When a product seems perfect, it's hard to imagine that a new generation will improve something. However, that is what has happened with the new headphones from Sony, the WF-1000XM4, which have managed to completely transform to become, now, the best headphones that Sony has ever launched. But are they perfect?
Sony WF-1000XM4: video review
A saturated market
At this point we are not going to discover that the market is extremely saturated with True Wireless headphones, since there is no manufacturer that is missing a model in its catalogue. But among all the participants in this fierce competition, there are several that stand out: Apple with its AirPods, Samsung with its Galaxy Buds, Xiaomi with its ridiculous prices, and Sony. And it is the latter that we are going to talk about today, since the manufacturer has updated the flagship of its True Wireless, and we can only say that what a change.
Design: Start from scratch
The first thing we feel when having these WF-1000XM4 in hand is that we are facing a completely new product that seems to mark a new generation of product within Sony, since the design change is spectacular. One of the main problems that we found in the previous generation (WF-1000XM3) is that its body was too bulky, and in certain ears its stability could be endangered. Well, the new 1000XM4 arrive with an extremely compact design that balances its placement in the ear very well, becoming very discreet headphones when worn... if you have a big ear.
And yes, the feeling that wearing a bulky headset hanging from the ear has partly disappeared, but they are still great. Now the body of these models is much more compact, although it is true that it does not avoid the problem that some users suffer with this type of headphones. If you previously suffered when putting on these types of models (button type), it is most likely that you continue to have the same type of problem. Its placement requires inserting the cushion firmly and making a small twist so that the body fits into the cavity of the auditory pavilion. If the physiognomy of your ear is rather medium to small, you will suffer to always have them fixed and not attract attention with them.
Reducing to the minimum expression
The truth is that its size is surprisingly small, and not only the headphones, but also the charging case, which looks ridiculously small compared to the previous generation (40% smaller), which already seemed too big to us at that time. The overall result is fantastic, and it's all due to the use of new components inside the headphones, such as the new chip that integrates a Bluetooth audio controller, thus minimizing electrical components and obtaining a smaller body.
Now carrying the case in your pocket or backpack will be almost a risky sport, since we will completely forget that we have them on us, so you must be careful before putting the garment in the washing machine. We love that the case is so compact and it was something that we were hoping to see in this new generation. The size of the earphones is still not perfect, however, and even with the size reduced, those with smaller ears will still suffer with them.
Yes, they are better than the previous ones
Obviously the question that you will be most interested in answering is whether these models are heard better than those of the previous generation. The quick answer is yes, the sound experience offered by these WF-1000XM4 is superior to its predecessors, and this is due to small improvements made in many aspects:
- have been improved drivers which, although they are still 6 millimeters, a new larger neodymium magnet improves sound and noise cancellation.
- The new codecs Audio systems are responsible for offering us a more crystalline and better equalized experience, and are capable of improving sound quality by upscaling to high definition.
- All the new pads used (polyurethane) feel softer and more ergonomic in the ear. This is something very personal for some, but in our tests we have been very comfortable with the pressure of the foam.
- La Noise Cancellation It is still the best of the ones we have tested, and together with the new changes it surpasses that of the previous generation.
Noise cancellation is from another world
If there's one thing Sony takes special pride in with its headphones, it's when it comes to audio technology. Noise Cancellation. Once again, the manufacturer once again demonstrates that it is the best at achieving isolation from outside sound, something that is more than surprising considering the size of the headphones.
The secret is in the incorporation of the cancellation microphones and in the processor V1 of the brand, which with the help of the appropriate algorithms will take care of completely isolating you from everything that surrounds you. The effectiveness of the cancellation will depend, as always, on the perfect placement of the headphones, something that is linked to the size of your ear. As we have already indicated, small ears will make you feel uncomfortable with the headphones and you will not get good noise cancellation, so you should take this aspect into account.
It's an experience that closely resembles that of its big brother, the WH-1000XM4, but one that obviously doesn't match for physical reasons, such as the large pads that completely enclose the ear. Even so, the performance of these little ones is spectacular and the best we have tested in its category. He transparency mode It will continue to be present as always, with the option of activating it simply by speaking or by touching the touch area of the earphone, although in this case, Apple's technology continues to seem superior to us in its AirPods Max, where the voice of the person speaking to us it sounds especially crystal clear and “real”. In the Sony we continue to notice that sensation of digital sound that reveals that we are dealing with an amplified voice.
But in general terms the experience is fantastic, being able to also enjoy the adaptive sound control mode, which will be in charge of applying the appropriate noise cancellation depending on what we are doing.
Not everything is perfect
Among so many wonders it might seem that we do not find any defect, but it is not so. We have been able to verify that these new models are very similar to the WH-1000XM4 in terms of features, but there is a function that Sony has not decided to include. We are talking about the possibility of having two Bluetooth profiles configured on the device, thus being able to listen to music on the PC and answer a call on the mobile.
This is something that can be done with the latest headband models, but unfortunately it is not present in the new True Wireless. We imagine that it will be an option that will be included in the next generation.
On the other hand, the touch controls do not finish convincing us, and although we understand that they are the best option today, their only two touch zones greatly limit the options. All the one-tap, two-tap and three-tap modes are set by default and cannot be changed, and you'll need to select which type of control you want applied on each side: ambient sound control, playback control, and volume control. Three types of control for two unique touch buttons.
This forces us to decide which functions we want to be present and which others will not be available, so that, for example, we could control music playback and ambient sound, but not control the volume.
And of course, we couldn't forget his name either. Please Sony, fix that.
The best True Wireless headphones?
We have not the least doubt that we are before one of The best True Wireless headphones on the market, and it would only be rivaled when you were to use them on iOS, an ecosystem where AirPods continue to have the advantage of playing at home. For the rest, it is a device that is worth every euro it costs, although unfortunately that translates into a few $279 which could be high for many users.
But it is the price of the high range, of the maximum technology and of the absolute silence that its noise cancellation system gives us. After improving aspects such as the charging case or the design in general, Sony may have created another jewel that will last over time.