Sony - WF-1000XM4

I had that same problem with WF-10000XM4

Surprisingly well worth the money but only if you buy something exceptional like the Sony brand, after owning a sony pair of earbuds everything else sounds like a cheap pair even the expensive ones...

The WF-1000XM4 or WF-1000XM5 they are the top end of the sony range but have heard good things about the mid range sonys as well.

Would agree that the AirPods Pro 2 are your best bet. I like the sound from the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds but every 1-2 months one bud loses sound and I have to pair them again. So I don't recommend them. I have Sony WF1000XM4 and like them a lot. But if you are going to get those wait for the release of the XM6 this Fall and then get the XM5 cheap. The other I really like are the True Momentum Buds by Sennheiser. But for iPhones the AirPod really works.

JBL Tour, Bose QC, Sony XM4 and XM5, Liberty NC4... They all sound better but like I said, AirPods Pro 2 truly shine with their seamless integration into the Apple Ecosystem, transparent mode, ANC and call quality. You can basically put them on and forget they're there

I actually liked the XM4s but I am not an audiophile and more importantly, the foam tips gave me an ear infection.

I have the Pixel Buds Pro 2, the original Pixel Buds Pro, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Max, and Sony WF1000XM4s. The best phone call device I have though is the Ray Ban Metas. They are incredible.

I own a pair of XM5 and the sound quality is trash they don't even deserve to be mentioned in this conversation. I even had the XM4 because sony used to make decent sound for a low budget. Now they are just in the toilet when it comes to making quality sounding products. I have heard the Gemini the sound quality is good but they are just overhyped do the cost. Before the Gemini people in these subs were overhyping the Pi8 because they are another 500 plus pair of earbuds which are noticeably louder than the MTW 4s but still lacks in terms of sound stage compared to the MTW 4s.

About 6 months now. No battery problems, still getting me through nearly 10 to 12 hours with ANC or Transparency. I've used the XM4s and LinkBuds before, and I can say that I've had issues with both in terms of connectivity. As for battery, I think that's an issue with earlier models, it should be a lot less prevalent with the XM5s

I returned my AirPods Pro gen 2, sound quality was awful on them so idk if I got a bunk pair or not but they sounded so nasally and the bass was barely there. My xm4 earbuds are still superior

I know you commented awhile ago but I have the xm4 and the ambient mode is wonderful and you have a volume slider to adjust how much you let it, when it’s cranked and you have the music low it sounds like your in a shop with a radio playing it the background. Use it at work all the time

I changed the batteries on the WFXM4 recently. Sony needs get their shit together.

I repaired them myself. Used a heat gun. Popped 'em open very carefully and slowly. Dug the old batteries out and swapped them with the new ones and glued em back together.

Yes, it's good, but the Sony WF-1000XM4 is also a great option to consider. It has excellent sound quality and noise cancellation. I can recommend it.

You cant go wrong at the high end your listing here. It's a matter of priorities. Best ANC, best sound quality, type of fit, most features? They will all do it all good to great but some are excellent at specific things. Consider what audio sources you have/want and what music you like. I personally loved the Sennheiser MTW4 but they had an issue with extreme suction blocking sound on my right ear. I replaced them with the JBL tour pro 3s and are good enough, the case being a transmitter is a hard carry for me. Getting a hard answer is tough because there are different products for different people. GL. from your list Id do the XM4

I'll vote az80s. I have those and previously had sony xm4 (well, still do.) I wrote some comments in the sub reddit here you can probably find. For me, sound quality is top, followed by call quality. The call quality on the Sony line is terrible. I've been told bose has similar problems. Call quality on the az80s is on par with airpods in my opinion. The clarity blows everything I've heard away though I admittedly like the more bassy sound on the sonys, but they are unusable for conference calls etc., The noise cancelation for the az80s is on par with bose over the ear. I've even used my az80s as pseduo hearing aides... By changing transparency to filter background noise so I could hear people next to me in noisy environments.

I'm currently using the technics az80s as well. They replaced a beloved pair of xm4s, which had recently suffered sudden battery drain issue. Because this seems to be software induced I will probably never own another set of Sony earbuds despite thinking they sound better than just about anything. I'm also a huge fan of foam tips. ====== For the az80s: I love the looks (have silver) and size of the case. Battery life so far is very acceptable... Clocking 4 to 5 hours of use with ldac enabled. The recharge rate is very quick. Several people have raved about the sound stage while a handful say it's not good. It took me a few days if listening to figure out why: The clarity / thd is spectacular.... Same clarity at 30% vs 100%. But they aren't as loud as competing products... Such as the xm4/xm5. So if you listen to a lot of heavier music you might not be happy. I think you need to really pay attention to the equalizer settings and remember some phones (like Samsung) have their own equalizer too. If you listen to anything other than heavy music they should easily best most anything else with clarity. ANC also gets a lot of mixed reviews. You have adjustments to make in the app. Please make them. Better ANC than anything I've tried including airpods pros and xm4s. Finally I'll comment on background noise reduction. This was the feature that made me pick them. I watched several reviews and in all of them the az80s handled background noise better than just about anything but Huawei free bud pro 3s. The xm4s did terrible on mic quality. Now trying az80s real world I've had more mixed results... You do need to make more adjustments in the app again. So far I'm pretty impressed with the background noise reduction for very loud areas with lots of voices. However underwhelmed for moderately noisy areas. May take some more tweaking. Hope this helps.

I will know Friday. I'm a big fan of foam tips and comply is the best brand by far. I had a set for my xm4s before they died battery death. Super comfortable. Excellent passive noise reduction. I will say the formulation for the default ear tips with the az80s is not as itchy as standard silicone tips. I also think that the noise reduction from the default tips is very good.... If you fit them properly.

I don't know if they still make them, but I used to use PowerBeats a lot. I find I prefer not wearing them so I can communicate with the people I go with clearer, especially when spotting someone which happens frequently. At home on the treadmill, I use Sony XM4s because the treadmill is quite loud and I need the noise cancelling.

Yeah my WF1000XM4's batteries are barely hanging on.

I’m not too sure which tips the XM5 comes with cuz I’m using the predecessor - the XM4s. Those only came with memory foam tips and they’d slip out so much 🥲

Pretty much, none of the three sizes worked. In the end I just got Sony’s silicone tips - works like a charm after. Can barely even hear the train announcements lmao

Depends, just look at Sony as prime example... No doubt it had best of ANC and sound but it is also pieces of trash....Last time got WF-1000XM4 when it initially came out, cost me around RM1200 .... Used it about year then suddenly one side earbuds battery drain like crazy...cant even listen to half and hour of music.... Then I brought sennheiser Momentum 1 with cost of RM800... Last me about 5 years and still going strong until today

I have Sony WF-1000XM4. I love them. Customer service is great and they have repaired them twice for me over the span of (I think) maybe 3-4 years now. Noise cancelling is really good and they stay in my ears and have never fallen out at the gym. I will say that they take a second for me to place in my ears correctly, but once they are there, they are very comfortable.

Personally for me owning both, the sound maybe is a bit better but it’s minimal and the anc is equal, maybe a bit better transparency but overall everything else was worse. the bulky feel of the xm4 never got in the way or became uncomfy, where as the 5s are slippery to get out of the case, and to hold the bud itself. The biggest difference imo is the 4s feel like solid earbuds where as the 5s feel like normal earplugs that happen to play music

Sennheiser momentum 3, pixel buds pro, pixel buds pro 2, Sony XM4 and listened to 5. It's impossible for them to be "terrible" because I hear nothing with them in when I did with all the others. Either you're extra sensitive or have a shit seal with them.

I really think there's a big "fit" component to determine ANC effectiveness. My experience with the ones I've tested. Sony WXM4: impressive ANC, but not very comfortable. But ANC on planes was incredible, but after a few hours I had to take them off. Sony WXM5: for me very comfortable but I imagine I could not get the perfect fit to isolate passively so the ANC felt poor (but many reviews praise ANC). I returned them quite fast. Pixel buds pro 1: Very comfortable, more than both the Sony's, but the ANC for me is so poor I can hardly find a difference between having ANC off or on. Airpods pro 2: for me very comfortable and the ANC is really great I think not so much as the WXM4 but still amazing Conclusion all of these have many reviews praising ANC and in my case some of them have not achieved this so it really means that there must be a strong component of how they fit you

Sony xm4. Incredible for the price and everything sounds amazing on them

Let me start by saying that I am not usually one to write reviews. However, since I work with live sound and produce for a few bands, I'm no novice when it comes to audio. Over the past few years, I’ve used various wireless earbuds, including the AirPods Pro 2, Google Buds, Galaxy Buds, and Sennheiser Momentum 3s, before finding my true favorite: the Sony XM4s. They were amazing—until they weren’t. Out of nowhere, one earbud stopped working. No big deal, I thought; I’d just buy a replacement bud. Unfortunately, you can’t do that with Sony’s earbuds because each bud needs to be on the same firmware version before you can update them. As a dedicated Sony fanboy, this was disappointing. I was left with one bud on a battery-draining firmware and no way to fix it. Then, one day (Prime Day, to be specific), I got the shopping bug and saw JLab's Epic Lab Edition on sale for 50% off. I figured, why not? I pulled the trigger, and they arrived a few days ago. Let me say, the sound quality is actually incredible—not just for $100 earbuds. I’m talking it's on par with the Sennheisers and the Sonys. Yes, the bass hits hard for you bass enthusiasts. The ANC is pretty good as well, though nothing comes close to Sony’s. Now, back to the Epic Labs. The case’s build quality blows everything else out of the water. It’s metal, and the hinges feel as solid as the AirPods cases—an impressive step up from the XM4s. The case also includes a USB-C 2.4 GHz dongle, which is brilliant. I haven’t noticed any latency when using them with my gaming rig. I’d also like to give a shoutout for including a braided Type-C to Type-C cable, three sizes of foam tips, and three sizes of rubber tips. While I’ll stick with my SpinFits, I respect JLab for their high-quality offerings, especially at this price point. It really makes me hope that other major brands will step up their game. Worth $200 so far, if you find them on sale snag them right away. will update if i have any issues.

