 grams
As a frame of reference, the Apple AirPods Max weighed in at 387.8 grams, or 54% heavier than the Sony WH-1000XM4!
One critique is that I wish the earcups had more interior space so my ears would be fully free inside, like they are in Bose and AirPods Max headphones.
Other than that, this is one of the most comfortable headphones in the class.
Comfort Score: 9.5 out of 10
Features / Battery Life / Build Quality / Practicality
Features
The Sony WH-1000XM4 has almost all the features you’d want in a headphone including:
- Bluetooth Wireless
- Adaptive Noise Cancelling
- “Ambient Sound” aka Transparency Mode
- Built-in microphones for phone calls
- Dedicated smartphone app with EQ
- Foldable inside of included hardshell case
The only thing missing from this list would be Dolby Atmos or Spatial Audio like on the newer headphones such as AirPods Max and Beats Studio Pro.
Aside from that, switching between Apple devices isn’t as seamless as the AirPods line, but that’s really splitting hairs.
Looks
Personally, I don’t think the WH-1000XM4 is a bad looking headphone, but I do think it has a bulky look when wearing it on head.
The issue is that the earcups are rather blocky and jut out too much from the side of your head.
I do like the understated matte black finish on my pair, along with the subtle bronze accents of the Sony logo.
Overall, it isn’t an offensive design by any means, but not the most fashionable when worn due to the size.
Sony WH-1000XM4 Battery Life
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is rated at 30 hours of battery life on a single charge, which is average in this class. This is the same as the newer XM5 and XM6.
- Marshall Monitor III – 70 hours (ANC on), 100 hours (ANC off)
- Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE – 60 hours (ANC on), 100 hours (ANC off)
- Audeze Maxwell – 80 hours (no ANC included)
- Sennheiser HDB 630 – 60 hours
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 – 60 hours
- Sennheiser Momentum 5 – 57 hours
- Dali IO-12 – 35 hours (ANC on)
- Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 – 34 hours (ANC on)
- Focal Bathys MG – “Over 30 hours” (ANC on)
- Sony WH-1000XM6 – 40 hours (ANC off), 30 hours (ANC on)
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) – 30 hours
- Sony WH-1000XM5 – 30 hours
- Sony WH-1000XM4 – 30 hours
- Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and Px8 – 30 hours
- Sonos Ace – 30 hours
- Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION – 24 hours
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (1st Gen) – 24 hours
- Apple AirPods Max 2 – 20 hours
- Apple AirPods Max – 20 hours
In my testing, I found these figures to be accurate.
Build Quality
Revisiting the XM4 after 5 years, it has held up surprisingly well, and arguably better than the newer XM5 over time.
The advantage of the XM4’s design is due to being foldable and having a more durable hinge design than the XM5 which suffers from potential broken hinges.
The XM6 did improve upon this by returning to the foldable design of the XM4, along with reinforcing the hinges with a metal piece.
Practicality
The Sony XM4 is an incredibly practical daily driver due to its very compact and foldable design for travel, boasting one of the smallest travel cases in the class.
Add in the lightweight comfort and strong noise cancelling performance, even by today’s standards, and the XM4 is one of the most practical headphones in its class.
Features / Battery Life / Build Quality / Practicality Score: 8.5 out of 10
Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Cancelling Performance
The WH-1000XM4 has very good adaptive noise cancelling performance, only outdone by newer entrants like the XM6, XM5, AirPods Max 2, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones.
Although there are many competitors when it comes to active noise cancelling these days, I find the most effective brands to be Sony and Bose in this arena.
The WH-1000XM4 has an “Adaptive Noise Cancelling” that utilizes microphones on the earcups to pick up and adapt to exterior noise as needed.
I found this to be extremely effective, and is a boon for airplane travel and other noisy environments.
In addition to extremely effective noise cancelling, there is also an “Ambient mode” which functions as a Transparency mode to hear your surroundings, utilizing the same mics.
Lastly, the ability to completely turn off both the noise cancelling and transparency modes completely is very much welcomed.
