Sony WH-1000XM4 flagship headphones launched with improved noise cancellation

Sony recently unveiled the WH-1000XM4, the company’s flagship over-the-head headphones with real-time noise cancellation. The WH-1000XM4 arrives with a few noteworthy improvements across the board. The WH-1000XM4 are priced at USD 350 (Roughly Rs 26,250) and are already available for pre-order in select countries.

The WH-1000XM4 features the same QN1 noise-cancelling chipset and dual microphones but adds a new SoC that samples music and ambient noise 700 times a second. The microphones now feature improved audio processing.

The new headphones feature 1.57-inch dynamic drivers and an aluminium-coated liquid crystal polymer diaphragm. The frequency response extends to 40,000Hz on LDAC codec playback, allowing the WH-1000XM4 to retain its Hi-Res badging. In terms of software, the new Edge-AI works with the previously available DSEE feature. The new mode, titled DSEE Extreme, can now recognize the audio being played and can “rebuild audio lost during digital compression” using AI.

The headphone’s Adaptive Sound Control feature learns frequently visited locations and applies custom sound modes for each location. This feature can be adjusted through Sony’s smartphone app. The Speak-to-Chat feature can automatically pause the music when you start speaking and will turn the audio back up 30 seconds after you stop speaking. Additionally, playback will be paused automatically after the headphones are taken off.