Sony WH-1000XM4 review
Test scoreShow Context
- Over-ear
- Wireless
- Noise cancelling
The Sony WH-1000XM4 are the audio giant’s flagship over-ear noise-cancelling headphones, a fierce rival to top pairs from premium brand Bose – so who really is the heavyweight headphones champion? Sony oozes confidence, boldly claiming ‘industry-leading noise cancellation’ meaning you’ll hear ‘only music and nothing else.’ But do these claims really live up to reality, or bend the truth? Our independent lab experts and professional listening panel deliver the ultimate verdict – find out if these headphones really are the best you can buy.
What's included:- Pros and cons
- What are they?
- How do they sound?
- What are they like to live with?
- Is there anything I should watch out for?
- Is there anything else I should know?
- Should I buy them?
Last checked by Which?
June 2022
First reviewed by Which?
September 2020
Released
August 2020
The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.
Find out how we test headphonesPut us to the test
Our Test Labs compare features and prices on a range of products. Try Which? to unlock our reviews. You'll instantly be able to compare our test scores, so you can make sure you don't get stuck with a Don't Buy.
Compare retailers
Prices updated dailyPrices are ordered from lowest to highest, irrespective of retailer rating or stock, and exclude any potential delivery costs. We are not able to show every possible retailer and cheaper prices may be available. When you click on a retailer link on our site, we may earn affiliate commission. This supports our not-for-profit mission to empower consumers and in no way affects our recommendations. Find out more.
- 10%Lowest score
- 55%Average score
- 91%Highest score
Put us to the test
Our Test Labs compare features and prices on a range of products. Try Which? to unlock our reviews. You'll instantly be able to compare our test scores, so you can make sure you don't get stuck with a Don't Buy.
Suggested alternatives
Related articles
How to buy the best headphones
Choose the best headphones for you using the Which? buying guide and independent headphone reviews. Find the best wireless Bluetooth, noise cancelling, in-ear, earbud and over-ear headphones and compare different brands.
Beats vs Bose headphones: which are best?
We pit Beats and Bose headphones against each other to find out which are the best, including in-ear and earbud, on-ear and over-ear models, such as the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, Beats Solo 3 and Beats Studio 3 wireless headphones.
Top seven best TV headphones for 2022
Our experts select the very best headphones for using with your TV from our lab tests, including wireless headphones with docking stations and Bluetooth. We test TV headphones from top brands like Sennheiser, Sony, Beats and Bose.