I am incredibly picky about headphones, and it’s not just about the quality of the sound they produce. Headphones are a uniquely personal item. It has to feel right, look right,andsound right. Sony is, of course, one of the best AV companies in history, so it should be no surprise that one of my three daily-driver headphone solutions is a Sony.
Specifically, it’s theSony WH-1000XM4, with my personal set in the gorgeous “Silver” option, though all three options look pretty sharp and of course black is the classic Sony color. From the 8th to 11th of July, 2025, these legendary Sony phones are getting a big discount, and this may be one of the last chances you’ll have to own a new pair.
Not the Latest, But Possibly the Greatest?
Sony WH-1000XM4
Sony has the best noise-canceling capabilities, while managing to sound great with stellar battery life.
As of this writing, the latest model in the series is theWH-1000XM6, which is a strong follow-up compared to the lukewarm reception theWH-1000XM5got. Generally, the XM5 drew some criticism for comfort, build-quality, and overall performance compared to the XM4, and so people were split on whether it was really an upgrade at all, given the two models had different strengths and weaknesses. The XM6 is considered a clear upgrade over the XM4 and XM5, without too much dissent, but that is at present an almost-$500 set of cans, so you’ll have to really want Sony’s best efforts in this series.
The WH-1000XM4 was one of those products where a company accidentally made something so good, its customers have little reason to upgrade. It’s the same issue that Apple faces with its iPads and MacBooks. So, with the XM4 discounted to less than half the price of the latest model, it’s very hard to find a reason to spend twice the money for only a relatively small bump in performance.
How My XM4s Fit Into My Life
To give you some context, I have two sets of headphones that I use in addition to my XM4s.
First is my trustyAirPods Max. This is what I wear basically throughout my working day, or wherever I’m going to be sitting at a desk in front of a computer, or watching TV without disturbing anyone. Apart from the seamless integration with my MacBook, iPad, and iPhone, the big reason I default to these is the amazing transparency mode. I cannot tell the difference between wearing the Airpods and not wearing them—it’s that good. While the Sony XM4s have a transparency mode, I only use it sparingly when needed, since it does sound quite artificial.
My other pair of headphones is theSamsung Buds 2 Pro(in purple, of course!) and honestly, while I only wear wireless buds out of necessity, this is the first set of true wireless buds I’ve used where I don’t hate how music or other audio sounds. These go in my pocket or my bag if I’m just leaving the house for a few hours, and they are mainly convenient, but even compared to popular sets like the AirPods Pro, I think the Buds 2 Pro sound better, are more comfortable, and they have pretty good ANC and transparency, but obviously if I have the option at all I’d prefer using one of my over-ear headphones instead.
So between these two options, where does my XM4 fit in? First, if I’m traveling anywhere for more than a day, then the Sonys are coming with me. The included travel case is excellent, and has all the accessories you need, including a plane headphone adapter.
Second, the Sony’s came with a wired connection in the box (unlike my AirPods Max) and they’re the only set I own right now that can benefit from lossless audio. Even with a wired connection, the AirPods Max can’t do that. So these are the headphones I use with my iPhone when I want to listen to music wired. This is what I use with my MacBook for the same reason, and all of my handheld consoles. If it has a headphone jack, the Sonys are going on my head.
These headphones are portable, attractive, andcomfortable. If I had to pick one set from the three headphones I have, forced to leave the rest behind, the XM4s are the most flexible option by far. Bluetooth performance is pretty great too, though for gaming it’s a little too laggy, but since the wired option is there that’s hardly an issue.
But, How Do They Sound?
While I can personally attest that the WH-1000XM4 headphones are fantastic to live with on a day-to-day basis, do they actually sound any good? Well, the short answer is “yes”, but the long answer depends on the type of listener you are. These aren’t neutral, unbiased audiophile headphones, and they aren’t trying to be.
I would describe the sound as “warm” with a comfy soundstage. There’s a mild emphasis on bass, but you can change this using the EQ solution of your choice. Thanks to theexcellentnoise-cancellation of the XM4s, audio quality gets a big boost simply because you can hear details that might otherwise have been obscured by outside noise.
I’m not going to say the XM4s are the best headphones I’ve ever heard or anything, but at the same time they clearly have premium sound, and there’s nothing I’d actually want to complain about. After all, if you spend enough money, there’s always something that’s a bit better!
Do I Recommend the Sony WH-1000XM4? Yes!
At the price these headphones are going for during Prime Week 2025, I can’t think of a set of headphones I could recommend more. I paid full price for mine, and I haven’t regretted it for a single second since. These headphones tick every box in my opinion, when it comes to the looks, usability, and performance categories.
If you’re in the market for a new set of capable, general-purpose headphones, then it will be a while before you’ll see a deal like this again, and perhaps more importantly, it’s not clear how much longer stocks of the XM4 will last, given that it’s already two generations old at this point. So move fast!
