Sony WH-1000XM4 Review: 2020's best headphones vs Sony XM3, Bose 700 & Bose QC 35 II's

Sony WH-1000XM4: amzn.to/3axcHfP
Bose 700: amzn.to/30UmEAJ
Sony WH-1000XM3: amzn.to/3fMdzOm
Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II: amzn.to/2DWjG5y
These Amazon affiliate links help support my channel! Thanks!
FULL DISCLOSURE: Sony provided the XM4's for the purpose of this review. Sony did not pay for this video review and they did not change any of my editorial content in this review.
Sony has outdone themselves with the WH-1000XM4. It's the best noise-canceling headphones I've ever used, but is it still worth the upgrade from a Sony XM3, Bose 700, or even Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II's? This in-depth review will tell you everything you need to know.
Thanks so much for watching! You can support my independent content at / briantong
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#sonyxm4 #sonywh1000xm4 #headphones

[@8834]

Imagine if this comment gets pinned

[@briantong]

Imagine that...

[@TeMrN1]

now edit the comment to something inappropriate lol

[@8834]

@Mr. N Dre Nice try, I know what will happen lol

[@samuelmanny6231]

@@8834 don't change it. It's inspirational. Imagine that

[@yash6741]

I see what you did there. 👌

[@Super_K]

To those who wonder WH - Wireless Headphone 1000X - Model Number M4 - Mark 4 ( Like Iron Man Suits )

[@andrewduong2485]

What does WF stand for?

[@alvindem02]

@@andrewduong2485 Wireless Freedom

[@THEFIRE360]

Sony: where engineers name the products

[@LazyCrazyGuy]

Or Mark 4 from the old WW2 Supermarine Spitfire.

[@mib5633]

@@andrewduong2485 wireless fully

[@tamerator]

I was looking forward to this review and it did not disappoint. Great work as usual, thank you Brian!

[@MickeyDubb]

Hey Brian, just want you to know I've had a really stressful day and love chilling out watching reviews like these. Thanks for making great content all the time. :)

[@briantong]

Thanks for the kind words Mickey! This was a beast to put together so I appreciate I can help some :)

[@segunadewola]

Your studio looks great Brian!

[@stantheman3674]

Yes! Been waiting for your review

[@qfox16789]

Been using the XM2s since Christmas 2018. Can’t wait to upgrade to these they look awesome

[@sj90210]

So good to see you have your own channel and doing an awesome job with it. Cheers!

[@briantong]

Samson! Thanks so much for the support and kind words. Still have a ways to go but just working my butt off to get there! All the best to you as well!

[@ArsTastic]

Best review on KZbin. Great Job Brian! Can definitely tell a lot of work and thought went into this video.

[@Eagle-Striker]

I upgraded to XM4 from Bose QC35. I must say the reviewer is spot on. Listening to music and watching movies on my laptop has been a whole new experience! Bravo Sony!

[@thelifestylegb1467]

What about call quality, I had the Bose QC 35 second edition and call quality was much better then sony m3

[@victuringan1429]

Is it better? I also have the QC35 for 2 years now. Thinking of upgrading..

[@Eagle-Striker]

@@victuringan1429 I find the sound quality better (sounds fuller and richer). Functionality is also better since it automatically pauses what ever you are listening to (or watching) when you take them off. The fact they also automatically power down after 15 minutes of not using them is fantastic, no more dead battery. They also last over 30 hours and charge super fast (10min charge = 5 hours playtime ). They have this crazy ambient awareness mode so you can hear your music but also what is going on around you which the Bose does not have. I have not tested call quality because I use my Apple airpod pros for that. Unfortunately there is one thing which I don't like. They make my ears warm and sweaty so I take them off every hour (for about 30 seconds) and wipe down my ears. I didn't experience that with the QC35iis. So great headphones with one flaw. I imagine if Sony resolves this it would then be the perfect headphone for me. Cheers

[@segunadewola]

Thanks for the review Brain!

[@MrUkielover]

Great review Brian. (You even uploaded slightly faster than Marques, which is impressive 👏🏽) I picked up a pair of 1000-xm3’s from my local target a week ago for $106.99. They had them on clearance. For those in the market, it might be worth checking your local store if they are still available.

