Sony WF-1000XM4 review

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

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • d%w
  • 09 Jun 2021

Sony enjoy your glory while you can until the upcoming Chinese giants going to catch up with you.

    Anonymous, 09 Jun 2021LinusTech and the Verge posted their reviews of the XM4 on ... moreJust a guess. But it seems the stuttering might be caused by the LDAC codec.
    The SoundGuys also has some complain anout the consistency of LDAC.
    From my personal experience, I also experience stuttering with my WH-XB900N during phone call.

      Anonymous, 09 Jun 2021Bowers & Wilkins PI5 or Sony WF-1000MX4? Wich one would... moreSony for sure.
      Even when compared to Bowers & Wilkins PI7, it will probably be still Sony.

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • Skp
        • 09 Jun 2021

        Bowers & Wilkins PI5 or Sony WF-1000MX4? Wich one would you choose?

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • Kxu
          • 09 Jun 2021

          LinusTech and the Verge posted their reviews of the XM4 on youtube. Check them out, they're somehow complementary.
          Linus points out the XM4 are not as comfortable as the AirpodsPro while Verge also talks about the call quality, which is average, and some occasional sound shuttering while using high quality/ldac settings, which is a bummer since that's the point of buying flagship TWS. I expected them to fully address the call quality and sound shuttering issues they had with the XM3, but it's more like an incremental upgrade in that regards.

          There's clear improvements in sound quality and ANC though. Apparently, these are the best TWS in that regards.
          Maybe it's a good idea to buy them with a discount.

            r31ya, 09 Jun 2021Switch data is a bit unique due to its came in the middle o... moreswitch is not really direct competitor to Ps5 or Xbox series (released in 2020) as it was released in 2017 after failure of wii u, it should be regarded as indirect competitor to ps4 and xbox one and people wasn't happy with draconian nintendo during wii u and lesser extent 3ds, with wii u not released in many asian countries as well as region locking, even bad pricing strategy made wii u selling worse than ps vita, 3ds is just as bad, region locking and only 55 games released in Hong Kong version, at least nintendo switch learnt from being anti consumer and redeemed themselves a bit during switch era with world wide release and no region coding, but still far away with no cross generation game system, unlike xbox and playstation, basically buy ps4 game get ps5 game free, there is nothing like that on nintendo, also nintendo online and snes games is signifiicantly inferior to xbox game with gold or playstation plus

              r31ya, 09 Jun 2021It need proper name other than the product code. Sony Xper... morethat's sony for you

              the naming convention is better than others, xbox, xbox 360, xbox one, xbox series, how about iphone 7, 8, X, Xs, 12,

              sony walkman, it's nw-zx1, zx100, zx300, zx500, but for super flagship, it's nw-zx2, then nw-wm1

              playstation is interesting, playstation 2, that's schp-1000, schp-3000, schp-5000, then ps2 slim, it's schp-7000 and finally schp-9000, but also need to consider the japanese only PSX which is ps2 with dvr, DESR-5000 and DESR7000 as it was release same time as ps2 fat SCHP5000 and ps2 slim schp 7000

                • r
                • r31ya
                • Kik
                • 09 Jun 2021

                Anonymous, 09 Jun 2021Does being easier to percieve/understand with pretty graphi... moreSwitch data is a bit unique due to its came in the middle of ps4 lifecycle.
                NSwitch have great packaging that combine home console with portable console (also successor of NDS which outsold even PS4) with addition of great software from Nintendo and sold in basically blue ocean without much of direct contender.

                NSwitch currently outsold both PS5 and Xbox1x combined sales.
                ---

                In a way Nswitch prove that softwares and flexibility matters more than sheer graphics.

                I wanna say Xbox is gaining grounds on PS5 since the "media" have been clamoring on Xbox superiority but as i double check the number it seems the overall sales share haven't change much between Xbox and Playstation.

                  • A
                  • Anonymous
                  • XMV
                  • 09 Jun 2021

                  r31ya, 09 Jun 2021Samsung is better at "packaging" their product in... moreDoes being easier to percieve/understand with pretty graphic translated directly to having a higher sales? Because PS5 is still outsell XboxSX globally, and in japan Switch outsell PS4 by twice the number despite being released 3 years after the others.