Disclaimer I am a PC gamer. So no idea how they are on console) But here’s an update With the dongle latency isn’t an issue. I’ve found my self using them for single player games a lot actually. Having noise canceling in ears while gaming has been an absolute game changer for immersion. The sound is rich, and the bass is good. Playing Jedi survivor and hearing all the beautiful lightsaber sounds while feeling them without any noises of the outside world is truly something amazing. However. Playing online games with friends is something I do not enjoy about them personally. Granted, it maybe just me. The mic quality is meant for phone calls, and is very acceptable for that. But not so much in the world of gaming headphones with built in decent mics. Or especially compared to my current setup with a Focusrite audio interface plugged into my XLR shure. Granted yes, you can use an external mic if you’d like. But In my shoes, my Audio interface gives me a feature that allows me to hear my voice straight into wired headphones with 0 delay at all. Yes windows has a feature like this, but it has a delay (on windows side, not the jlabs). And that single feature keeps me from using them for gaming online. Over all I’d say pull the trigger, from what I’ve seen they go on sale half off frequently. And tbh, it hurts to say as a Sony fanboy. But ever since I got these, I haven’t really thought about getting another pair of Sonys. They have been the least buggy headphones ive ever had

I've got the XM5 headphones for home, but just got some opened but never used XM4 earbuds off Ebay for just over £100 as these are sweat resistance. In the UK we are having a heatwave so I put the earbuds in for cooking as well now as I sweat quite a bit. My advice is earbuds for really sweaty things, headphones for very little sweat times

I got my first headset in more than 15 years last week, the QC Ultra, and it's amazing how well it suppresses noise. What felt weird though, is that when reading reviews, I found out that the earbuds are almost as good as the headphones: [https://www.soundguys.com/bose-quietcomfort-earbuds-2024-vs-bose-quietcomfort-ultra-earbuds-which-bose-earbuds-should-you-buy-125559/](https://www.soundguys.com/bose-quietcomfort-earbuds-2024-vs-bose-quietcomfort-ultra-earbuds-which-bose-earbuds-should-you-buy-125559/) Then it got me wondering. I have the WF-1000XM4 (Sony ANC earbuds) and it has been nowhere even close, no matter the tips I used. The ANC does improve a little bit, but not super significant (Ambient sound though, works very well). They are not broken, I had the WF-1000XM3 before and they were slightly worse. But my question is then, can I really expect the same level of isolation as the headphones with some earbuds? (even if I'd need to buy a more modern alternative to my Sonys) I'd love that for travel. I don't have any way to test those at the moment.

Thanks. Weird that other people seem to report that the earbuds work better 😵‍💫 Fwiw, I did play around with the tips for my Sony's and the isolation can indeed be relatively good with the original foam tips, when squeezing and leaving the time for them to morph into the ear canal. At this point, it's comparable to the Ultra Headphones passive isolation (equivalent on the lower end, better on the higher end).

I am running Sony XM4, and I use tgem to do the Aircraft Engine leak checks at maximum takeoff power. Tgey are goood at cancelling noise.

I can only compare to Airpods Pro 2, Wf-1000xm4 and Melomania 1+, but the Melomania M100 have the best imaging, soundstage and most tightly controlled treble I've ever heard from earbuds. They're $119. Incredible sound. I bought xm4's after using 1+ for two years thinking they'd be an upgrade. They were not. Flat, unsupported bass and treble that constantly disappointed. Practically no imaging and soundstage was pitiful. If you can deal with some occasional pairing weirdness, (that always just requires you to put them back in the case and take them out,) the M100s sound better than the xm4's and Airpods Pro 2. Highly, highly recommended, especially for APTX Lossless/Adaptive devices. I added an eppfun USB C dongle for 24 bit/48khz APTX lossless and it's the best audio I've ever heard from my phone. Only competition I've had was open back headphones plugged in through USB C dac. Edit: Also, I've found that EQ is super important for all of these wireless buds. I prefer Harman tuning, but the M100s are super neutral with slight bass tuning, so I just needed to do a small V shaped EQ to get them sounding perfect.

Having used Sony for ANC for the past 5 years I just got AirPods Pro and I think the ANC is poor in comparison. I’d suggest any of the Sony xm series. The connectivity is okay with the iPhone. The only downside is Apple doesn’t support LDAC which is a big shame because the Sonys are superb on any other device. Sound quality still surpasses AirPods even without ldac though. I have both. The AirPods for ease of use - their functionality just works seamlessly with iPhone (obviously) and they are very versatile - good for everything. Sony for higher quality audio and for travelling on plane or train.

How do you feel about over ear? Sony wh-1000xm4 are around the same price as airpod pro 2 (£25-50 cheaper atm) and the noise cancelling is superb. In-ear I’m not sure… it will probably depend a lot on fit. The in ear xm4 are probably a good bet or bose quiet comfort

Do you think? Thats interesting. I prefer the Sony. I found the AirPods didn’t really filter much out at all. I suppose it depends what frequencies bother you the most

Its ok, i used wf 1000xm4 and airpods pro 1st gen before. For the price, i cant really complain.

Here’s my honest take: Skip Sony this time (trust me, I get it) and grab the Sennheiser Momentum 3. They’re perfect for workouts—super secure fit, IPX4 sweat resistance, and ANC that drowns out traffic noise like a champ. Battery’s 7hrs (28hrs with case), so no mid-run panic. Sound is rich and detailed, way better than AirPods if you’re not deep in Apple’s ecosystem. AirPods Pro 2 do have great ANC, but they’re finicky on Android (no custom EQ, features locked). Momentum 3’s feel premium, stay put during sprints, and their ANC competes with Sony’s. Only downside? The case is a brick. But if you want no repeats of battery drama and buds that survive rain/sweat? Sennheiser’s your move. Also you can check this reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/Earbuds/comments/1i0k6ye/earbuds_for_you/

Thanks for the review. I have the bose quietcomfort ultra, like anc and fit but bored with the sounds (also sony wf-1000xm4). I guess I would be blown away by the Denon and the bw pi8.

ANC is sony & bose. but sony king of ANCs. if you baller can look at WH1000-XM6. If not the XM5s or XM4s are pretty good. Personally for me i prefer richer highs and mids but still want ANCs so i went for Sennheiser M4s. Earbuds same thing. XM5s. or XM4s also can (Do they have XM4s nowadays?)

For what it's worth I have XM4s and I love them. Can wear them for hours comfortably. The only issue is the left bed frequently doesn't fully charge to 100%, usually only to about 80% or so. Might not be an issue with the new ones though.

I ruined my xm4s trying to replace the battery

I tried the xm4 and xm5. Sound quality was decent(not spectacular) but the fit was unbearable. Some of the most uncomfortable earbuds I've ever owned. Currently using the Samsung Buds3 pro and they're hands down the best earbuds I've ever owned. I've had a few that might outshine them in one specific area, but when looked at as a complete package the Buds3 Pro beat out everything else.

Love my Sony XM4’s

Avoid WF xm4, and link buds they have battery problem

I would be cautious of the battery issue that existed in the XM4. I had the XM4 and the battery basically lasted 10 minutes and sony replaced it under warranty and the left pair of the new one didn’t last more than a year and a half. I would check if people have mentioned this problem with the XM5.

Just bought Bose GC Earbuds Ultras. Hasd xm4 for a few years during which they broke twice - bought them for allegedly having best ANC in the market. The ANC, fit and overall quality of Bose's beat Sony by a wide margin. I'd never go back to Sony's XM series

If you do not have a good Noise Isolation, you're never gonna have satisfying Active Noise Cancellation. I can only comment on my experience with wf-1000xm4, but even thought they do not fit perfectly, they are leagues above Galaxy Buds 3 Pro ( I tried them because I got a Galaxy phone ) and they are better overall experience from Sennheiser Momentum 4 that I've tried. As other comment's say, i was boarding on a plane and I wouldn't hear the turbine + wind over low volume music. If they're performances is similar, then there is no way to choose galaxy buds over sonic when they are similarly priced.

I have the XM4 buds. I'd say most of my findings would apply to XM5 as well. The most important thing here is to make sure the fit is proper. If your tips are too big or too small, the buds will fall out. Proper fit = they're gonna stay in them no matter how hard you shake your head. One thing to keep in mind, the impact of your foot hitting the ground will get transmitted to your ears via bone conduction. Only real solution for my case was to turn the music up. Idk how much of a thing this is for XM5 buds, but seeing as it's basic physics, I imagine it is still a thing you will have to deal with. I dealt with it when I was using wired buds for running too. XM4 and 5 are both sweat resistant so if you get moist when running you should be good. The foam tips offer enough friction that they won't slide out if they get wet. I haven't yet done any running with silicone tips yet though so idk how they'd be for that purpose. In short, I'd say they're fine for running, granted you have the right fit.

I've never seen the WF XM4 fit properly in anybody's ears except for mine. They always hang outward and look weird. For this reason, I think the XM5 buds are better for most people. Battery issues are another reason, but I'm not 100% ready to rule out that the same won't happen to the XM5 buds. I'm preeeetty convinced that Sony nuked the XM4 batteries so their customers would upgrade to XM5 instead of keeping their XM4. Between WH XM4 and XM5 though, I would say that unless you take calls frequently with the XM5, there's nothing it does substantially better than the XM4 to warrant the extra $50-100. Its ANC is stronger, but only very slightly, and then it also automatically adjusts itself, which is stupid. The soundstage is a bit wider, but the sound itself is colder, and the bass lacks the kick that the XM4 gives you (that being said, the XM4 bass does have a tendency to creep into the mids). They're also less portable, their build is flimsy, and more recent batches are proving notoriously fragile. I would say the XM4 headphones are easily the best *wireless* headphones Sony has made. Once you get into wired then yea it gets left far behind.

I’m an audiophile, professional sound engineer and gear addict.  I own Sony xm4, Apple AirPods Pro, technics az80.   I personally think they all sound great but the Sonys are my favorite.  Apple second but very close to technics the Apple gain some points for functionality and reliability.  All three are great

I have both Pro 3 and XM4, and use the S25U. XM4s are more comfortable and have better noise cancellation. Pro 3s seem better for calls and for turning-off cancellation when detecting \*my\* speech; they may have better battery life, too. I prefer the XM4s.

I did some research before and the concensus was the earfun air pro 4. But really I have that as my spare and I strongly prefer my main wf1000xm4s. If you can get those cheap, I would lean towards the sonys. They used to be quite cheap new on carousell when every credit card was giving them as a sign up bonus. I haven't used the space travel but I used the moon drop aria and I don't think the earfuns would be significantly better. They are good but not amazing.

Actually battery is great but after one week the left side isn't connecting. Tried everything and returning now

Don't know about the XM5s, but I have some XM4s and while the sound quality is excellent, they are really big and don't sit easily in the ear. I currently use some OnePlus Buds Pro that are really comfortable and also have excellent sound quality, and, to my ears, better ANC.

I can't believe Sony pushed out an update that irreperably broke my XM4s. My battery life fell to fucking 30 minutes or less. Ridiculous really

Came here to say this. I had **3** replacement pairs of TW2s until finally the retailer who was doing all the replacements asked if I wanted a different product. WF1000xm4s have been working perfectly for over two years and I won't be buying wireless earbuds from old mate Senny again.

I just buy tons of TWS cheap earphones on shopee for RM5 or so and replace them when they break. Lost 2 Sony WF-1000XM4 already so don’t want to spend anymore.

