Sony WH-1000XM4C: analysis of a renewed classic that wants to democratize premium sound

Few families of headphones have managed to become a reference in the audio sector like los WH-1000X de Sony. For a decade, the Japanese company has perfected a formula that combines sound quality, noise cancellation and design. A career that, if anything, we can only blame one thing: those almost impossible to remember names. Now, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the series, Sony is recovering one of its most emblematic models with the new WH-1000XM4C, a proposal that seeks to bring the ‘premium’ experience to a wider audience.

We have had the opportunity to try them over the last few days and our impressions have been very positive. The first thing that has conquered us is its design, which practically keeps the aesthetics of the popular WH-1000XM4 intact. An elegant, minimalist and recognizable look, with careful finishes and a construction that conveys quality. TOFurthermore, their foldable design and low weight of about 253 grams make them especially comfortable to take on a trip or use for long days. The fabric-textured case also maintains that sophisticated image.

But just because its appearance is familiar does not mean that we are dealing with a simple reissue. Sony has rebuilt much of its interior and introduced improvements to sound processing and tuning. The result is a more balanced and immersive experience, with a wider soundstage, better defined vocals and more precise frequency separation. The bass also gains prominence, with a forceful but controlled response that does not overshadow the rest of the instruments.

One of the great attractions of this family has always been active noise cancellation, and these WH-1000XM4C maintain that hallmark. In our tests, we found the isolation especially effective in reducing constant environmental noise, from traffic to the hum of an office. We also have an ambient sound mode that allows us to listen to what is happening around us without having to remove the headphones, a particularly practical function on a daily basis, since their comfort (with that soft padding in the upper area and in the ears) allows us to wear them for long days.

In the customization section we find some of the most interesting new features. Sony incorporates a 10-band equalizer, which allows adjust the sound more precisely according to our preferences, in addition to a specific mode for video games, Gaming EQ. Added to this is Quick Access, a function that makes it easier to access content from compatible platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music or Endel without having to constantly resort to the phone.

Autonomy continues to be another of its strong points, although with a small sacrifice compared to the original model. The battery offers Up to 27 hours of playback with noise cancellation enabledcompared to the 30 hours of the previous XM4. The explanation lies in one of its less visible, but most interesting novelties: a replaceable batterythe result of an internal redesign aimed at complying with the new European regulations. An advance in repairability that can help extend the life of your headphones.

And we come to the price, one of the main arguments of this new proposal. The WH-1000XM4C They arrive on the market for about 250 eurosa figure considerably lower than the 399 euros of the WH-1000XM6 or the 549 euros of the special edition 1000X THE COLLEXION. With this positioning, Sony seeks to take advantage of the prestige of one of its most recognized families to offer a more affordable alternative, but that retains many of the features that we associate with high-end headphones.

However, here we also find its main weakness. Los WH-1000XM6, Presented more than a year ago, they continue to be technically superior in aspects such as noise cancellation, thanks to its HD QN3 processor and its 12 microphones, or call quality. They also offer up to 30 hours of autonomy with cancellation activated. And although its official price is higher, the time that has passed since its launch means that we can find them with discounts that considerably reduce the difference compared to the new XM4C. A circumstance that should be taken into account before deciding our purchase.

In any case, the Sony WH-1000XM4C have left a very good taste in our mouths. We love that the company has recovered a design that continues to work as well as the first day and that it has been accompanied by technical improvements, new customization options and a greater commitment to repairability. They do not intend to dethrone the brand’s most advanced models, but rather to open the doors of their ‘premium’ experience to other audiences. And, with a starting price of 250 euros that can also benefit from future offers, we find them a very interesting alternative for those looking for complete, elegant headphones with the seal of quality of a saga that is already part of audio history.

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