**PLEASE READ CAREFULLY** 1) Want more info? The show notes are here: darko.audio/2021/09/a-short-film-about-the-sony-wf-1000xm4/ 2) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome (but no URLs, please) 3) All comments are moderated by a third party
What most miss about the xm4s is that once you insert it into your ear, you got to twist it backward up to get the right fit in. I wear them for atleast 3 hours everyday and sometimes I even forget I have them on with ambient noise on. I wish everybody discovers this crucial info about wearing them right
Don't believe that mate. I had these Sony buds in for half an hour and my ears were sore. When removing the right earbud it would leave the foam tip lodged right in my ear and difficult to remove. Also, what is the point of being able to connect to 8 devices if you cant use it with two devices? Ended up taking them back for a refund.
@@Elfin4 Hey.. Just give my method a try. I hated them the first two days. My ears turned red and sore and regretted getting them. But then I realised I got to wear them right by turning it a little away from where it was touching the ears where the gold accent is. It needs to point a little more downward than straight ahead. Not only is it comfortable now, it also doesn't have an awkward look. Used to jutt out earlier. I absolutely love them now. Not sure how you got the foam tip lodged in there as they're quite a tight fit on the ear buds and don't come off easy
@@dennislouis6069 The golden accent should lie between Tragus and Antitragus, in the Intertragal notch but not touch them. Is that what you mean? P.S. - Right above the ear lobe (lobule) is a small U shaped, downward facing empty space called Intertragal notch. On the side of the notch that is adjacent to your face is a small C shaped protrusion called Tragus. Opposite to it is a similar bit less defined protrusion called Antitragus. Sorry for getting a bit technical but I Iike the Sony buds way more than Bose and I have read a lot of people saying they are uncomfortable, just want to be sure before purchasing.
I was scared that my new Xm4's wouldn't work out for me cause of the pain at the beginning. But after 1 week of usage my ears got used to them and now I barely feel them when having them in my ear... And the quality on the ambient and ANC is just redicilously good!
I have had many iem's and yes I can get used to memory foam plugs, but despite wanting the best of the best, I still love silicone tips. That's awesome you are enjoying yours, but I have some oval silicone tips I use with the mk 4's that are just magic for me. Give some silly's a shot if you feel like playing with your setup
My pain from the XM4's did not come from the foam plugs at all. It came from the physical case. It touched my earbone thingy on my left ear and it caused physical, overwhelming pain even after only a short time. I hate this so much becaus the quality is out of this world. Had to order the Airpods Pro just because they seem more comfortable, expecting them soon.
@@resurrex2826 I have a small ears and I used the m4 for like 3 weeks and still feeling so much pain in my earbons so I ordered AirPods Pro and they better for my ears
I never know with these reviews to what extent they are bought advertising by the brands giving the goods away or even paying for positive reviews. But you, somehow, feel completely honest. And knowledgeable. And your musical knowledge (going into Johnny Marr’s guitar playing and Michael Stipes’ vocals in, by far, Billy Bragg’s best album) just did it for me. And congrats on the sound and image quality. You have a new subscriber
Enjoyed seeing you out and about. I know that there has to be more work to do that but it makes the video much more interesting to watch, especially coming from the US. Keep up the good work, all of you. Now out on some AC/DC and rock out. 🤘🏼🎸🤘🏼
Thanks John. For this XM4 owner there's a nugget of gold very early on in your review. Although I love the sound quality, and I agree that the bass is particularly special, I just can't get on with my XM4s because of the Sony tips. The small doesn't seal properly and the medium takes me forever to get in and out of my ears as I have to roll the tips between my fingers to compress the foam as much as I can before getting them in my ear as quickly as possible and even then they have started uncompressing enough that I have to spend ages twisting and pushing to try and get them secure. It just kills the convenience for me. Frankly I watched in awe and envy every time you so effortlessly put your XM4s into your ears. The nugget of gold you included in your video for me was your mention very early on that you had replaced the tips with Final Audio tips. A bit of research makes me pretty confident that it is the "Type E" that is compatible with the XM4s so I have just ordered the mixed pack of all 5 sizes from Amazon UK (although I think they actually ship from the USA). I'm really hoping that will fix my fit & convenience issue and allow me to use these without the frustration that frankly has relegated them to sitting in a drawer unused at the moment. That's the trouble with in-ears, however good the audio quality if you can't find a tip that works for you it kills the whole product stone dead for individuals unlucky enough to have the wrong sized ears for a particular set of tips.
I’ve always loved your channel. And adore Jana. But your end of video comment on getting a dog really did it for me. I’ve been married 37 years,but in year 2 we got our first dog, and have had many since. My 80lb black English lab is my companion, walking, hiking, errands, listening to music, cooking, whatever. They are the best. I appreciate you now more than ever! Thanks for the great approach to music, and for thinking about dogs!
So appreciate you leaning into aligned & essential audio utility as well. The Rai Solos and Master and Dynamics IEMs you recommended in the past are still my all around’r go to travel favs.
Great review John, I own both the AirPods Pro and just recently the XM4’s, love them both for different reasons, the Sony’s for their musical reproduction and ANC, and the AirPods do a fantastic job with phone calls and I’m now a convert on the Spacial and Dolby Atmos reproduction of the audio, another great review and came at the right time for me👍 🎧
@@helenalovelock1030 If you fully sleep face up or face down, you won't have a problem at all. But, if you sleep on your side, it can be a little bit uncomfortable and might hurt your ear, you gotta find a sweet spot to fully sleep on your side properly.
I used the XM4 for a week, after using the Airpods Pro for about 6 months. The XM4 has great ANC, lots of bass, maybe too. much, but i just couldnt get used to the fit. So eventually returned them and went back to the Airpods Pro, to each is own, but all round i find they perform better and the sound is more natural to my ears.
Thanks! Olaf does indeed do a great job and I was super-excited to edit this one (and spent much longer on the edit as a result) because I thought it looked so damn good. Our first in 4K!
John , my dogster is deaf, But when I’m listening to hifi she seems to just calm down and be happy to sit next to me on the chair without fussing too much like she normally does. I do think that dogs can sense when their parent is content & enjoying music. You will absolutely love having a dog.
Great review as always. Every one likes the earphones they own but it's good to hear your thoughts on the mx4's. I find the fit and audio a big improvement from the mx3's. When you hear new details in old favourites and it puts a smile on your face there's something good happening.
i have to say i frickin loved this, i'm not really an audiophile but i've been trying to decide what wireless earphones to get for a while now and this review was perfect, it didn't just say omg get these they're so good, you just summed up the pros nd cons in a really understandable way, especially for someone who's never had a nice pair of wireless earphones before. :)
Great perspective John and an a true advocate for music first. I do a lot of running and bike commuting. I have been using multiple iems Bose QC 20, Bose soundsport, Sony XM3, AirPods and the Pro. But I must say the aerodynamic shape of the AirPods Pro with the passiv isolation is far the best performer for fast cycling, sports etc. It creates the lowest windnoise of all iems and enables me to listen to music at lower level and deliver a better overall sound experience. I always deselect noise cancellation as I find the that feature not functioning properly with wind on any iems so far.
