The Sony WH-1000XM4C bring back a beloved headphone design
Sony’s WH-1000XM4C revive the design and much of the hardware of the popular WH-1000XM4, first released in 2020. The reviewer says they remain comfortable, sound good and offer performance close to Sony’s current flagship for less money, making the familiar design appealing despite the lack of major upgrades.
The XM4C retain 40mm drivers, four microphones, the older QN1 noise-cancelling chip and support for SBC, AAC and LDAC codecs. Their noise cancellation is broadly similar to the original XM4, though newer models perform better; a 10-band EQ can help bring out the midrange. They fold into a travel case and support wired listening through a 3.5mm jack, but not USB-C audio, and charging requires a separately supplied USB-C cable.
In short
- Sony brings back the popular XM4 headphone design.
- Sound and comfort remain strong, with only modest changes.
- Noise cancellation uses older technology than Sony’s newer models.
Explained simply
Sony’s WH-1000X headphones are a range of wireless over-ear headphones, with the WH-1000XM4 arriving in 2020. They combine music playback with active noise cancellation, which uses microphones and processing to reduce sounds from the surroundings.
Sony has since released newer models, including more advanced noise-cancelling headphones. The XM4C use much of the original XM4’s hardware and familiar foldable design, while newer models have made some technical improvements. The comparison matters to people choosing between a familiar older design and newer features at different prices.