I have owned the Bose QC 35 series I (the originals) for four years now, and just recently replaced the ear pads since they finally deteriorated. I figured after four years there has to be some serious improvements in noise cancelling technology, and since the WH-1000XM3 model got so many good reviews I figured these would be awesome. So I pre-ordered them.
I pulled them out of the box and followed the very quick connect process of downloading the app and using it to pair to my phone. It downloaded a firmware update automatically while I fiddled around with some settings briefly and listened to some music. Super easy, awesome.
The sound is very impressive. Punchy kick drum (I listen mostly to rock/metal) and nice bright sound. I quickly settled on a slightly customized version of the included Bright preset.
But things quickly went downhill from there.
After using the headphones for a bit, the touch controls became frankly annoying and easily susceptible to mistakes (I triggered track skips multiple times just by removing and putting the headphones back on). The volume adjustment is especially tedious...if you want to raise or lower the volume significantly you have to swipe it up or down a large number of times because the volume adjustment is done in small increments. With the Bose QC 35 and its dedicated buttons, you just quickly push the buttons. Simple.
I spent about 20 minutes trying to figure out how to pair the headphones with my laptop, reading the guide in the app and doing some web searching, thinking it must be provided by one of the two dedicated buttons like on the Bose QE 35s. Nope. It must be done with the app. In fact, everything has to be done with the app except whatever you have the custom button configured to do, and the power. On the Bose I just have to slide the power button, and it goes into pairing mode. Simple.
The above are honestly smaller issues that you could probably put up with since the sound these produce is so good. However, the deal breaker for me was when I connected them with the included wire to the controller on my Roku Ultra to enjoy some TV time after a long day. I always watch movies and TV with headphones. To my horror they produced a clearly audible hissing sound that is incredibly distracting. I turned them off and on again, disconnected and reconnected the cable. No change, still the hissing sound. My Bose don't produce this sound. Ugh.
After listening to them for a couple hours I had a slight headache and felt fatigued, almost nauseous. I know some people are affected differently by the noise cancelling technology, but I don't get this from my Bose, even after listening to them all day.
Additionally, speaking of noise cancelling, I compared my Bose QC 35s to these, and I couldn't tell the difference between the noise cancelling. They sound the same to me. :shrug: I'm sure you could tell the difference with laboratory equipment though.
All-in-all the sound these produce is really good, and the noise cancelling is great (although I can't tell the difference from my Bose QC 35 Series I). But they have 1) lots of annoyances in the touch controls instead of dedicated buttons, 2) the fact that the app is required to do everything (including pairing) except turning them off and activating the custom button, 3) the hissing on the wired connection to my Roku Ultra, and 4) the fatiguing after listening to them.
I'll be returning them.
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From the manufacturer
WH1000XM4
Industry-leading noise canceling headphones
Intelligent headphones with mic and Alexa voice control
Industry-leading Digital Noise Cancellation
Hear every word, note, and tune with incredible clarity, no matter your environment. These headphones feature additional microphones that assist in isolating sound while talking on the phone, resulting in improved phone call quality and the reduction of even more high and mid frequency sounds.
Engineering better noise cancellation
Dual Noise Sensor technology, featuring two microphones on each earcup, captures ambient noise and passes the data to the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1. Using a new algorithm, the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 then applies noise cancelling processing in real time to a range of environments.
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Superior call quality
Precise voice pickup, combines five built-in microphones with advanced audio signal processing.
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Speak-to-chat technology
Automatically pauses music when you speak, letting sound in so you can conduct your conversation.
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Amazon Alexa-Built in
Alexa-enabled for hands-free voice access to music, information, and more.
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Ambient Sound Control
Cancel noise while still allowing through essential sounds when you’re listening on the move.
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Quick Attention Mode
Place your hand over the right ear cup for instant conversation.
1
Clear hands-free calling
2
Speak-to-chat
3
Alexa-Built in
4
Ambient Sound Control
5
Quick Attention Mode
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DSEE Extreme
Upscales compressed digital music files
Using Digital Sound Enhancement Engine with Edge-AI, co-developed with Sony Music Studios Tokyo.
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Proprietary technology for premium sound
The 40mm drivers with Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) diaphragms reproduce a full range of frequencies.
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Personalized listening experience
Adaptive Sound Control automatically adjusts to your location and behavior.
