Sony WH-1000XM4: first details of new ANC headphones leaked

With the Sony WH-1000XM3, the Japanese manufacturer was able to climb the throne of wireless headphones with the ANC function. The successor of which is now in the start blocks. The WH-1000XM4 has already arrived at an American Walmart dealer.

In the area of Bluetooth active-canceling headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM3, Bose QC 35 II, and the newer Bose 700 belong to the current level. Sony may soon add more with the WH-1000XM4. This is evidenced by a new entry on the Walmart website. Wireless headphones are already listed here for $ 348. Which currently corresponds to approximately 309 euros. The attached product description also reveals some details about the new Sony ANC headphones.

Artificial intelligence and LDAC provide hi-res sound

Thus, you can assume that the Sony WH-1000XM4 should have 40 mm drivers that can be played using the LDAC codec with relatively high sound quality (Hi-Res). With the help of artificial intelligence and the so-called “Digital Sound Enhancement Engine” (DSEE Extreme), the manufacturer wants to increase the compressed music files in real-time and, thus, improve the sound. The battery lasts 30 hours, while the headphones can charge another 5 hours for 10 minutes.

Most of these Sony WH-1000XM4 features are already applicable to the predecessor XM3. For example, adaptive adaptation to ambient noise, control via touch input, or personalization using the appropriate Sony Connect application. However, multi-point connectivity seems new. So Bluetooth headphones can be connected to two devices at the same time. Thanks to smooth switching, for example, between smartphones and laptops. Sony does not invent a bicycle but brings a long-awaited function to the ears.

It remains to be seen whether the first technical details of the Sony WH-1000XM4 are really confirmed or whether Walmart is a placeholder. Until the official presentation, the price of 309 euros should also be viewed with some skepticism.

Multi-device support and better call quality may be on deck.

Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones should be updated, and there are tips to wait. Walmart prematurely listed the WH-1000XM4 (via Laptop Mag) with a few key additions. For starters, it will finally support multiple devices with easy switching – you only have two devices, but it might be nice if you just want to switch between your phone and PC. Bluetooth also leaps from 4.2 to 5.0. Meanwhile, Precise Voice Pickup will solve the problem of poor XM3 voice quality with five microphones and “advanced audio processing” to improve the sound quality for call recipients.

It is not clear how much the sound quality will improve (if at all) compared to the XM3. You still have 40 mm drivers and a frequency response range of up to 40 kHz. However, this list refers to Edge-AI, the purpose of which is to restore the details of sound lost during compression. You can expect the same 30 hours of battery life claimed, including USB-C fast charging, which provides five hours of playback after 10 minutes of connection.

The release date is not mentioned, although the price of $ 348 is approximately the expected one. As it will replace the similar XM3. If this is the case (we asked for comment). Sony will not get involved with the existing formula – it will still compete directly with Bose, Beats, and others with wireless noise-canceling headphones in the range from 300 to 400 dollars.