Author: Not long ago, Bose dominated the noise canceling headphone market. But everything has changed! Now no more popular Sony headphonesthan the WH-1000XM3.
There is updated information on Sony WH-1000XM4
Their popularity is understandable: the WH-1000XM3 headphones are so good that they have been at their peak since 2018. The gadget is still great, but it's being crowded out by headsets Sennheiser and Bowers & wilkinsmaking quality noise canceling headphones.
With the FCC filing in December and Everton Favretto's leaked images and instructions, and the recent Best Buy and Walmart price leaks, we know the WH-1000XM4 headphones are ready and even now specs and some other details, including price, are known.
So when can we expect them, how much will they cost, and what improvements will they offer? I have collected all the rumors, news and theories.
Sony WH-1000XM4: price and release date
Sony will officially announce the WH-1000XM4 headphones in september 2020 during the refreshed IFA show as this event was used to launch all previous models - MDR-1000X, WH-1000XM2 and WH-1000XM3. From past experience, I can say that a new model should be available for ordering almost immediately after its announcement.
The Sony IFA press conference will take place on Friday 4 September 2020 and the WH-1000XM4 headphones will be unveiled on stage.
I believe the Sony WH-1000XM4 will be priced at $ 350, as each of the previous three pairs in the series cost. And a recent leak from Walmart and Best Buy confirms this. It is of course possible that the WH-1000XM4 will be announced at a special event ahead of IFA 2020, but that is difficult to predict.
Headphones Sony WH-1000XM4
Is it correct to assume that the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones will be called the WH-1000XM4? I think yes. Each model in the series followed the format: "M" is an abbreviation for "Mark" and a number representing the entry in the series (thus "M4" - "Mark 4"), filing with the FCC In January, Verge has identification code "AK8WH1000XM4" ... It's possible that Sony might use a more catchy name for marketing, but I think that's unlikely.
Moreover, the recently released instruction manual also contains the model number WH-1000XM4.
Sony WH-1000XM4: design
I would be surprised if the WH-1000XM4 headphones are very different in design from the WH-1000XM3. According to the recently leaked images, they look nearly identical.
Photos and the manual of the Sony WH-1000XM4, the successor to Sony's excellent XM3 Bluetooth wireless headphones, just went up on Brazil's Anatel (equivalent to the FCC).
- Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman)
Taking a closer look, I think the new earbuds look a little rounder and more bulging, but it's hard to be sure given the low quality of the photos.
Sony WH-1000XM4: features and specifications
So what can you expect from the Sony WH-1000XM4 in terms of specs and performance? Thanks to the leaked manual, you can see the possible characteristics of the device, but it must be remembered that the manual is a draft version.
These will be active noise canceling (ANC) wireless headphones. Perhaps Sony will offer several noise reduction modes, and will also allow the user to adjust the amount of noise reduction via the app.
I think ANC will be even better than before, simply because the increased competition is forcing Sony to move forward and develop. The WH-1000XM4 will have noise canceling microphones - this will make the voice clearer for the interlocutor.
What really set the WH-1000XM3 apart from the competition was the sound quality that was improved by the switch to analog amplification. Sony has worked tirelessly to create a chip that combines noise cancellation, DAC, and analog amplifier. The QN1 chip did it. Will there be a new version of this chip (second generation) in the WH-1000XM4 headphones? I think this is quite real.
The WH-1000XM4 headphones are expected to work with Bluetooth 5.0 and will also add support for aptX Adaptive, which offers improved audio quality with less latency. This will have a profound effect on sound and use, while battery life has improved (especially power consumption has dropped from 8W to 2W).
The WH-1000XM4 will get hands-free voice control - in the XM3, you need to press a button to activate the voice assistant.
Sony WH-1000XM4 vs. WH-1000XM3: which is better?
Since Sony has yet to announce the WH-1000XM4 headphones, let alone specs and features, it's impossible to say exactly how good the new product will be. I think the WH-1000XM4 will be better than their predecessors.
And let's not forget that the WH-1000XM3 headphones are still great and can be bought for a lot less now. The price is likely to get even lower closer to the launch of the new model. You can wait and pay full price for the WH-1000XM4 headphones, or purchase the previous model at a significant discount - the choice is yours.
And we will of course be keeping an eye on news and rumors about the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones!
Yes, everyone is waiting for a more powerful board with upgraded noise cancellation. As well as call quality. This is the highest priority in this line of ears. Everything else is a nice addition.
Anyway, I'm waiting for some really perfect headphones. 1000xm3 are super-duper for their time and there are no analogues even close, and WH-1000XM4 will be a breakthrough, I think)
I chose the honey WH-1000XM3 and Fiio EH3 NC, in the end I chose the fiio I liked more in terms of sound and fit (both of which are far from ideal for fiio, but for sony it is even worse). If I were buying now, I would also pay attention to the Shure Aonic 50.
And here's really how you can compete with Sony. Why no one else can put out normal headphones. But it’s enough to listen to people and everything will be great: WH-CH710N, WH-1000XM3, WF-1000XM3 and WF-XB700, and now WF-1000XM4. I can't wait, thanks for the review of 1000XM4 and the news)) It's already boiling, because I've been using jbl for a year, but it's such a stupid gadget that I can't describe it.