★ *QOTD: What kind of headphone user are you? Wired or Wireless? What headphone should we review next?* ★ *REVIEWING: **bit.ly/WH1000xm4** NEED MORE INFO? ✔︎ THE ⬆︎DESCRIPTION⬆︎* ★ *COMMENT RULES:* - No outside URLs, RUclips links or email addresses - Keep it civil. It’s okay to disagree, just don’t be a jerk about it.
@@WhatTheFragrance It depends on your personal taste as there is no ONE audiophile headphone sound, just that if you want them to be less bass heavy, you can tune them to be. You can adjust them to sound however you prefer as you're the one who has to like them and no one else.
For university, I love bluetooth noise cancelling headphones. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Bose 700s - I already own them but I'm really curious on your thoughts on the comparisson between then and the Sony XM4s. Keeping tabs on how the companies are doing helps to inform the next purchase, or recommendations for friends. Perhaps you could go into a bit of techincal detail for bluetooth audio codecs, and the way it compresses your music differently? That would be an interesting line of thought, and would help with the comparisson to wired headphones too.
My wife has the wh-1000xm3's. Look great, comfortable, noise cancelling is good... but the sound. I just don't get the hype. And I bought them for her so I don't disturb her working when I'm playing my music! She loves them, but not they're just not for me.
Sincerely appreciate it! We can't just do the same things day in and day out around here. We knew this would be a departure, but it was fun for us, so it was worth it!
Well now I need to see a review from you on the B&W PX7. You’re content is the best going around right now, and the way you present your reviews is top notch. You may have opened a can of worms for yourself!
That's a very nuanced review and I like it. People keep complaining the XM line having a freq response skewing to the base side but most are forgetting that they are one of the most flexible headphones out there with legit EQ modification. You can literally tweak it to a freaking Sennheiser response if you want to.
This is the first video that I see from this guy and is really amazing. I saw around 35 WH-1000XM4 reviews and this is one of the most clear, informative and complete. I just bought a wh-1000xm3 and this is the only review that me me think to keep it, previous to this video I want to return them since I was doubting about the Sound quality.
Hey man, love the attention to detail you put into all your vids. I've already seen quite a few reviews for these headphones, but I still watch because of how well made your vids are, and you always bring up good points. Keep up the good work and thank you for everything you do!
I bought these for 278 after contemplating between them, the Bose, and the surface headphones. I ultimately chose these because of the sale and all of the RUclips reviews. I was very excited to get them! I took them out of the box and set them up as soon as i got in my car. I was very impressed with the active noise cancellation. Make sure you get the app and update to the latest firmware. I was somewhat disappointed by the sound quality until i updated these and played around with the EQ. They do sound amazing after adjusting these and getting them just how you like them.
@@andrewday2777 I got mine yesterday. In the app I like the "Bright" setting. I'm also using an Android phone with LDAC turned on. I learned from another user you cannot use LDAC with the multi device setting on. I'm also using Tidal with the HIFI subscription and damn they sound good. I was better them the PX7 and the Momentum 3s and landed on these because of the price. I may still order the PX7 just to compare.
I have the Bose 700s and I'm honestly a fan of both! The 700s look great on the head and I really love the way the earcups adjust smoothly instead of with brackets. Also their earcups are roomier which is great for comfort.
Another reason to love the XM-4's is a feature that wasn't available on the XM--3 model. Unlike the earlier model, the XM-4'S allow you to use the equalizer featured in the Sony app without having to take a huge step down in Bluetooth codec quality. This is huge. For some reason, the XM--3's would automatically change the codec all the way down from LDAC to SBC everytime the EQ was turned on and there was no way around it. What Sony was thinking with this is beyond me, but I'm happy to report the problem has been fixed with the XM-4's. Thanks for the great reviews, Andrew ! Your channel is one of the best out there.
Have had issues with the Sony Xm4s. 1st pair returned as suspect. Replaced another XM4 with same problem. On bluetooth the Sound plays fine for circa 30mins then garbles sort of like bluetooth range walkout would do, despite being in front of my source and well within range. Connect to Samsung Q7 TV with built in bluetooth exact same issue. Have managed to eliminate the devices being culprit because it doesn’t occur when Dali io-6 or AKG BT Y50 are used. It appears the codec formerly used in XM3 has been dropped and obviously get lower performance with any IOS device rather than Android. I’m not alone in this problem as a plethora of similar complaints by XM4 purchasers are online kicking off that being outwith warranty they’re stuck with non performing Headsets. Sure Sony have upped the codecs but in doing so have left usability issues by removing backward compatibility..said TV being an ancient 2 years old. Sony responded with new update v2.5.0 which ignored the issue. Just giving my experience. I’m now looking for alternative headphones that are not sterile (neutral) sounding and that I can adjust to my taste… like the Sony XM4. Great reviews👏🏻
I'm a headphone user and my current ones are Audio Technica M50X and i would definitely like to go wireles for some of my use case scenarios like consuming media on phone or when in flights or other long travels. And I do have my eyes on the Sony since a year now.
For acoustic music these headphones sound best on the Treble Boost preset with the clear bass set to +3. But the standard flat EQ sounds pretty good for all types of music as well. I've own the Audio Technica M50x head phones before these. But these Sony's are soooo comfortable I can listen to them for hours with zero fatique. I enjoy every minute I have them on. I LOVE THEM!
I'm an avid headphone listener and most of my cans are wired and require various headphone amps. I do own a pair of Bose QC headphones that I use quite a bit in our current COVID19 work from home environment. Before COVID my Bose were relegated to plane rides and the occasional home use. I think they work well for what they are. I do agree they aren't going to win any beauty contests but they perform well for what I need them to do. I will say the Bose don't sound nearly as good as anything else I have in my arsenal (Sennheiser HD650's, HiFiMan HE4xx's, Aeon OpenX just to name a few) but like all of my gear, they are a tool in the toolbox to use for specific reasons. I enjoyed your headphone review and would love to see more. Keep the great content coming.
I have had these XM4’s for three months now. When I first got them they did make my ears sore, but they have broken in and are very comfortable. The sound quality is outstanding. I am trying out Deezer for their free trial and the music quality will blow you away. The NC is great as I no longer need to yell out to my family to be quiet when I make a business calls. For calls I have been happy with their performance, but there have been a couple cases where people say it sounds like I am in a tunnel. In these cases after removing my headphones the call is better. In those cases I was calling a land line. Otherwise, I am extremely happy with these. As usual, very good review Andrew.
Had my XM4’s for two weeks now, my girlfriend as the XB900N’s, these are the perfect balance of bass and treble. I use the “excited” preset EQ and it’s perfect! It gets all of 30 hrs. Just charging them after this video for the first time. They’re on sale now and WORTH EVERY PENNY👍 Great review‼️
I just bought New Headphones two months ago. I was between xm3, momentum3 and bowers px7. I go for Sound and found bowers pw7 to be my choice. Noise cancelation is Best om Sony But they donot come near on Sound (stage feeling). Thanks for a great Chanel
Thanks Andrew. Your review helped with my purchasing decision on these. So glad I bought them too. I'm no snobby audiophile, but I can tell when something sounds great - and these DO sound great. But, to get the best out of them over Bluetooth, you need to be using them in LDAC 'quality' mode - 990 Kbps transfer rate. My music collection is CD based - ripped to 950 Kbps FLAC files. LDAC allows you to listen to 'CD quality' over Bluetooth with no loss. If people are using these headies in SBC Bluetooth mode - then you might as well listen to music in MP3 quality. Which will sound 'muddy' to some. I know this because I've tested the same tracks ripped at 320 Kbps MP3 and 950 Kbps FLAC. Over cabled headphones I could tell that the MP3 version was far less defined in the sound stage, and generally 'muddier' overall. I must admit I have not played with the EQ settings on the XM4's yet. I know some say the XM4's are bass heavy, but I mostly listen to club sounds, house music and ambient dub / minimal ambient - electronic music as a whole then. For me, the level of bass is pretty much perfect. So, whilst I appreciate that these headies are not audiophile quality - and they don't claim to be. They are certainly very, very good for Bluetooth headies - as long as a decent codec is being used. In my case - LDAC 'quality' mode. Just to finish - I'm also using these headies with a Sony Walkman - using the aforementioned LDAC quality mode. I am VERY happy with the sound quality delivered by this combination. Thanks.
