Sony WH-1000XM4 Revisited: Is It Still the King?

It Defined a Generation. But Years Later, Is It Still a Masterpiece or a Mainstream Relic?

1. Introduction: The Headphone That Became the Benchmark

Let's be honest, the name is still a mouthful. But when the Sony WH-1000XM4 launched, it didn't need a catchy name. It was the successor to the WH-1000XM3, a pair of headphones already considered "fantastic". Sony's mission wasn't revolution; it was perfection. The goal was to take something "great" and make it "even better".

And at launch, the consensus was that they’d pulled it off. Sony "further improved its already stellar headphones," with a bunch of "small changes" that combined to "make a big difference".

That was then. This is now.

Years later, the WH-1000XM4 is no longer the flagship. It’s been succeeded by the XM5. Its identity has fundamentally changed. It's no longer the premium, cutting-edge new kid. It's the "bargain". It has become the "number one choice for those who cannot stretch their budget" and, as of today, arguably holds the crown as the "best value" in wireless audio.

This review tackles the great WH-1000XM4 paradox. This is a headphone that is, simultaneously, a "consumer-grade" product with a "highly flawed" passive sound profile and a high-fidelity-capable toolkit that, with user intervention, becomes a "more interesting proposition".

Does it still deserve its legendary status, or is its reputation built on a "cone of silence" that masks a (sonically) average core? Is its performance based on its Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) creating a "better 'picture of the music'" rather than true sonic fidelity?

Let's dig in.

2. The Familiar Form: Build, Comfort, and the Lost Art of Portability

If you've seen the XM3, you've pretty much seen the XM4. Sony's design philosophy here was iterative. The most notable change was moving from the slick, fingerprint-hungry plastic of the XM3 to a "tactile matte coating". This one small tweak made the headphones feel "a bit more premium".

It’s an understated, "sleek and stylish" look. But the real story is the build and comfort. These things are "extremely light-weight"—just 251g.

That light weight is the secret to their legendary, all-day comfort. The pads are "extremely cushiony" and "plush". Reviewers and users alike confirm you can wear these for "hours on end". One test clocked "around eight hours... still not at the point of being uncomfortable".

A quick nod to glasses wearers: you're good to go. The XM4 is frequently cited as one of the best high-end options for those with glasses, offering "no discomfort" and, crucially, maintaining a good "seal" for the ANC.

But let's be objective. There is one exception. Those "cushiony" earcups are "not very big". If you have larger ears, you may find they "scrunch" them up a bit. This isn't a deal-breaker, but as one reviewer noted, it can be "somewhat bothersome" on very long sessions.

Finally, the XM4's killer design feature, and one that makes it unique in 2024. It folds up. The hinges allow it to "ball up" into a compact shape for its hard case. Why is this a killer feature? Because Sony removed it in the "upgraded" WH-1000XM5.

Big mistake.

This makes the older XM4 objectively the superior headphone for "portability" and "travel". The XM4's design represents the peak of "function-over-form" practicality that Sony has, for now, abandoned.

3. The Cone of Silence: Deconstructing the ANC Legend

This is the XM4's crown jewel. The feature that made it the "reigning king in noise-cancellation technology".

The tech is formidable. The dedicated HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1, paired with a new Bluetooth SoC and an advanced algorithm, analyzes "outside noise over 700 times per second".

So, what does that actually do?

It destroys low-frequency, constant noise. We're talking about the "rumble of a train", "airplane hum", and "office HVAC". For commuters and "jet-setters", it is a genuine game-changer. Gone.

But... let's manage expectations. This is not a magic bubble.

The ANC is "not as effective for higher frequencies, such as human voices". That's not a critic's opinion; that's from Sony's own help guide. This is echoed in countless user reports: "mine seem to be failing at cancelling my neighbors' voices". "I can still hear people talk, kids scream, birds chirp".

These headphones will not silence a screaming baby or a chatty co-worker. No ANC headphones truly can.

So, what's the point for an audiophile? It's not about achieving total silence. It's about improving the listening environment. The "exceptional" performance of the ANC is its ability to "eliminate the noise floor". By killing that low-frequency rumble, the ANC gives you a "better sense of clarity" and a "better 'picture of the music'". It allows the music's detail to come through, even if the headphone itself isn't a detail-retrieval monster. That's the real win.

4. The Sonic Signature: A Tale of Three (Vastly) Different Headphones

Okay, let's talk sound. This is the most critical, and most misunderstood, part of the WH-1000XM4. We need to be specific, because the XM4 isn't one headphone. It's three distinct sonic profiles.

Profile 1: The Out-of-the-Box "Consumer" Sound (Active, ANC On)

This is the "fun" sound. The one you hear in a big-box store. Out of the box, the XM4 is a "consumer-grade" headphone with a distinct "V-shaped" signature.

And it's all about the bass.

While some mainstream reviews call it "tight, punchy", the audiophile consensus is... different. More critical analysis and measurements describe the bass as "boomy," "overbearing", "muddy", and "massive".