I bought the 4's and within weeks, one of them would drain within an hour. Returned them & reordered. 11 months of average use & well, RIP to the battery. I feel dumb not knowing the battery could be replaced but I'm over Sony right now however, happy to know, thanks! I'm so happy with Bose Ultra which I should've ordered in the first place.

i have the sony xm4 they great

I have them and they’re amazing, however I got them for £140 (Amazon refurb) as a replacement for the xm4s when the batteries died. I find the ANC great in my office environment - and both music and teams calls are great in an open office

There are no reports of that with the XM3s, nor with the XM5s so far. That was only a significant problem specifically with the XM4s.

Hey, I was looking at the xm5s recently to replace my xm4. The battery went to crap after the update. Do your have that issue? 

I got the 1000XM4 buds

TLDR get a Bose or Sony Earbuds. If you have the budget get custom fit earbuds. I can tell you what not to buy. Don’t buy Jabra. Had the Elite 75T and an android phone which was perfect but…… Changed to Elite 7 and iPhone+mac, it has been horrible since day 1. Random disconnections and poor performance when connected to more than one device. Sound quality is good, noise cancellation is poor. Have tried the now discontinued Sony-1000XM4 before buying Elite 7, sound quality was just a tad worse than the Elite 7 but noise cancellation was much much better. Choose the Elite 7 purely due to sound quality but regretted it. Had a pair of the Bose QuietComfort 15 headphone back in early 2010s. That one had fantastic noise cancellation too and good sound (I know Bose is abit controversial regarding sound quality) but the price back then $500-$600+ is exorbitant. Still have a pair of Sony WH-1000XM5s, great sound, NC and battery life just like the old Bose QC15 but it’s wireless. But headphones are a bad choice for Singapore weather as you already know. I use it a lot when flying but the size of it does get to me. Connection wise with Apple it’s good, much better than the Jabras. I’ve always been curious about the brand Shure’s earbuds. Their SE215 sounds great and isolates a lot of noise. But the bulk of their earbuds are cabled and loop over the ear which take some getting used to or be a flat out dealbreaker for you. They have really high end stuff that musicians wear to hear themselves sing/band playing at a concert so you know they’re the real deal. You can look into custom made IEMs which will provide the best isolation if your budget allows. As always; trust your own ears. Always try it out yourself before you buy. There’s Jaben at The Adelphi (City Hall), Zeppelin & Co (Sim Lim/Rochor), Stereo (Plaza Singapura). ConnectIT at Somerset treated me well too but I would say the first three shops carry a bigger product range and are more professional and respected in the audio game. I’ve also gone to TC Acoustic at Adelphi before for my Klipsch ear and headphones but they have seem to gone a lot more focused into home theatre audio (big speakers) now so maybe give them a miss. Focus your decision making first on the sound isolation and/or active noise cancellation and sound quality second. There’s no point in having good sound if the isolation is poor and all the ambient noise in coming in (looking at you Jabra). Happy Shopping!

I too dropped my WF1000XM4 on a public bus in south Korea while on holiday... Since then jve been using rm100ish TWS earbuds like the moondrop space travel so I won't feel bad when they break or lost.

Previous ones include WF1000XM3 (battery dead). OG Linkbuds (driver dead). WF1000XM4 (my fault for losing it on a korean bus), Galaxy Buds 2 Pro (battery dead). So far the only one that's still holding up is the WH1000XM4 headset, tho i had to replace the earpads multiple times until I found a non-pu leather one that could withstand our humidity. I've already switch to IEMs and a open-back headset for home use while the moondrop earbuds is for when im outdoors or moving around.

Yeah, there was a firmware issue that ruined the battery. If you had contacted them back then they would send you a new pair with fixed firmware for free

I get this sometimes when I'm just walking, as i don't get it all the time i didn't bother sending them back. Seems from what you are saying there is no point as they all do it. I never had this problem with my Sony wf1000xm4

I've had the Sony XM5 for a little over a year. If ANC is what you're looking for, the Sony's are very overrated. It's terrible. I have quite a few other gripes about them as well. I had the XM4s before and IMO, they were better earbuds overall. From your list, I would go with the Bose Quiet Comfort. In my quest to replace my XM5s I'm currently trying out the Technics AZ80s and Bowers and Wilkins Pi8. If ANC is what you're after, I definitely look into the Technics as well. Noise cancellation is pretty fantastic. They don't touch B&W from a sound quality perspective, but ANC is great.

Supposedly the xm4s released an update that did something to the charging causing them to overheat and degrade the battery. There's a thread somewhere on Reddit from a fey years ago I'll see if I can find. Same thing happened to me unfortunately

I have been wearing my WF1000XM4s for four years, and i would recommend them 10 times out of 10 :)

cmf buds pro 2. <$90 iirc. if >$200 will recommend wf1000xm4s

Gotta be really careful of Bluetooth stuff for gaming. A lot of music focused Bluetooth headphones dont have low latency Bluetooth so you can get really jarring desync with your audio. Bought a set of XM4s for music, tried them out for gaming and you hear the audio about 300ms after the visual output/physical input. Not sure about the specific headphones you mention, may have been improved in the newer gens.

Could be that I just didn't look into getting my XM4s to work. Bit spoiled for choice with my headphone selection, so I just tried it, did some cursory reading, and moved on.

I had the Sony XM3 and 4. Tried the XM5 and I recall it needing a "better seal" for ANC to work as well as the XM4. I sent them back after a month for the Apple AP2 because airpod pro2 has great ANC and also the best mic for calls. I agree with the other post rating Bose, Sony then slightly behind those, Apple. Bose and Sony have terrible mics.

Think I had the 1st gen one but im not sure the number. Left side gave UP on me one year later. Was a Model I could not use only the left side one, very strange. Then i went for the xm4, Battery issue. Got my money back and went for the technics. To me they habe the must fun sound signature of the bunch. Very good ANC and transparency mode. Amazing Battery life. My only complaint is that they are a little bit heavy. My wife Just got the nothing ear (not the base Model but like the next one) and its shocking how lightweight they feel.

Sony XM4's besides batter issues I think they are possibly the best ear buds ever

Used to bring a WH-1000XM3, now I bring my WF-1000XM4 earbuds plus a pair of IEMs in the case I need to use it with a physical connection.

I have Sony WF1000XM4 and it does an excellent job at noise cancellation and the audio quality is awesome. The only downside of WF1000XM4 is the size.

Had the WF1000XM4 before the buds 3 pro and boy the noise canceling is not even close the the Sony ones although I had the battery problem with the MX4. But the way Sony didn't take responsibility I said I would never buy their headphones again but in general apart from the comfort and convenience of using with various Samsung products but in terms of audio and noise cancellation the Sony is in a different league.

I owned the model before it. Sony released an update that ruined my battery on one of the buds. Google it if you want. Sony wouldn't stand behind it and I was about a month outside of 1 year warranty. I get it but I promise you I'll me buy their ear buds or endorse them again. If it isn't PlayStation Sony stuff. I don't buy it.

Well, I own the XM4 and although they were great that then on or on a much higher level. They have some really interesting features that can help you dial in the sound. They have a lot more volume. They have this really cool gain feature where if you’re listening to audio that seems heavily muted, you can increase the gain to make it more listenable. The noise canceling is pretty good and the fit in my ear is really good, but the sound is very lively. I felt like by comparison, the Sony’s were dull and less dimensional if that makes sense? Overall, the denon sound really really good for wireless earbuds

Had Sony wf1000xm4 they were great until the one war would start to die from 100% to zero in 30 minutes then I switched to the AirPod pro 2 and they are so nice to have. I was going to go with the wf1000xm5 but the price difference right now due to tha AirPods being 189 considered to the typical 249 couldn’t pass up the deal

1. Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation): • Excellent active noise cancellation (ANC). • Great sound quality with spatial audio support. • Comfortable fit and good battery life. 2. Sony WF-1000XM4: • Industry-leading noise cancellation. • Superb sound quality with customizable EQ. • Long battery life and quick charging capabilities. 3. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II: • Exceptional noise cancellation and sound quality. • Comfortable design with a secure fit. • Great for long listening sessions. 4. Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro: • Rich sound quality with 24-bit audio support. • Effective ANC and ambient sound modes. • Good integration with Samsung devices. 5. Jabra Elite 7 Pro: • Strong call quality and customizable sound profiles. • Good ANC and comfortable fit. • Solid battery life and multipoint connectivity. 6. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3: • High-quality sound with a balanced profile. • Good ANC and transparency mode. • Stylish design and comfortable fit. 7. Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro: • Excellent value for the price with good sound quality. • Customizable ANC and transparency modes. • Long battery life and comfortable wear. 8. Google Pixel Buds Pro: • Seamless integration with Google Assistant. • Good sound quality and ANC. • Comfortable fit and decent battery life.

You need to watch out on battery issues though. I have the wfxm4's and overnight they developed a battery issue and now they are useless. Not sure if it effects the 5s but it's really put me off buying more. My xm3 overears are still fine though.

Contact Sony. I had the same problem with a pair of XM4’s. I sent them in and they sent me new ones.

How does the 2 compare to the ultra If I mainly care about ANC? The 2 seem a lot cheaper and if the ANC is as good I think I'll go for those since I just lost my jabra 7 pro and don't wanna get sth too expensive that I might lose again. Oh and how are the negative pressure with ANC? I've had bad experiences with the SONY XM4

Ya sony xm4 are kinda better in both pricing and quality

I had some WF-100XM4 for a while (before losing them)and they had the most impressive noise cancelation Ive ever heard for in ear headphones.

Jlab go pops batteries last all night and into the morning if I need it also good to sleep in. For high quality then Sonys but just buy one version back like when the xm5 came out I bought my xm4 key for me on the high end ones is that they have nfc. This allows for instant connection then it switches to Bluetooth in the background. Sonys go this and Bose

I have the xm4, liberty 4 pro and oneplus buds 3 Sony xm4 with the right tips is ahead of them both, reviewers also placing the L4pro ahead of L4 NC Maybe try to adjust tips on your Sony’s xm4/xm5, it sure are among the best ANC players like Bose and Apple Also I changed the oneplus buds 3 tips with foam tips and surprisingly they are on par with L4P

I am currently using Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds. I used to be, but I am no longer, a fan, because: 1) my ears hurt after a couple of hours, and 2) the battery now wears out very quickly - after about 1 hour of usage. On the plus side, at least my ears don't hurt anymore because they die quickly 😂 I am in the market for new ones. I checked out Sony's XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. I've read that Sony's still suffer from the same battery and comfort issues (WTF), and Bose's have connectivity issues (more WTF). These are deal breakers for me, especially when considering the price. What would be considered the best earbuds pick in 2025? I don't care about the price if it's justified. My use case is open office work and cycling (so wind noise suppression matters). Oh also, I am rocking an Android phone, so AirPods won't work for me. I welcome your suggestions. P.S. Sony and Bose seem to be considered top picks in general. Since I am not so keen on those for the reasons explained, I also checked out Soundcore A40 as a budget alternative and am curious to learn how you feel about those. Thanks y'all!

I’ve had this problem also! Left earbud dying after just 30 mins. Thinking of just upgrading instead of sending in for a repair.