Exactly. This is why dual connect mode isn't usable if you enjoy hi-res music. These are far below average using SBC codec. It made my MP3s sound even worse, forget about my ripped FLAC collection. There is a difference and while you certainly couldn't classify these headphones as "audiophile", they move into the mid-fi area as long as you don't use SBC and dual connect mode and instead use LDAC at high bit rate on your higher than MP3 quality sources.
I've had the 2s the 3s and the 4s, and the 4s are fantastic. The ability to eq these with ldac makes me so happy. I have so many flac files I use. These are a quality of life headphone, and I love them
"the only person who has to like your sound system is you" so true. I am tired of all the snobbery from some audiophiles saying that BT headphones are shit and I should get some good wired headphones with a DAC. And I get where they are coming from but I am willing to sacrifice a sound quality over convenience. These headphones are so portable and listening to music in the bus is so much more enjoyable to me now. Not to mention that it protects my ears since I don't have to amp up the volume now to overcome all the noise. And most people can't tell the difference between a 320kbps AAC vs a FLAC in headphones. If I had good high end surround speakers, then yes I understand the logic. But headphones are only stereo channel (compared to 5.1 surround) and there is only so much you can get by having high res files.
"get some good wired headphones with a DAC" nobody says using any expensive DAC is a have to.... Even my 10 years+ sony DJ headphones sound a lot better than the XM4s (on iPhone or notebook!). They are also very bass heavy and bright with a lot of missing mids as the XM4s, but the frequency response in the lows is at least precise and not as bad as the XM4s There is no excuse for the way too overpresent 60 - 120 Hz which cant be easy EQd out with mobile devices and Sonys poor 5 band EQ in the app doesnt allow it also, except you are fine with also loosing many db in sub 60 Hz... And not only that, despite having a very similar tone .. my old Sonys have a much better resolution in the highs which dont even exist with the XM4. You can literally hear they sound more or less the same, but the old DJ sonys used definately better drivers. Considering that they cost about 1/3 of the XM4s 15 years ago, they are basically "And I get where they are coming from but I am willing to sacrifice a sound quality over convenience" as in the early days with expensive storage people made 128, sometimes even 96kBit mp3s..... Dont get me wrong, but the time of MP3 in any "hifi" related stuff is gone, CD quality exist since 40 years, the only problem was storage....WAS! Ofc a 320kbit mp3 also sounds awesome and most of my music is still 256 or 320kbit VBR mp3, but with good headphones (and mostly a good preamp...) you could hear the difference to CD quality. Ofc i barely hear a difference and in the most titles you dont hear a difference at all, but classic/dynamic/complex titles can easily sound a bit disorted/wrong when the compression is "overloaded" with "too much content" and simplify/cut down too much. If bluetooth (and all devices) allow uncompressed CD quality (at best easily the 44kHz 16Bit PCM stream of the CD 1:1!), bluetooth is finally "HiFi" ready, but whats possible nowadays is still poor. Especially considering a unnecessary resampling within the android OS, the next resampling for the BT transmission, and another resampling/DSP in the headphones internally. Really, what could go wrong? ;) "Not to mention that it protects my ears since I don't have to amp up the volume now to overcome all the noise" Sorry, but have you ever though why people before ANC were also fine with "passive" NC? My closed back headphones and the earpad sealing make enough noise cancelling so no DSP needed to make it "active". ANC is ofc a nice feature, but the hiss without music and the even more reduced sound quality with ANC used make the ANC feature useless for me "And most people can't tell the difference between a 320kbps AAC vs a FLAC in headphones. If I had good high end surround speakers, then yes I understand the logic. But headphones are only stereo channel (compared to 5.1 surround) and there is only so much you can get by having high res files." What? HiRes is 24Bit and higher sample frequency, it doesnt have anything to do with surround sound. Its still stereo. Also, "hi end surround speakers"... whats your point? Do we talk about cinema/multichannel formats (which HiRes IS NOT!) What is "only so much we get by having hi res"? the surround?
exactly I couldn't of said it better because that's what I tell them too. TO EACH HIS OWN in my opinion listening to it on audiophile headphones with the dac is only lil better than sony and not worth the price diff
@@cocolokoflacco "audiophile headphones with the dac is only lil better than sony" lil better than Hi End Sony stuff from longer ago.... yes. But Sonys XM4 ANC headphones are pretty much 10$ garbage when it comes to sound, therefor most 50$ wired headphones will show you how much better they are compared to XM4s for 200-350$
@@cocolokoflacco "not worth the price diff" is exactly what i would say when it comes to XM4 ANC headphones. Any BT headphones for much less money will perform aswell as the sonys and with many in the same price range as the XM4s you get a lot better sound quality. Have you even heard anything "audiophile" grade at all yet?
@@harrison00xXx ppl like you are just sony haters and can't fool me because I use and try a wide range of headphones. don't be mad because u paid all that money and sony can compete
if you don’t need noise canceling, and don’t mind wired-i recommend the sony mdr-1am2. that’s my daily driver and it sounds great. build is awesome and comfort is there too. andrew, props for playing street fighter V.
I like my XM3. On flights and trains it’s great to keep the ambient sound out. After the launch of the XM4 I updated my XM3 and found that there’s a huge leap in their software. I like my XM3. Gotta go try the XM4. Nice review. TQ!
I am listening to this review through my SONY WH-1000XM3 (not m4) headphones right now. I work in a music rehearsal studio and these do a fantastic job at drowning out the cacophony of droning lows by bass amp and kick drums that are rattling through my neighbors' walls. The M3s at least don't sound nearly as good as my Shure SRH 840 corded cans and I'll take the Paradigm Monitor SE Atom's I bought (because of you) over anything, BUT these do very well in terms of allowing me to roam free and keep the "peace" inside my head when I'm pulling these 12 hour days.
PS: Headphones I use -- SONY WH-1000XM3 -- daily, for work and blocking out noise Bose QC20 (noise cancelling earbuds) -- usually for travel or as backups noice cancelling in the office Shure SRH 840 -- great studio headphones, decent for critical audio, great wired cans for the money Westone AM Pro 30s (wired but often used with a wireless in-ear-monitoring system) -- these are purposed for live performance but I also used these for travel. Fairly expensive but amazing for what they are. They naturally reduce outside noice by 15db but are designed to let in some outside noise, so they're what I'd call "passive noise cancelling". I use these a lot just as effective earplugs at loud concerts.
Great review. Based on this and a few other folks I subscribe to, I just bought them new on Amazon, who has them for $278, which is a fair price for what I hope will be an upgrade. Plan to use them as my primary for pairing to my iPhone and iPad (where I listen to music and watch videos the most) and pairing my older Bose QC 35ii's to my Mac for work. I don't think my Bose look too bad. ;) BTW: maybe I just overlooked it, but love your headphone stand. While I know you didn't review it, you got me to buy one of those too! Happy Holidays Andrew! Have enjoyed following you and learning.
By far the best review I’ve seen on RUclips so far for the XM4’s. I have viewed multiple reviews on the RUclips platform prior making the move to replace my XM3’s, and this review did it. Kudos for that. Great video Andrew.
