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When it comes to headphones, there are two main features to consider, audio quality aside. The first is comfort, and the other is convenience. After all, compared to a pair of earbuds, headphones should be designed for prolonged use. The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a pair of wireless headphones, with a swathe of features for anyone on-the-go. But how does it stack up?
Headphone Specs
| Driver Unit | 40mm Dome Type (CCAW Voice Coil) |
| Frequency Response | 4Hz – 40,000 Hz |
| Cord Type | Single-side detachable |
| Battery Charge Time | Approx 3 Hours Full Charge |
| Battery Life (waiting time) | Max. 30 Hours |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Charging | USB C |
Comfort On Demand
One of the first things I realize about the Sony WH-1000XM4 is that they’re very comfortable. This is thanks to their earcuffs, which have a nice, cushiony feel to them.
You should be careful with how comfy these headphones are, though. They also boast potent noise-cancelling capabilities, so it’s easy to lose yourself while wearing them. They’re also very light weight, so there’s even more reason to get lost in your own world while you wear this.
They also come in a convenient travel case, so you don’t have to worry about them being damaged in transport. The case itself comes with space for its cables, so you can use the headphones even on devices that don’t work with Bluetooth.
In A World of Your Own
From a gaming perspective, it’s also an immersive experience. A combination of the headphones’ comfort, noise cancelling features and sound quality make it so you can really get lost in your games with these headphones. After all, they’re light enough that you don’t notice them, and it’s not like you can hear anyone calling you while you’re in the thick of things.
Speaking of the sound quality, the WH-1000XM4’s is exceptional, especially for gaming. This works especially well for games with dynamic mixing, like Doom Eternal. You can hear the layering of each track, with each component coming off crisp and clear. Thanks to games like Doom’s soundtrack only getting more intense the harder you rip and tear, you can get fully immersed in your session with these headphones. As an aside, the sound coming off of these is so clear, you can even hear the infamous MIDI Chainsaw instrument used in the game’s soundtrack with extreme clarity.
It’s not all about big booms, though. The Sony WH-1000XM4 are also great for picking up more subtle details in a game’s sound files. In Bloodborne, for example, the game’s hub world, The Hunter’s Dream, contains faint whispering in its background music. It wasn’t until I actually tried out the headphones that I got to realize how absolutely creepy that detail is. You’ll find talking to the Plain Doll a new experience with these headphones, as you can pick up a lot of her whisper-like mannerisms as she speaks to you.
Additionally, you can also pick up a lot of the NPC’s mutterings with these headphones. It’s not like there’s any big secrets revealed this way, but it’s definitely a great boost to your game immersion by doing so. Even the game’s boss music is given a huge boost this way, as you can pick up on a lot of the accompanying string instruments as the Cleric Beast gives you an incredibly telegraphed beatdown.
Everyday Use
I’ve noticed you won’t really find as much detail in every day use, however. If your primary listening platform is YouTube, the site’s compression tends to flatten music files enough that you won’t hear as many defined sounds as before. That being said, more extreme types of music like big orchestral numbers or rock tend to still show through, compression be damned.
On the podcasting side, they’re almost too good. Depending on your podcast’s bitrate, you may suddenly find yourself listening to a one-and-a-half ASMR about flags and vinyl records. Again, this feature is entirely podcast-dependent, so your mileage may vary.
On the topic of gaming sessions, the WH-1000XM4 can last through some pretty robust ones. The battery lasts up to 30 hours, meaning its your own ability to stay awake that’s going to bottleneck your gaming sessions, rather than the headphones.
The headphones supposedly come with several quality-of-life features, such as automatically stopping music when talking or taking the headphones off. These can be hit-or-miss, and are probably best avoided. From personal experience, they don’t always work, so remember to check your audio files and not to rely on it.
Bluetooth use also requires downloading a Sony App, so that certainly adds a level of obfuscation to using them. However, once you have it paired, you can control things like audio levels via this app. It’s handy to have while you’re out for a walk, but setting up
Closing Thoughts
The WH-1000XM4s are physically some of the best generalist headphones out there. Everything about them is comfortable to use, and the material itself is especially nice to hold. The bells and whistles, however, while not bad, can often feel superfluous. This could be down to user preference, though, and your mileage may well vary.
From a gamer’s perspective though, these headphones are lovely. Single player experiences are greatly enhanced thanks to its incredible clarity, especially any of the increasing number of games boasting dynamic soundtracks. It’s a great investment for audiophiles, even if most day-to-day tasks won’t make full use of them.
With the PS5 making use of 3D Audio, there’s a good chance we’re looking at an increase in overall sound quality in games. Thankfully, these headphones are definitely up to the task of making sure you’ll have a rewarding experience.
