The Sony WH1000xm4 Thread!

[Deleted member 209350]

It looks like the successor to the amazing Sony WH1000xm3's are right around the corner!

https://fccid.io/AK8WH1000XM4

Sony have filed with the FCC, which judging by their pattern in some of their previous models these should be out within 3-4 months!

I personally held off on getting the xm3's despite all the reviews saying they were the best in class, just so I could wait for the xm4's.

What features do you want to see included with these?
Anyone planning on getting a pair?
Anyone own the xm3's who have thoughts on any improvements that could be made?

I would like to see bluetooth 5 and multiple device connectivity added for sure - anything added or improved on top of that is just a massive bonus

 

[Deleted member 209350]

need more midrange emphasis, more refined and tight bass they really need to move away from the typical Sony house sound and into a more in your face sound, less sweaty earpads would help. Need multiple device connectivity. MUST LET PEOPLE BUY REPLACEMENT EAR PADS AND BE USER REPLACEABLE SONY. Charging £150 to replace the ear pads is NOT acceptable sony.

the ANC was nothing to rave about, the reviews made it sound like almost total silence, its not. It helps but nothing like day or night.

Weren't they better than every other competitor though? Im not an expert but from what I gathered they were superior to the bose and sennheiser's and they were generally considered best in class up until recently

 

[Deleted member 209350]

This, and user replaceable batteries are the inky things I'd want to change with them. Other than that I'm really happy with my XM3s.

Replaceable batteries seem like it could cause quite the hassle, instead they could improve on the fast charging a bit more and increase battery size so they last longer. They already have USBC so faster charging shouldnt be too much of an issue

 

[Deleted member 209350]

They are. I tried Bose and others in a shop with a door open to Oxford Street and a busy noisy store, the Sonys were so much better it was night and day.

My only improvement would be multiple connections. If they could be less sweaty without compromising on ANC that would be good but that may not be feasible.

I've always found how fast they charge and hownlong they last very good.

A part of me wished I bought the XM3's, but im glad the 4's look to be coming out soon!

Worst case scenario if the 4's dont live upto the hype, i can get the 3's for a cheaper price and they'll be fantastic!

Like you said, if Sony just make some small improvements here and there like multiple connections and comfier padding, they will be fantastic

 

[Deleted member 209350]

I found the sweating / comfy thing an issue when I first wore them. Once you break them in, they are fine.

Fair enough! I had only really tested them out once, but I do have to admit when it comes to comfort I think the Bose are still class leading. I havent tried the 700's, but if they're anything lik the QC 35 II's, then just wow

 

[Deleted member 209350]

if you mean noise cancelling ones yeah they are. The beyyern amirons sound much better, specially if you change the pads and bend the frame for more
tight fit. Unfortunately because I have become accustomed to hearing more upend headphones its hard to downgrade, so I expected a little more.
the problem may be Bluetooth protocols than the physical capability of the headphones. Having said that amirons are Bluetooth but much better audio quality.

Ive never heard of this brand before, will need to try give them a listen somewhere

 

[Deleted member 209350]

Ill be looking to upgrade my xm2s in the new year, itll be between the xm4 and Nuraphones.

Anxiously waiting for a review or any crumb of information on its design, features and release

 

[Deleted member 209350]

The BOSE 700's arent even close to the QC 35's. BOSE screwed up, the comfort was one of the main selling points and they threw it out the door.

A friend of mine has QC35's and waited for the 700's to buy another pair. After trying them, he just bought another pair of QC35's

Strange, I did see some things saying how the QC 35's were more comfortable than the 700's and I was quite baffled. The comfort was one of the main reasons I like the 35's.

 

[Deleted member 209350]

Hoping for it to be announced at CES!

Maybe a release date at some point in Feb/March if it is announced

 

[Deleted member 209350]

I've been monitoring google and twitter for any announcement
Obviously CES announcement is possible, to that end, this Sony Media day would probably be the event to keep an eye on:
https://www.ces.tech/event/630215.aspx

You can watch the event live here on Jan 6:
https://www.sony.com/electronics/ces

They do tend to usually show the product soon after its confirmed on the FCC, so the timing could be perfect for CES.

Hope Sony show a lot on the xm4's and not just ps5 hype

 

[Deleted member 209350]

https://www.pickr.com.au/news/2020/sony-launches-new-tvs-at-ces-but-no-wh-1000xm4/

Yeah I was massively disappointed by this... No idea why they wouldnt want to show it when its already listed on FCC?

All we know is that its coming at some point, but who knows when

 

[Deleted member 209350]

Some leaks for the upcoming wh1000xm4's!
Not sure how true these are but it shows good signs if true (in some points anyway)

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/6/21167586/sony-wh1000xm4-photos-long-battery

General breakdown of the leaks:

1) bluetooth 5.0 instead of 4.2
2) Better battery life
3) lower power consumption
4) design almost identical
5) voice assistant

I do hope they add multidevice connectivity as thats definitely the most important thing for me. Also a bonus if they improve the mic quality.

 

[Deleted member 209350]

I hope Sony drops their typical house sound and adds a more forward sounding signature, or use a driver that responds well to manual adjustments via software. XM3 responds well in the lower frequencies but not very well over the mids. The highs are crisp and the bass overall was good but they need to tighten it up, it was too sloppy.

Those adjustment would make the XM4 amazing, first company that can do Amiron wireless sound with more BASS will get my money.

I never used the XM3's (as I was waiting for the xm4's...) but I heard they were pretty much best in class when it came to audio quality!

I don't expect sony to go backwards, so can only assume the quality will improve, or worst case scenario stays the same.. Just need a release date now as I have been waiting for these for ages now

 

[Deleted member 209350]

Best in class in terms of ANC yes.

Sound quality then no. They sound good but not great.

If you want great sounding headphones then they have to be open but that makes for a terrible idea for portable headphones.

So they might be best in class in terms of portable and ANC however i think Audeze have just made something along those lines and it would smash it in terms of sound quality probably not in ANC terms though.

Ah yeah that makes sense. But I heard that even among other ANC headphone competitors like the Bose for example, that they are still the best.

For the price point purely based on sound where nothing else matters, then im sure there are definitely better options

 

[Deleted member 209350]

If you have an XM3, its not worth upgrading to these. Might not be worth upgrading even if you have an XM2, but I have no wireless overhead headphones so Im almost definitely getting a pair of these.

Im just going to wait until they are on sale and also curious to see what the Apple overhead headphones are like (they won't be anywhere near as good sound quality wise but their airpods pro are actually really good)