Sony - WH-1000XM4

I really want these but my AirPods 3 are still going strong and I have Sony XM4 over ear for noise cancelling. Would be nice to have noise cancelling earbuds for cutting the grass, or not having to lug the XM4 on my work commute. Decisions... Also worried about wide reports of the ANC breaking overtime due to the microphones getting clogged.

the sony wh-1000x4. great noise canceling and there's a feature you can turn on that turns off the noise canceling when you start speaking. also super long lasting battery

Nah i tried both and the xm6 actually stays in place but it doesn't put pressure to where it's uncomfortable. Maybe i just have a big head but the xm4 kept slowly sliding off my head.

Thanks very much for this detailed writeup! I reached many of the same conclusions about the XM5s that you wrote above. There were also other things that I liked more about the XM3s and XM4s. One is their slightly wider, flatter headband that was more comfortable for me to wear on an extended basis. I also preferred how the XM3/XM4 earcups attached to the frame. They felt and looked more solid to me as well as permitting those headphones to be folded down. Finally, I think the mechanical design of the XM3/XM4 earcup attachment just leads to a stronger, more modern, and more pleasing visual aesthetic in my eyes. The XM5s just look a bit more fragile and retro to my eyes.

Try XM4. Great ANC for your situation. The fit and comfort is good. It is the best selling headphone, you likely will find it comfortable like many others. They are often bought below $200, sometime below $160. You might like their Spatial Audio on ambient music. Put you in center of those ambient sounds. Do need to set it up properly in app for it to work.

I would suggest EQ your XM4 to your personal taste or Harman curve. https://github.com/jaakkopasanen/AutoEq/tree/master/results/oratory1990/over-ear/Sony%20WH-1000XM4 XM4 sounds better when using with wire, powered on, ANC off. I pair it with Moondrop Dawn Pro (filter 2). Detail, clarity, separation, bass (not muddy) is a step up from wireless connection. If you want PEQ feature Qudelix 5k is worth checking out. Many more option available.

My xm4 sounds very bassy and muddy. How are these? Are these as good as sennheiser momentum 4?

my%20top%202%20would%20be_%201)%20%5bthese%20Cleer%20ones%5d(https_/deo9gr5ha90bn.cloudfront.net/index9b61.html?q=CQMUY1087):%20honestly%20just%20a%20super%20easy%20pair%20to%20live%20with,%20really%20comfy,%20and%20sounds%20way%20better%20than%20people%20expect%20at%20the%20price.%20the%20only%20tiny%20downside%20is%20the%20sound%20is%20a%20bit%20warm,%20so%20if%20you%20like%20super%20neutral%20studio-type%20tuning%20it%20won%e2%80%99t%20hit%20that%20perfectly.%202)%20the%20Sony%20WH-1000XM4:%20not%20the%20newest%20anymore%20but%20still%20one%20of%20those%20headphones%20that%20just%20does%20everything%20well%20without%20being%20fussy.%20my%20only%20nitpick%20is%20the%20pads%20wear%20out%20quicker%20than%20you%e2%80%99d%20think,%20but%20they%e2%80%99re%20cheap%20to%20swap

If you're thinking about the ULT's, go for the XM4's instead. You'll get all the benefits of the ULT's with more longevity, just think that if it's still in budget then the XM4's are essentially what's missing from the ULT's, and all that you'd really want from the XM5's.

I got the xm4 with the vmoda boom pro plugin microphone. Works like a charm

Maybe Some XM4's if you can get them on sale or refurbished. They are very comfortable, sound good for what they are, I've used them for meetings and had no issues.

I've owned Bose QuietComfort 45s for 2 years now and I love them, wear them daily and I also am usually someone that can't wear headbands. I had tried the Sony XM4 but the ear cushions themselves were like an odd shape for my ears and ultimately sit against my glasses in a way that started to hurt after a bit of wearing.

There is no problem with the batteries in the WH1000-XM4 HEADPHONES which is what we're discussing here there is a problem with some of the WF1000-XM4 EARBUDS don't confuse the issue!

Used XM4 go for 100-150 (if you are lucky you can find them new for that price). You can just change the pads.