                    • j
                    • javaforlife
                    • jZH
                    • 09 Jun 2021

                    r31ya, 09 Jun 2021It need proper name other than the product code. Sony Xper... moreit might seem hard to memorize or read from a paper, but it's really just "WF one thousand X", then "mark 2, mark 3, mark4" right after...

                      GregLu, 08 Jun 2021Nope, in SBC mode there is a low latency. But surely not as... moreSBC is usually around 300 ms - in real devices.
                      I know there are like "double" SBC standards, but headphones use them.
                      Unless you are using AptX LL (40ms) or AptX adaptive (80ms) you are dealing with massive latency.

                        Apple: cutting jack&cable, Sony: adding dsee&ldac. While others came with small improvements over Sony's wf xm3's, Sony upgrade all from stock tips to anc. Great to see it's not wh xm4 kind of upgrade, but there is almost no competitor for those unlike in tws space. Me:buying.

                          Anonymous, 09 Jun 2021This has nothing to do with lack of promotions, but everyth... moreLack of promotion is also what leads to a failure of capturing the audience. Sony barely marketed their Xperia until recently. I've never seen an ad while they were in my country before they left. Their phones are solid and even though they don't sell here anymore I still use them. I've had Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Xiaomi, Sony, Nokia (Lumia), and I still like Sony's phones.

                          A problem I have is their pricing of the phones, but I honestly don't mind since I keep my phone for a while. My Xperia 1 would is probably gonna last me a good bit as well.

                            • r
                            • r31ya
                            • Kik
                            • 09 Jun 2021

                            imparanoic, 09 Jun 20211000x = 1st gen 1000xm2 = 2nd gen 1000xm3 = 3rd gen 1000... moreIt need proper name other than the product code.
                            Sony Xperia Buds XM4 should be easier to remember than Sony WF-1000XM4 or Sony WH-1000XM4.

                            I mean their biggest product do have proper name, Sony PlayStation 4 or Sony PlayStation 5. it was not sold as Sony CUH-2000 which btw its code for PS4 slim

                              • r
                              • r31ya
                              • Kik
                              • 09 Jun 2021

                              Anonymous, 09 Jun 2021There is a reason why Samsung is no. 1 in world while Sony ... moreSamsung is better at "packaging" their product in a manner that their customer would love.

                              Sony, like most of japan is too focused on the fundamental and sometimes lose sight on what the customer perceived wants. It ended making a good product parts (sensors and the like) but subpar overall product as Sony unable to satisfy the customer wants.

                              The same with Xbox and PS5. Xbox will have prettier graphics that customer love but PS5 will give game dev greater freedom on game design.
                              In the end of the day, customer will veer to easier to percieve/understand prettier graphics.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • M0x
                                • 09 Jun 2021

                                r31ya, 09 Jun 2021Sony price is sustainable for their supply line network but... moreThere is a reason why Samsung is no. 1 in world while Sony is irrelevant today.
                                Samsung actually listens to their customers

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • M0x
                                  • 09 Jun 2021

                                  SuuperBaka, 09 Jun 2021That has nothing to do with the actual smartphone itself, i... moreThis has nothing to do with lack of promotions, but everything to do with failure to capture the audience..
                                  Audience is captured by making breakthrough devices that satisfies the needs of all. Sony utterly fails in that department. Clearly people switched to other brands as they were simply better.

                                    • r
                                    • r31ya
                                    • Kik
                                    • 09 Jun 2021

                                    Sony price is sustainable for their supply line network but at cost of market share which is a bit unwise design.
                                    Sony need to adjust their supply line network and learn from Samsung who manage to gain footing even against Xiaomi in product pricing.
                                    Some of samsung product now have better value even compared to some Vivo product and Oppo products.

                                      • M
                                      • Malhaar
                                      • PAc
                                      • 09 Jun 2021

                                      I am looking for the best earphone in terms of quality. Sony, without doubt, will be the best quality, however things you have mentioned i.e. if it doesn't fit properly, I can easily return. Thanks for that. I don't think, they will fit correctly. Traditional shape ear buds always works for me. The current one is already worn off, I am thinking to get Huawei Ear Buds 4, the same traditional shape. What do you guys think of it?

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • 7X9
                                        • 09 Jun 2021

                                        I have the XM3s and those are absolutely among the stellar ones. How much more these?

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