Sony - WF-1000XM4

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.

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

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.

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 ordered a handful of open box earbuds recently to try them all out and returned the ones I didn't like. I started with the Sony wf-1000xm4s. They were pretty good sounding and had excellent noise cancelling but they'd become uncomfortable when being worn for a couple hours. And I pretty much have one in the whole time I'm at work.  The Galaxy Buds Pro 2s were good as well. Even with Samsung's lossless codec (I have a z flip phone) I don't think their sound quality was quite on par with the Sony's but it was close. The bass wasn't as good but they were much brighter out of the box. ANC was a big step down and you can't use the ANC at all when only using a single ear bud. I think if these buds were cheaper they'd be a good option but they aren't quite there. Comfort though was superior to the Sony's.  Next ones I tried were the Galaxy Buds FE. Price was right when buying new but I bought all mine open box as I fully planned on returning most of them and they don't get a good discount. The FEs were extremely comfortable to wear throughout the day but the sound quality wasn't there.  Then I tried the Technics AZ80s. These are like $350 CAD new but open box you can find them for $200. These guys sounded great. Once you get them tuned to your preferences they were a huge step above the Sony's. ANC was good enough. They were big but did fit under my earmuffs at work. The only problem is comfort. I could only wear them for 45, 60 minutes before my ears started to hurt, they were just too big.  Next pair I tried was the Oneplus Pro Buds 2. They're like $250 CAD new but I found a place in Toronto that sells them refurbished for $100. Out of the box I wasn't too impressed. I'd say they are pretty much on par with the Galaxy Buds Pro 2. I found a recommended eq for them online though and once I applied that they sounded so good, easily the best sounding out of all the earbuds I had looked at. ANC is good enough, I think both the Sony and Samsung beat it but they just sound so much better then either of those.  The only problem is they use a stem design like the apple ear buds instead of a ball design  like the galaxies and my ear muffs at work catch those stems and pull the buds out of my ear.  I chose not to try the Sennheiser Wireless Momentum 4s as, while I've heard their sound quality is great, they have major reliability and quality control issues from what I've read.  For now I've kept the Oneplus Buds Pro 2 to use on walks and around my home and I found a really cheap pair of the og Galaxy Buds Pro to use at work. They don't sound nearly as good as the Oneplus but they're better than the FEs, cheaper, and comfortable enough to get me through a 12 hour shift. 

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

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 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 bought WF-XM4 as soon as they were out and 1.8 year later bumped into same issue. Sent it to service centre, replaced the battery (Right earbud) and came back took almost 2 months, the day they came back warranty period was over. Worst part was, the very next week Left one started to die under 30min. This was infuriating. Now I've been using Ap Pro 2 for almost an year- LOVE THEM. Yes they do not give you the oomph and bass of Sony's. They are very light, no ear fatigue, ANC is on par with XM5 ( i tried them ) . I ware them to the gym, walks, work - battery life is great. They are just reliable. Sound is surprisingly VERY GOOD for the size, no distortion on highs, lows and mids are spot on. Sounds - Great (not too bass heavy) Fit good - you get 4 tips to play around Reliably battery and connectivity

The names that come up over and over again are all good. No amount of money is going to get you the best in every category. Just figure out what you prioritize and make a decision. Sound Quality? EAH-AZ80. Noise Cancellation? Airpod Pro 2 (if you're on ios) or Bose QuietComfort. etc. The only thing I will add is after the reliability nightmare that the XM4 was, I do not yet trust the XM5. The fact a lot of people prefer the sound quality of the XM4 is extra helpful in regards to eliminating them from contention.

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.

I’ve had a pair of Westone UM Pro 30’s (or whatever their triple driver is) for well over 8 years now. I’ve also had Sony XM4’s for 3 years and both have been rock solid and have seen multiple washer/dryer cycles.

I ruined my xm4s trying to replace the battery

I really enjoy the wf-xm5 and the previous model but the products you listed are all good. Sony and Bose seem to have the best ANC. Bear in mind that it doesn't give you total silence, it substantially reduces noise.

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.

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

XM5 were absolute trash. I gave mine away and went back to XM4. Then Sony decided to fuck me with a SW induced battery bug.