[@therealjakub]

that is crazy cheap, you from the US?

[@jackyang2912]

That is insanely cheap for the headphones. What was the catch? Did you have up promise them your firstborn son?

[@Nullzero98]

Damn, did you up your production quality, bro? Lookin good.

[@ounchuck]

Great review Brian.. Love it as always.

[@tmadzu]

Great looking studio Brian. Camera work on point.

[@adrianadams7969]

Appreciate the review and adding something more to the mix on the channel than just phones and Apple rumors 👌🏽

[@gregoryemmanuel9168]

Outstanding review, thank you!

[@imperialexecutioner]

Really appreciate the comparisons to peer products and all the screenshots of the Sony app. Thinking about either these or the Apple equivalent rumored for later this year. You da man, BT!

[@JosueSerrano7]

super review, tnx Brian!

[@HDMF01]

Excellent review. Should have mine in about week!

[@hubertsamut6636]

Awesome informative review. Best so far. Bravo

[@jalunow]

Thanks for the call test man 👍

[@whitenbald]

Hey Brian, I’ve always enjoyed your videos. They always give me a good laugh while telling me what I wanna know! Thanks man

[@InfoSharer]

Nice job with the review and the comparisons.

[@GrilledTofu]

Awesome in depth review.

[@tuggspeedman822]

Brian Tong is the King yooo! Thanks for the vid!

[@josephgood2704]

so well done man. glad i stumbled on your channel

[@briantong]

Tha me for watching!

[@JoshuaCurey]

I have the M3’s and my biggest gripes were no multi device support, and the call quality. Everyone I am on the phone complains about it. The M4’s are looking pretty tempting.

[@On3Hunnit]

Great video, Brian. Can you tell us if the touch control responsiveness has improved on the XM4 vs the XM3? I remember testing out the Bose 700 in Best Buy (prior to the pandemic) and the Bose 700s blew the XM3 out of the water in touch responsiveness! No reviews (KZbin video or written articles) have discussed this topic yet.

[@ligitgha1]

well duh...best buy have XM3 on display since 2018, Bose 700 didn't come out until 2019. your comparing items that thousands of people have touch...

[@JohnVerpeleti]

Great and comprehensive review. 👏

[@briantong]

Thank you! 👍

[@CmdrViper]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 yea, ur the only person ive seen that brings emphasis to LDAC... absolutely nobody else has this technology and as we are more wireless(bluetooth) these days, that is an exponentially huge advantage in quality of sound, for now. people dont know what they are missing stayin with AAC! also a great highlight on the "sing alone" feature... i almost didnt get these because of that, except you can turn that feature off.

[@RaRahGully]

Tremendous review, sounds like i need to upgrade. wonder how they compare to the beats studio 3s?

[@maelito787]

I bought the XM3 10 days ago.... thank God it was amazon, Imma return them and get this new ones! 🤣Thank you for letting me know these were about to come out! I loved the XM3s during my last 8 hour flight, cant wait to try the XM4s.

[@jordanking7711]

I agree with everything you said Brian. These headphones are AMAZING and I've only had them for 2 days now. The soundstage from of the XM3's to the XM4's, WOW!!!!!!!. It's like night and day. You really can tell the difference. And I still have my XM3's albeit with a cracked headband, so I'm glad you bought that issue up Brian too. And going between the XM3 and the XM4 sound wise, as I said is like night and day. Not to mention all the other tech and features Sony threw into the XM4. I REALLY like the fact I can now connect these headphones to two devices simultaneously, which was a PAIN on the XM3, and the Speak to Chat function.

[@8TracerBullet3]

Hey, Brian. Great review. I noticed that your XM4s had lot of creases and wrinkles on the ear cushions. Is that normal for such an expensive and premium headphones?

[@kennethawesome]

I pre-ordered the XM4, hope it arrives soon. This will be my first Bluetooth NC headphone.

[@jakeparker6707]

Samee

[@Shadow__133]

Got one to compare with my qc35 ii. Should be interesting.