It's rather unfortunate that I can't wear the XM4s for exstensive periods and I've never had that kind of setback before. Funny thing is that they look ergonomic but the tips are a pain when it comes to fiddling with the fit or simply having them in your ears. That said, the CX400BT earbuds are much more comfortable and have a massive soundstage that I believe the Sonys could truly benefit from. Both of these buds are the best I've tried but both have something artificial about their interpretations of sound. Out of the box they're both friendly to the low end while leaving much of the high end behind for a "puffier" sound. Nothing that can't be fixed in the EQ on their respective apps, but I guess both Sony and Sennheiser have decided for you that cymbals, hi-hats, snare, acoustic/electric guitar, piano/keyboards, high-end synths/sound fx will permanently sound duller or less natural than to be expected. I think the raw texture of all those things is better represented via the XM4s as well as the bass (asuming you EQ it to be as close to the default as possible). Alternatively, I think the Sennheisers push everything out more to let the sizzles, snaps, and claps breathe better but it can be hard to well whether or not brighter toned music makes the most of it. Maybe if a push towards making even old music sound breath-takingly stronger was made, modern songs would sound that much better- everything would sound much better. That's my nitpick so far after less than a week oof. I'm no audiophile but I couldn't get by with actual over-ear headphones as big and obvious as they are (my parents would tell me to take them off in a heartbeat)
Thank you for this review. I think I might be getting these earphones. They are beautiful, I like that they support 5.2 Bluetooth and the LDAC codec which is currently the best codec we as consumers can get at a discrete price.
You can turn on and off the DSP on the AirPod pro. Transparency and ANC have DSP, and the difference is staggering. Also, I heard it does some sort of measurement (several times per second) of our ear canal to adapt to our music.
On my 2nd pair of XM4s...returned the first pair after 3 weeks due to the ear fatigue in my smaller ears. Then as is the case with personalized ads on social media, I saw a certified refurbed set for $180 and decided to give them another chance. I changed the tips to Complys dedicated ones for the Sony TWS...night and day difference in comfort and even sound quality....these rock when I am out and about. Calls do suck though, ppl complain that I am talking in a tunnel.
I've not had an issue with long wearing times. I use it for work 8-10 hours a day. Perhaps the memory foam air tips it comes with help distribute the weight better than your replacement tips? I've used foam tips with Sony XBA 4s in the past so perhaps I'm used to them (I loved those xba 4s!). The foam tips form a tight seal and block a lot of sound even on my old non noise cancelling XBA4s. I also often wear fitted ear plugs to block noise, which are the best, for reference of what experience I've had in this area. The Xm4s have been great. I use it with Tidal and the sound is good. Agreed that it suits modern music. Doja Cat with 360 audio sounds excellent, and I don't even like hip hop. Agreed that some acoustic sounds a bit artificial. I listen to a lot of Beethoven and movie soundtracks and enjoy them a lot. But I agree that I've had better wired headphones especially for detail and classical (Sony's XBA 4s were excellent, especially after a few hours of wear in, although I know many who disagree). But the XM4s are the best wireless headphones I've heard.
I would recommend giving the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 a shot. I never had TWS IEMs sounding this close to an over ear headphone they are ridiculously good. Although the ANC may not be as effective as the Sony's and my major gripe is the runtime of these but apart from that? Stellar.
How about the high end clarity and detail? That's where Sony don't quite get it right for me, but I think part of it is because they're pandering to those who want strong, heavy bass as the main feature.
Fantastic review! I have these and could not agree with you more. Also love at 15:28 when your phone has a notification for Steve Guttenberg. I love it when the top reviewers support each other! Our love for audio makes.us all family 😁
Am using my airpod pro with comply foam tips made for this apple’s specific type of buds. Worth to try cos much better sealing than the originals and to my taste it sounds better 👌
Great review, thanks! Quite unexpected, but right on time. I recently got the Xperia 1III and was thinking of also grabbing a pair of these. This would be my first foray into wireless, but if I can find a way of putting triple flange tips on them, I think they'd work well.
I bought the Sony WF-1000XM4's and I tried and tried and tried and couldn't get them to fit and seal, not even marginally well. I was so disappointed and though sure I was doing something wrong. After 24 hrs of trying I returned them and bought the AirPod Pro, which fit so, so much better, connected seamlessly and sound perfectly good as wireless IEM.s go. Your milage obviously DID vary! I love your channel!
I've kind of given up on actually getting good SQ from wireless IEMs, for now at least. My solution right now is Airpods Pro for podcasts etc and (wired) Blessing 2 Dusk for actual music enjoyment. Quite happy with the duo. Cheers!
You hit on one of my main uses for EarPod pros - I turn on noise-cancelling at the gym without music to cancel out clattering weights and the insipid music gyms always seem to play.
Would recommend having a read of people’s issues with these before buying. I saw all the comments about quality control and assumed I wouldn’t have an issue, but am returning my second pair after running into the same issues as with my first pair - namely high pitched whines, metallic echos, and connection dropouts. Real shame because they really do sound fantastic but I’m not going to waste anymore time trying to find a pair that work properly
I consider Comply tips a necessary addition to the AirPods Pro. They give a truly perfect seal (if you pick the right size) and that’s when the drivers in the Pros finally shine. You still have to boost the low end a bit to get a balanced sound but not like 50% as I was doing with the included tips. Actually, with the Comply tips I consider the bass to be fuller and warmer than my XM3s. Give them a try.
I love these! Bought them recently and love them to bits. I use GRADO labs sr80e headphones on my desk at home and am used to a ballanced natural sound and these are just a dream with some base as well. ANC is amazing to me, just how quiet it can get in a crowded room or hallway or even on the road. It completely eliminates lowend rumbles. The controls are super intuitive and operate semingly, I love having my ANC controll and Ambient HOLD on the left and playback controlls with Google assistant on the right. Reads your messahes the time etc. Adding reminders, notes and getting information, requesting songs or asking whatever without saying " OK Google" all the time or grabing my phone is super practical and makes me feel less of a dork.
I've been using the wf1000xm3 for several months and love how they sound, maybe it is just my pair and some weird synergy with my ears but, I prefer them to some of my IEMs. With a wireless DAC/amp like a BTR5 using LDAC my better IEMs do sound better. Tempted to get the new Sony or the IFI Go Blu.
I recently got my XM4s and have somewhat mixed feelings about them. They have a great bass response and a really nice midrange. Which make them great for listening to a wide variety of music. But if you're someone who prefers a more analytical style with a really detailed treble, you might find yourself using the DSP to give them a slight treble boost. In that regard, I prefer my Sennheiser Momentum Wireless (I only have the older ones with the wireless neckband and the wired plugs). But the XM4s definitely have their qualities.
Yes I have to agree. I'm a big Sony fan and I'm no expert, but I bought the same Sennheiser set for exactly the same reason. Seems to be the case with many headphones, the manufacturers often place more emphasis on heavy bass and lose some of the high end clarity and detail in the process. I have to say that Sony do a better job than most, but I think their sound stage is better suited to speakers than headphones.
The speaking to pause and drop ANC is so good. Someone stops you to ask something you speak and it just does everything for you. I don't even take them out in shops etc, which wearing a mask makes life easier.