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 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

Are the MTW4 earbuds comfortable for people with smaller ears? I couldn't wear the Sony XM4 earbuds because they were so big it was too uncomfortable

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

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'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

Hey, I'm looking for the best true wireless earbuds that I can take on my long walks (usually 8-10 miles 3-4 times per week). My. main purpose is to listen to music and podcasts and make calls (often work calls). I need great mic quality (as great as it can be on truly wireless earbuds). Fit is important since I don't want to constantly fiddle around with them on longer walks. Sweatproof or sweat resistant is a must. I live in the humid South - and will definitely be sweating during these long walks. What I've Tried Already Sony XM4 and XM5 - XM4s were too big. XM5s were a good size, but I feel like they didn't get loud enough and the bass wasn't strong enough - that mattered more before when I was running with the more. Now I mostly walk, so super strong bass isn't needed. The foam tips were good, but I don't know if I could wear them for long periods of time. Nothing Ear(a) - I really wanted to like these, but they just didn't stay in my ear well when sweating. Linkbuds S - I was a big fan of these - but I kept having a recurring issue with these that has been reported online in that the left ear bud would drain exponentially faster than the right earbud. I swapped it out once and still had the same issue. Call and mic quality were good and the sound was really good and the compact size was awesome - but that persistent battery drain issue was a big buzzkill. OnePlus Buds 3 - That's my current driver. Got it to pair with my OnePlus Open (no longer have that) and really like the bass and how loud they get. However, I'm starting to notice on my longer walks that I constantly have to re-adjust the stems because they move around - and when I do that it'll accidentally pause tracks or even hang up calls. I'd appreciate any recommendations. I'd like to keep it under $100 (I'm okay with buying refurbished from sellers like Secondipity on eBay (what I've done before)) and I'd want them to have a great mic and call quality along with great sound. Being sweat-resistant and/or sweatproof would be awesome - and the fit is crucial.

Sony WF-1000XM4

Because I own the XM4s

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 😭

Nope, last time I left them unused for a week and they had almost the same charge level when I picked them back up (only 1 or 2% difference) and I haven't had them long enough to determine if there is any battery issue on the earbuds themselves. FWIW I didn't have any case battery draining issues with the XM4s either but I did experience the battery drain issue on the left earbud with two separate pairs. But I heard that they resolved that issue on their side with the XM5s as the issues with the XM4s was related with a battery supply chain issue due to covid.

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)

My XM4s starting having the left earbud randomly drop to like 5% volume until I touched it. Today it started happening every minute or so and so tomorrow I'm gunna be a proud new owner of Sennheiser earbuds.

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.

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.

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.

What’s the battery issue? I’ve had mine a couple years now and battery life is awesome.

Sennheiser. Whatever you dont go for Sony WF1000X4

I had the Momentum 1 and 2. I had a malfunction for the 2. The Momentum 1 lasted 3 years. Best quality of sound. Everybody talks wonders about the Sony xmf 10004x but their noise cancelling was absolutely terrible and customer service didn’t help me change them, they were actually charging me for the repair even though they were faulty. At least with the momentum 2 they send me back a new pair. I’m also thinking of going back to Sennheiser for the Noise canceling and sound quality. I have those and AirPods Pro 2 in mind, but I don’t know about Apple… also I’ve heard good things about Anker p40 and NC 4 (for $70) and the Beats Studio Buds. Let me know what you decide. I haven’t stopped reading reviews

Sennheiser was loud.XM4 was not, AT ALL. I travel a lot for work, and I wasn’t able to use them on the plane or even in the metro

Plenty of negative here. I have several true wireless, NuraTrue Pro (now Denon), Samsung Buds2 Pro, Sony WF-1000XM4, LG Tone T-90Q, and a few others. The Status Between 3ANC beat them all. So much so I have a black and bone pair.

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

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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.

>My first pair of sennheisers shit the bed, and then my second pair of sennheisers shit the bed, and then my third pair of sennheiser's shit the bed. That can be said for Sony as well. I got bitten by the infamous WF-1000XM4 battery issue. Not that I got screwed over by Sennheiser either. My MTW3 is just gathering dust because of the drainage issue. I owned WF-1000XM3/4/5 and MTW1/2/3. I'm also hesitant to splurge for MTW4 as I heard is a minor step-up from MTW3.

I’d agree if it wasn’t for their battery issues, I owned 2 pairs now and both had the same problems, showing up about a year and a half later

Maybe you’re one of the lucky few. After a while max battery capacity is basically halved or more even though the charge says 100%. So now mine usually last one hour and a half ish to go 100-0, they used to last 4-6 hours. The Sony headphones subreddit is filled with people posting the same issues, Sony has a big problem with their battery supplier or whatever is making this happen

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.

Had airpods 2 pro, they sounded too tinny, so i switched to the Xm4. It had great sound and terrible fit. I then switched to Linkbuds S , which fit great, but I couldn't get past the low quality sound, I then switched to the Galaxy Buds 2 pro, which fit great and had the most bass of any headphone I've ever tried, it's clear bass too. I used these for 2 years, but even with good bass, the highs and mids suffered a lot. Then I finally went back to Sony with the wf1000xm5's, which have all the bass of the buds 2 pro but with clarity in every frequency. They also fit even more secure for me than my galaxy buds 2 pro. In my opinion, it's an easy win for Sony.