Try the drop pandas. They don't have noise cancelling but they should sound much more similar to your audiophile headphones than you're typical bluetooth headphones.
This guy knows his stuff. Very good review. Peaky trebles can be tiring for headphones. I bought a set on the back of this review and they sounded a lot better overall than my momentum 3 wired, and they sound as good as the PX7 (maybe not as wide a soundstage but more detailed in mids).
Be warned, they aren’t good for calls e.g. Zoom, Google Meet, Slack etc. Sound great for music, can’t fault them there, but I returned them as the call quality made them unsuitable for working from home in my experience.
Gone from wired headphones to wireless headphones all the way. I use the inear 1000M3 when flying, in the bus/train or walking with the dog. At home my choise is the Hifiman Ananda BT, which replaced my Chord Mojo/Hifiman Sundara combo. Gone are also all USB and extension wires. I am glad that I made the choice to go wireless.
As an urban condo dweller with upstairs and downstairs neighbors, I have to use headphones. For about a year, I used Sony MDR-1000X (i.e. 3 models ago) noise canceling headphones. LDAC connectivity is capable of delivering all of CD-quality FLAC, and most of 96/24 hi-res. I used them at work and around the house and think they sound great. Before quarantine, I purchased some used Sony MDR-Z7 headphones and a new DAP with balanced output, total outlay about 700 bucks. As you say above, the Sony noise-cancelers get very close. With that said, the MDR-Z7 are waaaay more comfortable and durable (the MDR-1000X developed the common headband crack issue, which necessitated buying a 3-D printed replacement part on ebay. I think you should elan into this "audiophile light" ethos and review headphones that can be driven by a phone or DAP without amplification. Which are the best for the money? Sony? Monoprice? Hifiman? Sennheiser?
I’d prefer wired but I’m just not ready to foot the bill yet. I need noise cancelling and want something I can take on the go. I’m tired of wired earbuds and not going to waste my money on AirPods. Just found a used pair of these for $250, really looking forward to it and finally working from home with them. Thanks for all your help Andrew!
Something like an HD-6XX with a portable dac/amp would also “smoke” the Sony for similar money, you don’t have to spend $1000. The gap is getting smaller however, XM3 & 4 are great sounding headphones, and the NC tech and portability is awesome.
Listen Sony 1000M3 ... very satisfied ...the new multiple pairing of the M4's is a feature I wanted from day one.on my M3's... believe the Bose have had this for a couple years.
I’ve had these headphones for four days and I can attest that your review is spot on! I’ve never had a pair of headphones that I liked which is why I tend to never buy them. Those days are over. Buy with confidence! These are a major GO!
Help❓❓How do you sing along with music and not have the headphones cut off? Does it have a Sing along function? Other than raising & resting your hand on the right ear cup? Thank you for your help.
I use the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless PXs. I absolutely love the neutral sound. The ANC isn’t top notch but it’s not bad. If you get a chance I highly recommend giving them a spin. They also use AptX for high bit rate wireless audio.
For serious wired audio listening sessions, I use a STAX SR-007tA Hybrid Tube Amp which feeds a KOSS ESP 95/X MassDrop Headphones. My source is a PS Audio DirectStream Sr. DAC feeding a Balanced Audio Technology VK-50SE Fully Tubed Preamp. SACD's/DSD files. Hi res & Red Book PCM For bicycling and doing mundane stuff outside or even indoors. My Bose QC35II's (love the ergonomics) or my Son's Bose 700's (hate their ergonomics). AmazonHD Music @ 320kbps via Bluetooth and my iPhone 5s. Once again Andrew, great video and comparison's !
Hey Andrew. It has nearly been a year since this review and now the Sony WH-1000XM5 are out with claims of "better tuning". Do you plan on doing a review of them and commenting whether the bass has been improved? Thanks.
I use both cabled and the Sony Wh1000xm4 headphones. They are really good for music production and the sound is incredible after coming through a mixer board/ audio interface and the headphone amp.
@@TRIaXOR the delay is barely noticable for me with or without the cable plugged into the laptop, but to hear the raw effects through the mixer the cable needs to be used via the headphone jack. In FL studio there is about an 8ms to 10ms delay which makes it barely noticable with minor tweaking
@@MrChalmers99 I'm using a bluetooth transmitter on my Scarlett 18i20 as monitor, when playing live the delay is around 200-250ms due to AptX being removed in the XM4's basically rendering them useless for me :(
Had my Mk3's for just over a year now, and I love them. Great quality, excellent noise cancelling, and I like the sound. I have tinnitus, and noise cancelling is essential for me to keep the volumes down. I actually use mine wired at home in my system, so I get the best of both worlds. The only other phones I was recommended were the Bowers & Wilkins PX7's, which at the time were a bit more expensive than the Sony.
Very useful an pleasant review, thanks! Wish I'd seen it before buying my pair! Most other reviewers gloss over the audio quality or called it ''clear'' when it's much more bass heavy than I expected. I use it wired half the time and can't adjust the EQ via app while doing so. I's still mostly satisfied with my purchase, but the bass threw me off guard.
This headphones were never considered clear. While they aren't the most bass heavy, they do have great lows, and acceptable but good highs too. It has that punch bass, and dynamic climatic sounding which is very lovely. 👍
@@alexsmith1207 2 or 3 headphone reviews boasted how the xm4s sound "so much more neutral and balanced" than the xm3s. So some people do consider them than way, it seems :)) boy, am I glad I did not go for the xm3s (edit for typos)
I have a pair of XM3 and in order to make them sound neutral, I need to set 20 Hz and lower to -3 dB, then linearly ramp down to -20 dB at 50 Hz (yes, -20 dB!!!), and linearly ramp up to 0 dB at 220 Hz, then flat 0 dB for the rest of the spectrum up to 20 kHz. Impossible to do it using the app, since the eq in that app only starts at 400 Hz.
Totally agree with you , Andrew. A group of audiophiles suggested me strictly against my XB900N. But I took a leap of faith and bought those. I have been using Sennheiser HD212 and AT M50X, and the Sony connected to LDAC , with the bass turned a little down on my Dolby Atmos EQ in OnePlus 7T, they sound so nice, it is extremely satisfying. The heavy bass might be good for Hiphop or edm tracks, but for everything else, I love my Sony.
I have the XM3s and they’re great. Couldn’t agree more that the comfort, functionality and freedom you have with them is certainly something to consider before you dismiss them for not being “audiophile perfection”. Plus, on a flight.....👨🏻🍳💋👌🏻
Yeah, got older XM2 and they make business flights reimagined! Brilliant experience when I took them off after 2 hours and got shocked how loud it was outside headphones :)
I purchased the Sony wh-h900n noise canceling headphones last summer. I'm not a huge headphones fan, but I love listening to them when I need to keep things quiet for the wife. The only other over the ear headphones I own are a Lloyd's brand I bought as a kid in the early 1970s for $8.00. Hardly comparable, lol.
Well done! I was about to buy those and when I saw you actually reviewed them, I was eager to hear your opinion. I think that this set has the best value for money currently in the market and I can't wait for them to arrive. Keep up the good work you two!
Off topic, but I wanted to say thank you for plugging the Kanto YU6 so often. It led to me purchasing them to use at my computer desk (similar to your setup) to listen to while I work all day. The near field sound of these things is incredible. Had never even heard of them before I found your channel. Might have made a dumb purchase if I hadn't found it. Now I kind of want some Klipsch the fives for my living room...
Nice review! I`ve always used generic headphones and about 3 years ago got the senheiser momentum 2 (wired). Was totally blown away with the sound quality! I`m no audiophile but was kinda amazed with how much I had been missing all those years. Now with working from home, I am feeling the need for bluetooth headphones to make calls as well as have good sound quality for my music, and am currently waiting for my newly purchased XM4 to arrive. I just hope its sound quality can match or even surpass the Senheiser, but from your review it seems like I have nothing to worry about!