Love this guys's voice and pacing. It's so comforting, calming and easy to follow. Somewhat of a 'Veritasium' vibe. Very pleasant. Kudos to the honesty with which he talks about consumer grade bluetooth earphones. It resonated with what I personally experienced a few weeks ago. I had never listened to audio on a set of wired IEM(don't know the brand) before let alone know what they are and later fortunately happened to listen to the Sony WF1000XM3(have listened on other bluetooth headphones before). The bass and low frequency response that I was so used to was non-existent on the wired IEMs. It felt so flat and unnatural that I didn't like the experience. P.S.: I have never used an external DAC or amplifier in combination with a high grade audiophile IEM. Full disclosure, I do not anything about audiophile setups or equipment. While I was trying to learn more about such topic, I came across this channel. And, I must say I love this channel's content and especially the narrator, Mr. darko. Cheers!
I really like the way you set the context and explain the stuff with so much of energy and details. Hats off to your efforts in making these videos and sharing such a great knowledge with us. Thanks a lot and looking forward for many more such interesting videos to learn more from you!
It's a rare moment when an in-ear headphone of any brand is comfortable and effective out of the box. I replaced the Airpod pro's tips immediately with some aftermarket silicone tips- much better! Seal and sound (and also not falling out of your ears) immediately way better... Wouldn't it be nice if Apple actually listened to complaints? As for the wired version, I still like Etymotics- but I'm not addicted to bass thud...
Enjoyed the video, thanks for putting it out John. Can you recommend any other audio reviewers who listen to rock or metal and use this sort of music when reviewing gear?
Noise cancellation for the person at the other end of a phone call is as important as that for the wearer of the monitors, be they in-ear or over-ear. But it's harder to assess than the noise you hear yourself as the wearer. My AirPods Pro appear to pass through quite a bit of noise to the caller, judging by complaints from my family when I'm calling them. My son has a pair of Sony WH-CH510 and likes to call me while he's walking home or making a meal. The noise I get in either case is atrocious. Basically intolerable. So... I'd love to hear some comparisons of the effectiveness of noise cancellation in the audio sent to the other end of a phone call.
Bought these a couple years ago in part because of this review. I have had fitting issues but the sound is very good, my only issue is after a couple years the battery life is pretty poor. You pay a premium price for this and expect the battery to last a little longer than it actually has! Have read about various issues elsewhere with this & its disappointing that Sony don't care if its out of warranty - the customer has to pay to fix thiis 😞
Thanks for your review. I have been doubting between these two for a few months now. My wired earbuds always get destroyed within 2 to 6 months, and therefore i'm looking for wireless earbuds to listen to music almost all day while i'm working and chilling. thanks and all the best wishes for 2022
Nice review, especially the video and sound quality. I have the Jabra Elite 64T, they only lasted for about a year before flaking out, and the sound was not that good. Based on this review, I'm going to give the Sony WF-1000XM4 a try. Thanks.
I bought my first pair of ANC Sony earbuds (wired) in 1990. Great PNC (sealed very well) with super light earbuds and superb ANC They were 10 hour earbuds without a doubt. They were a godsend on planes and worked flawlessly until 2016 = quality. I never fly without ANC... which I leave on during the flight even if I am not listening to anything. While listening, I can keep the level very low because I don't have to drown out the ambient noise. Traveling on bus or train would have the same advantage. I forgot them one trip and arrived completely fatigued. I still think it is worth it to get custom moulded tips to use with any and all IEMs. Please be careful in traffic with earbuds/headphones. Our ears give us important cues which shave seconds off of reaction times.
I have had a pair of 85t's as well. I regularly cut grass with my petrol lawnmower and they just cut all that noise out. Not quite so good with a chainsaw but still very impressive. As to sound quality I use an iPhone and reckon they sound very good. I wonder if you can hear the difference between LDAC and AAC in normal use?
Shifted from airpods to the SONY XM4.. Huge difference in sound quality, ANC and battery life.. The charging case supports wireless charging as well. Loving the Sony!
This perspective is really interesting - l love his channel for that aspect. I own the XM3 currently and massively agree regarding the proper seal - noise cancelling does improve things but not as much as having a good seal which I achieve with Sony's amazing hybrid rubber/comply-style ear tips. I've tried the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro (as well as quite a few IEMs over the years) so I have these as a refernece. The only thing lacking I think is the shape of the earbuds on the Sonys, they stay in and are comfortable but are rather bulky. I think Sennheiser have a good offering in terms of clarity and overall sound quality but even the Sony XM3 sound amazing for what they are. If these XM4s come down in price to nearer the XM3 (which are currently half of the price of the newer model) I will be picking a pair up!
I use mine with players only, paired with my A & K junior player the sound is amazing. Easy to pair, set all the EQ on the player, and off you go. The noise-canceling is particularly effective. I have no idea if a phone actually brings out the best of these earbuds.
Hi, thanks for the video. Would like to ask a couple of questions. 1) How long were the XM4 used before the review? Any significant difference has been appreciated? Any "burn-in" to be had? 2) About the 360 spatial audio. Is it a feature that makes it worth the buy? Does it make or break this product? does it justify - if any - somewhat lesser audio quality when compared with wired IEMs? 3) DXEE Extreme. Does it serve any signficant feature? - as in, does it work as advertised? Thanks, have a nice day.
I'd like to add that I was able to find a XM4 during this Black Friday in a local electronics store where I live at 190€. I was asking these questions as they may be of use for me to understand if I could pull the trigger on these, or seek something different like the B&O PI7. Thanks
Along with the tip provided below about how to position them. Open your mouth when inserting them. Your jaw bone spaces out further and allows the ear canal to expand, allowing you to get a tighter seal.
Excellent camera work. I am a cafe type of person. I can guarantee you that with your level of skills you could do a video of cafes in Berlin and it would get viewed by hundreds of thousands of people if not millions. PS I have a pair of huge tannoy speakers built in 1969 which give me super sound quality to this day.
I have always appreciated your reviews, you are a Rational Audiophile. I expect a lot out of my audio equipment but at times I do want convenience. I have held off on buying any Bluetooth In Ear Monitors because of my own expectations. I very much respect your reviews and so I have ordered a pair of the Sony WF-1000XM4's and looking forward to receiving and listening to them. I do believe I will be satisfied with them when considering convenience based on your review. We will have to wait and see, but thanks in advance...
I have a pair of Sennheiser Momentum 2 and JBL Club Pro. Most earbuds have a downloadable app for your phone that has an equalizer on it. You can customize it yourself or you can go with one of many preset ones. That is the biggest difference imo. Pus, the proper size ear tips for fit and wearing them correctly (putting them in and twisting them "up" properly) are the biggest keys to quality sound. My problem is not the quality, just that they just don't get LOUD enough.
@@gorillapancake Sennheiser momentum true wireless 2 are worse than my 50 dollars wired in ear headphones, jesus christ, these Sony are terrible then :/. I don't know if I can't trust the word of this audiophile or yours tho.
They're alright to be honest.. A few gripes i personally have in the sound quality area: 1) Sound levels are low for the cost (yes I have used the EQ and volume on the connected device is all the way up) 2) I can't stress it enough...for the price point the sound levels and overall sound quality leaves you wanting more from these earbuds and possibly having you searching elsewhere if you're an audiophile type like myself
I use these Sony's on long trips in the car. Completely takes the noise fatigue out of rough country roads. Very happy with them on the open road, even with noise cancellation off.
The 3D sound watching Witcher season 2 on the apple tv with AirPods Pro blew my mind. Decided to try it one night when I didn’t want to wake the kids. That got me thinking about the AirPods Pro.