Noise Cancelling Performance Score: 8.5 out of 10
Value
The Sony WH-1000XM4 was introduced at a full retail price of $349.99 USD back in August of 2020.
Naturally, the XM4 should make for an incredible value with the newer XM5 and XM6 having replaced it.
One issue is that the XM4 is now officially discontinued, so finding brand new stock is getting very tough, and is priced quite high if you do find it.
That said, you’re more likely to find the XM4 in renewed/refurbished condition for around $160 USD, which does make it a very appealing value play.
My only reservation would be that the battery capacity of used examples will probably be shortened due to its age, and the nature of these batteries.
Value Score: 9.5 out of 10
Overall Scoring Breakdown
Sound Quality (50% of score): 8.0 / 10
Comfort (10% of score): 9.5 / 10
Features / Battery Life / Build Quality / Practicality (10% of score): 8.5 / 10
Noise Cancelling (20% of score): 8.5 / 10
Value (10% of score): 9.5 / 10
Overall: 8.45 / 10
Should you keep or upgrade the Sony WH-1000XM4?
Overall, the now-discontinued Sony WH-1000XM4 has held up incredibly well, even by today’s standards.
That said, 5 years is a long stretch of time when it comes to technology, and there has been significant improvements in sound quality, noise cancelling performance, connectivity, and spatial audio.
Personally, I would skip the XM5 and go straight to the XM6, or consider the other flagships from Bose, Apple, and Sennheiser.
If do you have the XM4 and have no complaints, then you’re probably better off just keeping them until they no longer work.
Some very Strong Alternatives in this class of noise cancelling headphones are:
- Sony WH-1000XM6
- Sony WH-1000XM5
- Bose QuietComfort (2023 model)
- Sennheiser Momentum 4
- Sony ULT Wear
- Apple AirPods Max 2
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2
- Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION
- Sennheiser Momentum 5
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra
- Apple AirPods Max
- Sonos Ace
- Beats Studio Pro
- Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2
Some Relevant Comparisons in this class of noise cancelling headphones are:
- Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5
- Sony WH-1000XM6 vs WH-1000XM4
- Sony WH-1000XM6 vs WH-1000XM5
- Bose QuietComfort vs Sony WH-1000XM4
- Sony WH-1000XM4 vs AirPods Max
- Beats Studio Pro vs Sony WH-1000XM4
- Bose QuietComfort 45 vs Sony WH-1000XM4
Order Here for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):
Save money with RENEWED!
Disclosure: These affiliate links may provide a discount and in return, give us a commission in order to keep this website 100% independent to ensure honest unfiltered reviews 🙂
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there anything better than the Sony WH-1000XM4?
Yes, there are headphones like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 that are better in categories like sound quality and battery life. But for the price, it is hard to find a better overall value when factoring in noise cancelling performance, comfort, and battery life.
Is the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones discontinued?
Yes the Sony WH-1000XM4 has been officially discontinued with the arrival of the newer WH-1000XM6 and XM5.
Is the Sony WH 1000XM4 better than Bose headphones like the QuietComfort series?
Having owned both the Sony WH1000-XM4 and Bose QuietComfort 35 II, I personally think the Sony headphones have equal noise cancelling performance, but newer headphones like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra have superior noise cancelling performance.
How We Tested and Our Methodology
RecordingNOW.com is a 100% independent publisher with over 10 years of experience testing and reviewing consumer electronics and headphones.
We currently purchase the products we test with our own money, and are not paid by any company or manufacturer to influence our opinions or decisions.
After purchasing the product, we conduct up to hundreds of hours of detailed hands-on testing in a controlled, acoustically-treated environment.
ODi Productions is our resident expert and author of this article, with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, tech journalist, and audiophile.
Post Update History
- July 2026: Updated scores to “Version 2.0” of our Headphone Scoring System. Added long-term “5 Year Review” updates throughout post. Included comparisons to newer models including Sony WH-1000XM6.
- January 2025: Original publication date.
Read Next
Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5
Bose QuietComfort Review (2023 Model)
Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION Review
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 Review
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Review
Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S3 Review
Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 Review
Beats Studio Pro vs Sony WH 1000XM4