[@quintan007]

I have the xm2 and pre ordered xm4 today

[@kennethawesome]

@ADz - Which vendor did you purchase from may I ask? I ordered on Crutchfield on the 7th, no ETA yet.

[@markwalusimbi2278]

Great choice

[@JillRhoads]

FINALLY Multi-device connections! Omg! Ive been waiting for this function since I bought the first version.

[@Hellseeker1332]

XM3 does also support it.

[@shrimplypibbles6851]

@@Hellseeker1332 no they don't

[@pickyaudio]

After returning the XM3's a while back I think I need to make my return with the XM4 😍

[@annahernandez3690]

Hi! I've been considering getting the XM3 mainly to be used for noise-cancellation purposes (I don't care as much for audio quality). What made you return them?

[@me_so_mad5842]

@@annahernandez3690 xm3 warms up the ears to the point that it becomes uncomfortable.. haven't used xm4 but all reviews say they are better than xm3

[@moxiematt]

@@me_so_mad5842 They are still pretty tight. I might return mine. They heat up and my ears feel kind of cramped. The Bose QC35 are far more comfortable.

[@nonProfitJoeRo]

I am one of those people with Dumbo ears, and a giant head, and the xm4s are the most comfortable headphones I've ever used. The anc doesn't create a crazy amount of pressure after customizing. It's amazing

[@ChrisStankewich]

I did the research and opted for the Sony WH-10000XM4, thank you for your review it was the deciding factor for me. I LOVE them! I find I listen at half the volume I listen to music at on other headphones. Also, I have tinnitus and the noise canceling seems to help with it as well!

[@99white99wolf99]

best review so far

[@polashahmed]

BRILLIANT REVIEW 👌💪🏽 - the worst feature in previous version was call talk quality 💯

[@TejaKarlapudi]

Been using Bose QC35 II's since 2.5 years. They're extremely comfortable. But the battery life has gone by a lot and the music occasionally gets distorted. Looking for an upgrade and I think XM4's are finally a worthy upgrade for me. I really care about comfort, which is why I'm not even considering Bose 700's. Thanks for the amazing review man!

[@vibesahead]

You gonna have problems with your ears later on music is een little bit better on the sony's but comfortd withoud pain on your ears not.

[@jessicaagriani9728]

Hey Brian, which one do you prefer the most? I’m planning on buying either one of these

[@kansaswanderer6587]

Great review! Purchased

[@skyshade9106]

THE KING IS BACKKKKKK

[@enigmaticmf]

THANK YOU! FINALLY someone else notices that they seem to have a good deal better sound than the XM3's. Much greater depth IMO. Many others reviewers say it's the same. I just don't think so. It may be that it's because of a redesigned interior, or that it doesn't press as hard against my ear. But I'm still not totally ruling out 'placebo effect' for justifying its purchase price, just yet. :) You're the 1st I've come across while trying to research if they are, in fact, sounding better. However, I also want to avoid confirmation bias at the same time, if that can be done. ;)

[@nonProfitJoeRo]

So been using these for a couple of weeks and I'm almost completely happy with them. Only problem, the white variant has developed dark smudges on the right earcup (touch controls). It's not a stain, there's nothing on there, it's some kind of defect in the finish - almost like repeated use of touch control is wearing away the finish. I haven't seen anyone else talking about this issue, but reviewers don't usually come back to products already covered, and they haven't really been out long enough for the wider public to get their hands on them. So here's your public service announcement. If you want the white model know that they will very quickly develop dark smudges in the finish where the touch controls are. This is not repairable.

[@javiermendoza5173]

thanks for your review

[@LG141602]

Wow. What a mess. I was about to buy them. Because of the high end look. I'm going with the xm 4

[@Armin00]

Amazing review, well done! I personally would argue thag the XM4s have the best ANC though, while the NC 700s have the best mic quality, but I agree with all the rest overall. Keep it up!

[@briantong]

It was so close, like i said. I'm just using my ears as the test. But nothing beats the combo of noise canceling and sound quality like the XM4s. Easy pick for me.

[@Armin00]

Brian Tong Yep fair enough, bought the XM4s myself a few days ago and I absolutely love them. One of the best products I’ve ever purchased!

