Sony beats most competitors on true wireless. Everything is set up to love the WF-1000MX, but my ears definitely say no, writes Ny Teknik’s Simon Campanello.
Sony has clearly parked itself as a kind of yardstick for wireless, noise-reducing headphones. They deliver stylish, well-sounding and well-functioning lures at a high but not unreasonable price.
On the true wireless front, the WF-1000XM3 (oh my god Sony, who names your stuff !?) became a favorite for those who wanted to pay a little more to get a little better sound. Two years later, the sequel has landed on our desk and it is again recognized as a model that can go a long way – if you have the right ears.
Design
Sony’s true wireless headphones are still significantly larger than many of the competitors, and compared to its predecessor, the WF-1000XM4 has become much noisier. They are most reminiscent of a pair of Galaxy Buds that ate up before the winter.
Laddetuit is also quite clumsy, nothing I wear in my jeans pocket voluntarily. It has become smaller than its predecessor but is too thick and too angular, so far from a painful little Airpods case you can get.
However, the whole package feels very luxurious. The clicking sounds when the case is folded up and when the headphones snap into place are deeply satisfying, and the matte black headphones with small brass-colored details ooze premium.
Photo: Sony
Fit
Okay, here come the problems.
The headphones come with earbuds in a foam material that will help block out ambient noise. They are all in fairly large sizes, I usually use the largest model for other headphones. Here I have to weigh between the smallest and the middle.
Using Sony’s headphone app (more on that soon), I run a couple of tests to find the right size. But the headphones still do not fit properly. First they want to slip out, then they end up almost frighteningly far into the ear canals. The bumpy edge rubs against the sides of the ear.
Day one, I prefer to just stop using them. I experiment with how I put the plugs in, try to angle them again and again. It is important to make them sit so that it does not leak (because then the noise reduction will be less effective and the sound worse) and so that they do not chafe. In the end, I usually find the right one, but even after a week with the headphones in my pocket, it usually happens that they end up crooked, or that my ears start to ache after I wear them for a while. Then I just want to pull them out and throw them away.
When I search for the problem online, there seem to be very divided opinions about the comfort of the WF-1000XM4. However, given the sky-high ratings, most people seem satisfied. I can only state that my ears are probably not the right ones, and that I am not completely alone in feeling that I can not wear the headphones unhindered for long periods of time. It’s a shame, because there’s a lot more to rejoice about at Sony’s wireless flagship.
Sound
Something that makes me really want to stand out for a few more minutes with a pair of ill-fitting headphones in my ears is the sound. Of course. After all, that’s what Sony is adding to the segment.
The WF-1000XM4 is clearly the most well-sounding true wireless headphones I’ve tested. The sound is rich and delivers regardless of genre.
Via the delivery app, you can also choose to increase the sound quality in the transfer from the mobile to the headphones. This should be at the expense of stability in the Bluetooth connection, but honestly I do not notice any difference, the connection is and remains stable.
The headphones also support Sony’s format for 360 degree sound, something that some streaming services offer on parts of their range. It’s a pretty cool experience, even if it’s not really in class with the same function of the over-ear headphones WH-1000MX4.
On the microphone side, the sound is simply okay. Sony uses both microphones and leg conduction to pick up call sounds, which is usually a good combination. But I very often hear from the other party in conversations that my sound is very low.
Photo: Sony
Noise reduction
Here, Sony is actually a little amazing. I think that the quality of noise reduction on true wireless headphones in a short time has been significantly increased in general, but the WF-1000MX4 can really shut down disturbing sounds outside impressively well.
The headphones have a new chip, V1, which will provide better noise reduction and lower power consumption. As I said, I have a problem with the headphones sometimes ending up wrong in the ears, but as long as they are in the right place, it will be really calm around me. Both in a street environment and when music is bombed in the gym, I can listen to a podcast in peace and quiet without being disturbed by the surroundings.
Software
Sony’s included headphone app is a bit messy at first glance, but it offers plenty of options for those who want to adjust the settings on the headphones. You can, among other things, change the sound quality, set the equalizer and change the function of the touch panels on the outside of the headphones.
Here you have, among other things, the opportunity to turn on dynamic noise reduction that adapts to the environment. After a few days of use, it also learns to recognize places you visit often and allows you to save settings for them.
Unfortunately, I find that the dynamic noise reduction sometimes reacts a little too slowly and a little too strangely. The fact that it also indicates with a loud pinging sound that it changes setting does not add anything other than irritation.
Another small software feature is a voice detector that recognizes when you start talking and then automatically pauses the music and turns on listening so you can have a short conversation. When the conversation is over, the music switches on after a short pause. In fact, it usually works quite well.
Opinion
I want to love WF-1000XM4, even though I hate having to write the awkward name so many times in this text. And even though they sit so badly in my ears.
Maybe they fit your ears better? In that case, there are a couple of cannonballs you have within reach.
They are slightly more expensive than most competitors, but in return you get bombastic sound, phenomenal noise reduction and impressive battery life. Up to eight hours of playing time, and two full charges in the case provide a total of up to 24 hours of playing time. It’s almost worth the pain.
–
