AirPods Pro vs Sony WF-1000XM4

[mavis]

If the Sonys are that much better for you? You should enjoy them, no worries at all. We simply disagree on the difference between the two. However, you stated/I originally replied to your statement: "The WF-1000XM4's sound (especially <100Hz bass!) is vastly superior to the AirPods Pro"
You did not say only the low frequency performance(see above). However, if you're now saying the Sonys low frequency are the only thing that is vastly better? We still disagree with describing it "vastly" (but I'd also disagree that the high freq vocals are vastly better on the APPs. They are both great). But I'd concede after seeing the low freq testing from the AGs that Sonys perform better (but not vastly). If you think it is a very great difference? Our opinions differ.
Regardless, IMO one can't go wrong with either APP or Sony. But the APP also gives you the eco integration and IME(others will disagree) excellent hands free calling performance(though I suspect the Sonys will still be very good). That's important to me so it makes the APP the easy choice for me. To those that don't need or want eco integration, they can consider the Sonys (or even the AABs if price is important, among others). Using either one raises the quality of listening to music HUGELY. I suspect we can agree that much. Cheers...

The one part of that bolded sentence that you didn't leave in bold is the part that we're talking about. lol

Maybe the reason our opinions are different are because I actually own both devices and have had lots of time to do A/B comparisons, in a controlled environment. I've owned the AirPods Pro for almost two years (they were released in late 2019, IIRC) and I've owned them since launch day. I've also had the WF-1000XM4s since launch day. So I've had a lot more time to listen to them both (not that it took long to hear the difference in the low end - that was apparent the instant I first heard them handle LF bass) ... Maybe after you've had a chance to listen to them a little more, your opinion will change. If not, it doesn't really matter. They're both great earphones, although in my opinion the AirPods Pro are easier to control and are more comfortable. Whereas the Sonys handle LF bass much better than the AirPods.

Edit: one other thing - ANC. Some of the WF-1000XM4 reviews I read made it seem like the Sonys' ANC was superior to the AirPods Pro. In my experience, I haven't found this to be the case. If anything, I've been a bit disappointed by the Sonys' ANC. I've found myself turning ANC off, and then back on, because I thought it was off. Turns out it was already on, it's just not terribly effective at silencing the noise of mass transportation in Tokyo. Most ANC headphones struggle in that environment, but for some reason I was expecting the Sonys to be a bit better (because of better better seal, and because they're not vented). I'd rank them as pretty much equal to the AirPods Pro, or (maybe?) even slightly inferior.

 

[adrianlondon]

Bass in tiny little earphones is often based as much, or even more, on fit as it is on the quality of the little speaker inside. So the differences could be down to ear shape.

I have issues with most earphones. I'll rephrase ... my weirdly-shaped non-standard (apparently) ears have issues with most earphones. I'm going to have to try the Sony's. I'll hve to find a retainer that will accept them back once opened if I don't like them - i.e. if they fall out easily.

I've not tried the Airpods but the original Apple earbuds (the wired ones for those oldy-worldy phones with a 3.5mm socket) would never stay in my ears.

 

[Telesmurfen]

I would love to hear more from those of you who own both of these headphones. My “daily driver” is the AirPods Pro, used with an iPhone 12 Pro Max.
To my ears, they sound good (especially after the latest firmware update). The ANC is “good enough” (but could be better for certain sounds), the soundstage and instrument separation is quite good, but I find it a little lacking with the deepest bass. Also, call quality outdoors is the poorest I’ve ever heard (or rather, the worst the people I speak with has ever heard). My voice gets drowned out by background noise and wind.
With the release of these new Sony earbuds, I’m beginning to see that there are “third party” options that might be better than Apple’s own APPs.
So, are they better?
I’m not particularly impressed with the Dolby Atmos for Apple Music, so that won’t be a big loss, if I have to give it up.
How is the sound quality when it comes to music with the Sonys? Is it that much better than the APPs?
I have AirPod Max for watching movies at home, so my main usage will be when our and about - walking, using the bus, etc.
What I really like about the APPs is that you don’t really feel them in your ears. Their venting system makes you almost forget that they are there.
I understand that the Sonys are more uncomfortable, but how much?
Also, is the “thumping sound” when you walk a problem with them?
Any input is very welcome.

 

[Telesmurfen]

So, after the lack of replies in this thread, I went ahead and bought myself a pair of Sony WF-1000XM4 to listen for myself.
Here are my initial impressions after a few days.
First of all... when I unwrapped it, I was quite underwhelmed by the case. It felt like cheap plastic. Hard to believe that this thin, cheap-feeling case would house one of the "best true wireless earbuds in the world" (according to some reviewers).
As soon, as I opened the lid, my impression was changed. The buds themselves felt quite premium and high quality.
As I´m not sure how many of you who cares about these earbuds (this thread has been awfully quiet), I'm not gonna make this a lengthy review (as first intended). I'll just mentions some of my pros and cons with the Sonys and the APPs, for those who might want to hear my opinion.