@@Repienk My just arrived yesterday! Been tweaking it and love it so far! It`s definetely a step up from the senheiser Momentun 2, especially in the bass, but without sacrificing the mids and highs! It`s specially good using LDAC codec. I`ve managed to install LDAC codec for my linux laptop using a custom pulseaudio build called pulseaudio-modules-bt. It`s very nice having LDAC on laptop! No luck on windows though, can`t find any way to get LDAC working there. Overall very happy with the xm4 so far!
I went from a Sony XM2 to the AKG N700NC. Confort is not that good, noise reduction is average, but the sound quality is outstanding, perfectly balanced and neutral.
I am #teamwired BUT recently bought a Sony HiRes player and became aware of Noise Cancel, EQ settings, LDAC... I never thought me, a wired, flat no presets would go for BT, EQ presets. Customization & versatility available with technology is convenient too! Yes, not every file and source is HiRes. Nothing is set in stone in this hobby.
I was in the same spot but went for Sony for one main reason.... they’ve been doing these for 4 generations now it will take Apple a few versions to get there’s as tweaked as these. Plus last I read they’ll only last around 8 hrs but who knows
Do you have any comments on the Sony XM4 once you connect them via 3.5 jack to a, let’s say, DAC + AMP? Is there any significant improvement when compared with the Bluetooth connection? Tks.
I just bought the xm4 and a week before I got the THX onyx as a gift. When you use DLAC vs cable and Dac. The first thing that I noticed is the mods and highs sound better over the cable. But Bluetooth on dlac sounds good too. A little thing to give up while traveling. I'm on a plane and with dlac is more than enough to get rid of the cable when you're too busy.
Thankyou you are the first ever who spoke on BASE in these headgears. loved this review only and oy video on youtube about this headgear to get a thumbs up.
I have the XM3s. I use a Harmon based custom eq both wired and wireless. The Sony come a lot closer to my Denon AH-D5200 and my Fostex TH900 than they should!
I’ve just discovered your videos. This review is amazing! I’ve just bought a pair of XM4 to replace my Samsung Galaxy Buds+. The Buds are convenient and sound good enough for my ridiculously lame pair of ears, but I wanted to try something that sound better (consider I’m no audiophile by any stretch of the imagination). Let’s see when they arrive.
For home I use Klipsch HP-3 they sound fantastic and fun, for the go I use B&W PX7 they sound amazing and noise canceling is very decent. Keep the good work with your channel I really enjoy it.
I was skeptical when you said you're not an audiophile , but you have tons of pairs of headphones and very much interested in them...but i believed you as soon as you said you wanted more colors...LOL
I recently bought the KZ ZS10 Pro. I couldn't imagine that an IEM could sound that good... I also have the Sennheiser HD600, the Sennheiser HD280pro and the BeyerDynamic DT 770 Pro. But no bluetooth headphones yet.
Θάνος Παπαχρήστου I love my KZ IEMs too! These Bluetooth headphones are good though. Just the noise cancelling when you’re trying to tune out even the sound of the air conditioning can make everything sound better and less distracting. They’re fun to adjust with the app too.
Andrew/Kristi, nice video! I have the previous model, the xm3's and I really like them. I prefer not to use headphones and only use them on flights or when in the office. I agree they aren't for exercising, and they often make my ears sweaty (sorry, that's gross!) I've been wondering if it's worthwhile upgrading to this newer version??
Thanks for the review...it was AWESOME and very detailed! I may have missed it in your description notes but were did you get you wooden headphone stand? Its KILLER! Ed
Your point about customising the sound signature is valid and it's what frustrates me about high end (no tone control) Amplifiers. IMO it's impossible to get the exact tonal balance from an Amp and speakers without an equaliser tweak.
I will say I do believe the Sony does go a step or two beyond mere tone controls here, but I do get your point. When it comes to personal audio (or anything) make it how you want and don't sweat other peoples' opinions. Thanks for watching!
Thank you Andrew, super thorough review. I've used Sony headphones tethered and Bose Sport Bluetooth earbuds. Bose has always sounded a bit flat and having the ability to EQ to one's preference makes the difference and is a huge selling point for me. Maybe we want our comfort not so quiet. ;)
I got the older version about 3 months ago, Sony 3x1000, and the Sennheiser HD 650, and I use the Sony's mainly for sports talk shows, podcasts, or while I am on my computer. But I use the 650s when I really want to chill for a while on some good rock. But, I spend 90 percent of my time using the Sony's, so, if one is trying to be cash savvy, I would suggest getting the Sony's and a cheaper open speaker headphone like the Philips SHP 9500, which you can pick up for 75 bucks.
Hi! Great review, I have the XM2s and really enjoy them...might be a good time to upgrade. Would you mind sharing the equalizer settings you used? Thanks!
★ *QOTD: What kind of headphone user are you? Wired or Wireless? What headphone should we review next?*
★ *REVIEWING: **bit.ly/WH1000xm4** NEED MORE INFO? ✔︎ THE ⬆︎DESCRIPTION⬆︎*
★ *COMMENT RULES:*
- No outside URLs, RUclips links or email addresses
- Keep it civil. It’s okay to disagree, just don’t be a jerk about it.
To get the Sony’s to sound like your audiophile headphones precisely how should the eq frequencies be adjusted?
@@WhatTheFragrance It depends on your personal taste as there is no ONE audiophile headphone sound, just that if you want them to be less bass heavy, you can tune them to be. You can adjust them to sound however you prefer as you're the one who has to like them and no one else.
For university, I love bluetooth noise cancelling headphones. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Bose 700s - I already own them but I'm really curious on your thoughts on the comparisson between then and the Sony XM4s. Keeping tabs on how the companies are doing helps to inform the next purchase, or recommendations for friends.
Perhaps you could go into a bit of techincal detail for bluetooth audio codecs, and the way it compresses your music differently? That would be an interesting line of thought, and would help with the comparisson to wired headphones too.
My wife has the wh-1000xm3's. Look great, comfortable, noise cancelling is good... but the sound. I just don't get the hype. And I bought them for her so I don't disturb her working when I'm playing my music! She loves them, but not they're just not for me.
Wired earbuds. Vjjb N1's. Best under $30 set I've found.
I like the way you talk. You’re calm. It’s like I am listening to an e-book. Subscribed.
Andrew, you're among the best presenters, communicators, on RUclips. Excellent job.
I've seen some very good reviews one this product, but yours Andrew, was the best.
No not good enough. You need to work on your flattering butt kissing 💋 mentality a bit more almost like creepy humiliating level.
Liked seeing your perspective on headphones. Your reviews keep getting better & better!
Sincerely appreciate it! We can't just do the same things day in and day out around here. We knew this would be a departure, but it was fun for us, so it was worth it!
I have the M4's and I will say I can't do speak to chat, like ever!😄😄
I CANNOT listen to music without singing 😄
hahahah! Same here! I had to turn it off.
Me too... 😂 I disabled it
This is one of the most articulate and engaging reviews I’ve seen. And you voice sounds absolutely amazing haha
Hey, thanks!
Well now I need to see a review from you on the B&W PX7. You’re content is the best going around right now, and the way you present your reviews is top notch. You may have opened a can of worms for yourself!
That's a very nuanced review and I like it. People keep complaining the XM line having a freq response skewing to the base side but most are forgetting that they are one of the most flexible headphones out there with legit EQ modification. You can literally tweak it to a freaking Sennheiser response if you want to.
This is the first video that I see from this guy and is really amazing. I saw around 35 WH-1000XM4 reviews and this is one of the most clear, informative and complete. I just bought a wh-1000xm3 and this is the only review that me me think to keep it, previous to this video I want to return them since I was doubting about the Sound quality.