Good review from someone who actually is a passionate audiophile. So many reviews don't go into the right details. I have a pair of these coming, as I'm tired of having to hit pause, people only seem to want to talk when I'm listening to music. I'm getting the impression that these will be similar to my Yamaha eph-100 which I love, they're such good all rounders and especially with trance and jazz because of how they manage produce a wide soundstage with a thumping bass that's tight. I have many ba phones, and tbh I don't get on with how analytical they are. Hybrids for me is best, I get the warmth and details.
I finally upgraded the XM3s to XM4s. The Amazon deal was quite good. The fit is much better, as is the seal. But just as with the XM3s I’m trying to equalize them in an acceptable way. Out of the box the bass is overpowered and the highs are recessed. It’s possible to adjust the curve coarsely, but the “personality” of the drivers, so to say, remains present. I think I can be happy with these but it will take some time. Edit: pretty sure I can be happy! Dialed the bass way back to -5, 400 Hz is at -2, rest is 1 1 1 0. I might tweak it further, maybe even bring back some of the bass. But it’s amazing to get this quality in this small size.
I already were quite satisfied with the sound coming ort of the M3 for the price it's going nowadays, but the XM4 improved it even more eh? The Sony IMO is the best all rounder iem to have, it plays music good, and pair very well for both gaming na dmovie watching all because of that Bass.
You've got to remember how 'Blue Monday' era was recorded mate in the 80's. Was an idealized experiment. . Uber compressed. We mustn't expect miracles. I think I'll get the sonys for Mt. Biking. They sound ideal.
nice video.. I like very much your earphones/headphones/speakers reviews ..what is the brand and model name of your edc bag please while riding a bike and walking please? How many liters of the bag please? How much the bag please? Where you bought the bag please?
I have to say I really enjoyed this video, it felt very in depth and very high quality, and yet still very human. Also, no snobbery or anything like you were jut trying to portray your experience with the product, to inform.
@darkoaudio Great video. Please review the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro . Would love to hear your opinion on the dual driver TWS as compared to the sony xm4
John if I may ask, what lav mic were you using in the park. The audio quality of that microphone is incredible. Thank you for any info, much appreciated. Great review as always on the ear buds.
You seeing lots of dogs makes you want a dog...me watching this video makes me want some noise-cancelling IEMs. Lovely to see a bit of Berlin, too. Great video!
Hi John, Based on one of your older videos I bought the Campfire Audio Comet which I love. I saw you recently using the Satsuma which is the Comets replacement. I would like to know if it is worth upgrading to the Satsuma. Thanks and keep up the great work.
I'm having serious doubts about 'Future-fi' products. Almost two years to the day the left-hand bud battery does not last fifteen minutes. I have contacted Sony who have advised that as it's out of warranty I will have to send them for repair at my cost. It seems that in the USA they have been replacing these foc. Sony knows there is a problem but is not addressing it at least not in the UK. They cost me £200. I like other reviews for expensive active speakers but I'm now thinking what if you have to rely on updates from manufacturers and the same type of issue happens? Analogue systems are 'safe' from these types of issues. Maybe that's why vinyl is making a comeback? I think there needs to be a follow-up on this review reflecting the battery drain issue.
I love that he doesn't even tag the video with #apple or #airpods. It's like the dude doesn't even care about views, he's just making a damn good review for the people who care enough to find it.
I always stress to people you need to find tips that fits your ears best. Your review is very honest and not biased. Wish you would of covered the eq in the Sony’s manual settings. I see lots of people says the Sonys are too bass heavy and I’m like you can adj the eq in the app. Also did you know Sony has a sound test to see if your tips has a proper seal? I prefer the xm4 over the xm3 but not by much and mostly is they fit way better and I sleep with them in. I’m going to check your other vids. Overall good job
Great detailed review Sir! - I tired the MX4’s over my Apple AirPod’s Pros. I am using iPhone Pro 12 MAX. The sound was very good with the 360 enabled and adjusting the EQ. However I could not get them to fit the way I would prefer. I returned them because being Comfortable and being able to walk around freely without them leaving pressure within my earlobes is very important for me. However I would have to say that the AirPod pros sound great when you adjust Apple’s EQ and you’re using Apple Music. I ended up purchasing the B&O EQ’S in which have fantastic highs, tight base with little to no modeling at high volume. I think if Sony could focus a little bit more on attention to comfort maybe use softer materials and focus more on creating a pro line product feature premium materials and focuses more on comfort… I think they would absolutely wipe out the competition. What’s everyone’s thoughts 💭
I have the Sony’s and I agree with you they’re not comfortable, maybe is because I have small ears, I have to return them, I was looking for the B&O EQ for sound quality and comfort but I unsure if they’re still more comfortable than the Sony’s cause the B&O look bigger, how’s you’re experience with them so far ?
The B&O’s are great! They fit within the ear very nicely! The soft Materials that are used really do make a difference with creating a seal within your ear canal to create a very crisp music listening experience. I Also wanted to mention the app I prefer over the Sony as it’s much easier to use a lot more simplified. If you have extra cash I would highly recommend purchasing them and giving them a trial run to see which one you like the most and then return the one you don’t like.
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**PLEASE READ CAREFULLY**
1) Want more info? The show notes are here: darko.audio/2021/09/a-short-film-about-the-sony-wf-1000xm4/
2) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome (but no URLs, please)
3) All comments are moderated by a third party
What most miss about the xm4s is that once you insert it into your ear, you got to twist it backward up to get the right fit in. I wear them for atleast 3 hours everyday and sometimes I even forget I have them on with ambient noise on. I wish everybody discovers this crucial info about wearing them right
Welldone Dennis!!!! for sharing the tips.
Sorry, my English is kind of bad, what do you mean with twisting them backwards up?
Don't believe that mate. I had these Sony buds in for half an hour and my ears were sore. When removing the right earbud it would leave the foam tip lodged right in my ear and difficult to remove. Also, what is the point of being able to connect to 8 devices if you cant use it with two devices? Ended up taking them back for a refund.
@@Elfin4 Hey.. Just give my method a try. I hated them the first two days. My ears turned red and sore and regretted getting them. But then I realised I got to wear them right by turning it a little away from where it was touching the ears where the gold accent is. It needs to point a little more downward than straight ahead. Not only is it comfortable now, it also doesn't have an awkward look. Used to jutt out earlier. I absolutely love them now. Not sure how you got the foam tip lodged in there as they're quite a tight fit on the ear buds and don't come off easy
@@dennislouis6069 The golden accent should lie between Tragus and Antitragus, in the Intertragal notch but not touch them. Is that what you mean?
P.S. - Right above the ear lobe (lobule) is a small U shaped, downward facing empty space called Intertragal notch. On the side of the notch that is adjacent to your face is a small C shaped protrusion called Tragus. Opposite to it is a similar bit less defined protrusion called Antitragus.
Sorry for getting a bit technical but I Iike the Sony buds way more than Bose and I have read a lot of people saying they are uncomfortable, just want to be sure before purchasing.
I was scared that my new Xm4's wouldn't work out for me cause of the pain at the beginning. But after 1 week of usage my ears got used to them and now I barely feel them when having them in my ear... And the quality on the ambient and ANC is just redicilously good!
