The Sony WF-1000XM4 not only bring a new shape and a smaller charging case, but also a new, integrated SoC for faster signal processing and a more powerful ANC. In addition, the wireless in-ear headphones inherit the functions of the over-ear headphones WH-1000XM4.
New 6 mm driver and Hi -Res Audio
The audio driver of the WF-1000XM4 still measures 6 mm in diameter as with the WF-1000XM3 (test), but Sony speaks of several improvements, both in terms of material and performance, including a 20 percent larger magnet volume.
In addition to SBC, Sony's LDAC and AAC are also offered for audio codecs. Sony also promises High-Resolution Audio Wireless if the “Priority on sound quality” function is activated in the Headphones Connect app and LDAC is used. The WF-1000XM4 also supports Sony's 360 Reality Audio again.
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Sony WF-1000XM4 (Image: Sony)
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Earphones with a new shape, Qi charging case significantly smaller
Both the earphones and the charging case have a new design. The earphones could be made smaller because the new processor, the V1, unlike the QN1e of the predecessor, has now integrated all components such as the Bluetooth chip, which results in a significant size advantage compared to the predecessor. According to Sony, the integration of all audio components in the V1 SoC also has positive effects on the noise behavior and the latency of the signal processing. The shortest possible latency is important for noise suppression, for example, in order to achieve optimal coordination of feed-forward and feedback processing
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Sony WF-1000XM4 The charging case could be made significantly smaller, especially through improvements to the battery. With dimensions of 42.6 × 103.0 × 24.5 mm, the charging case of the WF-1000XM3 has been reduced by around 40 percent to 40.0 × 67.0 × 30.0 mm. The weight drops from 77 to 41 grams. A full charge of the earphones takes around 1.5 hours in the charging case. A quick charge function provides enough battery capacity for another hour of music playback after 5 minutes. The charging case can now also be charged wirelessly according to the Qi standard.
Sony specifies the battery life of the WF-1000XM4 with up to 8 hours with activated ANC with one battery charge – without ANC up to 12 hours should be possible. In connection with the charging case, the battery life increases to 24 hours, which makes it identical to the WF-1000XM3, whereby the earphones lasted up to 6 hours – instead of three times, the charging case only charges the earphones twice.
The new model is protected against water according to IPX4, so that rain and sweat cannot harm the earphones.
Bluetooth 5.2 with Fast and Swift Pair
The Sony WF-1000XM4 use Bluetooth 5.2 for the wireless connection, which in particular improves the range if it is supported by the end device. However, the new wireless in-ear headphones from Sony do not offer Bluetooth multi-connect, also known as multipoint. You can only be connected to one device at a time. If you want to switch to another device, the active connection must be disconnected in order to connect another device. A quick switch from tablet to smartphone, for example when making calls, is not possible. Fast Pair is also offered under Android and Swift Pair under Windows, so that the WF-1000XM4 is offered for pairing on a compatible Android smartphone or Windows 10 PC when the charging case is opened, without having to deal with the settings.
The Sony WF-1000XM4 are not designed for a direct connection to the PlayStation 5.
Improvements to the microphones for ANC and telephony
Sony uses three microphones per earphone for active noise cancellation and telephony. In order to reduce wind susceptibility, the outer ANC microphones (feed-forward) are automatically deactivated if the “Automatic wind noise suppression” function is activated in the app and wind is detected. In order to improve the voice quality in telephony, Sony also relies on bone conduction sensors, the advantage of which is that they only pick up the voice of the wearer via vibrations, but no ambient noise. The new V1 SoC is said to have improved the attenuation of the environment with activated ANC across all frequencies.
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Sony WF-1000XM4 New ear inserts for less noise
In the Headphones Connect app from Sony there is now a test for the fit of the earphones, which uses test tones to check how well the earphones seal. The touch controls can also be adjusted via the app.
Sony WF-1000XM4 Sony WF-1000XM3 Bluetooth standard: 5.2 5.0 Audio codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC SBC, AAC Operation: Touch Battery life of the earphones: 12.0/8.0 (ANC) h 8.0/6, 0 (ANC) h battery life with charging case: 36 h 32 h Wireless charging: Yes – ANC: Yes Single use: Yes IP certification: IPX4 No weight per earphone/only charging case: 7.3/41.0 g 8.6/77.0 g USB charging connection: USB-C Dimensions charging case: 40.0 × 67.0 × 30.0 mm 42.6 × 103.0 × 24.5 mm Price: € 279 from € 150
If the user speaks, the headphones are silent
With Speak-to-Chat, the Sony WF-1000XM4 has inherited a function of the WH-1000XM4: As soon as the user speaks, the earphones pause the music playback and activate the transparency mode. Playback starts again 30 seconds after the last word spoken by the wearer, whereby the time span in the app can be adjusted (15, 30 or 60 seconds) or switched off completely so that playback does not start again by itself.
The Quick Attention mode is also available on the WF-1000XM4. For example, if the user wants to hear an announcement or briefly say something, their finger can be placed on the left earbud to reduce the volume and let ambient noise through.
Adaptive noise control and auto-pause/play
The WF-1000XM4 now also offers the location-based adaptive noise control that automatically recognizes where the user is and what he is doing. The function can be used to automatically activate the appropriate ambient noise mode if required. The function can also recognize places such as home or work.
Proximity sensors detect whether an earphone has been removed from the ear. This will disable music playback. If the earphones are reinserted, the music will continue to play automatically.
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Sony WF-1000XM4 (Image: Sony)
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Sony WF-1000XM4 DSEE Extreme instead of DSEE HX
Like the Sony WH-1000XM4 (test), the WF-1000XM4 is equipped with the “DSEE Extreme” (“Digital Sound Enhancement Engine Extreme”) function instead of DSEE HX. It is supposed to add missing information to compressed pieces of music in order to improve the sound. In the case of compressed music files, dynamic detection of instrumentation, music style and other properties should take place in real time in order to restore high frequencies. The function can be switched on and off in the Sony Headphones Connect app.
Google Assistant and Alexa can be activated purely by voice
The language assistants Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa can be activated Activate with the WF-1000XM4 purely by voice using the respective signal word “Ok Google” and “Alexa”. Siri can also be used on the new in-ears, but pure voice activation is not possible with Apple's voice assistant. The touch controls must be used here.
Available soon for 280 euros
The Sony WF-1000XM4 are still available in black and white in June at a recommended retail price of 279 euros.
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