I’m using the 4s at the moment! I don’t blame you… if I get the 5s I won’t be doing any of the updates to avoid this happening again 😭

Just get the Sony xm5 or xm4. Way better than any samsung ear bud product.

If you are using an android device, Sony for sure. I have used xm4 for a couple of years and have the xm5 since last year. It's an amazing product. If you have an iPhone, there are a few features on the air pods which are iPhone specific and make them super compatible with IOS devices.

yep my xm4's battery life got cut to like 3-4hrs, i contacted them 5 months after my warranty expired stating that this is a massive problem everywhere and they replaced the buds for free

I went from the XM4 to XM5 and 8 months in I couldn’t be happier. I too had the battery issue with the XM4 but the XM5 has been just fine so far.

The xm5s are solid. My xm4s had the battery issue, but I’ve had the 5s for a few years and no issues.

Same with my XM4s, after years of daily use though. Now they last about an hour. I recently replaced them with the AZ100, which are kinda fine.. Just fine. The sound is fine (fine by my standard of dailying H95 and PX8 recently), but the ANC is average and the wind noise cancelling is... non existent. I also demoed the Pi8 or whatever the B&W are called, also the Denon and a few others. Oh and I also have soundcore p40i. The Denon were just meh, the B&W were on the same level as the AZ100 for double the price. My soundcore sound impressive for the price but the ANC turns on and off as it pleases, unuseable. I got the AZ100 because the ANC is usable, not great but OK and the sound isnt wow to me but there is nothing to complain about. I'll get the MX6 whenever Sony release those if the ANC is a little better than the XM5s.

All of my problems were fixed by tweaking the settings I wanted. Then just... uninstalling the app completely. No popping sounds/disconnections. Sound distortions, and whatnot. But, I still have an issue with the white noise coming out of the bose qc ultras than the sony wf-1000xm4s (previous pair before battery drain issues forced me to return them)

I have WH-1000XM4, I also had WF-1000XM4. I was very much satisifed with WFs, until they started having problems with battery. I had them replaced 3 times, always returned them second day for another repair. Either battery problem, or ANC problem where the ANC produced clicking metalic sound in one ear. Yes, when they worked, they were amazing, but other then that, absolute sheit.

I have the M4s, totally worth it. Mine are kinda big but the M5s are significantly smaller. Based on my experience with the M4s I'd really recommend them

Ever since I got the Sony WF-XM series I never looked back. The WF-1000XM4's are what I have and they're great.. Worth every penny. Pro tip, buy them refurbished or lightly used (they're also currently the "last gen" model) and you'll save a huge chunk of change and they're pretty much brand new for less than half price. The XM4's are flagship earbuds just the previous gen so they're much higher quality than almost anything else. Obviously if it's in your budget the XM5's are the current gen. But I'm so happy with mine I'd buy the xm4's again and see no reason to upgrade. **Edit I'll add, I just used them on a 16hr flight to Dubai and wore them the entire flight with ANC enabled and they never ran out of battery. And my ears never hurt either. Was ideal because I was in a cabin with 3 screaming babies and ANC + audiobook worked like a CHARM.

I haven't had that issue yet. I'm only about a year into these refurb units that had a new battery. When they finally give up the ghost I'll probably get the XM5's. Got the cheap XM4's after I accidentally washed my XM3's.

Go with the xm 4 or 3 and pay way less

I love my XM4's and would've upgraded, but the reviews said XM5s have a more balanced sound, but I like my 4's for the silly base! I've had them for several years too and the battery in the right one has started failing, so I've sent it to a guy to replace them. (This is also how I found out these things are designed to last 2-3 years! That is *insane* to me, we went from wired earbuds that can last decades to much more complex and CO2 rich tech that is expected to be dumped in landfill near instantly, crazy) They've just started advertising the new over-head versions of the 6 series, so if you can hold on a moment, I'm sure the 1000XM6 will appear in the coming weeks. alternatively, you can get replacement buds on eBay much cheaper than buying a set full price. You could also simply wait for a sale if you like the 5's, because they always do big 40-60% off sales on the previous gen when that happens.

It's an old model and bulky. I have probĺems with its fit before so I returned.

It's not the tips. The earbuds' body are too large for my ears they pop out everytime I use them.

Buy a new Airpods Pro 2. I used XM4 1 years ago, after that I switched to Pro 2 and have been using it till last week. Last week I bought XM5 and after 1 week, I returned it and switched back to Pro 2. Yes, the Pro 2 sound is not as good as XM5, but other than that, the comfortable, the connection is good and I don't have to think about what EQ i should use, DSEE etc.

When I think about the perfect earbuds for running and workouts, a few key things really stand out. First off, the fit is everything. There’s nothing worse than constantly adjusting earbuds while you’re moving around. I love ones with ear hooks or adjustable tips, like the Jabra Elite Active 75t or Powerbeats Pro—they stay in place no matter how intense the workout gets. Water and sweat resistance are a must too. I’ve had earbuds die on me because I didn’t pay attention to the water resistance rating, so I now always look for something with at least an IPX4 rating. The Beats Fit Pro or Jaybird Vista 2 are solid choices for this—they’re tough enough to handle a sweaty gym session or a run in the rain. Sound quality is another big one. I need earbuds that deliver clear audio, especially when I’m trying to get into the zone. Bose Sport Earbuds and Sony WF-SP800N both give great sound, with enough bass to keep me pumped up. Battery life is always a factor too. I want something that lasts at least a few hours and has a charging case for those longer sessions. Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro and JBL Reflect Flow are great for that. If I’m running outside, I need to hear my surroundings, so I really appreciate earbuds with transparency mode, like the AirPods Pro or Sony WF-1000XM4. They let me enjoy my music but still stay aware of what's going on around me. Lastly, touch controls and voice assistant features make life so much easier. I don’t want to fiddle with buttons when I’m in the middle of a workout, so being able to control everything with a tap or my voice is a game-changer. When all these things come together, you get earbuds that just work. What about you? What kind of earbuds do you prefer when you’re running outdoors or working out in the gym?

Right now, I mainly use Sony earbuds for my workouts. The Sony WF-1000XM4 are my go-to when I want the best sound and noise cancellation. They’re fantastic for blocking out background noise, and the sound quality is amazing—super clear with great bass. The battery life is solid too. They’re also IPX4 rated, so I can sweat or run in light rain without worrying about them.

I’ve tried a few myself, and for running, Sony WF-1000XM4 are hands down my favorite. I also tried the XM5s, which are more comfortable and still solid, but the XM4 is what I’d stick with for the best balance of fit and performance.

I ride a fast e-bike too—Sony WF-1000XM4 were amazing for wind noise. Switched to AirPods Pro 2 and the wind crackling was awful. Tried the XM5 and they’re still great, not a huge jump from the XM4, but way better than AirPods. If wind noise matters, stick with Sony.

I have the Sony wf1000xm4. They fit so well and don’t move at all. Noise canceling is amazing when you need it and for trail running you can set them to ambient sound and with the music low enough you can still hear your surroundings. The sound quality is best out of any buds I’ve ever had. The xm5 is the latest model so you can get the 4s on Amazon for $115 right now. I can’t speak on the latest model, but if they’re anything like the 4s I’m sure they’re awesome.

Can anyone compare the ANC to the Sony WF-1000XM4 ear buds? I own these and they are supposed to be the best in the market.

Wf-1000mx4 for the gym and flights because of the noise cancelling. Pixel series a for other times since they're more comfortable.

Sony XM4 for sure. Never regretted this purchase despite the price tag. Sometimes I don’t even realize the neighbors have been throwing ragers or a crying baby on the train until I take off the headphones lol and I often turn down the volume because the noise cancelling is so good

I will second the earbuds. I have the WF-1000XM4 and ran the batteries into the ground. I'm actually going to replace the batteries. They are unbelievable on the airplane. My Samsung buds fe are my stop gap and work well but they can't compete when it comes to canceling out the airplane engines.

Was a Sony xm4 user and just got some Technics. Much better comfort, much much better sound, slightly worse anc

You managed to keep them until they broke down?!!! So you are 'the one'. airpods are nice because you hold open the case and they link up. Sound wise, I vastly prefer my  WF-1000XM4, but. . . I got them for $100 and I don't think that happens often. (whoops! Amazon has them for $109 renewed/refurbished). But man, not having to futz around with pairing every time apple updates an OS. . . that's super nice. Oddly, I find myself using the airpods not because they are better, but for fear of losing my Sony's. Even though the replacement cost of the airpods is roughly the same.

Does it work well with M6P ? Im using Sony xm4's. I've used and abused them. Looking to get a new one that works well with M6P.

Better ANC then the next best thing from Apple or Bose. They work I have the xm4 and xm5. I look the overall build quality better on the xm4 but the xm5 has best features. 

Sorry for the late reply- I have had a pair of these for years and work in a loud, high volume automotive shop day to day. The noise cancelling is great and they lasted a good 3-4 years of daily abuse before finally not being able to hold charge. I recommend them!

The ones in question are the Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds. Now, I will add, the noise cancelling is pretty good in a loud shop when paired with higher volumes. Since I am a little hard of hearing I like my music louder (typically 50% or more on my phone). The louder volume + noise cancelling does enough to block out the harsh noises from the shop for sure. In short my heavy metal covers the sound of air impacts with noise cancelling on. Also to add - I vividly remember camping with a couple of buddies years ago who were LOUD snorers, I tried popping my Sony's in and playing some light music to fall asleep but at lower volumes the earbuds didn't do much at combating the insane frequencies of snores which is to be expected lol. Hope this helps, maybe some headphones would be better for the snoring thing. I know it's uncomfortable but I've used my trusty WH-XB900N's to combat snoring and it's worked in a pinch before as long as I sleep on my back. Sorry for the long comment, hope this helps!

I'm disappointed in the ANC of the Bose QC. I had high hopes...I get much better ANC from my Sony wf-1000xm4 ear buds. Not sure if it's because the cups are not snug on my ears or what. the headphones are as small as they can be size wise on me. I'm glad I didn't pay for these headphones...I will be sticking to Sony and getting their headphones to get a break from the ear buds.

I did too which is why I was excited to finally get a pair. My Sony XM4 Buds do a better job. I wear them daily so is easy to notice the difference

DO NOT GET SONY I have both the wf-1000xm4 and xm3 both stoped working around 1.5 years after getting them

i have the WF-1000xm4 and i dont like em for Gaming they have input lag it seems like and u have to change the Equalizer way to much Bass.. for Music they are great tho and Noicecanceling is great, im looking aswell for gaming earbuds

I agree! I was an early adopter of the XM3, and day one of the XM4 and then XM5. The 4 were a step up from the 3 in every single way, but the 5 felt like a very tiny step up in some ways and down in others. I returned them and prefer the 4. I really, really love these buds.