I have had many iem's and yes I can get used to memory foam plugs, but despite wanting the best of the best, I still love silicone tips.
That's awesome you are enjoying yours, but I have some oval silicone tips I use with the mk 4's that are just magic for me. Give some silly's a shot if you feel like playing with your setup
My pain from the XM4's did not come from the foam plugs at all. It came from the physical case. It touched my earbone thingy on my left ear and it caused physical, overwhelming pain even after only a short time. I hate this so much becaus the quality is out of this world. Had to order the Airpods Pro just because they seem more comfortable, expecting them soon.
@@mistervanderveer have you gotten your airpods yet? I have small ears as well so was wondering if i need to get the airpods instead of the xm4s
@@resurrex2826 I have a small ears and I used the m4 for like 3 weeks and still feeling so much pain in my earbons so I ordered AirPods Pro and they better for my ears
I never know with these reviews to what extent they are bought advertising by the brands giving the goods away or even paying for positive reviews. But you, somehow, feel completely honest. And knowledgeable. And your musical knowledge (going into Johnny Marr’s guitar playing and Michael Stipes’ vocals in, by far, Billy Bragg’s best album) just did it for me. And congrats on the sound and image quality. You have a new subscriber
I really loved this review. I have seen a lot of these reviews. This still kept me hooked until the end.
Enjoyed seeing you out and about. I know that there has to be more work to do that but it makes the video much more interesting to watch, especially coming from the US. Keep up the good work, all of you. Now out on some AC/DC and rock out. 🤘🏼🎸🤘🏼
The colour grading on this video is superb. The camera work is real nice too.
Thanks John. For this XM4 owner there's a nugget of gold very early on in your review.
Although I love the sound quality, and I agree that the bass is particularly special, I just can't get on with my XM4s because of the Sony tips. The small doesn't seal properly and the medium takes me forever to get in and out of my ears as I have to roll the tips between my fingers to compress the foam as much as I can before getting them in my ear as quickly as possible and even then they have started uncompressing enough that I have to spend ages twisting and pushing to try and get them secure. It just kills the convenience for me. Frankly I watched in awe and envy every time you so effortlessly put your XM4s into your ears.
The nugget of gold you included in your video for me was your mention very early on that you had replaced the tips with Final Audio tips. A bit of research makes me pretty confident that it is the "Type E" that is compatible with the XM4s so I have just ordered the mixed pack of all 5 sizes from Amazon UK (although I think they actually ship from the USA). I'm really hoping that will fix my fit & convenience issue and allow me to use these without the frustration that frankly has relegated them to sitting in a drawer unused at the moment.
That's the trouble with in-ears, however good the audio quality if you can't find a tip that works for you it kills the whole product stone dead for individuals unlucky enough to have the wrong sized ears for a particular set of tips.
Any update on how the Final Audio tips worked for you?
Also interested in the update
How are the new tips treating you?
I’ve always loved your channel. And adore Jana. But your end of video comment on getting a dog really did it for me. I’ve been married 37 years,but in year 2 we got our first dog, and have had many since. My 80lb black English lab is my companion, walking, hiking, errands, listening to music, cooking, whatever. They are the best. I appreciate you now more than ever! Thanks for the great approach to music, and for thinking about dogs!
So appreciate you leaning into aligned & essential audio utility as well. The Rai Solos and Master and Dynamics IEMs you recommended in the past are still my all around’r go to travel favs.
Great review John, I own both the AirPods Pro and just recently the XM4’s, love them both for different reasons, the Sony’s for their musical reproduction and ANC, and the AirPods do a fantastic job with phone calls and I’m now a convert on the Spacial and Dolby Atmos reproduction of the audio, another great review and came at the right time for me👍 🎧
Where do you get the Spatial and Dolby Atmos music please?
@@BillyKueekSG Apple Music app
Are the Sony’s comfortable to wear over night?
@@helenalovelock1030 If you fully sleep face up or face down, you won't have a problem at all. But, if you sleep on your side, it can be a little bit uncomfortable and might hurt your ear, you gotta find a sweet spot to fully sleep on your side properly.
@@LovelyKittenMusic that’s what she said 🤣
Reconsidering the Sony's and reminiscing on the Tiergarten. Perfectly timed and wonderful review!
I used the XM4 for a week, after using the Airpods Pro for about 6 months. The XM4 has great ANC, lots of bass, maybe too. much, but i just couldnt get used to the fit.
So eventually returned them and went back to the Airpods Pro, to each is own, but all round i find they perform better and the sound is more natural to my ears.
Big shoutout to Olaf on this one. The production value of these videos is going up and up. Not so bad yourself either, John.
Thanks! Olaf does indeed do a great job and I was super-excited to edit this one (and spent much longer on the edit as a result) because I thought it looked so damn good. Our first in 4K!
John , my dogster is deaf, But when I’m listening to hifi she seems to just calm down and be happy to sit next to me on the chair without fussing too much like she normally does. I do think that dogs can sense when their parent is content & enjoying music. You will absolutely love having a dog.
When outdoors, an over ear headphone like the Sony WH-1000X M3 works great to keep strong gusts of wind from blowing your cap off.
Great review as always. Every one likes the earphones they own but it's good to hear your thoughts on the mx4's. I find the fit and audio a big improvement from the mx3's. When you hear new details in old favourites and it puts a smile on your face there's something good happening.
i have to say i frickin loved this, i'm not really an audiophile but i've been trying to decide what wireless earphones to get for a while now and this review was perfect, it didn't just say omg get these they're so good, you just summed up the pros nd cons in a really understandable way, especially for someone who's never had a nice pair of wireless earphones before. :)
I found the Xm4s were fine on calls. If you set Android Developers settings for LDAC for quality then the reproduction with FLAC is great.
Are you using Tidal Master?
How do you enable LDAC on the Sony xm4? Or is it through the phone? I can't enable either
@@EternalDestiny48 through the phone. Only on android and Linux. Not iOS
On most modern Android phones, LDAC should be enabled automatically once you connect the Sony headphones
Great perspective John and an a true advocate for music first. I do a lot of running and bike commuting. I have been using multiple iems Bose QC 20, Bose soundsport, Sony XM3, AirPods and the Pro. But I must say the aerodynamic shape of the AirPods Pro with the passiv isolation is far the best performer for fast cycling, sports etc. It creates the lowest windnoise of all iems and enables me to listen to music at lower level and deliver a better overall sound experience. I always deselect noise cancellation as I find the that feature not functioning properly with wind on any iems so far.
It's rather unfortunate that I can't wear the XM4s for exstensive periods and I've never had that kind of setback before. Funny thing is that they look ergonomic but the tips are a pain when it comes to fiddling with the fit or simply having them in your ears. That said, the CX400BT earbuds are much more comfortable and have a massive soundstage that I believe the Sonys could truly benefit from. Both of these buds are the best I've tried but both have something artificial about their interpretations of sound. Out of the box they're both friendly to the low end while leaving much of the high end behind for a "puffier" sound. Nothing that can't be fixed in the EQ on their respective apps, but I guess both Sony and Sennheiser have decided for you that cymbals, hi-hats, snare, acoustic/electric guitar, piano/keyboards, high-end synths/sound fx will permanently sound duller or less natural than to be expected. I think the raw texture of all those things is better represented via the XM4s as well as the bass (asuming you EQ it to be as close to the default as possible). Alternatively, I think the Sennheisers push everything out more to let the sizzles, snaps, and claps breathe better but it can be hard to well whether or not brighter toned music makes the most of it. Maybe if a push towards making even old music sound breath-takingly stronger was made, modern songs would sound that much better- everything would sound much better. That's my nitpick so far after less than a week oof. I'm no audiophile but I couldn't get by with actual over-ear headphones as big and obvious as they are (my parents would tell me to take them off in a heartbeat)
Thank you for this review. I think I might be getting these earphones. They are beautiful, I like that they support 5.2 Bluetooth and the LDAC codec which is currently the best codec we as consumers can get at a discrete price.