[@csryang9484]

What's your thought on the best bluetooth headphone for skype/zoom video call or regular phone call in 2020 so far? Currently, I have tried Bose NC 700 and Galaxy buds live but had to return buds live due to inconsistent mic volume and the hassle of pairing/unpairing Bluetooth upon switching device. I am debating if I should return Bose NC 700 as I heard some random stutter/cracking sound when connecting to two devices at times which disappears when I restart the BT connection. It seems that many people experience this issue on Bose forum and on reddit... I am thinking about Microsoft surface headphone 2, sony xm4, AirPods pro... etc. Or any other suggestions? My budget is under $500. Priority: 1. Microphone quality, not too robotic and clear sound 2. Bluetooth connectivity/ Bluetooth multipoint pairing capacity 3. Comfortable to wear, I know this is somewhat subjective... I think the earbuds with a rubber tip for the inner ear canal might not be a good fit for me. 4. Smaller size/lighter weight 5. Longer battery life at least 8 hours 6. Noise-canceling while on the call so that people can hear me in a somewhat noisy environment 7. Audio/sound quality

[@jakubgolan1871]

Great review, if you still have both headphones please try to test the call quality in a noisy environment, that was where previously there was the biggest difference, the Sony's always picked up tons of background noise. Would be awesome if they managed to improve this.

[@PiyushBajaj]

Good point. I would love to know that too. It might be deal breaker for some, who uses it for calls as well.

[@alexChook]

Call quality is still pretty bad unfortunately. NC700 is still king of calls

[@Golddragon214]

These headphones seem to be one of the best NC phones out there. I’m interested in the tech dealing with the Blue Tooth. BT always sounds bad to me and Sony is trying to make BT a fair shake for those who listen to music. Great review Brian and great idea getting someone else to help you with the listening test. Very validated.

[@insanebiscuit1]

I know what you mean, Bluetooth has always sounded bad to me to so I passed on the xm3 and qc35mk2. However due to smartphones dropping 3.5mm jacks lots of people moved to wireless meaning the companies making these headphones can sell a lot more meaning more r&d goes into them. That plus the release of bt 5 both help a lot. I just got my first wireless headphones and they are the Sony xm4, and they are fantastic, much better audio quality than my previous wired Bose qc25s.

[@MrBaza70]

Great comparison at the end. Would have like to seen the Microsoft Surface 2 headphones in the round. What are your thoughts? How do the new Surface 2 headphones compare?

[@briantong]

I did a Surface Headphones review, they are very good but at a tier below these honestly.

[@xm2895]

I’m so hyped for these

[@koureywheeler]

I happen to order a pair today i own the xm3s I've had them since they dropped and I absolutely love them so I figured why not upgrade i cant wait for these.

[@vineshdamodaran9607]

Hi Brian, thank you for the great review!! Now I have much clearer picture on what's going to my next headphones but I have 1 question here hope you can help. Is the "360 reality sound" enabled when we watch Netflix?

[@briantong]

It's only a format for music and you have to be subscribed to specific services to get access to it

[@vineshdamodaran9607]

@@briantong understood. Thank you very much.

[@owenc2922]

Hi Brian, great review! Quick question - I noticed the Surround Sound VPT feature isn't available for the XM4s in the Sony Headphones app. Is this because there's no longer aptX support? The Surround Sound VPT was a feature I used all the time with my XM2s so was really sad they removed it.

[@briantong]

Correct. Sorry to tell you but they no longer support aptX :(

[@guidohaverkort5782]

Definitely considering to buy these, they just seem perfect

[@guidohaverkort5782]

Also, great review, really helpful

[@okidoki7189]

I wear these at work for 4~5hrs straight now and they never felt uncomfortable at all. I wear glasses and they didnt hurt my ears unlike other headphones so comfort is A+. As a metal head i prefer V-Moda sound signature but the XM4s are great enough for general use. Love them.

[@TheGizmo2012]

What I'd like to know about, that wasn't covered in the video, is which has better quality ear cushions? I have the Bose brand and seem to have to replace the ear cushions frequently because they wear out rather quickly. How often do the Sony ear cushions need replaced?

[@ican85]

Ur channel deserve millions subs..