After suffering a lot with Sony WF-1000xm4 faulty battery with 3 different units and a lot of back and forth with Sony's horrible customer service I was thinking, if the biggest problem of other companies are the batteries, why not trust in a company that actually knows a thing or two about batteries? This review gave me the last piece of the puzzle. Thank you very much!

My first gen AirPods are still kicking too and I dropped my right bud into hot engine oil once. They sounds absolutely horrible and battery life sucks now, but the fact they’re still going is crazy. After that I got Beats Fit Pro which I definitely recommend then Sony XM4 which have amazing ANC and now Momentum MTW4 which are my favorites because of the crisp sound.

I tested literally all high end over ears and in ears. Overhead : sennheiser weak anc shitty app not a smooth control Bose - good sound but Wtf constant white noise even in anc mode. Ridiculous. Sony xm5 - tweak the sound with eq, great fit great style and guys industry defining anc. Same for the earbuds. Sonys are just the best package generally. New technics sound better but no chance against the anc. But I admit the plastic part of the wfm makes them not appear extremely luxury

Jabra Elite 85t. I used to use the Sony WF-1000XM4 buds, but I had battery issues, did an RMA 2x within a year, and then they just refunded my money, so I went back to my Jabra. Sony sound quality was so much better, but after that experience, I gave up on them. I still love my Sony WH-1000XM4 over ear ones for work and flights

I got the XM4 when they first came out, and loved them until the firmware update destroyed the battery. Decided to swear off Sony earphones after the customer service said to me there was nothing they could/would do. Afterwards got the XM5 as a gift, and I have to say they are pretty good, I’ve been using almost daily for around 2 years and have no issues. Only thing, they aren’t spectacular for calls when you’re outside.

Loved my XM4s but I’m hesitant to buy another pair. They lasted less than a year and then wouldn’t hold a charge. I barely even used them

In fairness I think the XM4 earbud problem was well known and specific to the XM4s. I’ve never heard anything bad about Sony products in general but at this price point on the XM5s I’m tempted to give the another go

Sony are the kings. You will hear people saying Bose, they just aren't as good. Get Sony XM4 or XM5.

Right with you on both WF and WH: 4 is greater than 5! My take is that the 5 is more refined and polished in terms of sound quality, but the overall experience of listening with these miracles of sonic technology includes how they feel and fit. For me, 4 is a better match.

Airpods pro 2s are good if you have apple devices I had a wf1000xm4 but due to charging problems with the case I stopped using them and recently bought to airpods pro 2 as I am getting the new 16 PM and have a mac and iPad my wh1000xm5s are great and work well with all devices same goes for wf1000xm5 but would rather buy airpods pro 2

Better than the xm4s by a long shot to me.

I have tried the latest AirPods Pro 2, the Bose QuietComfort 2, and the Sony WF-1000XM4, and now I have just bought the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. I have an Android phone and move a lot when listening, like cycling and working physically. The Sony headphones did not fit properly, and I lost one pair, so I bought a new one. They have good sound, but the noise cancelling is not overwhelming. However, what bothered me the most were the buds, which disintegrated, were difficult to clean, and did not fit very well in my ear. Maybe the ..5 are better? The Airpods fit very well in my ear. I like the desing and the way they glide into the case which is nice and smal. The noise canceling is as good as the from the Bose quietcomfort 2. Sound is good but still I like the sound of the Bose better. I liked my Bose 2 but the microfone stopped to work after 2 years of almost daily use in all weather. The only draw back was the quality during calls with noise around. Finally the Bose ultra. Which I think are amazing right now. They fit very well in my ears. I read a lot of reviews on them and I was not sure if they would fill my needs sound wise. On the other hand most of them were are year old. I updated the Bose earbuds at once. The sound is like always Bose, which I like best. The noise canceling is very, very good for being earbuds. Of course not yet as good as the Bose headphones but quite close. There was a lot of critic around the immersive sound. I listen a lot to audiobooks and it makes a big difference. I love the way they become more kind of a tale told in a room. Also for music it gives a feeling of space. I have tested the voice quality during calls, which is good, including moderate noise that worked very well. However, I have not tested it with heavy machine noise yet. So for me the Bose quietcomfort ultra were a good choice without major drawbacks beside the price.

I returned the Buds 3 pro because they were less comfortable and sounded worse than my XM5s. In saying that, I don't find the XM5s that comfortable, I preferred the XM4s. I bought the Buds 3 pro for the integration with my S25U ultra but the lack of multipoint, inferior sound and inferior comfort made me return them. I'll get the XM6s when they come out in a few months.

I have Sony WF-1000XM4's and they're great. I have never liked any in ear buds with rubber tips because they either fall out or don't fit at all. Sony eat buds have foam tips and they shape to the ears very well. They do fall out sometimes but usually from me not pushing them in far enough. The sound quality is great and noise cancelling works so well that I turn it off because I'm afraid I'm not going to hear my impending doom approaching. Would highly recommend.

Both XM4 and XM5 have charging issues. Mic is awful. Otherwise great buds.

I have to disagree, my Sony WF-1000XM4’s noise cancellation is 10x better than my AirPod Pro’s 2nd gen. They also sound a lot better too, sound is more full and vibrant, the bass blows the AirPods out of the water it’s not even comparable. You can also customize your EQ settings which is nice. Only thing that get me to use my AirPods nowadays is Spacial Audio when watching Netflix on my MacBook.

Oh my that’s crazy, didn’t know these had those issues. Luckily I’ve had no problems with mine, They’re almost two years old and still work perfectly.

Omg yes you are right! I have the XM4’s and the right ear bud battery dies so quick! Did Sony replace them for you without much hassle? I’ve had mine since 2023 so not sure if they would help me out.

Thank you so much! I’ll give it a try.

I tried those too lol but they were small. The XM4’s were good.

I got the MTW4, 6 months daily use, they are amazing. Ofc they could stop working and I'd need warranty... I had Sony WF 1000xm4, the left side battery died. So I mean, it's not like Sony is the ultimate solution. I can say that the Sennheiser has the best sound I ever had in any headphones for my use cases. I wish they were a bit louder though.

The WF-1000XM5 are a big improvement over the XM4. They’re a smaller design that’s more comfortable, improved voice calls, improved ANC, better ear tips with a hybrid foam setup, and a better fit due to their smaller size and upgraded ear tips. The XM4 earbuds were fine at the time, but the XM5 are an upgrade in every way.

Yes, earbuds can get close to over-ears and even surpass them in some ways. Passive noise isolation is easier to obtain with earbuds due to making a seal with your ear canal instead of over your entire ears and that helps ANC perform better. At the time, the Sony WF-1000XM4 were competitive with the Bose QC45 in terms of ANC performance, but the headphones still edged them out. Sony’s ANC has always been good, better than most other earbuds, but not as good as Bose’s ANC. Theirs is still class-leading and ahead of Sony, Sennheiser (by a mile), Apple, and Samsung (by 10 miles). The Bose QC45 Ultra earbuds have the best ANC for any sour of earbuds and can even block out some frequencies missed by the QC Ultra headphones, especially higher pitches (due to their isolation). The only thing is that they’re buggy as all get out. Great ANC, solid sound quality, average mic quality, ok battery life (6 hours isn’t a lot anymore), and their case is bulky while lacking Qi charging. But they have connectivity issues and can sometimes need factory reset (especially when you want to use them) which requires plugging them into a power source. I have a pair and experience connectivity issues about 1/10-15 connections. When they’re bad, they’re bad all day. When they’re good, they’re solid for a long stretch. They’re still my go-to earbuds for travel and heavy office use when I want to cancel outside noise. But they’re buggy and hard to recommend unless you want to put up with the bugs. ANC-wise, they don’t make me miss my over-ears and I actually sold my QC Ultra headphones because of the ANC level of the earbuds.

Did that to me as well with the xm4, twice. Given up on Sony and now waiting on a pair of Technics to be delivered 

You might get used Sony WF-1000XM4’s for a reasonable price. I still have mine and they work great even after I replaced the batteries for charging case and earbuds myself. There are YouTube videos on how to do it. The sound quality and functionality is excellent and so long as you clean the earwax off the parts touching your ear the mic hasn’t given me any issues

there's listings on ebay for like $60-$70 considering they retailed for like $260+, i'd say that's pretty cheap [https://www.ebay.com/itm/175433433233?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=175433433233&targetid=2299003535955&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9008337&poi=&campaignid=21214315381&mkgroupid=161363866036&rlsatarget=aud-1297930287258:pla-2299003535955&abcId=9407526&merchantid=6296724&gad\_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3vO3BhCqARIsAEWblcDxOsB7PJCdMm29\_z\_LHOtkidjb83LMc-pbnCmCXGBgfDB5\_NpaECwaAoxFEALw\_wcB](https://www.ebay.com/itm/175433433233?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=175433433233&targetid=2299003535955&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9008337&poi=&campaignid=21214315381&mkgroupid=161363866036&rlsatarget=aud-1297930287258:pla-2299003535955&abcId=9407526&merchantid=6296724&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3vO3BhCqARIsAEWblcDxOsB7PJCdMm29_z_LHOtkidjb83LMc-pbnCmCXGBgfDB5_NpaECwaAoxFEALw_wcB)

There’s lots of 3rd party silicone tips in all sorts of sizes available as well

Yeah I I think know what you mean. But the thing is (and I don’t know your ears so I might be wrong) the foam tips you get with the product are ‘softer’ than the silicone, but simultaneously are less pliable because no matter their overall size, the material itself is quite thick, and as they create a seal in the ear canal they will end up pushing the earbuds slowly out. So ideally the body of the earbud counteracts that force by contacting the pina (the cartilage, visible part of your ear) Silicone tips I got on Amazon are much thinner, and don’t exert nearly as much force on the walls of my ear canal. In your case, this would at the very least mean they wouldn’t need to fit inside the crevice of your pina to avoid falling out, because the counteracting force to hold the earbud in isn’t required.

If you can save up for XM4s, those are great too. But I feel ya. I loved my original Galaxy Buds as well.

That’s just the xm4

I tested a few high-end models and found that the Sony WF-1000XM4 really impressed me.

Sony XM4/5 never had any issues great sound quality

I have a pair of Sony XM4 buds that work fine on Android and on both my M4 Mac Mini and on my M3 MacBook Air. The only "downside" (in quotes because it's nothing serious) is that the Mac won't show you the charge level of the buds' case, only the buds themselves.

