Sony WF-1000XM4

Design and features:

This Bluetooth wireless noise canceling portable ear-insert model provides excellent sound and excellent active noise reduction. Its ear plug-like design and electronic noise canceling feature reduce both outside noise and sound leaking out into your environment. The headphones work with or without the noise canceling feature being turned on. You can use the noise-canceling feature without listening to music The earphones The WF-1000XM4 has a volume control plus an integrated microphone and player function controls. Additional features include - Carrying case/charging cradle has built-in rechargeable battery that the manufacture claims can be used to add an additional 16 hours of play time for a total of 24 hrs. Supports Qi wireless charging. Manufacturer claims water resistance (IPX4). Free 3 month trial access code to HiFi music service (choice of Deezer, Tidal, or nugs.net). ANC and Ambient sound touch control on left ear bud toggles between noise cancellation on/off and ambient sound on/off. Free Sony Headphones Connect app download for Apple and Android mobile devices has adaptive sound control function to automatically switch between noise canceling and ambient sound monitoring based on the user's location and activity. Also has function to adjust the level of ambient sound that is heard when the monitor function is used and that can allow the monitor function to focus only on the voice tonal region. Has Speak-to-Chat feature that automatically pauses the music as soon as you speak, and lets in ambient sound so you can conduct a conversation. This feature can be turned on/off using the Sony headphone connect app. Has touch controls for play/pause/skip forward and backward, and digital voice assistant activation. Has power on/off alert tone and voice announcements, Bluetooth connect/disconnect/battery level/Ambient sound and Noise Cancelling mode voice announcements. Supports Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant voice commands when used with mobile devices that have those features. Has quick charge feature: 5 min of earphone charging will provide 1 hr. of playtime. Earbuds are compatible with Sony's 360 Reality Audio virtual surround sound on several streaming services (Deezer, Tidal, Nugs.net). Bluetooth connected Apple mobile devices using iOS Version 5 and above will show the battery level. Free Sony Headphones Connect app download for Apple and Android mobile devices can act as a audio program player and can provide tonal balance presets and equalization, optimize the Sony 360 Reality Audio feature, disable the automatic pause and shut-off functions, change the touch control functions (default functions are music player control (play/pause/skip forward and back), call connect/disconnect, and NC/Monitor/NC off), disable the voice announcements, and update the earphone's firmware. App has earbud test feature that measures the air-tightness of the earbud tips and determines whether or not the headphones are correctly worn on your ears. Supports Google Fast Pair for Android devices and Swift Pair for Windows 10 computers. This model comes with 3 pairs of ear pieces in various sizes, USB-C connector charging cable, charging cradle/recharger battery/carrying case, Reference Guide, Operating instructions, Warranty Booklet.

Sound quality:

We found the WF-1000XM4 delivers sound quality that falls in the excellent range - while no headphone is perfect, the shortcomings of this model are minor and excellent active noise reduction. With the noise cancelling mode engaged and the Sony Headphones Connect app set with the Equalizer off and clear bass set to 0 (as received state of the earphone) the bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes deep, but is a bit prominent and boomy. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is even, but a bit hazy and a touch grainy. The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended, but is a touch sizzly. The sound also has a good sense of liveliness and is open--sound-wise it seems like you don't have anything plugging up your ears and does a good job of recovering room ambience. Warmish character. The overall sound can best be summarized as a bit bassy and hazy. The noise cancelling electronics do not produce any background noise that is noticeable even in low ambient noise environments. The Sony Headphones Connect app eq controls had a noticeable effect on the sound.

Comfort and Fit:
As typical of in-ear models they produce a sense of pressure in the ear canal opening might be uncomfortable for some. Users with small earbowls might find that the earphone body feels a bit bulky in their earbowl and that they stick out too far and feel like they may lever out of place and are mostly held in place by the section of the earphone that is inserted in the ear canal; they don't feel particularly stable and they may, or may not be stable enough to stay in place during casual use. Users with medium sized ear bowls might find that the earphone body feels a bit bulky in their earbowl and that they stick out too far and feel like they may lever out of place and are mostly held in place by the section of the earphone that is inserted in the ear canal, although they don't feel particularly stable they are stable enough to stay in place during casual use. Incidental contact with the touch controls can cause unintentional volume level changes, playing, pausing, or ambient sound monitoring.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 portable Bluetooth wireless noise canceling earphones have a isolating ear-insert design. These iPod/cellphone-centric earphones can be used with the noise canceling feature turned on or off, and are intended for use with iPods, iPads, some other cell phones, as well as standard audio devices. The earphones have an inline microphone and inline remote with and integrated volume, music player function, and call connect/disconnect controls. Additional features include a carrying case/charging cradle has built-in rechargeable battery that the manufacture claims can be used to add an additional 16 hours of play time for a total of 24 hrs. Supports Qi wireless charging. Manufacturer claims water resistance (IPX4). Free 3 month trial access code to HiFi music service (choice of deezer, tidal, or nugs.net). ANC and ambient sound touch control on left ear bud toggles between noise cancellation on/off and ambient sound on/off. Free sony headphones connect app download for apple and android mobile devices has adaptive sound control function to automatically switch between noise canceling and ambient sound monitoring based on the user's location and activity. Also has function to adjust the level of ambient sound that is heard when the monitor function is used and that can allow the monitor function to focus only on the voice tonal region. Has speak-to-chat feature that automatically pauses the music as soon as you speak, and lets in ambient sound so you can conduct a conversation. This feature can be turned on/off using the sony headphone connect app. Has touch controls for play/pause/skip forward and backward, and digital voice assistant activation. Has power on/off alert tone and voice announcements, Bluetooth connect/disconnect/battery level/ambient sound and noise cancelling mode voice announcements. Supports amazon Alexa, and google assistant voice commands when used with mobile devices that have those features. Has quick charge feature: 5 min of earphone charging will provide 1 hr. of playtime. Earbuds are compatible with Sony's 360 reality audio virtual surround sound on several streaming services (Deezer, Tidal, nugs.net). Bluetooth connected apple mobile devices using iOS version 5 and above will show the battery level. Free sony headphones connect app download for apple and android mobile devices can act as a audio program player and can provide tonal balance presets and equalization, optimize the sony 360 reality audio feature, disable the automatic pause and shut-off functions, change the touch control functions (default functions are music player control (play/pause/skip forward and back), call connect/disconnect, and nc/monitor/nc off), disable the voice announcements, and update the earphone's firmware. App has earbud test feature that measures the air-tightness of the earbud tips and determines whether or not the headphones are correctly worn on your ears. Supports google fast pair for android devices and swift pair for windows 10 computers. The WF-1000XM4 comes with 3 pairs of ear pieces in various sizes, USB-C connector charging cable, charging cradle/recharger battery/carrying case, Reference Guide, Operating instructions, Warranty Booklet. and is covered by a 12-month parts/12-month labor warranty.