Hey man, love the attention to detail you put into all your vids. I've already seen quite a few reviews for these headphones, but I still watch because of how well made your vids are, and you always bring up good points. Keep up the good work and thank you for everything you do!
I appreciate it!
I bought these for 278 after contemplating between them, the Bose, and the surface headphones. I ultimately chose these because of the sale and all of the RUclips reviews. I was very excited to get them! I took them out of the box and set them up as soon as i got in my car. I was very impressed with the active noise cancellation. Make sure you get the app and update to the latest firmware. I was somewhat disappointed by the sound quality until i updated these and played around with the EQ. They do sound amazing after adjusting these and getting them just how you like them.
Once you dial them in, they’re amazing!!!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews you should share your eq settings. It's driving me a little nuts which is best
@@andrewday2777 I got mine yesterday. In the app I like the "Bright" setting. I'm also using an Android phone with LDAC turned on. I learned from another user you cannot use LDAC with the multi device setting on. I'm also using Tidal with the HIFI subscription and damn they sound good. I was better them the PX7 and the Momentum 3s and landed on these because of the price. I may still order the PX7 just to compare.
I have the Bose 700s and I'm honestly a fan of both! The 700s look great on the head and I really love the way the earcups adjust smoothly instead of with brackets. Also their earcups are roomier which is great for comfort.
I absolutely love the 700s, so I'm not going to argue with you. They're great!
Can't wait to try out the MX4s at one point. So glad they added multi device support. It's a must have.
Another reason to love the XM-4's is a feature that wasn't available on the XM--3 model. Unlike the earlier model, the XM-4'S allow you to use the equalizer featured in the Sony app without having to take a huge step down in Bluetooth codec quality. This is huge. For some reason, the XM--3's would automatically change the codec all the way down from LDAC to SBC everytime the EQ was turned on and there was no way around it.
What Sony was thinking with this is beyond me, but I'm happy to report the problem has been fixed with the XM-4's.
Thanks for the great reviews, Andrew ! Your channel is one of the best out there.
Have had issues with the Sony Xm4s. 1st pair returned as suspect. Replaced another XM4 with same problem. On bluetooth the
Sound plays fine for circa 30mins then garbles sort of like bluetooth range walkout would do, despite being in front of my source and well within range. Connect to Samsung Q7 TV with built in bluetooth exact same issue. Have managed to eliminate the devices being culprit because it doesn’t occur when Dali io-6 or AKG BT Y50 are used. It appears the codec formerly used in XM3 has been dropped and obviously get lower performance with any IOS device rather than Android.
I’m not alone in this problem as a plethora of similar complaints by XM4 purchasers are online kicking off that being outwith warranty they’re stuck with non performing Headsets. Sure Sony have upped the codecs but in doing so have left usability issues by removing backward compatibility..said TV being an ancient 2 years old. Sony responded with new update v2.5.0 which ignored the issue. Just giving my experience. I’m now looking for alternative headphones that are not sterile (neutral) sounding and that I can adjust to my taste… like the Sony XM4. Great reviews👏🏻
As a music duties, comparing those against Sennheiser The Momentum 3 Wireless would be nice.
I'm a headphone user and my current ones are Audio Technica M50X and i would definitely like to go wireles for some of my use case scenarios like consuming media on phone or when in flights or other long travels. And I do have my eyes on the Sony since a year now.
For acoustic music these headphones sound best on the Treble Boost preset with the clear bass set to +3. But the standard flat EQ sounds pretty good for all types of music as well. I've own the Audio Technica M50x head phones before these. But these Sony's are soooo comfortable I can listen to them for hours with zero fatique. I enjoy every minute I have them on. I LOVE THEM!
I'm an avid headphone listener and most of my cans are wired and require various headphone amps. I do own a pair of Bose QC headphones that I use quite a bit in our current COVID19 work from home environment. Before COVID my Bose were relegated to plane rides and the occasional home use. I think they work well for what they are. I do agree they aren't going to win any beauty contests but they perform well for what I need them to do. I will say the Bose don't sound nearly as good as anything else I have in my arsenal (Sennheiser HD650's, HiFiMan HE4xx's, Aeon OpenX just to name a few) but like all of my gear, they are a tool in the toolbox to use for specific reasons. I enjoyed your headphone review and would love to see more. Keep the great content coming.
I have had these XM4’s for three months now. When I first got them they did make my ears sore, but they have broken in and are very comfortable. The sound quality is outstanding. I am trying out Deezer for their free trial and the music quality will blow you away. The NC is great as I no longer need to yell out to my family to be quiet when I make a business calls. For calls I have been happy with their performance, but there have been a couple cases where people say it sounds like I am in a tunnel. In these cases after removing my headphones the call is better. In those cases I was calling a land line. Otherwise, I am extremely happy with these. As usual, very good review Andrew.
Had my XM4’s for two weeks now, my girlfriend as the XB900N’s, these are the perfect balance of bass and treble. I use the “excited” preset EQ and it’s perfect! It gets all of 30 hrs. Just charging them after this video for the first time. They’re on sale now and WORTH EVERY PENNY👍 Great review‼️
Totally agree! Happy to know you are enjoying yours.
Can you also provide a word on it's wired performance (powered on)
I just bought New Headphones two months ago. I was between xm3, momentum3 and bowers px7. I go for Sound and found bowers pw7 to be my choice. Noise cancelation is Best om Sony But they donot come near on Sound (stage feeling). Thanks for a great Chanel
Thank you for your help I just bought the Sony wh1000 xm4 and I love them
Thanks Andrew. Your review helped with my purchasing decision on these. So glad I bought them too. I'm no snobby audiophile, but I can tell when something sounds great - and these DO sound great. But, to get the best out of them over Bluetooth, you need to be using them in LDAC 'quality' mode - 990 Kbps transfer rate. My music collection is CD based - ripped to 950 Kbps FLAC files. LDAC allows you to listen to 'CD quality' over Bluetooth with no loss. If people are using these headies in SBC Bluetooth mode - then you might as well listen to music in MP3 quality. Which will sound 'muddy' to some. I know this because I've tested the same tracks ripped at 320 Kbps MP3 and 950 Kbps FLAC. Over cabled headphones I could tell that the MP3 version was far less defined in the sound stage, and generally 'muddier' overall. I must admit I have not played with the EQ settings on the XM4's yet. I know some say the XM4's are bass heavy, but I mostly listen to club sounds, house music and ambient dub / minimal ambient - electronic music as a whole then. For me, the level of bass is pretty much perfect. So, whilst I appreciate that these headies are not audiophile quality - and they don't claim to be. They are certainly very, very good for Bluetooth headies - as long as a decent codec is being used. In my case - LDAC 'quality' mode. Just to finish - I'm also using these headies with a Sony Walkman - using the aforementioned LDAC quality mode. I am VERY happy with the sound quality delivered by this combination. Thanks.
Exactly. This is why dual connect mode isn't usable if you enjoy hi-res music. These are far below average using SBC codec. It made my MP3s sound even worse, forget about my ripped FLAC collection.
There is a difference and while you certainly couldn't classify these headphones as "audiophile", they move into the mid-fi area as long as you don't use SBC and dual connect mode and instead use LDAC at high bit rate on your higher than MP3 quality sources.
I've had the 2s the 3s and the 4s, and the 4s are fantastic. The ability to eq these with ldac makes me so happy. I have so many flac files I use. These are a quality of life headphone, and I love them
I like your style of reviewing. You’re articulate, informative and have a soothing voice. Keep going. Review more stuff !!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
We typically put out two videos per week so plenty of content to keep you busy. Thanks for watching!