I'll throw in my 2c based on ones I have actually owned and used both on iOS and Android... 1. Bose QC (or QC45s) or QC Ultra. The most comfortable. Good enough sound, excellent ANC. Fold for easier carrying on the move. They have APTX adaptive/Snapdragon sound but no standard or HD APTX. Not many devices out there support Snapdragon sound 2. Sennheiser M4s. Fantastic sound, terrible ANC. Do not fold. 3. Sony M4s and M5s. Bose level ANC, mostly good if a little muddy at times sound. Cook my ears, the least comfortable by some distance, for me at least. M5s do not fold. 4. B&W P7 S2e. Fantastic sound. Ok, probably good enough ANC. Do not fold 5. B&W P7 S3. Pretty much as per the S2es, but they sound better and maybe the ANC is slightly better too, still not at Bose or Sony levels though. Still do not fold. They have Snapdragon sound, but they also have APTX HD and standard. I could never buy Sonys again unless I was sure the ear cooking had been resolved, I suspect though that this is down to their overall approach to ANC. The Bose QC45s or the new QCs (non-Ultra) are head and shoulders the most comfortable over-ear ANC cans I have owned.

Yep I align with you on the over the ears at home. I have my Sony XM4 for home listening. But why don't you like the wireless headphones? Without wire it's surely a superior experience.

I have been using the xm4s for 3 years now nearly love them but i need better eq and noise cancel and just generally would like to improve, would xm6s be worth the price point to upgrade from xm4s

I sold mine recently for 200 USD and then bought the XM6 for three hundred-ish. It was worth it because I got newer technology for almost the same as you, but if it wasn't for that, I would never give up on my XM4s. They are awesome. You won't regret it!

Big budget - Sony WH1000XM(x) I still have my original MDR1000x and while the mic leaves a lot to be desired, they're amazing for music and blocking out the outside world. Find a new old stock on sale. Barring that, Bose, Sennheiser, pick your poison/price point, unless you love Apple, then the Airpods Pro2 are amazing for this if you like in-ear. Max if you hate everyone. Airpods4 with ANC are honestly fine for office environments if you have some music going, if you hate over/in ear stuff. If you're on a budget, the Anker ANC stuff is shockingly good for the price, both in sound quality and NC ability. Not 'no music on a plane of crying babies' good, but definitely good enough for an office.

I've had mine for about 5 years now and it was without a doubt one of the best purchases I've ever made

Sony XM4 or XM5 ..

The headphones airlines give or sell you (if any) are lousy. Just buy a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones, which will pay for themselves on your first flight. Noise cancelling headphones muffle the sound of engine and other noises and will make the flight a bit more comfortable and will help you sleep. I recommend earmuff style headphones because they cover your ears, can have 20-30+ hours of battery life and are comfortable for long periods. Most earmuff style headphones connect to your mobile device via Bluetooth. They also usually have a 3.5mm headphone jack that you plug into the seatback entertainment systems, laptops, phones, etc. The ear bud style can get uncomfortable after long periods and only give you about 6-7 hours oof battery life with noise-cancelling turned on. You can find some as little as $60 CAD for an Amazon Basics set. I have a Sony WH-100XM4 which was over $500 CAD, but it was well worth the investment. They are very comfortable and they easily last for multiple 15+ hour flights with noise-canceling turned on. Even if you fly infrequently, you can use the headphones in the office, while taking transit, or walking about. You obviously need to keep aware of your surroundings while walking around with the noise-cancelling turned on though.

Thanks. Just saved me $500!! I'll stick with the xm4

I just got mine used from eBay and as a student I loved them ever since I've got them. I work in a lot of different environment between work, school and at home sharing a place with roommates and the noise canceling features work super well. Xm4s seem to be durable. I say this purchase is pretty great for how much they're discounted. I paid nearly that price for used ones so you will get brand new ones for the same price. Good find.