You can turn on and off the DSP on the AirPod pro. Transparency and ANC have DSP, and the difference is staggering. Also, I heard it does some sort of measurement (several times per second) of our ear canal to adapt to our music.
On my 2nd pair of XM4s...returned the first pair after 3 weeks due to the ear fatigue in my smaller ears.
Then as is the case with personalized ads on social media, I saw a certified refurbed set for $180 and decided to give them another chance. I changed the tips to Complys dedicated ones for the Sony TWS...night and day difference in comfort and even sound quality....these rock when I am out and about. Calls do suck though, ppl complain that I am talking in a tunnel.
I've not had an issue with long wearing times. I use it for work 8-10 hours a day. Perhaps the memory foam air tips it comes with help distribute the weight better than your replacement tips? I've used foam tips with Sony XBA 4s in the past so perhaps I'm used to them (I loved those xba 4s!). The foam tips form a tight seal and block a lot of sound even on my old non noise cancelling XBA4s. I also often wear fitted ear plugs to block noise, which are the best, for reference of what experience I've had in this area.
The Xm4s have been great. I use it with Tidal and the sound is good. Agreed that it suits modern music. Doja Cat with 360 audio sounds excellent, and I don't even like hip hop. Agreed that some acoustic sounds a bit artificial. I listen to a lot of Beethoven and movie soundtracks and enjoy them a lot. But I agree that I've had better wired headphones especially for detail and classical (Sony's XBA 4s were excellent, especially after a few hours of wear in, although I know many who disagree). But the XM4s are the best wireless headphones I've heard.
An excellent gear and comparison review! You should do more reviews outdoors 🤟🏾 it is very refreshing to watch, when we are indoors 🤪
I would recommend giving the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 a shot. I never had TWS IEMs sounding this close to an over ear headphone they are ridiculously good. Although the ANC may not be as effective as the Sony's and my major gripe is the runtime of these but apart from that? Stellar.
How about the high end clarity and detail? That's where Sony don't quite get it right for me, but I think part of it is because they're pandering to those who want strong, heavy bass as the main feature.
Fantastic review! I have these and could not agree with you more. Also love at 15:28 when your phone has a notification for Steve Guttenberg. I love it when the top reviewers support each other! Our love for audio makes.us all family 😁
Am using my airpod pro with comply foam tips made for this apple’s specific type of buds. Worth to try cos much better sealing than the originals and to my taste it sounds better 👌
Great review, thanks! Quite unexpected, but right on time. I recently got the Xperia 1III and was thinking of also grabbing a pair of these. This would be my first foray into wireless, but if I can find a way of putting triple flange tips on them, I think they'd work well.
Beautifully recorded, superb analysis, top-notch review as always
I bought the Sony WF-1000XM4's and I tried and tried and tried and couldn't get them to fit and seal, not even marginally well. I was so disappointed and though sure I was doing something wrong. After 24 hrs of trying I returned them and bought the AirPod Pro, which fit so, so much better, connected seamlessly and sound perfectly good as wireless IEM.s go. Your milage obviously DID vary! I love your channel!
I've kind of given up on actually getting good SQ from wireless IEMs, for now at least. My solution right now is Airpods Pro for podcasts etc and (wired) Blessing 2 Dusk for actual music enjoyment. Quite happy with the duo. Cheers!
You hit on one of my main uses for EarPod pros - I turn on noise-cancelling at the gym without music to cancel out clattering weights and the insipid music gyms always seem to play.
Would recommend having a read of people’s issues with these before buying. I saw all the comments about quality control and assumed I wouldn’t have an issue, but am returning my second pair after running into the same issues as with my first pair - namely high pitched whines, metallic echos, and connection dropouts. Real shame because they really do sound fantastic but I’m not going to waste anymore time trying to find a pair that work properly
I consider Comply tips a necessary addition to the AirPods Pro. They give a truly perfect seal (if you pick the right size) and that’s when the drivers in the Pros finally shine. You still have to boost the low end a bit to get a balanced sound but not like 50% as I was doing with the included tips. Actually, with the Comply tips I consider the bass to be fuller and warmer than my XM3s. Give them a try.
I love these! Bought them recently and love them to bits. I use GRADO labs sr80e headphones on my desk at home and am used to a ballanced natural sound and these are just a dream with some base as well. ANC is amazing to me, just how quiet it can get in a crowded room or hallway or even on the road. It completely eliminates lowend rumbles. The controls are super intuitive and operate semingly, I love having my ANC controll and Ambient HOLD on the left and playback controlls with Google assistant on the right. Reads your messahes the time etc. Adding reminders, notes and getting information, requesting songs or asking whatever without saying " OK Google" all the time or grabing my phone is super practical and makes me feel less of a dork.
I've been using the wf1000xm3 for several months and love how they sound, maybe it is just my pair and some weird synergy with my ears but, I prefer them to some of my IEMs. With a wireless DAC/amp like a BTR5 using LDAC my better IEMs do sound better. Tempted to get the new Sony or the IFI Go Blu.
I recently got my XM4s and have somewhat mixed feelings about them. They have a great bass response and a really nice midrange. Which make them great for listening to a wide variety of music. But if you're someone who prefers a more analytical style with a really detailed treble, you might find yourself using the DSP to give them a slight treble boost. In that regard, I prefer my Sennheiser Momentum Wireless (I only have the older ones with the wireless neckband and the wired plugs). But the XM4s definitely have their qualities.
Yes I have to agree. I'm a big Sony fan and I'm no expert, but I bought the same Sennheiser set for exactly the same reason. Seems to be the case with many headphones, the manufacturers often place more emphasis on heavy bass and lose some of the high end clarity and detail in the process. I have to say that Sony do a better job than most, but I think their sound stage is better suited to speakers than headphones.
For me, If I need anything beyond and better than this XM4, I will prefer wired headphone and I still do it.
The speaking to pause and drop ANC is so good. Someone stops you to ask something you speak and it just does everything for you. I don't even take them out in shops etc, which wearing a mask makes life easier.
Your video are so pleasing to watch. Subbed.
Love this guys's voice and pacing. It's so comforting, calming and easy to follow. Somewhat of a 'Veritasium' vibe. Very pleasant.
Kudos to the honesty with which he talks about consumer grade bluetooth earphones. It resonated with what I personally experienced a few weeks ago. I had never listened to audio on a set of wired IEM(don't know the brand) before let alone know what they are and later fortunately happened to listen to the Sony WF1000XM3(have listened on other bluetooth headphones before). The bass and low frequency response that I was so used to was non-existent on the wired IEMs. It felt so flat and unnatural that I didn't like the experience.