It's unclear whether you're looking for earbuds (title) or headphones (message body). If earbuds I'd go for the Sony WF-1000XM4 or XM5. I actually have both and they're great. Unlike Samsung and Pixel buds, they don't irritate my ear canals. The others, Samsung especially, provoke a severe allergic reaction where my ear canals itch and weep fluid for a couple of weeks until they heal. If headphones then I have a pair of Sony WH-1000XM4 that I swear by. Great sound and the noise cancellation is very effective. All the models mentioned here support LDAC.

having used XM4, XM5 and Linkbuds, so far 710N are doing better job.. no one complained of call quality. however for call quality Huawei freebuds pro 4 are the best

I had the XM4s (lost them recently) and SM4. Tested them back to back for a bit and the Simgots quite noticeably better than any TWS earbud I've tried. Nearly every IEM I've bought is either comparable or better than the Sonys. Even the $20 Wan'Er & Wyvern Abyss have some points where they're noticeably better while not being worse in any other area. The SM4 isn't even on the same plane of existence though. They sound better to me than budget audiophile headphones and BT wireless headsets like the Airpods Max. Better resolution, more thump, better soundstage, blew all my other sets out of the water. I'm probably going to grab a cheap BT wireless adapter set for my WanErs for flights rather than investing again into TWS. I used my SM4s on my last flight and they were great other than the wire. I probably could have gotten away with using another IEM but I was totally in the honeymoon period with my SM4s.

I have both the Sony WF1000XM4's and the Sony WH1000XM4's. I prefer the over ears for long flights and long trips as on long trips I work and they're much more comfortable to wear for extended periods. They don't weigh much, but they do take up bag space I ditched the case to save space. I also take the earbuds no matter what. For domestic trips I just roll with the earbuds. The noise cancelling is good enough and I use them everyday at home as well.

Measurements are your friend. All that matters is the SPL at the eardrum. When measured, the Sony WF-1000XM4 with its 6mm driver produces more SPL in the bass range than the much larger driver in the PowerBeats Pro 2. Driver size matters a lot for example in a car or living room where there is more space from the speaker and your eardrum. Not in earphones where the speaker is sealed and right up against your ear drums.

I dunno. I just bought some to replace the XM4's I lost after a bike ride. I miss my XM4's. I'm still auditioning the 5's, but so far the ANC isn't quite as good to my ear, but the comfort is better. It also eliminates that slight 'tinny' sound from the XM4. I think it was a result of sound reflecting off of internal surfaces in the old 'buds, causing a kind of echo. I got used to it over time, and it's missing in the XM5's (which is nice) but for $300, I just want a more significant improvement.

Honestly speaking i tried the xm4 and airpods pro 2 today and i have got to say the ANC of the airpods are superior

Exactly. I feel like the airpods have very intense ANC that can be headache inducing after a while and its also not as comfy as the sony 4s.

Have you tried the PBP2 on flights? If so, how do they perform? I have the XM4 buds which are a godsend on flights but they hurt my ears after a few hours and I'd really love some buds with better connectivity to my Pixel

I just got mine yesterday. I am not yet sold on the fit of them. I tried changing the tips too but it just feels off in one ear. The noise cancelling without music playing is still better on my Sony wf-1000xm4. What bothers me is the feedback loop you seem to get when you try to adjust the headphones in your ear. Since it is built to be light it feels as if the material is so thin that any pressure on the headphones stimulates the microphones. The build in EQ is fine, I guess. I did notice that switching from music to any video with spoken words that it sounds flat and I have to readjust the EQ. Going back from headphones that use LDAC to AAC is a noticeable downgrade in some scenarios. It just sounds less full. What I appreciate is how easy and smooth the setup was though.

Sony Firmware update killed my xm4 battery life this spring. All of a sudden I get 15 minutes out of the right ear. Getting tech support to respond has taken me months. I gave up trying.

I think the bigger WH xm6's are pending release this year, not the wf series. Wf xm5 are great with android phones! Upgraded to them from my wf xm4 last year. Also have the bigger wh xm4s. Wf xm5 are my most used due to amazing NC, sound quality, and portability/ battery life. Calls quality is probably an area of improvement on the Sony's, and if that's your no1 feature you are looking for then I hear Jabra is the leader in that department.

When I bought my first noise cancelling earbuds (Sony xm3s) I thought they were pretty good. However, after I bought Bose and Sony over-the-ear headphones I realized that earbuds can never even approach the noise cancelling of headphones. If noise cancelling is a priority then you have to use over-the-ear headphones. I like my wm4s but I think our Bose are a little better and I prefer the physical buttons. Recently my wife got Samsung buds 3 pro and I was amazed how much better they sound than my old xm3s. Note, she has a Samsung phone.

How's the fit? Sonys never fall out of my ears. Thanks

Sony  WF-1000XM4 are like glue in my ears, never falls out.

I have sony wf1000xm4. They have great sound and amazing ANC. Plus if you guy from Sony daraz, you get official warranty. The hectic touch on My left headphone stopped working. Sony did honor the warranty and got it replaced. Been using it since then without any issues.

my sony WF 1000XM4s are a life saver i love them so much. they are a life saver in public and during storms. they noise canceling is smarter than me, if i turn my head to talk to someone it funnels in sound from where i just turned my head to

I've been an avid sony fan for several years. The new b3p aren't even in the same league as the xm5s or the xm4s imo. The only thing the Samsung have over the Sony's are call Quality.

For 100-200€, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is your best bet. They're amazing at blocking airplane noise (people literally sleep with them on planes!), and since the XM5s came out, you can find these at great prices. Super comfy for long wear too!Want earbuds instead? Check out the Sony WF-1000XM4 or Technics EAH-AZ80. Both solid choices. Pro tip: Look for refurbished/open-box deals on eBay or Amazon - you can score these for way less, and they're basically new!For your music taste and noise concerns, the WH-1000XM4 would be perfect. Happy listening! 🎧

I switched from Sony XM4's to Technics AZ100 and love them! Better sound but worse on ANC... could be caused by the fact I used foam eartips with Sony and now silicone eartips on Technics. Sony had connectivity issues and after just over 2 years battery in right ear piece was gone (apparently common issue).. also they were bit bulky and very comfortable.

Better than WFXM5 in music, I agree. in ANC, not really. and I think the XM4 is much more beautiful and robust than the XM5. I wanted to acquire one of these, but in Brazil it is practically impossible to find

Weird, when the xm4 was available to buy they were the best when it come to anc

Have the XM4 and XM5. XM4 batteries are kaput after light use, XM5 charging case is with Sony for repairs. They sound great but the choice of battery suppliers (at least for the first few production runs) was absolutely shit. Do not pick them up unless you’re able to easily exercise your warranty.

Yeah, I noticed the same with XM4'S, and I started using too small tips to get them deeper because of that.

I had the xm4's, best buds I've ever had. Only negatives were that they are kinda bulky and the eartips just break in use. Xm5's probably are better in every way. The anc is the best. Personally I liked the buds2pros more than 3's. Small, sleaker size, they look better imo and not just a apple copy, they stayed in ear better and no real difference in audio for me. anc maybe bit better on 3s.

This. Was able to get it fixed way outside of warranty

Sony WH 1000xm4 And Sony WF 1000xm4 LDAC makes Bluetooth audio a great listening experience

I have previously used the Sony WF-1000XM3, WF-1000XM4, and now use WF-1000XM5. They fit perfectly during urban cycling. However, I used foam earbuds with them when the stock ones were not foam.

You did not specify the type. Out of all the earbuds I tried, the Sony XM4 were in a league of their own for me in terms of ANC. I cannot really wear on ears because my ears get too hot very fast.

I had this model. They were super comfortable, sound was great, ANC great. Controls comfortable. But after some time there was issue with one bud battery dying too fast and I returned them. I learned that this was fault of that particular model, in theory they fixed it with software but I couldn't confirm it as my unit was already damaged. Now I got galaxy buds 3 pro and I'm not that happy with them. It feels like I have to push hard to make buds stay inside my ear,  and plastic bud shape hurts my ears. I hope my ears will get used to it. I also hope Sony releases new buds that are identical to XM4.

I recently switched from WF-1000XM4 to XM5 and couldn't be happier. They sound better, battery lasts forever and I don't have to twist them like crazy to get a good fit. Also the fit is way better (for me) - I can wear them comfortable for hours, while XM4s made my ears uncomfortable after 2h or so. So for me XM5s are clear upgrade and I wish I swapped earlier. Fun fuct - I had WF-1000XM3 before XM4s and after changing to newer model I wasn't happy right away - sure, with proper fit they sounded better, but for a long time I had hard time to fit XM4s properly in my ears for some reason. Also the XM3s were for me slightly more comfortable than XM4s. Now with XM5s I'm happy to report that they are more comfortable than XM3s or XM4s, they sound better, and the ANC is on another level - beating my old WH-1000X in that regard. Possibly the best pair of earphones I ever had - altough I still miss my Shure earbuds I had like 15+ years ago and left them in the plane...

Sound: Sennheiser's Momentum lineup, Denon Perl Pros, Technics AZ80/AZ100, and B&W Pi8, in that order (taking into account Sound Personalization and AAT are being used). Everything else on the market, from the typical brands, falls below that line -- APP2, XM5, Bose QC Ultra, etc. Longevity, having tested dozens of these sets, the AirPods Pros are likely to outlast most of the other brands (my first and second gens are still charging well without any discernible issues). I've had battery and charging issues with the XM4s and XM5s, Sennheiser's MTW3 (MTW4 hasn't been on the market long enough to know whether there are any battery longevity issues); Denon is already showing serious battery degradation issues; Technics are in the charging issue camp as well (one or both earbuds often do not charge and need to be reseated often, similar to the Sony's); Pi8 has intermittent connectivity issues. The list goes on. There are outliers like the JLAB Epic Lab Edition, which have excellent battery life and seem to hold up well over time. Surprisingly, these are some of the best sounding and longest lasting buds on the market, for sometimes half the price of competitors. It can't compete with the top brands on tuning, but it gets damn close for the price. At some point, chasing sound quality (and longevity) begs the question, should you just sacrifice wireless connectivity and choose a traditional IEM? Despite owning most of the current premium earbud lineup, I find myself recommending and often daily driving the Epic Labs -- just due to the convenience of the battery life alone. And if that battery starts to degrade, there's enough overhead where I could still potentially get a good amount of time out of them before the issues are untenable.

philips fidelio x2hr - great open back when chilling at home letshuoer s12 pro - in ear planar earphone Dac - hidizs s3 pro Both were relatively cheap and both give superior quality to any main name brand options. I do have the sony wf-1000xm4 for the gym also. I also use wavelet to tune each pair, except the s12's

So glad to hear your feedback on the Nuheara's thanks! Airpods are a not go as I have Android. [Soundly.com](http://Soundly.com) is a great suggestion and I do have Sony WF-1000XM4 standard buds that I can set to Ambient sound, but they keep automatically popping back to noise cancelling which isn't helpful - but keen to check out Sony's OTC range, thanks.

I just replaced the batteries on my WF-1000XM4 and can't say enough good things about them. Comfortable, reliable, quiet and last year I used them a ton on my flight to and vacation in New Zealand. Thought about upgrading to the XM5's but figured I could do that if I failed to replace the batteries LOL. Thankfully battery replacement went great. I have an older set of the BOSE QuietComfort 2 ear buds as well that I need to replace batteries on. While they're not quite as good as the Sony buds I find them to be better gym earbuds because of sweat. The sound quality isn't even close though. Can't speak to the newest ones but they are good earbuds.