[@daze1945]

What source did you use to assess the audio quality? Obviously not mp3 but flac or wav, CD?

[@Princeton_James]

Both are on sale now so I got both to do my own tests. My main priorities are sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, features. FWIW I just got the life Q30s. Wow. Please review those. They are amazing. I might not even need these others.

[@fallinginthed33p]

Does the XM4 switch to SBC only if an EQ setting is chosen in the Sony app? The XM3 has that issue so you lose LDAC or AptX capability.

[@trinhk]

One thing I find with noise-canceling headphones is, you can't hear yourself speak via the mic. If I was in a zoom/teams call with these headset, I can't hear how loud I might be speaking. Is there a way to set this up so that I could hear my mic via the headphone?

[@jorgeviegas4303]

The video was a bit longer than I would usually like but it was great great video

[@levil4012]

Hopefully these will be better in the winter months than the previous ones with the touch controls

[@julianuk3266]

How is the cabin pressure on the new XM4's ?

[@dontknow1684]

Hey brian have you tries skullcandy crusher anc?? If so which do you recommend scince crushers have a base button which is amazing. I love base, but the sony is too good.

[@jarrintong5768]

Hi Uncle Brian! I watched all the ads fully to help support you!

[@amritgurung1473]

Lol

[@nelsonlu5878]

Ok that's the cutest comment

[@j.k.1963]

❤👍 Family support is the best, always!

[@aramosjr]

I had the last version of these and they were not at all comfortable to wear they were tight around my head. The mark 3’s had great features but since these were uncomfortable to wear I moved to Bose 700 and they are so comfortable and the ANC is very good.

[@HDMF01]

Got my WH-1000XM4 headphones..........awesome ! Thanks for fueling my fire Brian. These are ‘GREAT APPLE’ !!!!!

[@LUIZS87]

Would the optimization feature help with improving calls?

[@fhowland]

My one complaint with the XM3s are the lower-quality leather, and the ear cups being slightly too small. Sounds like they fixed both of these issues!

[@khorupt]

I can confirm. They are the best ANC headphones I ever owned. As an owner of QC 35ii, sony xm3 and beats studio 3. Xm4 is the headphones of the year!

[@lingonberryjam320]

@Ken88 It actually has more bass(graphs confirm it)

[@beautyneytiri]

i'm wondering... as the M3 doesnt have a option to connect to different devices at the same time, can you still connect to both an ipad and android phone and switch easily ? i assume the simultanious option only means you can have sound coming in form bot devices at the same time ? i hope you'll reply soon, i want to order one today ;) Thanx !

[@johnc5442]

Which color do you prefer? That's all that it comes down to for me

[@akirakunhi]

Do you feel that the soft rubber coating on the Sony’s will get sticky over time? I have lots of phones and other electronics which still work but are just ruined by this coating.

[@paul8926]

Wow, amazing review! Can you do a demonstration on 360 sound in another review?

[@LencoTB]

I have been following you from the start of your career at CNET. Your editing skills have moved to a new level. This video is even better than MKBHD's. Just a short question. Does the ANC work if the XM4s are connected via the wired cable?

[@briantong]

Thanks for the kind words. I spent a ton of time on this one to try and make it the definitive review worth watching. I appreciate it!

[@briantong]

And Yes! The ANC still works over wired cable!

[@jamesragland03]

Would they be worth upgrading if you have rhe 100xm2? Yea bought the xm2's a month before the xm3 came out in 2018.

[@jmcprotech9670]

Good review but you fail to mention is there any latency with Netflix and KZbin please tell

[@cooloutac]

I have a pair of Bose QC35II's which I prefer for movies, although they sound narrow and hollow, they have great 3d imaging and sound separation with a nice punchy bass and sharp hitting drums maintaining a low v shape for good movie immersion. I prefer my Sennheiser PXC550II for music since they have way more clarity and wider soundstage with a very neutral tuning and the app can really add alot of bass if you need it but they pale in comparison for movies. I'm really wondering where the Sony fits in here? Specifically for the 3d imaging and instrument separation regarding movie immersion?