The quantity isn't even the real problem. It's the quality. The bass "bleeds" into the lower-mids, resulting in a "compressed and congested sound". It's a sound profile that "can't match an audiophile headphone when it comes to detail and technicalities".

Profile 2: The "Broken" Passive Mode (Wired, Power Off)

So, you think you'll just bypass the "consumer" tuning by plugging it into your high-end amp?

Don't.

In passive mode (wired, with the power off), the WH-1000XM4 is "highly flawed". It is "simply is not listenable".

The measurements are damning. Audio Science Review found a "whopping 24 dB deviation" from a neutral target, with a "large dip between 2 and 3 kHz". It is a "deeply colored," broken sound.

This mode is for when your battery is dead and you have no other choice. Period.

Profile 3: The "Redemption" (The Sony App EQ)

Here's the good news. This is the only reason the XM4 is a serious contender for audiophiles. The default sound is "suspect", but it is fixable. The 40mm driver is capable; it's the software that's holding it back.

The Sony "Headphones Connect" app isn't an add-on. It's a mandatory component.

With "a few minutes with the custom EQ", you can transform this headphone. You have to "EQ the heck of out them"—specifically, "ton[ing] down the bass and push[ing] up the mids".

This fix "reduces the boomy and overbearing bass issues" and brings "more definition" to the entire presentation. This EQ'd, user-corrected profile is the "more interesting proposition" that makes the XM4 a viable, and even compelling, listen.

5. The "Smart" Experience: Gimmicks, Gotchas, and One Fatal Flaw

The XM4 is loaded with "smart" features. The single biggest upgrade from the XM3 was the addition of Bluetooth multipoint. Finally, you could connect to your laptop and phone at the same time. It's "super convenient" and a workflow necessity. When it works. Its "first-gen" implementation can be "incredibly slow", sometimes taking 8-10 seconds to switch.

Then there's "Speak-to-Chat." A cool demo, to be sure. The headphone's mics detect your voice, pause your music, and pipe in ambient sound. In reality, it's a "con". It's a "double-edged sword" that's "almost too effective". Cough, and your music stops. Sneeze, and your music stops.

Worst of all, sing along to your music, and your music stops. You'll turn it off.

Now, for the audiophile "gotcha." The fatal flaw.

The WH-1000XM4 markets two huge features for enthusiasts: LDAC for high-resolution audio and Multipoint for convenience.

Guess what?

You cannot use them at the same time.

The moment you enable the "Connect to 2 devices simultaneously" feature, the headphone forces the codec down to the lower-quality AAC or SBC. This is a massive hardware-level compromise, likely due to Bluetooth bandwidth limitations, that was not widely advertised.

It forces you into a binary, frustrating choice: Audio Quality or Convenience. You cannot have both. (Note: This was fixed in the subsequent WH-1000XM5).

6. The Workhorse Report: Dissecting Battery Life and Call Quality

Sony claims 30 hours of battery life.

That's... not quite right.

Standardized, independent tests (running at a constant 75dB with ANC on) paint a very different picture: 19 hours and 59 minutes. This is backed by user complaints of "atrociously low" battery life, averaging "20-22h".

But let's be real. 20 hours of ANC-on playback is still more than enough for almost any scenario. The real killer feature here, the one that truly matters, is the Quick Charge.

A 10-minute charge gives you five hours of playback. That's the feature that saves you at the airport.

Now, the microphone. Sony claimed "improved" voice calling over the XM3. And it is... "OK". For a quick "I'll call you back," it's fine.

But for a "Work From Home" life? No.

For professional use, the mic is a "huge let down" and "terrible". Many users report it as a "deal breaker". It is not a video conferencing headset. It's not in the same league as the Bose 700 and is "handily" beaten by its successor, the XM5.

This is a music headphone, not a business one.

7. Scorecard & Final Verdict: The King's Legacy

The WH-1000XM4 is a legend. But its legacy is built on a foundation of intelligent compromises. Its reputation comes from the strength of its technology (ANC, App) rather than its sonic purity.

The table below breaks down the reality for an audiophile.

Sony WH-1000XM4: The Audiophile's Report Card

The Final Recommendation

So, who is this headphone for in 2024?

It is for the Commuter and Traveler. This is its ideal user. The combination of a folding design, world-class low-frequency ANC, and a life-saving quick-charge remains an unbeatable package for life on the move.

It is for the "Value-Conscious" Audiophile. This is the person who understands the default sound is flawed but is willing to spend five minutes in the EQ to "fix" it. For this person, the XM4 is an incredible bargain at its current price.

Who is it not for?

The "Work From Home" Professional. The microphone is a "deal breaker". You must buy the WH-1000XM5, which has a far superior mic system.

The Audio Purist. If you want a perfect out-of-box sound, or God forbid, you want to use it wired in passive mode... just don't. This is not your headphone.

The Final Word: The Sony WH-1000XM4 is no longer the undisputed king of all features. Its successor has better mics, and competitors like Sennheiser offer better sound. But it has gracefully transitioned into something more important: it is the undisputed king of value. It's the benchmark. And for the price you can find it today, if you know its flaws—and know how to fix them—it remains one of the smartest purchases in audio.