P.S.: I have never used an external DAC or amplifier in combination with a high grade audiophile IEM. Full disclosure, I do not anything about audiophile setups or equipment. While I was trying to learn more about such topic, I came across this channel. And, I must say I love this channel's content and especially the narrator, Mr. darko. Cheers!
You always have such lovely shoot locations! Thanks!
Perfect exposure on the subject and background. Great camera work
I really like the way you set the context and explain the stuff with so much of energy and details. Hats off to your efforts in making these videos and sharing such a great knowledge with us. Thanks a lot and looking forward for many more such interesting videos to learn more from you!
It's a rare moment when an in-ear headphone of any brand is comfortable and effective out of the box. I replaced the Airpod pro's tips immediately with some aftermarket silicone tips- much better! Seal and sound (and also not falling out of your ears) immediately way better... Wouldn't it be nice if Apple actually listened to complaints? As for the wired version, I still like Etymotics- but I'm not addicted to bass thud...
Why would after market tips be better and do you know which ones to buy?
amazingly detailed review, everything I wanted to know and more. Thank you!
Enjoyed the video, thanks for putting it out John.
Can you recommend any other audio reviewers who listen to rock or metal and use this sort of music when reviewing gear?
Noise cancellation for the person at the other end of a phone call is as important as that for the wearer of the monitors, be they in-ear or over-ear. But it's harder to assess than the noise you hear yourself as the wearer. My AirPods Pro appear to pass through quite a bit of noise to the caller, judging by complaints from my family when I'm calling them. My son has a pair of Sony WH-CH510 and likes to call me while he's walking home or making a meal. The noise I get in either case is atrocious. Basically intolerable. So... I'd love to hear some comparisons of the effectiveness of noise cancellation in the audio sent to the other end of a phone call.
omg man....what a review! Profesionalism,passion,knowledge....big big respect! From an owner of WF-1000XM4
Bought these a couple years ago in part because of this review. I have had fitting issues but the sound is very good, my only issue is after a couple years the battery life is pretty poor. You pay a premium price for this and expect the battery to last a little longer than it actually has! Have read about various issues elsewhere with this & its disappointing that Sony don't care if its out of warranty - the customer has to pay to fix thiis 😞
Thanks for your review. I have been doubting between these two for a few months now. My wired earbuds always get destroyed within 2 to 6 months, and therefore i'm looking for wireless earbuds to listen to music almost all day while i'm working and chilling.
thanks and all the best wishes for 2022
Great review. Good taste in music as always---New Order, Substance.
Great review, really like all your link music, would love some playlists. Good work John by you and your team. Thank you.
Did you look in the description box?
Nice review, especially the video and sound quality. I have the Jabra Elite 64T, they only lasted for about a year before flaking out, and the sound was not that good. Based on this review, I'm going to give the Sony WF-1000XM4 a try. Thanks.
I bought my first pair of ANC Sony earbuds (wired) in 1990. Great PNC (sealed very well) with super light earbuds and superb ANC They were 10 hour earbuds without a doubt. They were a godsend on planes and worked flawlessly until 2016 = quality. I never fly without ANC... which I leave on during the flight even if I am not listening to anything. While listening, I can keep the level very low because I don't have to drown out the ambient noise. Traveling on bus or train would have the same advantage. I forgot them one trip and arrived completely fatigued. I still think it is worth it to get custom moulded tips to use with any and all IEMs. Please be careful in traffic with earbuds/headphones. Our ears give us important cues which shave seconds off of reaction times.
Thank you John, great video as always. You are the n.1 person I trust and follow on RUclips when it comes to audio. Greetings from Milan
Enrico
Would love to hear your thoughts on the Jabra Elite 85t's next now that you've had time with the XM4's.
And new Jabra Elite 7 pro, Elite 3
I have had a pair of 85t's as well. I regularly cut grass with my petrol lawnmower and they just cut all that noise out. Not quite so good with a chainsaw but still very impressive. As to sound quality I use an iPhone and reckon they sound very good. I wonder if you can hear the difference between LDAC and AAC in normal use?
Shifted from airpods to the SONY XM4.. Huge difference in sound quality, ANC and battery life.. The charging case supports wireless charging as well. Loving the Sony!
This perspective is really interesting - l love his channel for that aspect. I own the XM3 currently and massively agree regarding the proper seal - noise cancelling does improve things but not as much as having a good seal which I achieve with Sony's amazing hybrid rubber/comply-style ear tips.
I've tried the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro (as well as quite a few IEMs over the years) so I have these as a refernece. The only thing lacking I think is the shape of the earbuds on the Sonys, they stay in and are comfortable but are rather bulky. I think Sennheiser have a good offering in terms of clarity and overall sound quality but even the Sony XM3 sound amazing for what they are.
If these XM4s come down in price to nearer the XM3 (which are currently half of the price of the newer model) I will be picking a pair up!
What is your opinion on foam tips, did you tried some? Thanks for your work.
I use mine with players only, paired with my A & K junior player the sound is amazing. Easy to pair, set all the EQ on the player, and off you go. The noise-canceling is particularly effective. I have no idea if a phone actually brings out the best of these earbuds.
So you’d say that they sound better when using another device than a phone, even though they are Bluetooth?
Hi, thanks for the video. Would like to ask a couple of questions.
1) How long were the XM4 used before the review? Any significant difference has been appreciated? Any "burn-in" to be had?
2) About the 360 spatial audio. Is it a feature that makes it worth the buy? Does it make or break this product? does it justify - if any - somewhat lesser audio quality when compared with wired IEMs?
3) DXEE Extreme. Does it serve any signficant feature? - as in, does it work as advertised?
Thanks, have a nice day.
I'd like to add that I was able to find a XM4 during this Black Friday in a local electronics store where I live at 190€. I was asking these questions as they may be of use for me to understand if I could pull the trigger on these, or seek something different like the B&O PI7.
Thanks
Along with the tip provided below about how to position them. Open your mouth when inserting them. Your jaw bone spaces out further and allows the ear canal to expand, allowing you to get a tighter seal.
Excellent camera work. I am a cafe type of person. I can guarantee you that with your level of skills you could do a video of cafes in Berlin and it would get viewed by hundreds of thousands of people if not millions. PS I have a pair of huge tannoy speakers built in 1969 which give me super sound quality to this day.
I have always appreciated your reviews, you are a Rational Audiophile. I expect a lot out of my audio equipment but at times I do want convenience. I have held off on buying any Bluetooth In Ear Monitors because of my own expectations. I very much respect your reviews and so I have ordered a pair of the Sony WF-1000XM4's and looking forward to receiving and listening to them. I do believe I will be satisfied with them when considering convenience based on your review. We will have to wait and see, but thanks in advance...
Fantastic dog. Video was okay too
I feel the same.
I have a pair of Sennheiser Momentum 2 and JBL Club Pro. Most earbuds have a downloadable app for your phone that has an equalizer on it. You can customize it yourself or you can go with one of many preset ones. That is the biggest difference imo. Pus, the proper size ear tips for fit and wearing them correctly (putting them in and twisting them "up" properly) are the biggest keys to quality sound. My problem is not the quality, just that they just don't get LOUD enough.
Brilliant review, far more credible than many of the 'popular tech youtubers' as informative as they are. Thanks.
