Review of Sony WF-1000XM4: The 'Best Buy' of 2021!

What You Need to Know About Sony WF-1000XM4

Similar to the WF-1000XM3, Sony WF-1000XM4 is active noise-canceling true wireless earphones aimed at those with disposable income.

However, this is not just a repetitive update. The WF-1000XM4 has been redesigned from the ground up, smaller, and more aesthetically pleasing than its predecessor. Yet, the glossy appearance is just the tip of the iceberg.

Firstly, the QN1e chip has been replaced with the integrated V1 processor to enhance noise-canceling efficiency, while the 6mm driver has been tuned to improve bass performance. The headphones now use the latest Bluetooth 5.2 and support Sony's Hi-Res LDAC codec, along with SBC and AAC (two codecs also present on the XM3).

In addition to these major improvements, the WF-1000XM4 also has several smaller updates, such as the wireless charging case, DSEE technology (Sony’s Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) enhancing lost audio formats, and the headphones themselves are equipped with IPX4 water resistance.

Moreover, the headphones incorporate some of the best features from their over-ear sibling, the Sony WH-1000XM4. For example, Speak-to-Chat automatically pauses music when you speak and resumes after 30 seconds. Additionally, it reads the environment and marks positions to automatically adjust noise-canceling for that environment.

Design, Battery, and Fit of Sony WF-1000XM4

Sony's new in-ear headphones may follow the nomenclature conventions of their predecessors, but the difference is it has been completely revamped.

Firstly, the size of the WF-1000XM4 is 10% smaller than the WF-1000XM3 and has a completely different shape. The previously flat face has been replaced with a rounder, more ergonomically improved body. While not the most compact true wireless earphones, they do not protrude too far from the ears, and the new design is truly appealing aesthetically.

The charging case of the WF-1000XM4 has also been reduced by 40% compared to its predecessor after complaints about the size of the WF-1000XM3 case. However, the most commendable aspect is that despite the size reduction, the battery life of the WF-1000XM4 remains unchanged. You still get a total of 24 hours of use with ANC and Bluetooth on, but the distribution is slightly different: 8 hours for the headphones and 16 hours for the charging case (WF-1000XM3 was 6 hours for the headphones and 18 hours for the case).

Truthfully, very few people use true wireless earphones continuously for 8 hours for various reasons. However, the WF-1000XM4 ensures that even worn for many hours, it remains comfortable.

The last change is the IPX4 water resistance. With the ability to withstand water splashes from all directions, the WF-1000XM4 is clearly a better choice for sports compared to the non-water-resistant WF-1000XM3.

Setup and Features of Sony WF-1000XM4

Setting up the Sony WF-1000XM4 is not difficult, especially if you are using an Android phone. It supports Google Fast Pair, so just lifting the headphones out of the case will prompt a pop-up reminder on your phone. For other systems like the iPhone, you can still manually set up the connection.

After pairing with the phone, what you need to do is download Sony's Headphones Connect companion app. This app serves as the headphone control center and provides access to settings such as voice assistant setup, activating the pause feature when removing the headphones, or setting the headphones to turn off automatically if not worn for a while.

You can also customize the touch control mechanism of the WF-1000XM4, although the actual space for changes is minimal. Instead of assigning specific actions to gestures, you can only customize the ability to adjust ambient sound, playback, and volume control.

One of the most useful features of the WF-1000XM4 is Speak-to-Chat. This is a breakthrough feature from its over-ear sibling, the WH-1000XM4, and it works exactly the same. When you activate this feature in Headphones Connect, it will automatically pause the music and play ambient sound immediately when you speak. This feature works very well and can be customized to suit your needs, such as how many seconds it takes to resume playing music. Moreover, the sensitivity of the voice detection sensor will be adjusted according to the environment you are in, but you can also adjust it low or high to suit your preferences.

Sony WF-1000XM4's Adaptive Sound Control

The Sony WF-1000XM4 uses adaptive sound control technology similar to the WH-1000XM4, and I must say it works extremely well.

When this feature is enabled and 'Detection of Actions' is selected, the headphones will switch between noise-canceling and ambient sound modes depending on what you are doing at that moment. Besides, you can also change four types of states: Staying, Walking, Running, or Transport and set the appropriate noise-canceling or ambient sound level for each state.

Another smart and practical feature of the WF-1000XM4 is that you can set usage states for different locations. For example, if you set the office location to maximum noise canceling, every time you arrive at the workplace, the headphones will automatically switch to that state without any adjustments. This is truly a very practical and innovative feature from Sony that every user will surely love.

How is the Sound Quality of Sony WF-1000XM4?

As mentioned at the beginning, the Sony WF-1000XM4 has also been greatly improved in terms of sound. Like its predecessor, it will still provide dynamic bass to captivate listeners but also emphasizes detail for a multifaceted music experience.

Inside the WF-1000XM4 are 6mm dynamic drivers. It may seem small compared to competitors like the FreeBuds Pro with 11mm drivers, but as they often say: size doesn't matter; it's what you do with it that counts.

The tone and timbre of the WF-1000XM4 can be said to be excellent. Its overall sound is slightly dark, with the bass enhanced elegantly and powerfully, balanced midrange, and slightly recessed treble (vocals lower than instruments) but still easy to listen to. Overall, the sound of the Sony WF-1000XM4 is very versatile, reproducing every aspect of music excellently.

Additionally, the WF-1000XM4 also supports Sony's 360 Reality Audio spatial audio technology. It is designed to provide an audio experience as if you are in a recording studio or large concert hall.

Conclusion

Overall, in terms of noise canceling, the Sony WF-1000XM4 still struggles to beat competitors like Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, and it has not yet matched the sound quality of the Bowers & Wilkins PI7. However, it achieves an excellent balance between these two areas and almost becomes a comprehensive device.

In terms of design, it is stylish, comfortable, and packed with neat features, countless customizations for users to personalize. Although it is a bit unfortunate that it does not have multi-device pairing, it is not a significant drawback considering its features. With a price of 6,490,000 VND, the Sony WF-1000XM4 is truly not expensive compared to what it is equipped with, and there is no doubt that these earphones will be on the 'Best Buy' list of 2021.