Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 - Battle for the throne - Android
When it comes to active noise-canceling headphones, Sony vs Bose is a showdown as legendary as any you’ll find in Hollywood. Bose sought to reclaim the crown in May 2019 when it released its flagship Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. Now, Sony has counterpunched with the WH-1000XM4 to defend its title. We’ve set up a true Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 showdown to see which headset is worth your hard-earned cash.
Bose’s Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 dons a clean minimalist design with matte earcups and an adjustable headband. The headphones are comfortable and provide good isolation, though the headband itself may contribute to a bit of added pressure. It’s not uncomfortable, though it may be less desirable during long listening sessions.
Sony stuck to its winning formula with Sony WH-1000XM4, essentially replicating the WH-1000XM3 — right down to the handy folding hinges. Sony beefed up the earcups for improved comfort and better isolation, though it came at the cost of some headband padding. The less-padded headband can lead to the same long-term discomfort as the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, though it’s not disqualifying in either case.
Winner: Draw
For better or worse, the Sony WH-1000XM4 skips physical button controls in favor of touch sensors. You control playback and volume on the right side and manage ambient sound and voice assistant from the left, but you’ll need the Sony Headphones Connect app for full functionality. Unfortunately, we often had trouble with the tap commands, especially when we tried to double-tap to pause playback. Luckily, a handy sensor inside of the left earcup automatically pauses your playback when it senses you’ve removed the headphones.
Instead of choosing buttons or touch controls, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 relies on a mix of the two. Buttons control pairing, ANC settings, and the voice assistant, while a touchpad takes charge of the volume and playback. In our tests, we found the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 handled swipes and taps better than the WH-1000XM4.
Winner: Draw
As you might expect from two leading pairs of headphones, there are plenty of connection options. However, the setups aren’t the same, and the differences finally shed some light on this showdown.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 packs a small 2.5mm headphone jack and supports just one high-quality Bluetooth codec — Apple’s AAC setup. Android users are left out in the cold, as the operating system fails to consistently play nice with AAC. Even still, Android listeners can stick to the SBC codec as a fallback plan.
See also: Bluetooth codecs 101: Everything you need to know
On the bright side, the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 offers speedy pairing with Android phones and it takes just a few taps to activate Google Assistant. You can also take advantage of Bluetooth Multipoint to switch between devices.
Sony’s WH-1000XM4 relies on a standard 3.5mm headphone jack and the addition of the LDAC codec is a welcome change. It’s the manufacturer’s proprietary setup and although it has its flaws, it remains the best codec we’ve used for Bluetooth streaming. The WH-1000XM4 also offers Bluetooth multipoint, though it’s limited to the AAC codec.
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM4
It almost goes without saying that the sound quality is excellent on both headsets. The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 tunes to a more neutral sound response than the previous QuietComfort 35 II. It emphasizes the low end, which results in a consumer-friendly profile with clear — though not overwhelming — bass.
Based on sound signature alone, Bose should take this battle as it’s the more neutral experience. In fact, the WH-1000XM4 emphasizes the low-mid sounds like kick drums and deeper voices while sacrificing a bit of the high pitched sound. However, we’re giving Sony the edge thanks to the customizable EQs in the Headphones Connect app and the high-quality playback of the LDAC codec.
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM4
Once again, both pairs should offer excellent noise-cancelling as two of the more premium headsets on the market. However, the Sony WH-1000XM4 takes the cake thanks to its low-mid cancellation. It’s simply the better set when it comes to neutralizing the sound of airplanes and other noises.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 is far from lacking, though it’ll do better at tuning out office chatter and clattering keyboards instead of loud, low sounds.
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM4
Sony’s predecessor, the WH-1000XM3, had a great microphone setup — but it may have been a one-off. While neither set quite lives up to that legacy, both offer microphones that will work well for phone calls and Zoom meetings. Take a listen to both samples and decide for yourself which sounds better:
Loading pollSony’s WH-1000XM4 microphone bumps slightly around 1kHz, which gives speech intelligibility a boost. It adds slightly to the ambient noise, though the boost to your voice should outweigh the other sounds. The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, on the other hand, dip around 1-3kHz which slightly de-emphasizes the same vocals that Sony boosts. As a result, you’ll also be less likely to notice the hum of a desk fan through the Headphones 700 microphone.
While both headphones have their differences, they also share one common problem — the sharp drop that begins at 200Hz. It’s done to counteract a bit of the proximity effect, though it means that speakers with deeper voices may not sound as clear.
Winner: Draw
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