Sony WF-1000XM4 review

08 June 2021
The best earbuds for music or noise cancelling we've tested.

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  • a
  • audiophilosofo
  • xtm
  • 18 Jan 2024

I have an issue with this product, pending a solution:

The right earbud suddenly dropped on volume, about 60%-70% loss. I have updated the software, reset the headphones, swapped the tips, tested the frequency without the tips and realized the bass was gone from the right side but can be heard from the left.
This ruins my listening experiences in many ways (gaming is harder), since I have a need for earbuds most of my spare time.
Right now I'm waiting on a solution from Sony, but I'm already looking for alternatives for when I return these.

I'm not convinced about the ANC quality on these, I used Amazon Echo buds 2 until I lost them in a taxi and I got a feeling that the noise canceling was far more effective than these (it was able to cancel my footsteps and computer fan sounds, where the XM4's fail, probably due to my ear shape, making it impossible to have a complete seal with the tips).
I really enjoyed the app and the punchy bass options, it was fun but it made the sounds surrealistic, specially listening to Jazz and Classical music, the EQ on the app definitely helps correcting these. The speak to chat option works marvelously.
I'll probably upgrade them to the XM5's if I get a chance, hoping to get a complete seal in my ear.

    • A
    • Akov
    • m1N
    • 27 Apr 2023

    Anonymous, 28 Feb 2023I just got an update to my WF-1000XM4 earbuds firmware, ver... moreHow to do that? Plz comment

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • 0CV
      • 28 Feb 2023

      I just got an update to my WF-1000XM4 earbuds firmware, version 2.0, that enables the possibility to turn on Multipoint pairing, ie. to connect to 2 Bluetooth devices simultaneously.
      This has been one of the "cons" of may reviewers of these earbuds for many reviewers, although never has been an issue for me.

        If they did not have "Sony" written on them, I'd think they were one of those weird generic earbuds that I can't trust.

          Actually I demoed wf-1000xm4 definitely the best quality truely wireless earphones, shame it's too expensive, as I have a dedicated dap and iems, I won't buy it until the price goes down, maybe next year when the Model is released

            • M
            • Mkss
            • Dkq
            • 23 Jun 2021

            Well good article

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • cUx
              • 18 Jun 2021

              Should have read this review before buying. These things are definitely too big for my ears and cause pain rather quickly

                Just got my XM4. So far so good. Choose them in "silver" and didn't regret at all. The fit is nice and the comply-like foam is nice but I wonder about longevity. I miss the edge tap feature from Buds+ and Buds Pro. The ANC seems better on XM4 but I'll see in a few days. The sound is from scratch not better, but when manually adjusted in the EQ it's way better.

                  • J
                  • JAM
                  • Hxe
                  • 13 Jun 2021

                  apt x is far lesser in speed and quality than ldac
                  all android smartphones support ldac in developer mode
                  so there is no need of apt x hd

                    theStick, 10 Jun 2021And no AptX adaptive either. Double sad, but regardless, lo... moreAptX isn't such a loss I think, specially with LDAC available widely on Android now :)

                      Aa, 09 Jun 2021And again no multipoint? Sad.Yeah, kinda pissed about this, specially after WH XM4 that got (FINALLY!) them!

                      Hope they sound good though. Delivery tomorrow :D

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • 6wN
                        • 10 Jun 2021

                        Anonymous, 10 Jun 2021You don't have to because earphones and headphones (th... moreVery true. Just use it carefully. And don't drop it.

                          • A
                          • Anonymous
                          • Kik
                          • 10 Jun 2021

                          Shubh, 10 Jun 2021I have tha M3 earbuds. Is it worth upgrading it to m4 earbuds??? You don't have to because earphones and headphones (the wired one at least) have a longer life-cycle compared to other electronics like phone or PC. A 10 years old headphones can still work just fine and sounds good depending on how you treat it.

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • B{6
                            • 10 Jun 2021

                            Javier, 09 Jun 2021I have a pair of Xiaomi Redmi AirDots, certainly not perfec... moreNot really; some people want better sound quality, I'm one of them for me listening to music in low quality is pure suffering. Their is a difference just that some notice it more than others. If your listening to music in lower quality cheaper earbuds are the way to go

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • xI7
                              • 10 Jun 2021

                              Javier, 09 Jun 2021I have a pair of Xiaomi Redmi AirDots, certainly not perfec... moreI don't have airdots as well but you absolutely can't compare them with higher quality earpods.

                                • S
                                • Shubh
                                • TSL
                                • 10 Jun 2021

                                I have tha M3 earbuds. Is it worth upgrading it to m4 earbuds???

                                  • H
                                  • Hildr
                                  • pnK
                                  • 10 Jun 2021

                                  Markuss, 10 Jun 2021audiophile is laughing at this so-called wireless buds.If you think audiophile only listen to music when at home in a soundproof calibrated room, well I can assure you they are like normal people and go out sometimes and appreciate listening to music in a crowded space under the heat of summer where over-ear headphone are just hell or just need a discrete solution.
                                  So if after trying them with your "audiophile skills" your find they have a bad audio rendering, please provide the reference of another pair of wireless bud (to fit the use they aim for) you tested that does better, we would gladly be interested.

                                  If you just tried to be a troll, please at least try to be a good one and do a sentence that make sense: they ARE wireless bud by definition (you know, buds that are not connected via a cable to the audio source), so it's not "so-called".

                                    • B
                                    • B T
                                    • YPc
                                    • 10 Jun 2021

                                    I can see you ear wax in one of the earbuds

                                      • 7
                                      • 786
                                      • mHu
                                      • 10 Jun 2021

                                      SuuperBaka, 09 Jun 2021They didn't advertise properly. There were a lot of ma... moreTrue

                                        • t
                                        • theStick
                                        • b5F
                                        • 10 Jun 2021

                                        Aa, 09 Jun 2021And again no multipoint? Sad.And no AptX adaptive either. Double sad, but regardless, looking forward to testing them myself