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Smart Listening by SENSE ENGINE
Automatically detects your activity and balances the noise canceling levels.
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Wearing detection
Pauses playback when headphones are removed and resumes when you put them back on.
1
Next-level Music
2
Premium Sound
3
Adaptive Sound Control
4
Smart Listening
5
Wearing Detection
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All-day power with quick charging
Up to 30-hour battery life with quick charging (10 min charge for 5 hours of playback).
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Touch Sensor controls
Pause/play/skip tracks, control volume, activate your voice assistant, and answer phone calls.
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Seamless multiple-device pairing
The WH-1000XM4 headphones can be paired with two Bluetooth devices at the same time.
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Carry case with cable
The supplied carry case is durable and includes a cable for wired listening.
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“Sony | Headphones Connect” App for Android /iOS
Control your ambient sound settings and adjust the sound levels with the Equalizer.
1
30 Hour Battery
2
Touch Control
3
Multiple-device Pairing
4
Carry case with cable
5
Connect with App
Sony Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
WH-1000XM4 |
WH-1000XM3 |
WH-XB900N |
WH-CH710N |
|
|
Type
|
Over-ear | Over-ear | Over-ear | Over-ear |
|
Noise Cancelling
|
Industry-Leading NC | Premium Noise Canceling | Digital Noise Cancellation | Digital Noise Cancellation |
|
Battery Life
|
30 Hrs | 30 Hrs | 30 Hrs | 35 Hrs |
|
Quick Charge Battery
|
10 Min charge 5 Hrs playback | 10 Min charge 5 Hrs playback | 10 Min charge 60 Min playback | 10 Min charge 60 Min playback |
|
DSEE Extreme with Edge-AI
|
✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
|
Hands-free calling
|
Yes, with 5 microphones | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
Touch control
|
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
|
Ambient Sound Mode
|
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
|
Customize Sound with app
|
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
|
Multi Device Connection
|
✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
|
Wearing Detection
|
✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
|
Foldable design
|
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
Compare with similar items
|
Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Noise-Cancelling, with Alexa Voice Control -Silver
|
Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones WHCH700N: Wireless Bluetooth Over the Ear Headset with Mic for phone-call and Alexa voice control - Blue
|
Bose Noise Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones 700, with Alexa Voice Control, Black
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Rating | (1832) | (32219) | (1148) | (10524) |
| Price | $348.00 | $296.00 | $198.00 | $379.00 |
| Sold By | Amazon.com | ThrillingAudio | Focus Camera LLC | Amazon.com |
| Color | Silver | Silver | Blue | Triple Black |
| Fit Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | over-ear | Over-Ear |
| Headphones Form Factor | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear |
| Item Dimensions | 7.27 x 3.03 x 9.94 inches | 3.20 x 6.70 x 7.10 inches | 8.71 x 2.72 x 10.28 inches | 2.00 x 6.50 x 8.00 inches |
| Item Weight | 0.56 lbs | 0.52 lbs | 0.53 lbs | 0.55 lbs |
| Special Features | Noise Cancellation | Noise Cancellation | Android | Noise Cancellation, Microphone Feature, Water Resistant, Volume-Control |
Customer Questions & Answers
Customer reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2020
Color: BlackStyle: Headphones OnlyVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2020
Color: BlackStyle: Headphones OnlyVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2020
Color: BlackStyle: Headphones OnlyVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2020
Color: BlackStyle: Headphones OnlyVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
Aakash
Unable to cut out arnab goswami’s voice even a little bit🤣.
Reviewed in India on September 19, 2020Color: BlackStyle: Headphones OnlyVerified Purchase
Nikhil Ranjit
As someone else in this review section said " conditionally recommend"
Reviewed in India on September 19, 2020Color: BlackStyle: Headphones OnlyVerified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Over 1 second audio lag on Samsung TV
Reviewed in Canada on August 23, 2020Color: BlackStyle: Headphones OnlyVerified Purchase
g
Initial Impressions: They're good
Reviewed in India on September 20, 2020Color: BlackStyle: Headphones OnlyVerified Purchase
Matt
Superb audio for bluetooth cans but some issues make them unusable
Reviewed in Canada on August 22, 2020Color: BlackStyle: Headphones OnlyVerified Purchase
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