"the only person who has to like your sound system is you" so true. I am tired of all the snobbery from some audiophiles saying that BT headphones are shit and I should get some good wired headphones with a DAC. And I get where they are coming from but I am willing to sacrifice a sound quality over convenience. These headphones are so portable and listening to music in the bus is so much more enjoyable to me now. Not to mention that it protects my ears since I don't have to amp up the volume now to overcome all the noise. And most people can't tell the difference between a 320kbps AAC vs a FLAC in headphones. If I had good high end surround speakers, then yes I understand the logic. But headphones are only stereo channel (compared to 5.1 surround) and there is only so much you can get by having high res files.
"get some good wired headphones with a DAC"
nobody says using any expensive DAC is a have to....
Even my 10 years+ sony DJ headphones sound a lot better than the XM4s (on iPhone or notebook!).
They are also very bass heavy and bright with a lot of missing mids as the XM4s, but the frequency response in the lows is at least precise and not as bad as the XM4s
There is no excuse for the way too overpresent 60 - 120 Hz which cant be easy EQd out with mobile devices and Sonys poor 5 band EQ in the app doesnt allow it also, except you are fine with also loosing many db in sub 60 Hz...
And not only that, despite having a very similar tone .. my old Sonys have a much better resolution in the highs which dont even exist with the XM4. You can literally hear they sound more or less the same, but the old DJ sonys used definately better drivers. Considering that they cost about 1/3 of the XM4s 15 years ago, they are basically
"And I get where they are coming from but I am willing to sacrifice a sound quality over convenience"
as in the early days with expensive storage people made 128, sometimes even 96kBit mp3s.....
Dont get me wrong, but the time of MP3 in any "hifi" related stuff is gone, CD quality exist since 40 years, the only problem was storage....WAS!
Ofc a 320kbit mp3 also sounds awesome and most of my music is still 256 or 320kbit VBR mp3, but with good headphones (and mostly a good preamp...) you could hear the difference to CD quality. Ofc i barely hear a difference and in the most titles you dont hear a difference at all, but classic/dynamic/complex titles can easily sound a bit disorted/wrong when the compression is "overloaded" with "too much content" and simplify/cut down too much.
If bluetooth (and all devices) allow uncompressed CD quality (at best easily the 44kHz 16Bit PCM stream of the CD 1:1!), bluetooth is finally "HiFi" ready, but whats possible nowadays is still poor. Especially considering a unnecessary resampling within the android OS, the next resampling for the BT transmission, and another resampling/DSP in the headphones internally.
Really, what could go wrong? ;)
"Not to mention that it protects my ears since I don't have to amp up the volume now to overcome all the noise"
Sorry, but have you ever though why people before ANC were also fine with "passive" NC? My closed back headphones and the earpad sealing make enough noise cancelling so no DSP needed to make it "active".
ANC is ofc a nice feature, but the hiss without music and the even more reduced sound quality with ANC used make the ANC feature useless for me
"And most people can't tell the difference between a 320kbps AAC vs a FLAC in headphones. If I had good high end surround speakers, then yes I understand the logic. But headphones are only stereo channel (compared to 5.1 surround) and there is only so much you can get by having high res files."
What? HiRes is 24Bit and higher sample frequency, it doesnt have anything to do with surround sound. Its still stereo.
Also, "hi end surround speakers"... whats your point? Do we talk about cinema/multichannel formats (which HiRes IS NOT!)
What is "only so much we get by having hi res"? the surround?
exactly I couldn't of said it better because that's what I tell them too. TO EACH HIS OWN in my opinion listening to it on audiophile headphones with the dac is only lil better than sony and not worth the price diff
@@cocolokoflacco
"audiophile headphones with the dac is only lil better than sony"
lil better than Hi End Sony stuff from longer ago.... yes.
But Sonys XM4 ANC headphones are pretty much 10$ garbage when it comes to sound, therefor most 50$ wired headphones will show you how much better they are compared to XM4s for 200-350$
@@cocolokoflacco "not worth the price diff" is exactly what i would say when it comes to XM4 ANC headphones. Any BT headphones for much less money will perform aswell as the sonys and with many in the same price range as the XM4s you get a lot better sound quality.
Have you even heard anything "audiophile" grade at all yet?
@@harrison00xXx ppl like you are just sony haters and can't fool me because I use and try a wide range of headphones. don't be mad because u paid all that money and sony can compete
I have watched so many reviews on Sony 1000XM4. Yours stands out. Thank you for your in-depth review.
if you don’t need noise canceling, and don’t mind wired-i recommend the sony mdr-1am2. that’s my daily driver and it sounds great. build is awesome and comfort is there too. andrew, props for playing street fighter V.
Just bought the XM4's, love the reviews and keep it up!! :)
I like my XM3. On flights and trains it’s great to keep the ambient sound out. After the launch of the XM4 I updated my XM3 and found that there’s a huge leap in their software.
I like my XM3. Gotta go try the XM4. Nice review. TQ!
I am listening to this review through my SONY WH-1000XM3 (not m4) headphones right now. I work in a music rehearsal studio and these do a fantastic job at drowning out the cacophony of droning lows by bass amp and kick drums that are rattling through my neighbors' walls. The M3s at least don't sound nearly as good as my Shure SRH 840 corded cans and I'll take the Paradigm Monitor SE Atom's I bought (because of you) over anything, BUT these do very well in terms of allowing me to roam free and keep the "peace" inside my head when I'm pulling these 12 hour days.
PS: Headphones I use --
SONY WH-1000XM3 -- daily, for work and blocking out noise
Bose QC20 (noise cancelling earbuds) -- usually for travel or as backups noice cancelling in the office
Shure SRH 840 -- great studio headphones, decent for critical audio, great wired cans for the money
Westone AM Pro 30s (wired but often used with a wireless in-ear-monitoring system) -- these are purposed for live performance but I also used these for travel. Fairly expensive but amazing for what they are. They naturally reduce outside noice by 15db but are designed to let in some outside noise, so they're what I'd call "passive noise cancelling". I use these a lot just as effective earplugs at loud concerts.
Great review. Based on this and a few other folks I subscribe to, I just bought them new on Amazon, who has them for $278, which is a fair price for what I hope will be an upgrade. Plan to use them as my primary for pairing to my iPhone and iPad (where I listen to music and watch videos the most) and pairing my older Bose QC 35ii's to my Mac for work. I don't think my Bose look too bad. ;) BTW: maybe I just overlooked it, but love your headphone stand. While I know you didn't review it, you got me to buy one of those too! Happy Holidays Andrew! Have enjoyed following you and learning.
By far the best review I’ve seen on RUclips so far for the XM4’s. I have viewed multiple reviews on the RUclips platform prior making the move to replace my XM3’s, and this review did it. Kudos for that. Great video Andrew.
Wow, thanks!
Try the drop pandas. They don't have noise cancelling but they should sound much more similar to your audiophile headphones than you're typical bluetooth headphones.
Feel better about my purchase now.😄 Just turn down bass adjust the rest. Now you got some awesome sounding headphones.
This guy knows his stuff. Very good review. Peaky trebles can be tiring for headphones. I bought a set on the back of this review and they sounded a lot better overall than my momentum 3 wired, and they sound as good as the PX7 (maybe not as wide a soundstage but more detailed in mids).
Could you try B&W PX7 too please? I wonder how would they stand against Sony. Thank you
The pink thumbnail was a winner
Thanks!
Sennheiser PXC 550, perfectly balanced. Can wear all day, sound wise and comfort wise.
Same!
just ordered these, next headphones for working from home :)
They're really good. I think you'll like them a lot.
Be warned, they aren’t good for calls e.g. Zoom, Google Meet, Slack etc. Sound great for music, can’t fault them there, but I returned them as the call quality made them unsuitable for working from home in my experience.
@@emjbee101 been using them for my teams calls for almost month now, granted indoors but there doing a good job.