[@skippy17741]

The xm3’s are still my go to, the xm4’s were a quick return , NC was hardly noticeably different, the kicker for me was the super super muddy sounding bass with the xm4. Idk if it was the tuning but the m3s are still my go too after 2+ years

[@Knenemeka]

Another great video

[@mcignatz]

Hi Brian. Can you speak to the latency of these headphones. Very much want some wireless headphones to pair with a Sony A1E (for quiet super late night viewing). Everything I've read tells me that the latency is too great and without something like the AptX LL codec included, movie watching is gonna fail. And if these or the Bose aren't good enough, what would you (or anyone reading this) recommend for decent audio wireless headphones that do low latency? Thanks.

[@tomatojuice12]

Great video. Thanks! Can you turn off the speak to chat feature?

[@briantong]

Yes you can!

[@karthiksrinivasan02]

Great review Brian. I heard the call quality in mkbhd review as well. It sounded artificial. Still not sure what to go with. Meanwhile returned 700 due to firmware issue but call quality was great

[@TheCityMorg]

How does this sound with Dolby Atmos? Looking to purchase some to use with either surround sound or Apple TV

[@briandoongfoo]

Hey brian. Are the xm4s comfortable after long periods of time? Saw your previous review and you said the ear cups get hot after awhile so you would switch over to your bose qcs. Thanks.

[@briantong]

For me, my ears get hotter faster in every headphone versus the Bose QC 35s. They still get hot in those too but it takes a little more time. The QCs 35 II biggest asset is they are just ridiculously comfortable for long periods of time bs the field but the XM4s have now reached a comfortability and tech point where I can move on from the 2017 QC 35 II's model but will still always have it.

[@briandoongfoo]

@@briantong Thanks. Just pre-ordered the xm4s.

[@HerrSaturn]

My XM3 got stolen a month ago. I was in deep sorrow and I wasn't in touch with current tech developments, when I checked and saw the XM4 where up to sale right now, I at once got one. Best wireless headphones ever and in sound quality only second to open Sony MDR-MA900 ... love em XM4s

[@olympic-ass-eater]

How you got your xm3 stolen? You live in the hood or something?

[@InfoSharer]

I've had my XM4 for two days now. My only complaint, and I had this with the XM3, is that connecting to bluetooth can be unreliable. Nothing like the "it just works" experience with my AirPod Pros. The bluetooth connections just feel messy...and yes I have the August firmware. Other than than...they are awesome.

[@LG141602]

When I turn on mine with the note 20 ultra. They connect instantly.

[@paulmulks]

Mine arrive today 👌🏻

[@juliusgerilla3117]

bought this bad boy. thanks Brian. (best buy of 2020)

[@SaharshAggarwal]

How's the lag while watching videos/playing games? Is it bad as there is no Aptx Low Latency?

[@RedPanda555]

My ears sweated like crazy after just 30 mins with the XM3, but did not have this issue with the QC35. Does the XM4 have this same heat/sweat issue?

[@abdulazizmansurov2904]

Is it waterproof or at least water resistant? Because I do delivery and almost every day it rains like having a shower here in Tokyo. So I am looking for something that can withstand water

[@pfink70]

Loving my new Sony H910Ns - a lot of the same features as XM4s and same app customization, for just $150.

[@pfink70]

@Korvus Yeah, but a lot of people don't have $350 to spend on headphones these days.

[@takoeatsall]

Not good as this tho.

[@hristokovachev3878]

Things which this review doesn't mention : 1. This model dropped. AptX HD support 2. if you enable multi-point Bluetooth connection, LDAC doesn't work. 3. Still no way to mute mic during calls from the headset. I find this really important in the current pandemic situation (I often use Zoom meetings to stay away from a screen if possible ) and it's stopping me from buying XM4s. For the record, there's such request even for XM3s, but Sony hasn't responded to it.

[@videogamevegasYeOldeAccount]

Also, you can't replace the ear pads on this model. What's up with that Sony? vgv

[@richard4599]

Isn't LDAC better than AptX HD? so what's the point?

[@dan_l_photo]

Did Sony improve the lower slider design/materials so it won't break while putting the headphones over? It was a very common problem with the mdr1000x, xm2, xm3.