Sony has an obvious technological advantage when it comes to
noise cancellation. Last year we saw it several times, both in the review of
the WH-1000XM3 and in the test of the WF-1000XM3 earphones , two very different
headphones but united by an effective cancellation of environmental sounds and
a natural sound and also suitable for fine palates. It seemed really difficult
to further improve what was done with the previous models but the Sony
WH-1000XM4 have succeeded in this intent.
No revolution is clear, owners of the previous variant can
sleep peacefully, but who is approaching the world of noise canceling
headphones todayyou will find in the WH-1000XM4 a mature and virtually flawless
product . smarttechnofy
Design
At first glance the WH-1000XM4 seem identical to the previous
model but the reality is quite different. Sony has applied a whole series of
optimizations to improve ergonomics and smooth out the small defects seen in
the past. The ear cups are slightly larger and the padding is now softer while
on the outside the overall size has decreased, for a more sober design that
stands out less from the eye, while retaining some small details in a golden
color. The weight has also decreased, albeit by very little, all measures made
to further increase comfort, and if we think that the previous model could
already be worn for hours without feeling it, these new WH-1000XM4 improve
ergonomics even more. Once worn, the pressure on the sides of the face is
minimal and even that on the head, in correspondence with the headband, is
almost imperceptible. The dimensions of the headband cushion have decreased,
precisely to avoid a more pronounced pressure in the upper part of the head. smoothtechi
The build quality is at the highest levels , the structure
of the headphones is in metal and transmits a feeling of remarkable resistance,
as well as the other materials positioned in the rest of the body, from the
eco-leather of the earpads to the plastics, soft to the touch. The WH-1000XM4
are high-end headphones and the quality is felt right out of the box. Package
that also includes a carrying case, jack cable to use the headphones in wired
mode and the adapter for use on the plane. mucommucation
The controls of the headphones all take place via the touch
surface located in the right pavilion , as in the past it is possible to
forward a track, answer a phone call or raise and lower the volume (the latter
a procedure that does not always succeed on the first try). As we will see,
thanks to the innovations introduced, the touch is used less, thanks to the
automations designed by Sony. On the left pavilion you can see a button to
activate-deactivate the cancellation of noise and the power button, while on
the right one is installed the USB Type C port for charging. Observing the
inside of the pavilions, you can now see a small hole in the left one: it is a
proximity sensor, definitely useful since you just have to remove the
headphones to pause playback.
We tried the WH-1000XM4 in the middle of summer, despite the
heat the materials do not bother and do not cause sweating . If you walk under
the sun, of course, the result is different, but also for this there are the
WF-1000XM3, perfect for the summer.
Technology at the service of comfort
Sony has provided automatisms that change the experience of
using the headphones compared to the previous model. We have already seen the
first, or the proximity sensor, the second is called " Speak-to-chat
" and, for those used to using noise-canceling headphones, this is an
important novelty. In the past, to stop playback and disable noise canceling,
for example during a conversation, it was necessary to place the palm of the
hand on the right pavilion, a comfortable but unnatural gesture while speaking.
Now the WH-1000XM4 are able to re-wash when the wearer starts a conversation , then
turning off playing music and turning off the noise cancellation.
The system works really well, with excellent reactivity, as
soon as you start talking you can immediately hear your own voice and that of
the person you are talking to. This is an important novelty in terms of user
experience, before it was more convenient to remove the headphones directly,
today you can talk without problems by holding them on your head.
The automatisms do not end there, because the Adaptive Sound
Control is also available, which modifies the sound cancellation settings based
on what you are doing (for example if you are stationary or if you are moving).
This technology is also able, over time, to learn the user's habits, for
example by learning about the most frequented places (home, gym, office, etc.)
thus setting the sound accordingly based on the environment. . This year we
also introduced the ability to connect headphones to two devices , so you can
switch between them in an instant. appleinfocom
Noise canceling and user experience
Sony claims that the noise cancellation technology of these
Sony WH-1000XM4 is better than the previous model. The processor that manages
it, the QN1, is the same seen last year, which had impressed precisely for its
ability to cancel sounds, applied without particular sacrifices in terms of
audio quality. Now, however, the algorithms underlying Sony's noise canceling
have been improved , not so much in the low frequencies as in the medium and
high ones, also thanks to a better passive isolation of the ear cups. We did
not feel a clear departure from the WH-1000XM3, but simply because the previous
model was already excellent in this area.
In any case, the final result is incredible, the noise
cancellation is so effective as to reduce the sound of a mechanical keyboard a
few cm away, or to cancel the voice of an interlocutor a few meters away. On
airplanes and trains this capability becomes even more evident , considerably
increasing travel comfort.
In terms of noise cancellation Sony remains the undisputed queen
of the market, but the quality of the WH-1000XM4 is also felt when listening to
music. The sound is very naturalwith the factory settings, for some it might
even be too balanced, but this is an advantage, because through the equalizer
you can intervene to increase the highs a little, or emphasize the bass more
for those who prefer a more full-bodied sound.
In short, the WH-1000XM4 adapt very well to different tastes
, but always in the name of balance and listening quality. Thanks to the
effectiveness in noise cancellation then you don't even need to raise the
volume too much, to the benefit of your ears.
The update to the Bluetooth 5 standard increases the
stability of the connection to the phone, and also reduces the input lag, which
is unnoticeable when watching movies . Also improved the DSEE HX algorithm,
responsible for improving the sound tracks, now called DSEE Extreme. It is
difficult to notice the difference in this case, given the excellent
performance of the previous model, but there is still a further technological
evolution inserted in these headphones, which also support the LDAC
transmission standard , for better wireless sound reproduction.
The audio quality during calls is also excellent, thanks to
the " Precise Voice Pickup Technology ".
The four microphones installed on the headphones are able to
capture the voice by isolating it from the ambient sounds, during the tests
that we carried out our interlocutors never complained of problems, same thing
for the audio in the headphones, also this always clear.
Positive feedback on autonomy, Sony declares 30 hours but
after a full recharge and daily use of about a couple of hours, we have not yet
been able to download them. Useful is the possibility, with 10 minutes of
recharging, to have 5 hours of listening.
The only criticism we can make of Sony concerns the
smartphone application, with a translation that is not always optimal and an
interface that can be improved , but these are trifles compared to the quality
of the WH-1000XM4. computerlg
