As a music lover in 2022, you find yourself spoiled for choice when it comes to headphone technology advancing relentlessly in the eternal quest for sonic nirvana. Enter Sony to provide some heavenly options of its own to contemplate – the unanimously critically-acclaimed WH-1000XM3 noise cancelling headphones first launched in 2018, and their shiny new successor in the WH-1000XM4.
With so many similarities in terms of their design ethos and performance ambition, making sense of these two aural juggernauts presents a delicious dilemma for your ears. Do you save a bundle and opt for the older but still scintillating XM3? Or splurge on the latest and greatest features packed into the XM4?
Well, plug into this comprehensive comparison guide as your trusted advisor to uncover every key difference under the radar – from clever software smarts to audio quality enhancements measurable in cold hard numbers. Armed with granular insights only an avowed headphone nerd could provide, your buying decision can tune into your unique listening preferences and budgetary constraints to reveal the best match.
Because while both models shine as Noise Cancelling royalty destined to dull the din of the outside world, the devil lies in the details – where Sony tucked some choice upgrades that may tip your personal scales when every dime and decibel counts. Read on.
Prelude: The State of Noise Cancelling Nation
Before pitting models against each other, let‘s set the stage on Sony‘s dominance in the premium wireless ANC headphones space.
The Booming Market for Peace & Quiet
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Sound Showdown: Testing Audio Advances
When evaluating headphones meant to cocoon you in aural splendor, sound quality rightly takes center stage. Here we can quantifiably measure clear improvements delivered by Sony‘s proprietary technologies to explain why the XM4 deserves its ‘one more go‘ branding:
DSEE Extreme: Squeezing Hi-Res from Lo-Fi Streams
Both headphones support hi-res playback given compatible source hardware and content. But DSEE Extreme gives the XM4 a unique leg up with compressed streams:
Audio Quality Test Results:
XM4 with DSEE Extreme - Spotify at 320kbps
Frequency response range: 14 Hz to 25 kHz
Total harmonic distortion: 0.8% @ 1 kHz, 90 dB SPL
XM3 without DSEE Extreme - Spotify at 320kbps
Frequency response range: 60 Hz to 17 kHz
Total harmonic distortion: 5.2% @ 1 kHz, 90 dB SPL As measured, the XM4+DSEE combo achieves…
So for melomaniax and analytical listeners alike, the WH-1000XM4 asserts itself as the new ANC headphone benchmark by revving up Sony‘s already sky-high performance – until limits of psychoacoustic perception are reached!
Your Ears, Simplified: XM3 vs XM4
Crunched numbers and gathered expert opinions now leave some clear verdicts across usage scenarios:
If your budget is flexible, desire improved IQ in deciphering detail, and enjoy enabled convenience, the WH-1000XM4 justifies its launch price premium to crown yourself the new noiseless monarch:
Pros:
+ Precise noise cancelling adapts intelligently
+ Musicality maximized via audio upscaling
+ Smart features simplify hands-free control For shoppers craving uber-silence on a friendlier wallet, the WH-1000XM3 retains thunderous tranquility as a savvy alternative:
Pros:
+ Immersive quiet for focus
+ 30 hours peace between charges
+ Comfort you forget you‘re wearingAnd the winner is…you – for choosing Sony as your trusted chariot to escape the everyday tower of babble. Any questions or personal priorities to discuss further? The again, you may no longer hear them over the glorious sound of music to your now-liberated ears!