Gone from wired headphones to wireless headphones all the way.
I use the inear 1000M3 when flying, in the bus/train or walking with the dog.
At home my choise is the Hifiman Ananda BT, which replaced my Chord Mojo/Hifiman Sundara combo. Gone are also all USB and extension wires.
I am glad that I made the choice to go wireless.
As an urban condo dweller with upstairs and downstairs neighbors, I have to use headphones.
For about a year, I used Sony MDR-1000X (i.e. 3 models ago) noise canceling headphones. LDAC connectivity is capable of delivering all of CD-quality FLAC, and most of 96/24 hi-res. I used them at work and around the house and think they sound great.
Before quarantine, I purchased some used Sony MDR-Z7 headphones and a new DAP with balanced output, total outlay about 700 bucks. As you say above, the Sony noise-cancelers get very close. With that said, the MDR-Z7 are waaaay more comfortable and durable (the MDR-1000X developed the common headband crack issue, which necessitated buying a 3-D printed replacement part on ebay.
I think you should elan into this "audiophile light" ethos and review headphones that can be driven by a phone or DAP without amplification. Which are the best for the money? Sony? Monoprice? Hifiman? Sennheiser?
I’d prefer wired but I’m just not ready to foot the bill yet. I need noise cancelling and want something I can take on the go. I’m tired of wired earbuds and not going to waste my money on AirPods. Just found a used pair of these for $250, really looking forward to it and finally working from home with them. Thanks for all your help Andrew!
Something like an HD-6XX with a portable dac/amp would also “smoke” the Sony for similar money, you don’t have to spend $1000. The gap is getting smaller however, XM3 & 4 are great sounding headphones, and the NC tech and portability is awesome.
Thank you
Your review isn’t telling us to buy or not buy
It is telling us what you gonna get and why you should get it.
Listen Sony 1000M3 ... very satisfied ...the new multiple pairing of the M4's is a feature I wanted from day one.on my M3's... believe the Bose have had this for a couple years.
I’ve had these headphones for four days and I can attest that your review is spot on! I’ve never had a pair of headphones that I liked which is why I tend to never buy them. Those days are over. Buy with confidence! These are a major GO!
So glad you’re enjoying them!
DITTO at the time of reading your comment I also had them for 4days and yes they are worth every penny, but gtfoh tryna sound like flossy Carter😆
Help❓❓How do you sing along with music and not have the headphones cut off? Does it have a Sing along function? Other than raising & resting your hand on the right ear cup? Thank you for your help.
Turn off voice activation on the app. That is really the only way.
I use the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless PXs. I absolutely love the neutral sound. The ANC isn’t top notch but it’s not bad. If you get a chance I highly recommend giving them a spin. They also use AptX for high bit rate wireless audio.
For serious wired audio listening sessions, I use a STAX SR-007tA Hybrid Tube Amp which feeds a KOSS ESP 95/X MassDrop Headphones. My source is a PS Audio DirectStream Sr. DAC feeding a Balanced Audio Technology VK-50SE Fully Tubed Preamp. SACD's/DSD files. Hi res & Red Book PCM
For bicycling and doing mundane stuff outside or even indoors. My Bose QC35II's (love the ergonomics) or my Son's Bose 700's (hate their ergonomics). AmazonHD Music @ 320kbps via Bluetooth and my iPhone 5s.
Once again Andrew, great video and comparison's !
excellent review. Listened to on my XM4's - agree on all points.
Thanks for watching!
Would be curious to know what EQ settings you’ve done in the app
I was thinking the same thing.
On Sony Headphone app get in appstore
You should try the “Bright” EQ setting.
Hey Andrew. It has nearly been a year since this review and now the Sony WH-1000XM5 are out with claims of "better tuning". Do you plan on doing a review of them and commenting whether the bass has been improved? Thanks.
Hey Andrew! Get to work and answer this question!
this is the best review i have seen on these headphones and i have seen atleat 10 to 15
Thank you so much! We appreciate you watching.
This was maybe the best XM4 (or XM3) review in RUclips! Thanks! 👍
Thank you 👍.
I’m curious how much better are these over the previous version. I love the xm3s.
I love this review! Sony owes you a lot.
I use both cabled and the Sony Wh1000xm4 headphones. They are really good for music production and the sound is incredible after coming through a mixer board/ audio interface and the headphone amp.
Do you use the xm4's wired? if not, don't you find the lag intolerable?
@@TRIaXOR the delay is barely noticable for me with or without the cable plugged into the laptop, but to hear the raw effects through the mixer the cable needs to be used via the headphone jack. In FL studio there is about an 8ms to 10ms delay which makes it barely noticable with minor tweaking
@@MrChalmers99 I'm using a bluetooth transmitter on my Scarlett 18i20 as monitor, when playing live the delay is around 200-250ms due to AptX being removed in the XM4's basically rendering them useless for me :(
Wonder why I’m listening to this review on the 1000XM4s after I already bought them. I love them though. And your review sounds amazing on this.
Had my Mk3's for just over a year now, and I love them. Great quality, excellent noise cancelling, and I like the sound. I have tinnitus, and noise cancelling is essential for me to keep the volumes down. I actually use mine wired at home in my system, so I get the best of both worlds. The only other phones I was recommended were the Bowers & Wilkins PX7's, which at the time were a bit more expensive than the Sony.
Very useful an pleasant review, thanks! Wish I'd seen it before buying my pair! Most other reviewers gloss over the audio quality or called it ''clear'' when it's much more bass heavy than I expected. I use it wired half the time and can't adjust the EQ via app while doing so. I's still mostly satisfied with my purchase, but the bass threw me off guard.
This headphones were never considered clear. While they aren't the most bass heavy, they do have great lows, and acceptable but good highs too. It has that punch bass, and dynamic climatic sounding which is very lovely. 👍
@@alexsmith1207 2 or 3 headphone reviews boasted how the xm4s sound "so much more neutral and balanced" than the xm3s. So some people do consider them than way, it seems :)) boy, am I glad I did not go for the xm3s (edit for typos)
Agreed
I have a pair of XM3 and in order to make them sound neutral, I need to set 20 Hz and lower to -3 dB, then linearly ramp down to -20 dB at 50 Hz (yes, -20 dB!!!), and linearly ramp up to 0 dB at 220 Hz, then flat 0 dB for the rest of the spectrum up to 20 kHz. Impossible to do it using the app, since the eq in that app only starts at 400 Hz.
Totally agree with you , Andrew. A group of audiophiles suggested me strictly against my XB900N. But I took a leap of faith and bought those. I have been using Sennheiser HD212 and AT M50X, and the Sony connected to LDAC , with the bass turned a little down on my Dolby Atmos EQ in OnePlus 7T, they sound so nice, it is extremely satisfying. The heavy bass might be good for Hiphop or edm tracks, but for everything else, I love my Sony.
I have the XM3s and they’re great. Couldn’t agree more that the comfort, functionality and freedom you have with them is certainly something to consider before you dismiss them for not being “audiophile perfection”.
Plus, on a flight.....👨🏻🍳💋👌🏻
Oh how I wish I had these last year when my wife and I flew to Paris. They would've been GREAT!
Yeah, got older XM2 and they make business flights reimagined! Brilliant experience when I took them off after 2 hours and got shocked how loud it was outside headphones :)
I’m glad I stumbled upon this review and I think this seals the deal why I’m going for the the xm4. Thanks!
I purchased the Sony wh-h900n noise canceling headphones last summer. I'm not a huge headphones fan, but I love listening to them when I need to keep things quiet for the wife. The only other over the ear headphones I own are a Lloyd's brand I bought as a kid in the early 1970s for $8.00. Hardly comparable, lol.