I used my xm4s in a machine shop with coolant spray for around 4 years estimated(last two years the hinge has been epoxied limping along until the xm6s came finally. The anc works just fine still im actually a bit surprised two generations newer and brand new hardware wasn't a bigger leap in performance compared to my xm4s

I've tried a few pairs of noise-cancelling headphones, and there are a few that stand out depending on what you're after. **Bose QuietComfort 35 II** - These have been around for a while, but they're still great for what they offer. They're ultra-comfortable and have fantastic ANC that works really well for blocking out consistent background noise (think air conditioning or the sound of a train). **Cleer Audio Enduro ANC** - I got these recently, and I was pretty impressed by the insane battery life. We're talking 100 hours of listening with ANC on-no joke. The noise cancellation works well enough for most everyday situations, like blocking out chatter in a coffee shop or some ambient noise, but it's not as hardcore as Sony or Bose when it comes to drowning out louder sounds like a screaming baby or engine noise. **Sony WH-1000XM4** - These are widely considered the king of noise-cancelling, and honestly, after using them for a while, I get why. The ANC is seriously amazing. It blocks out everything from noisy streets to loud offices and even the hum of an airplane. If you're just looking for the best at blocking noise, Sony WH-1000XM4 could be a good option, but if comfort and battery life are your priorities, the Cleer Audio Enduro ANC is a great pick.

Lmaoooo I've just started getting the exact same thing with mine. I'm not fussed considering daily use for 3-4 years without being very precious with them. Things aren't indestructible.

I relate to this issue a lot since I'm very sensitive about things on or around my head and tend to get painful sensations or a headache quite fast! A few months ago I got the Soundcore Space One over-ear headphones and specifically paid attention to the head thingie being made of soft material and having a slight V rather than a U shape so that wearing the headphones applies no pressure to the top of my head or anywhere else really at all. There have been days when I've been wearing them for 6+ hours and never had or felt an issue with tightness or pain! They have amazing noise canceling (plus you can change the strength of it with an app) and an amazing sound quality when listening to music! I have also tried the Sony WH-1000XM4 at a store, the noise canceling of those is a tiny bit better and they're just as comfortable to wear but they also cost a lot more! So I can definitely recommend the Soundcore Space One headphones if you're looking for long-term comfortable wear!

From a BIFL perspective the Sennheiser momentum 4's have similar build quality, good noise cancellation, better sound than either, but most importantly twice the battery life. This means that over 5 years it will go through half the charge cycles meaning the battery won't degrade as quickly, and even when it does degrade it starts from a much better point. I have owned Sony XM4, and Sennhieser M4's and can't recommend them enough.

Totally forgot about all the reviews of people complaining about the popping sounds when walking or riding in a bus until I came across a Reddit post from about a week ago. I remember seeing tons of people complaining about this issue. Was ready to pull the trigger. Now not sure. I never had anything like this with the xm4 or xm5. Might have to just hold out for now. Sounds like the Ultras might be pretty close to perfect, if not for this weird popping thing.

not sure which benefits come with using APM since I've never used them. I can speak for Sony's mx6s (and mx4s) working right out the box for android, windows, IOs and MacOS devices without issues.

For me, XM4 user here, the only reason I'd upgrade to the 6 is when the xm4 literally breaks on me. I feel like we've peaked as far as ANC technology and sound quality. IMHO.

Works fine. It's my work headset (XM4). They can be had for cheap since the XM6's just released. The later XMs have more microphones for better ANC and slightly better mics. But it's just a work call. I've had a dehumidifier on full blast 3' away from me during a call with no issues. (ANC is better for constant noises. It doesn't do as well with sudden spikes. $1,000+ headphones would suffer the same problem.) I'd maybe invest into a decent mic if I were presenting to ext. clients a lot, but eh. I've never seen a sales person go that far. 99% of people just use AirPods.

Went from 4-6 and honestly those were in tough shape the earcups are so collapsed I bet most of the difference is in the new earcups. I couldn't justify new ear cups for my xm4s with weird audio glitches getting more common and the epoxied broken hinge for the last few years

I use the AirPods Max now but honestly my favorites were the Sony XM4. Very comfortable and good sound quality.

The XM5s suck. They were markedly worse than the XM4s and the XM6s blow them out of the water

Thats honestly weird. Apple apm, sony whxm, bose qc, sennheiser momnetum/hdb, etc. can all do it. Very common feature for modern headphones in this space :)