Same here. 1.5 years later and my right earbud only lasts 20-30 minutes.

if you dont notice a big difference in sound, then thats a you-issue. ive used both the m4 and the xm4 and xm5, and the m4 sound a lot better than both of those models. and no, you shouldnt expect astonishing ANC from a company that focuses on sound quality. you cannot have both good ANC and amazing sound in this price cathegory. sonys sound quality might be okay in your eyes (ears) but sennheiser is objectively a LOT better. you also cant compare over ear headphones ANC to IEM ANC. the IEMs are inside your ears and have less sound to cancel out than over ears to begin with because they block out a lot of sound with the way theyre built already, so theres a lot less work to do in regards of ANC compared to over ears. and i have no idea what rating youre talkig about because its really good on basically all platforms where theyre sold how long have you used the m4 for? did you set up the sound personalization?

It’s not even just the headphones. Their wireless earbuds from the 1,3, and 4 have such a short shelf life after updates. They don’t stand behind their products. Luckily, the WF-1000XM5’s are holding strong.

Me when I last bought refurb 1000xm4s 2 years ago on eBay: "secondipity?" ... "Yup, secondipity"

Yeah they're legit! Mine came without the outer box, but it had all the ear tips and charging case in good condition. Actually showed little use.

Also had the XM4s, but I upgraded to the XM5s... the former had a lot of issues with battery drain, the left bud would be at 10% battery, and the right one was at 80%. This is a pretty consistent issue with nearly every unit. So far no problems with the XM5

After experiencing bad battery on one of the buds on xm3 and xm4 after 4 or 5 months of use, I’ll never buy buds from Sony again.

Never going to buy sony again. Had wfxm4, whxm5 and cf500. Only the whxm5 can be used for calls and they arent great too. If im using wfxm4 and cf500 and a call gets in, i have to turn off the buds COZ THEIR CALL QUALITY IS FUCKING TRASH. the other side hears the breeze around me more significantly louder than my voice!! My samsung buds 3 works better than any of them

Used Sony xm4 buds. Great quality and anc. If you’re looking to buy new try the buds from Raycon. I haven’t used them myself but I’ve heard good things about them from my friends

Agreed, I went through 2 XM4's with the same issue. I upgraded to XM5 and no issues.

I have bought and resold several 3's and 4's, so I in the end ended up with a free pair of 4s and a new set og wf-1000xm5.

I use some Sony xm4’s

Sony wfxm4

Sound quality and anc wise yes. Comfort and mic quality, airpods are best.

I'm using the Pixel Buds Pro 2 (history of earbuds includes: OG Pixel Buds Pro, WF-1000XM4, and AirPods Pro 2). Honestly, out of all the earbuds I have used, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are my favorite ones - they are really comfortable to wear and actually stay in my ear with the original ear tips (unlike the OG Pixel Buds Pro or, to a lesser extent, AirPods Pro 2, which had a tendency to fall out gradually while exercising or chewing on food). The audio quality is really good and, important for me as I make a lot of call throughout the day, the mic quality is pretty great with my Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Overall, if you are willing to splurge a bit, I think they would be a great choice!

Just be aware of the severe battery issues that the XM4's have

This happened to me too. I called tech support, got someone on the phone who acknowledged the issue, walked me through potential fixes, then replaced them that week. If you still have them and want to try replacing them, I’d try that.

Galaxy buds live. Not the best fit, not the best sound, but I don't have to stick them deep into my ears and allow me to still have some situational awareness. I have the Sony WF XM4 earbuds too for when sound isolation makes sense.

I have tested them against the WF-C700N and WF-1000XM4 for call quality, quite room so ideal conditions. I will try do a noisy conditions test as well soon. The mic quality is improved, I hear less noise and artifacts with the WF-C510 versus the WF-C700N. The WF-C700N sounds a bit more compressed. The WF-1000XM4 voice mic is superior to both, it sounds more full and closer to a normal recording off my laptop mic.

I tested out the call quality, it is improved over the WF-C500, WF-C700N, but the WF-1000XM4 is still better. I do not own a WF-1000XM5.

wf-1000xm4 are still superior, more balanced sound, which sounds fuller and with more details.

I own both the wf-c700n and wf-1000xm4, and still want to buy the wf-c710n.

I don't have battery problems with LinkBuds Open. I had battery problems with LinkBuds and LinkBuds S. On LinkBuds battery died on right bud and on LinkBuds batteries died on both buds. Other Sony buds that I had battery problems was WF-1000XM4. With WF-1000XM5 after 2 years no any battery problems. So, this is not related to all Sony buds, just LinkBuds, LinkBuds S and WF-1000XM4. This is shit batteries or bad firmware optimisation. For this tipe of buds LinkBuds Open are the best buds. Bass is not the best, but they still have bass. Yes, I had some connection problems and after latest firmware update those connection problems has almost gone. If you don't like NC get LinkBuds Open.

Got them at 75$ as a spare to my WF XM4, and I love them. Transparent mode could be better imo

Pure personal here, but I prefer the OnePlus for sound and fit. ANC is still better on the Sony

Just bought a pair since I lost my left xm4 bud and my right beats pro bud 💀. God I hope I don't lose these too.

I have to say that I feel really disappointed with my xm5. I have the wf-1000xm4 and wanted to buy the xm5 when my girlfriend got hers. They had a much smaller formfactor and that was enough for me. Everyone online said they were the best in business so I bought a pair used that were only two months old for around 160 dollars. Worst decision ever. They just cannot sit properly in the ear and I have to adjust them all the time and it's driving me insane. I've tried all the recommended eartips but it doesn't do any difference after a while. It's a real shame because the sound is amazing, hands down the best ones I've tried but that doesn't mean anything if the get loose from even yawning a bit. Going to try and sell them. I've also tried the Samsung buds3 pro since I have Samsung but gonna return them as well. Back to my clunky xm4...

I've had the Sony xm4wireless and Momentum 1 and 2. There is no comparison with the Pi8. It's in a totally different class. I guess Denon would be it's equal?

The WF XM4s are garbage. Had to throw mine in the bin because of the battery drain issues which for some reason are still present in the XM5s.

Same!

I've had my XM4 for a few years and they basically still last almost as long as when I got them. I charge the case like once a week or something... I guess I was lucky in the QC lottery

Its a shame about the battery issues, music has never sounded better to me than through XM4 Earbuds.

Despite the battery issues, I've never heard music as good out of anything like the Sony XM4's.

Between my wife and I, we have Airpods Pro, Perl Pros, Status Audio, Bose QuietComfort, and Sony XM4 earbuds. All of them are good at SOMETHING it just depends on what priorities are. My favorite ones for travel are the Sony (Bose for my wife) -- their ANC seems to work the best. Airpod Pro are great for general usage, features, usability, but ANC isn't as good IMO. My daily drivers are the Denon Perl Pro which I got for half price as a trade show special. Incredible sound quality, decent ANC (But worse passthrough than others).

I use the AirPods Pro 2 daily and they are fantastic. I had the pro 1 but really disliked them. The ANC and transparency features are not gonna be beaten. Crushers has 1 thing it wins in. Bass. Battery life as well, but that’s because it’s over ear headphones. Otherwise they aren’t as good, the AirPods Pro 2 are extremely great, I switched from the Sony WF-1000XM4’s to the pro 2. Also I don’t like the ANC 2’s at all. The ANC 1 sounds way better. And actually has better audio codecs like aptX. Meanwhile the NEWER ANC 2 does not… really poor of Skullcandy. I wanted to upgrade from the ANC 1 to 2 only because the ANC 1’s broke. But the audio quality was.. disappointing. The bass was… more vibrating like the crusher eco but slightly disappointing compared to the good old ANC they released years ago…

You know...I actually prefer the XM1. I think they were better built, better case and physically a larger headband (with 2 more notches)...I have a large head. The XM4 I have to have it at max extension. Out of the box the XM4 sounds muddle to me, it required using the app and EQ to tweak it to be "better" than the XM1. I only got the XM4 because i am trying to get everything i own to be USB-C...and my sister needed a pair for a family holiday. ANC on the XM4 is better though.

Sony XM4 headphones and a XM5 buds, the headphones I got when they first came out and they're still trucking. The earbuds on the other hand are actually warranty replacements from my original 4s and I'm on my second set of the latest ones... so while I like them I'm always dubious about recommending them unless you buy somewhere with a good warranty service that isn't Sony.

I would suggest the WF-1000XM5s, it has both active and passive noise cancelling. And the ear tips mold to your ear hole. My XM4s have good voice quality as well. I'm not sure why people are saying the Pixel buds 2 ANC is good. It's absolutely not. I can clearly hear people talk around me. When I'm walking and it's windy there's a lot of wind noise. It barely cancels out any noise. They are fine earbuds but ANC is lacking. I also have a pair of Sony WF-1000XM4s and *WH*-XM5s(overhear) and their ANC absolutely cancels out all noise. I can't even hear my white noise machine that's right next to me when I have those on.

My XM4s definitely do a better job at wind noise than my Pixel buds do. I live in NYC and the Pixel buds barely cancel anything out on the subway. The only reason I daily the Pixel buds is because the touch interface is better imo. If anything the lacking ANC on the pixel buds is a safety feature being able to hear cars.

I recently replaced my my failed Sony WF-1000XM4 with a pair of WF-C710N. Very pleased with them.

Wf xm4 has caused me too never buy a pair of Sony buds again. A battery issue caused by a software updated frying them is a deal breaker. curious why you think they are the best. My wh xm5 is much more comfortable than my xm3s, the foldability literally has not mattered too me.

Even your experince shows they aren't the best earbuds if they have to be replaced and then self repaired.. They work perfectly until the next update comes through and fries the battery again. At the end of the day there is too much competition in the earbuds market to deal with that. I threw mine away and it was a good decision.

I ve replaced the battery on them a year back(batteries were like £3 AliExpress)...melted the gold tip a bit as you see....but these are hands down the best one I ve ever had in terms of ANC and sound quality. Better than the xm5 , nothing ear2 I returned.... Hopefully they make the xm6s a bit more comfy for longer usage.

I followed battery replacement videos from YouTube...I used a hair dryer to soften the glue. It's fairly quick. But be a bit cautious about the ribbons inside. Bought the battery off of AliExpress. It came with sealing glue. Just search for xm4 battery in AliExpress

They are not as loud as my old WF-1000XM4s but it's not too bad.

I find the sound quality of the M4s to be better. But the M5 noise cancelling is better.

I have these, and the Sony xm4s buds. The Sony's noise cancelling is head and shoulders better than the Bose. It's not even remotely close. I'd say the Bose are maybe a touch more comfortable, but the Sony's sound better (probably because there is so much isolation you can appreciate the actual sound output much better).