Sennheiser True Wireless is amazing for wireless ones. All the rest I tried were just horrible back then when the Senns released.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 are better than Sony XM4 for both music and phonecalls.
@@gorillapancake Sennheiser momentum true wireless 2 are worse than my 50 dollars wired in ear headphones, jesus christ, these Sony are terrible then :/. I don't know if I can't trust the word of this audiophile or yours tho.
They're alright to be honest..
A few gripes i personally have in the sound quality area:
1) Sound levels are low for the cost (yes I have used the EQ and volume on the connected device is all the way up)
2) I can't stress it enough...for the price point the sound levels and overall sound quality leaves you wanting more from these earbuds and possibly having you searching elsewhere if you're an audiophile type like myself
I use these Sony's on long trips in the car. Completely takes the noise fatigue out of rough country roads. Very happy with them on the open road, even with noise cancellation off.
Really great video John and team…a lovely gentle watch.. thanks 🙏
This is why I got the xm3's at a discount last month. A new version has arrived.
The 3D sound watching Witcher season 2 on the apple tv with AirPods Pro blew my mind. Decided to try it one night when I didn’t want to wake the kids. That got me thinking about the AirPods Pro.
Very good review and réflexions on Bluetooth versus wired earphones. Like always, high quality contents here. Thank you John!
Wow! What an amazing work you've done here.
Good review from someone who actually is a passionate audiophile. So many reviews don't go into the right details.
I have a pair of these coming, as I'm tired of having to hit pause, people only seem to want to talk when I'm listening to music.
I'm getting the impression that these will be similar to my Yamaha eph-100 which I love, they're such good all rounders and especially with trance and jazz because of how they manage produce a wide soundstage with a thumping bass that's tight.
I have many ba phones, and tbh I don't get on with how analytical they are.
Hybrids for me is best, I get the warmth and details.
Great review! Had to watch even though I already have the xm4 and I enjoy them for a while now. May I know which Player you are using in your android?
I finally upgraded the XM3s to XM4s. The Amazon deal was quite good. The fit is much better, as is the seal. But just as with the XM3s I’m trying to equalize them in an acceptable way. Out of the box the bass is overpowered and the highs are recessed. It’s possible to adjust the curve coarsely, but the “personality” of the drivers, so to say, remains present. I think I can be happy with these but it will take some time.
Edit: pretty sure I can be happy! Dialed the bass way back to -5, 400 Hz is at -2, rest is 1 1 1 0. I might tweak it further, maybe even bring back some of the bass. But it’s amazing to get this quality in this small size.
I already were quite satisfied with the sound coming ort of the M3 for the price it's going nowadays, but the XM4 improved it even more eh?
The Sony IMO is the best all rounder iem to have, it plays music good, and pair very well for both gaming na dmovie watching all because of that Bass.
hey buddy, I do like your way of videos. nice story line. very well done. a pure joy to watch and finally serious facts/ informations. keep going ☺️
You've got to remember how 'Blue Monday' era was recorded mate in the 80's. Was an idealized experiment. . Uber compressed. We mustn't expect miracles. I think I'll get the sonys for Mt. Biking. They sound ideal.
nice video.. I like very much your earphones/headphones/speakers reviews ..what is the brand and model name of your edc bag please while riding a bike and walking please? How many liters of the bag please? How much the bag please? Where you bought the bag please?
I have to say I really enjoyed this video, it felt very in depth and very high quality, and yet still very human. Also, no snobbery or anything like you were jut trying to portray your experience with the product, to inform.
What mic do you use to record audio in this video? amazing video!
@darkoaudio Great video. Please review the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro . Would love to hear your opinion on the dual driver TWS as compared to the sony xm4
John if I may ask, what lav mic were you using in the park. The audio quality of that microphone is incredible. Thank you for any info, much appreciated. Great review as always on the ear buds.
Thanks, Darko, a very helpful comparison.
I wear them at work for 4-5 hours straight and i don't feel them so i guess comfort depends on ear shape or something 🤔
You seeing lots of dogs makes you want a dog...me watching this video makes me want some noise-cancelling IEMs. Lovely to see a bit of Berlin, too. Great video!
The previous gen sound very dynamically compressed. Do you find the same issue on XM4?
No, I have both. The new one is waaaay more dynamic and tight sounding
@@i0001w dynamic and tight sounding is that better ?
@@reece3134 yes
Hi, great review. What music streaming service do you use?
Cheers
Hi John, Based on one of your older videos I bought the Campfire Audio Comet which I love. I saw you recently using the Satsuma which is the Comets replacement. I would like to know if it is worth upgrading to the Satsuma. Thanks and keep up the great work.
I'm having serious doubts about 'Future-fi' products. Almost two years to the day the left-hand bud battery does not last fifteen minutes. I have contacted Sony who have advised that as it's out of warranty I will have to send them for repair at my cost. It seems that in the USA they have been replacing these foc. Sony knows there is a problem but is not addressing it at least not in the UK. They cost me £200. I like other reviews for expensive active speakers but I'm now thinking what if you have to rely on updates from manufacturers and the same type of issue happens?
Analogue systems are 'safe' from these types of issues. Maybe that's why vinyl is making a comeback? I think there needs to be a follow-up on this review reflecting the battery drain issue.
I love that he doesn't even tag the video with #apple or #airpods. It's like the dude doesn't even care about views, he's just making a damn good review for the people who care enough to find it.
Great review! Value for money wise, what will you pick? Or if your would pick only one - airpods pro or sonys?
I always stress to people you need to find tips that fits your ears best. Your review is very honest and not biased. Wish you would of covered the eq in the Sony’s manual settings. I see lots of people says the Sonys are too bass heavy and I’m like you can adj the eq in the app. Also did you know Sony has a sound test to see if your tips has a proper seal? I prefer the xm4 over the xm3 but not by much and mostly is they fit way better and I sleep with them in. I’m going to check your other vids. Overall good job
Thanks for your wonderful review (p.s.: love your accent and perfect English)
Great detailed review Sir! - I tired the MX4’s over my Apple AirPod’s Pros. I am using iPhone Pro 12 MAX. The sound was very good with the 360 enabled and adjusting the EQ. However I could not get them to fit the way I would prefer. I returned them because being Comfortable and being able to walk around freely without them leaving pressure within my earlobes is very important for me. However I would have to say that the AirPod pros sound great when you adjust Apple’s EQ and you’re using Apple Music. I ended up purchasing the B&O EQ’S in which have fantastic highs, tight base with little to no modeling at high volume. I think if Sony could focus a little bit more on attention to comfort maybe use softer materials and focus more on creating a pro line product feature premium materials and focuses more on comfort… I think they would absolutely wipe out the competition. What’s everyone’s thoughts 💭
I have the Sony’s and I agree with you they’re not comfortable, maybe is because I have small ears, I have to return them, I was looking for the B&O EQ for sound quality and comfort but I unsure if they’re still more comfortable than the Sony’s cause the B&O look bigger, how’s you’re experience with them so far ?
The B&O’s are great! They fit within the ear very nicely! The soft Materials that are used really do make a difference with creating a seal within your ear canal to create a very crisp music listening experience. I Also wanted to mention the app I prefer over the Sony as it’s much easier to use a lot more simplified. If you have extra cash I would highly recommend purchasing them and giving them a trial run to see which one you like the most and then return the one you don’t like.