Sony have finally introduced the highly anticipated Sony WF-1000XM4 True Wireless earbuds after more leaks than the Titanic. Was it worth the wait? Sony believes that its new statement wireless earbuds are the best available and there are a few new features that might put some weight behind that claim.
The Sony WF-1000XM4 headphones take industry-leading noise cancelling and audio quality to the next level. Made to fit every ear, they offer a personalised experience that adjust to every situation.
Sony have redesigned the WF-1000XM4 to be more ergonomic; they are 10% smaller than the older model and utilize a new shape that matches the ear cavity with a new ergonomic surface design for a more stable fit. They are also IPX4 rated for those of us who commute often in the rain or run in the rain. The charging case is also 40% smaller for those concerned about carrying it around in their pockets.
You can now find the right fit for your ears with the Sony | Headphones Connect App. The app takes you through a few simple measurements to find the ideal size of Noise Isolation earbud tips to ensure maximum sound quality and minimum outside noise. Now you can enjoy maximum comfort with great sound.
The WF-1000XM4 provides industry leading noise cancellation – now even better. The newly designed Integrated Processor V1 provides even better noise cancellation. Specially developed by Sony, the Integrated Processor V1 takes the noise cancellation performance of Sony’s acclaimed QN1e chip and goes even further.
Improved noise cancelling performance and Bluetooth® ‘System on Chip’ technology delivers the industry’s highest level of noise cancelling yet uses less power than its predecessor.
The Sony WF-1000XM4 features high performance dual noise sensor microphones for excellent noise cancellation. By having two noise sensing microphones per ear – one feed-forward, and one feed-back – ambient noise is heard and analysed, resulting in highly accurate noise cancellation.
A newly designed 6mm driver unit with a 20% increase in magnet volume also improves the WF-1000XM4’s noise cancelling capabilities. The increase in magnet volume and the high compliance diaphragm gives improved performance in low frequencies and enhances noise cancelling by generating a high-precision cancellation signal to the low frequency range.
Newly-developed Noise Isolation Earbud Tips provide an improved fit with the WF-1000XM4. The new earbud tips are made from a unique polyurethane foam material that is soft and elastic, which maximises the surface contact area between the earbud tip and the ear canal. This eliminates gaps to insulate sound and reduce noise, as well as improving adhesion to the ear canal for a more stable fit.
Runners like me who live by the ocean and have to deal with strong onshore winds will like the new Automatic Wind Noise Reduction mode that detects when it’s windy and automatically suppresses it.
Exceptional sound quality
The Sony WF-1000XM4 now supports High-Resolution Audio Wireless thanks to LDAC, Sony’s industry-adopted audio coding technology. LDAC transmits approximately three times more data (at the maximum transfer rate of 990 kbps) than conventional Bluetooth® audio, allowing you to enjoy High-Resolution Audio content in exceptional quality, as close as possible to that of a dedicated wired connection.
They can support hi-res audio streams up to 32-bit/96kHz over Bluetooth at up to 990kbps from a compatible source – but there is no support for Bluetooth aptX HD.
Thanks to specially designed 6mm drivers, they reproduce a dynamic sound despite their small size, and the high compliance diaphragm reproduces a rich bass range. The Integrated Processor V1 also enhances sound quality and reduces distortion, and enables LDAC codec processing and DSEE Extreme™.
Using Edge-AI, DSEE Extreme™(Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) upscales compressed digital music files in real time. Dynamically recognising instrumentation, musical genres, and individual elements of each song, such as vocals or interludes, it restores the high-range sound lost in compression for a richer, more complete listening experience.
An even smarter listening experience
Speak-to-Chat received widespread praise for its innovation when it was first introduced on the overhead model, the WH-1000XM4. The feature is now available on the WF-1000XM4 and lets you have short conversations without taking out the earbuds.
As soon as you speak to someone, Speak-to-Chat automatically pauses the music and lets in ambient sound so you can conduct a conversation – handy if you want to keep your headphones on, or your hands are full.
Once your chat is over, your music starts playing again automatically. Speak-to-Chat recognises and reacts to your voice. It is based on Precise Voice Pickup Technology, which combines four microphones and sensors with advanced audio signal processing.
But how about battery life?
Experience impressive battery life and truly wireless charging
You can listen all day with the WF-1000XM4. You can enjoy a full 8 hours of use from your headphones, and a further 16 hours from the case. This means a full 24 hours of charge every time you leave your home. In a hurry? A 5-minute quick charge gives you up to 60 minutes of play time, and the Sony | Headphones Connect app will notify you when your charging case drops below 30%.
No cables are necessary with the WF-1000XM4 thanks to easy wireless charging with Qi technology. You can even use a smartphone with Qi technology, like the latest Xperia model with the battery share function, to charge your headphones and charging case.
Where to buy: $279 at Amazon