You can't say they don't have a replaceable battery though lol, there are a bunch of videos showing how to do it because it's such a common problem Source: victim of said problem

Depends how comfortable you are with electronics. It involves prying open the case, applying a little heat to some adhesive, unclipping a connector, removing and replacing the battery, and replacing everything. So maybe not easy, but straightforward

I find that my Bose QC Ultra buds are excellent for passthrough. I often just leave it on, and can listen to music with minimal distortion, and without disturbing others while still hearing everything happening around me. They are miles ahead of the Sony XM4 buds that I had before. However, I don't like auto switching, and can't speak to that.

Had the 4 before they prematurely died, switched to Senheiser, much better sound quality

You conviced me to buy them. I used to have the wf-1000xm4 and they were amazing, too bad sony fucked up everything with the costant battery drain. I was able to buy the sony wf-c510 by only spending 6 euros thanks to a coupon code. Super curious to see how they sound!

Sound quality wise, definitely. However, after two years of use the batteries of my XM4s have become useless.

I have used Pixel Buds Pro (1), Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and WF-1000XM4. I got the Bose when I lost my Pixel Buds in October. I wonder about the Pixel Buds Pro 2, but the Bose and Sony both blew the Pro 1 away with the noise cancelling. The Bose noise cancelling is so good that I haven't bothered taking my WH-1000XM5 headphones (over-the-ear) on my last few flights. However, I find that my WF-1000XM4s can be worn for a long time. I also use them with my PC for work calls. This is actually my second pair. My first set had the right one die after nearly two years. But I used them a ton. After doing a lot of reading on the XM5 vs XM4, it seemed like the XM4 was better (and I knew I liked them). When using my Bose with my MacBook for calls, the microphone quality seems not great (like if I record my self in a test call).

I use the XM4 for all of my work calls on my PC and it's excellent. I frequently have to give presentations, and I'll review the video recording afterwards to assess my performance and see how I can improve. And the audio always sounds excellent. It's been awhile since I've tried them with my MacBook, but I can't recall any issues. I use the Bose with my Pixel 9 Pro and MacBook. for listening to music I prefer them more than any other headphone I've had.

I have Bose QuietComfort Ultra. I like them, comfortable, connection is straightforward. I had the Sony XM3 or 4 and didn't like them.

Obviously way too many Apple fanboys/girls. CMF (Nothing) Buds Pro 2 are amazing value under £100 and with a unique control wheel on the case. The app is also super clean with Dirac and Spatial audio, they would easily be in the top 10 for me at any price. Sony XM are great but have premature battery failure issues. Jabra Elites are excellent if spending over £50. Samsung Buds Pro 3 are excellent under £100 with cashback offers. OnePlus and Huawei also severely underrated.

Sony 1000XM4/5! Absolutely tiny tiny nozzles that fit even my tiny ears

As a Sony WH-1000XM4 owner, no way I'll ever buy earbuds that are made by this shit company. I mean yeah, the sound quality is nice, but the hardware/software quality is absolutely dogshit, I started experiencing the first issues with noise cancelling after only 3 months of using the earbuds. Now, after a year+ the issues only got worse and I regret my decision to replace Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 with this piece of poop everyday.

I have the AZ80's coming in Tuesday. I also need major noise cancellation. I have iPods pro 2's and Sony XM5's. My old 4's died. I have tried 10 different manufacturers tips with the XM5's. If I get a comfortable set, little to no noise cancellation. The Sonic Foam are very uncomfortable, but have superb sound quality and great noise cancellation. Anything on the XM4's canceled sound way better than the 5's. The AirPods Pro 2's are really good for most of my noise at work, but deep rumble comes in depending on the job. The good news, I have some Comply tips for the XM5's that are comfortable and fairly decent for noise cancellation that may be great when the AZ80's come in. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Been fortunate enough to test and own over a dozen, might be 2 dozen+ now. And the best is not one brand or model. Everyone's ears and music tastes are too varied. Plus some will never pay for better brands that cost over $50, $100, $399+. Even if they could afford it. Many JBL buds are cheap enough for anyone and get the job done. Sony XM4/5 buds do well for many, but the memory foam tips bother some. Luckily tips are easily swapped. Good App too. Pixels Buds Pro 2 are very good if you live in the brand. When Riding my loud Zero Turn Commercial Mower. I always grab my Marshall Motif II earbuds. Not sure exactly why, but they drown out the mower best with only half volume, and don't require blasting music. No matter which you choose, buy what you like or can afford. I could give reasons to spend more $$$. But, all you should shoot for is: ANC and try to get close to 8 hours or more from the buds themselves (not total time with case). Over time the batteries will weaken.

I've got both. The sennheisers sound better and stay in your ear better for working out. Another good choice woukd be the Sony Wf1000xm4/5

With Sony (wf1000xm4 and xm5) I also hear the thump with noise canceling / ambient sound enabled, so it's not just AirPods

You can find several that, although compressing, still deliver great quality sound. For example, the Sony flagship ones are outstanding (LDAC codec). I owned a pair before moving to something else because of battery issues. I personally use the Melomania m100 and I'm constantly blown away by how nice they sound. The most important thing is to get a pair that does not only sound good on paper (reviews...), but also is compatible with the highest quality codec your phone can output to.

like? the only ones I've tried that come close are the Moondrop Ultrasonics and the WF-1000XM4/5

Thanks for this info. What device/phone are you using to send a signal to the AZ100s? Are you using much EQ to tweak for your level of frequency impairment? What's your age? Are you using LDAC or another codec? Are you using Dolby Atmos or other settings in addition? I tried the B&W Pi8s (clear beautiful sound with aptX but too buggy and app sucks) and the Sony XM5s (with LDAC, the settings, adjustment/tweaks are amazing in the app) and great when setup properly but I am going to get the AZ100s this weekend to compare. THANKS!

Do NOT give Sony another chance. I'm having the exact same problem. If they're not going to be mature enough to let the natural shelf-life run its proper course, they're obviously using shady business practices to get you to give in and (think that you or anyone else will actually) buy the next one. Do not.

Give it a bit longer until they release the next one. Then, it's going to have issues like the previous release. They're arrogant with false confidence from where they stand. Good thing you're not going to let them see another penny, but when that day comes, don't. Your money's best spent elsewhere.

Sony is only good when you get something like the MDR series. Their mainstream product is pretty bad in both sound quality and recently, their XM5 and XM4 (both headphones and earbuds) are known for some QC issues like batteries and broken hinges.

It's not about quantity. I've used the XM5 and the bass on there is nothing special. I'd argue that if you're a bass head you wouldn't enjoy it as well because the bass is bloated with very weak to no impact (the graph on the Internet starts to make sense here). Sony's main selling point of their XM series is ANC. That's the only thing that I could persuade myself to believe why something like XM5 still exists.

It's pretty normal for a lot of people to rave about it since they haven't used proper stuff from Sony themselves. I used the XM5 that actually belonged to my friend and he also raves about it (lol).

Sonys have great anc and the mic cancels so much noise if you need it for that too. The Bose are too big imo but have good anc reviews. AirPod pro gen 2 are my favorite. They have very good anc but the mic is pretty bad and makes you sound artificial. The jabras (I tried the 10 and 8s both gen 2) were nice but a step below Sony and Apple to me. Didn’t try sennheiser. I was coming from jaybird gen 1 and 2 earbuds that I used for workouts. The tech has come a long way. I also have Sony overears for airplanes. Xm3. For comparison, those make the world go silent around me. Haven’t tried the newer models. Haven’t had the earbuds long enough to try those on a plane to compare.

Oh and I find AirPods the most comfortable which makes a big difference. I hated the original AirPod design. Never stayed in my ear. The pros took some getting used to, but now I can wear them running. The Sonys I use for calls when outside. But they put pressure on my ears and fall out of one. Still trying to get the perfect fit

For true wireless, I've found Sennheiser Momentum true wireless very comfortable. I just got my hands on some of them series and they have been great. I find the fit the best and I use them for hours for music and work. For these. You find the tip that has a secure fit and then rotate the whole bud back into the ear. If you want active noise cancellation and top of the line, I recommend these, either the Momentum TW 3 or TW 4. You can find the 4s at best buy for $250 now. I've tried others at the top end including older models of the Sony WF..XM series and they were not nearly as comfortable. I also have a pair of Pixel Buds Pro that I do find comfortable but have trouble with the seal and active noise cancellation being weak, especially when I'm commuting via the train. If you buy from best buy, you can return if they don't work (it's how I was able to try the Sony's before I returned them).

Bose quiet comfort 2. At least for in ear. Over ear id go sony xm4. But I also like noise cancelling and bass. I tried the sony xm earbuds and they were horrible compared to bose.

I will have to take this into account for future purchases. I mainly use Sony's because their ANC is really good especially paired with the quality sound. Most of the time I am using earbuds it is in noisier places. When I am at home I use headphones. But I am always on the lookout for good earbuds. I have tried multiple Sesnheisser's in the past, but I prefer the Sony 1000X series better.

I had the sony and the airpods pro 2 and the sony disappoint me a lot for the price, i dont know if is the iphone codec or what but pretty disappointing

Technics AZ80 wireless nc buds.....and love them over the Sony XM's and Galaxy Buds3 pro

When tuned to your ears, the Denon Perl Pro have no equal for sound stage and dynamic range. ANC isn't what it could be.(like my Sony 1000XMF or Liberty Pro 4 which are both excellent)

I love jabra in ear for running. Sony mx for at home sitting

I'm no expert when it comes to sound quality. But I only bought Sony because I know Sony and I read great reviews. Jabra because they are water proof and pretty robust with great sound. The case can also be used as a Bluetooth transmitter for devices that don't support Bluetooth. Not used it for that yet though

Had the Sony buds, Loved the sound, hated the fit. It would start hurting the cartilage part of my ear after about an hour of wearing it. Great sound quality and noise cancelling for earbuds though. Sold the Sony, bought the Pixel Buds Pro 2, fits great. Sound and noise cancelling are both pretty good, not Sony quality but I was happy enough with it. Lately I've been finding that my ear canals get a bit itchy after prolonged earbud use (yes, I clean my earbuds / tips regularly), so I picked up one of the Anker V30i for cheap-ish. Honestly it's currently my go to earbuds especially at work. I only use the Pixel Buds if I'm on a flight, watching a movie on my phone/laptop/tablet, and playing immersive games on my steam deck.

I have airpod pros too. They work for me. I usually only wear earphones on the train, flying, at work or at the gym. The noise cancellation is enough for my daily life.

AirPods Pro 2 aren't listed but are awesome and super comfy for long periods. I use them with my Samsung phone. Sony's earbuds are also very good. Anker typically performs well for their price, but are not the "best". I haven't been impressed with Jabra and find Beats to be lower performing in terms of audio quality.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are also a great choice if you really need top-tier noise cancelling. They’re a little more comfortable for long periods, but in terms of pure ANC power, Sony edges them out slightly. Both will do an awesome job on those low-pitch sounds that most earplugs can’t touch.