Well done! I was about to buy those and when I saw you actually reviewed them, I was eager to hear your opinion. I think that this set has the best value for money currently in the market and I can't wait for them to arrive. Keep up the good work you two!
Can't wait for this guy to get hold of some wireless planar magnetic headphones like thx drop pandas... It's another level.
Off topic, but I wanted to say thank you for plugging the Kanto YU6 so often. It led to me purchasing them to use at my computer desk (similar to your setup) to listen to while I work all day. The near field sound of these things is incredible.
Had never even heard of them before I found your channel. Might have made a dumb purchase if I hadn't found it.
Now I kind of want some Klipsch the fives for my living room...
Worth every penny. This is me coming from the Bose and Master & dynamic
We think so too!
Nice review! I`ve always used generic headphones and about 3 years ago got the senheiser momentum 2 (wired). Was totally blown away with the sound quality! I`m no audiophile but was kinda amazed with how much I had been missing all those years. Now with working from home, I am feeling the need for bluetooth headphones to make calls as well as have good sound quality for my music, and am currently waiting for my newly purchased XM4 to arrive. I just hope its sound quality can match or even surpass the Senheiser, but from your review it seems like I have nothing to worry about!
Let me know how it compared. I just got the xm4
@@Repienk My just arrived yesterday! Been tweaking it and love it so far! It`s definetely a step up from the senheiser Momentun 2, especially in the bass, but without sacrificing the mids and highs! It`s specially good using LDAC codec. I`ve managed to install LDAC codec for my linux laptop using a custom pulseaudio build called pulseaudio-modules-bt. It`s very nice having LDAC on laptop! No luck on windows though, can`t find any way to get LDAC working there. Overall very happy with the xm4 so far!
@@slaynnyt8130 dope. The only gripe I have is that when I cough the sound stops. Lol
I went from a Sony XM2 to the AKG N700NC. Confort is not that good, noise reduction is average, but the sound quality is outstanding, perfectly balanced and neutral.
I bought these a few weeks ago I never spend much on headphones normally but ot has to be said these are very good 👍 great investment
I am #teamwired BUT recently bought a Sony HiRes player and became aware of Noise Cancel, EQ settings, LDAC... I never thought me, a wired, flat no presets would go for BT, EQ presets. Customization & versatility available with technology is convenient too! Yes, not every file and source is HiRes. Nothing is set in stone in this hobby.
What a great review! Informative, concise, clear, thorough without being boring and quite objective and authentic.
Much appreciated!
Pairing to multiple devices limits you to AAC, which doesn't matter if you're using Apple devices.
I like Bluetooth. I’m trying to decide between the Sony or wait for the AirPods Studio. I have Bose AE2 and hate the sound.
I was in the same spot but went for Sony for one main reason.... they’ve been doing these for 4 generations now it will take Apple a few versions to get there’s as tweaked as these. Plus last I read they’ll only last around 8 hrs but who knows
Rolando Salgado I’m also facing the same problem. Although i think the new airpods studio is just a beats hedphone with the apple logo.
I have these and they are great so far, I paid about $215, as they were on sale, plus my brother works for Best Buy
What’s your eq for the xm4s I just got them today :)
Do you have any comments on the Sony XM4 once you connect them via 3.5 jack to a, let’s say, DAC + AMP? Is there any significant improvement when compared with the Bluetooth connection? Tks.
i was wondering about this as well , nobody seems to review them with the cables on
I just bought the xm4 and a week before I got the THX onyx as a gift. When you use DLAC vs cable and Dac. The first thing that I noticed is the mods and highs sound better over the cable. But Bluetooth on dlac sounds good too. A little thing to give up while traveling. I'm on a plane and with dlac is more than enough to get rid of the cable when you're too busy.
Thankyou
you are the first ever who spoke on BASE in these headgears.
loved this review only
and oy video on youtube about this headgear to get a thumbs up.
I have the XM3s. I use a Harmon based custom eq both wired and wireless. The Sony come a lot closer to my Denon AH-D5200 and my Fostex TH900 than they should!
I’ve just discovered your videos. This review is amazing!
I’ve just bought a pair of XM4 to replace my Samsung Galaxy Buds+. The Buds are convenient and sound good enough for my ridiculously lame pair of ears, but I wanted to try something that sound better (consider I’m no audiophile by any stretch of the imagination). Let’s see when they arrive.
Current Buds Plus user here. Yeah. We both have same thought about upgrading audio experiences and I'm also eyeing on 1000xm4. Is it good?
@@Han-rq3yq ask me again in a week or so, when they arrive :D
How are these headphones for rock and metal music, could anyone tell!?
Great!
They're really good for rock and metal. That's exactly what I'm mostly using them for. Just use the "excited" EQ Preset
@@dethroj3thro368 Does it work seemlessly with no hiccups in the Audio?
Yash Dixit In my experience yes. I’ve had them for about a week now and I haven’t any issues.
For home I use Klipsch HP-3 they sound fantastic and fun, for the go I use B&W PX7 they sound amazing and noise canceling is very decent.
Keep the good work with your channel I really enjoy it.
I was skeptical when you said you're not an audiophile , but you have tons of pairs of headphones and very much interested in them...but i believed you as soon as you said you wanted more colors...LOL
I recently bought the KZ ZS10 Pro. I couldn't imagine that an IEM could sound that good... I also have the Sennheiser HD600, the Sennheiser HD280pro and the BeyerDynamic DT 770 Pro. But no bluetooth headphones yet.
Θάνος Παπαχρήστου I love my KZ IEMs too! These Bluetooth headphones are good though. Just the noise cancelling when you’re trying to tune out even the sound of the air conditioning can make everything sound better and less distracting. They’re fun to adjust with the app too.
So what is your magic eq setting for Xm4?
Andrew/Kristi, nice video!
I have the previous model, the xm3's and I really like them. I prefer not to use headphones and only use them on flights or when in the office. I agree they aren't for exercising, and they often make my ears sweaty (sorry, that's gross!) I've been wondering if it's worthwhile upgrading to this newer version??
Thanks for the review...it was AWESOME and very detailed! I may have missed it in your description notes but were did you get you wooden headphone stand? Its KILLER! Ed
You'll find all the links & info in the description box just below the video's title.
Hi Andrew, I'm using the 1000XM3 and I love them.
That's awesome! Thanks for watching!
I really appreciate your review. Saw a lot before buying these and this is the most helpful and informative. Thank you.
Your point about customising the sound signature is valid and it's what frustrates me about high end (no tone control) Amplifiers.
IMO it's impossible to get the exact tonal balance from an Amp and speakers without an equaliser tweak.
I will say I do believe the Sony does go a step or two beyond mere tone controls here, but I do get your point. When it comes to personal audio (or anything) make it how you want and don't sweat other peoples' opinions. Thanks for watching!
Thank you Andrew, super thorough review. I've used Sony headphones tethered and Bose Sport Bluetooth earbuds. Bose has always sounded a bit flat and having the ability to EQ to one's preference makes the difference and is a huge selling point for me. Maybe we want our comfort not so quiet. ;)
I got the older version about 3 months ago, Sony 3x1000, and the Sennheiser HD 650, and I use the Sony's mainly for sports talk shows, podcasts, or while I am on my computer. But I use the 650s when I really want to chill for a while on some good rock. But, I spend 90 percent of my time using the Sony's, so, if one is trying to be cash savvy, I would suggest getting the Sony's and a cheaper open speaker headphone like the Philips SHP 9500, which you can pick up for 75 bucks.
Hi! Great review, I have the XM2s and really enjoy them...might be a good time to upgrade. Would you mind sharing the equalizer settings you used? Thanks!
I appreciate your takes on audio equipment keep up the good work!
Your review made up my mind about which headphone to settle for! Thanks!
You can edit videos!!!??? The search is finally over! Thank for being so thorough! God bless you!