Previously, if you needed to speak while wearing headphones, you would have to hover the right earcup with your hand to activate the “Ambient Sound” feature that was further improved and rebranded into “Speak-to-Chat.” Once you speak, the function activates and allows you to listen to ambient sounds. It has a very low probability of miscalculation, even if you take off the headphones and hang them around your neck.
Sadly, not even the 4th generation of Sony MDR1000X allows multiple Bluetooth pairing connections.Īlso added to the WH-1000XM4 is a new wear sensor that can detect if the headphones are being worn, the sensor is built-in inside the left earcups, and unlike other headphones. In a similar manner as its predecessor Sony WH-1000XM3, the headphones can be connected to two devices simultaneously via Bluetooth (5.0).
Sony WH-1000XM4’s full battery can sustain 30 hours of music playback with ANC and 38 hours without ANC. The Type-C interface supports fast-charging function, charging 10 minutes to achieve 4-5 hours of music listening. The headphones were designed with a Type-C charging port and a 3.5mm wired port. They’re easy to operate and find with your fingers. The power control and noise reduction mode adjustment functions can be activated by two physical buttons and are located underneath the left ear cup. The other side houses a touch sensor, which provides a control for music management: switch songs, volume adjustment, play/pause control, and phone answering control. For example, it is not recommended to use it in the rain.īased on the WH-1000XM3’s overall architecture, the WH-1000XM4 features improved design details such as the portion where the metal parts are attached on the headband, while also offering a generous range of adjustment to adapt to users with different head shapes. However, it will still limit the functionality. In most life situations, this won’t be a problem. Sony recommends not putting the device in water.
The downside of the XM4 is that it’s not waterproof.
But on the other hand, if you don’t need to fundamentally change the design, there’s no reason to improve on something that already works well. Of course, some people may not appreciate these subtle changes. The earpads and ear cups have also been resized. This time Sony opted for a matte finish with a soft-touch coating. The texture of the materials is worth mentioning. No radical cosmetic improvements have been made to the Sony WH-1000XM4, which is a very conservative approach to design, considering that its competitor has received a plethora of favorable and unfavorable reviews since it was upgraded from the QC35 II to the new Bose 700 Noise Canceling.