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.

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.

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

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.

I've tried various Samsung Galaxy Buds variants, Google Pixel Buds Pro, Sony WF-1000XM4 and Sennheiser Momentum TW3. Currently in using the XM4 buds. The Sennheisers were a good fit and I liked the sound quality. I'd probably still be using them now if one of the buds hadn't stopped working a couple of weeks outside the warranty period. The Samsung buds were also a good fit and produced great sound. I'll never know if they were reliable because each and every time they produced a severe allergic reaction in my ears. The Pixel Buds Pro were utter garbage in my opinion. They were a poor fit, produced sound with no depth and never stayed in (probably because they were such s bad fit). They also produced an allergic reaction in my ears, albeit fast less severe than the Samsungs.

I feel the Galaxy Buds 2 make a good choice personally. Battery life runs good for me, ANC is good, mic ka issue nhi h, aur iPhone me bhi connect ho jaata h. If you want to raise the budget, then the Airpods Pro are the best hands down.

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 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.

Try them on first. I had the XM4 before bricked through software update (no support from Sony). The XM5 I couldn’t get a good fit and certainly don’t think they will hold up well to running despite being great sound. Now onto AirPods Pro 2 and got to say comfort is amazing plus stick to my ears as if glued. They don’t support the same range of codecs but I really can’t hear much difference at all.

I use my Sony WF-1000XM4's. they work quite well.

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.

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.

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

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...

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

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

I am a pro musician and for me they sound great out of the box. Pretty flat response. Way more air and clarity than XM4s. Connectivity is fast, no issues. I don't know why are you complaining about the bass, maybe you got accustomed to way too much bass (I had to turn down the bass and bring up highs on XM4s). The bass is right on point for me. Again it's more about taste and what you got used to. Phone calls are awesome comparing to XM4s. I had so many issues with XM4s including famous battery issue, connectivity/sound drop out issues so I cannot be more happier about these.

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.

Sony wfxm4

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

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

I would say change the batteries of the Sony, it’s not too hard. Can buy the batteries off aliexpress. Other than that, AirPod pro 2 or Bose QC ultra are fantastic

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.

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'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!

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.

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 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).

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.

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!

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)

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.

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.

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

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

If it's dry, I use my Sony WFXM5s...absolutely loooove these and I'm surprised how well they have handled being used for running. My only gripe are the capacitive buttons, so if it's raining, I wear my OpenRun Shokz (I'm not a huge fan of these though in all honesty.) I need to try the Jabra Elites and the new Bose open earbuds.

If its raining, the capacitive buttons get triggered; the music ends up pausing/resuming over and over or it goes into pairing mode. I thiiink you can disable them from the app, but of course, its never raining when I start a run. I dont bring my phone with me either. That's really been my only gripe. I wear them for work every day, traveling (NC is excellent), and on my daily runs (in transparency mode), and they've held up spectacularly. I had the WFXM4s before that held up to every day work and excercise-usage for two years (I'm a super sweater) before they died. Sony sent me a new pair but I still bought a pair of using XM5s. The Shokz arent terrible, but theyre really only good for one thing. I also dont find them to be much more transparent than simply running in transparency mode with my XF5s (which almost give me like super hearing.) I only use them when I'm running in the rain, and they already seem like theyre on the last leg.

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).

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.

I've had both, I prefer the Sony's Sennheiser's are technically better in terms of user interface design and sound quality, but the Sony's have better battery life and noise cancellation which is better for my needs The sound quality isn't really all that different either My first pair of sennheisers shit the bed, and then my second pair of sennheisers shit the bed, and then my third pair of sennheiser's shit the bed. I can't in good conscience give them any more of my money. These Sony's have been going strong for about a year and a half now

I really hope my comment gets some traction, but I also had problems with buds falling out. Airpods will literally fall out at the tilt of the head. The only two earphones to fit my ear are the Sony WF-1000xm series but my absolute final love for earphones is at the Technics AZ-80. The AZ-80 fits my ears PERFECTLY and the sound signature is so pleasant. As someone that's had many many high end earphones, I can clearly say that these are the perfect wireless earphones for me. Please consider them!

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

I've tried both (owned the Sennheisers). The Sennheisers sound better, the Sonys have better ANC. My biggest issue with sennheiser is the current state of their customer service though. If you need to make a warranty claim it could be months before Sennheiser replace them and you won't hear a word from them until they're shipping out the new pair. They've had some quality issues since splitting the company too. Truly awful customer service so I won't be buying anything from them again. Edit: I misread the title and thought it was about the headphones not earphones. I think the same applies to the in ears anyway. You should seriously consider Technics AZ80 over either of these. That's what I'm using now after trying a lot of top end TWS earphones.