Sonys:
Harder to pair with the iPhone than the APPs
Lots of deep bass. This makes me realize how much I miss deep bass on the APPs. The Sonys take the bass to another level.
No native support for Dolby Atmos (an audio format that I didn't care too much for from the beginning, but compared to Sony´s 360 format, the Dolby Atmos sound amazing - the 360 stuff, found on Tidal, sounds like trash).
Great battery life (still haven't recharged the case since I got them).
Wonderful app, with lots of customization possibilities. But, it's also a little frustrating, as it's hard to stop fiddling with the equalizer, etc. I'm always wondering if I could make them sound better, as different genres of music might benefit from different eq settings.
Sound quite muddy/dark out of the box.
When the treble is tuned up "too much" (or to my liking), it starts sounding a little artificial, like it's trying to play in a way it wasn't meant to.
The foam ear tips already look worn out - wrinkled like two raisins, and starting to peel a little. And that's just after a few days of normal use. I'm worried how long they will last.
Great ANC. Blocks out a lot more noise than the APPs.
Looks cool in black - I wish Apple would offer black APPs.
Lacks a bit of clarity in my ears - in spite of tweaking the equalizer, etc.

AirPods Pro:
Pairs easy with the iPhone (just open the lid of the case).
Lacks the deepest bass.
Great clarity in sound quality - especially with vocals and acoustic instruments.
Better microphone for calls and voice recordings.
More comfortable.
Good enough battery life (for my use).
Works well with most genres of music without the need for an equalizer.
Less customizable.
ANC not as good as the Sonys. It works ok when you play music, but turn off the music, and you'll hear almost every sound around you.
Built-in Siri makes it great for handsfree use with the iPhone.
Native Dolby Atmos support - great for spatial audio in music and movies.
Pairs easily with every other Apple device in your iCloud account.

I guess those are my main pros and cons.
Now for my conclusion.
I understand those who say that the Sonys eat APPs for lunch. At first, they sound quite impressive because of their deeper bass and "fuller" sound, and it's hard not to get "wowed".
But, in my opinion, the APPs are still more versatile across different musical genres and offers such clarity on vocals, that it's not worth the trade off for that deeper bass. And they are so much more comfortable to wear, that if I go for an hour walk, I would pick the APPs every time.
However, if you are into bass-heavy music, or commute a lot (bus, train, subway, etc), I think you'll be better off with the Sonys. They are far superior in both the bass department and with the ANC.
So, it's up to your personal preferences, but to me, listening to "acoustic music" like country, jazz, folk songs and classical, or listening to podcasts, I think the APPs is the better choice.
And on a final note, I've never realized how much I really use "Hey Siri" until I went with the Sonys for some days.
Any more "reviews" - big or small - bring them on

 

[PhoneI]

If your ever planning on using you buds for Phone calls or video chats, DO NOT BUY SONYs. Their microphones are awful

 

[UBS28]

I only noticed because I'm also curious about the new Sony earbuds. My main issue isn't noise cancellation, how seamless they change between devices, or even call quality (although that is second on my list), it's whether they'll stay in my weird ears!

Unlike many things one buys, earbuds are one thing I really need to try-before-you-buy but of course are often non-returnable under hygiene rules. I'd hate to buy a new pair of earbuds that a few people before me had tried on

I have the Sony WF-1000XM3 and while they sound better than the AirPods Pro, this is indeed it’s huge weakness. I cannot use them for running because they fall out of my ears, on the ground all the time. So the Apple AirPods Pro is my main “wireless IEM” for now.

I will be curious too if the WF-1000XM4 has fixed this problem.

 

[sparksd]

I have the Sony WF-1000XM3 and while they sound better than the AirPods Pro, this is indeed it’s huge weakness. I cannot use them for running because they fall out of my ears, on the ground all the time. So the Apple AirPods Pro is my main “wireless IEM” for now.

I will be curious too if the WF-1000XM4 has fixed this problem.

I have both the XM3 & XM4 and the XM4 fixed this same issue for me. The changed form factor and foam tips make a big difference with this (for me, at least).

 

[sparksd]

I only noticed because I'm also curious about the new Sony earbuds. My main issue isn't noise cancellation, how seamless they change between devices, or even call quality (although that is second on my list), it's whether they'll stay in my weird ears!

Unlike many things one buys, earbuds are one thing I really need to try-before-you-buy but of course are often non-returnable under hygiene rules. I'd hate to buy a new pair of earbuds that a few people before me had tried on

Amazon takes returns on earbuds - I returned a pair of Jabra 75t's. Best Buy also takes returns on them. I'm sure they're returned to the manufacturer for sanitizing & repackaging.

 

[macphoto861]

I've had my finger on the trigger for a set of these for the past few weeks, but the main thing that keeps stopping me is a worry about how much of a hassle it might be to switch devices (I've heard it's easy and quick, just one tap, but I've also heard that you need to first disconnect from the currently connected device before the WFs will let you connect to a different device, and if so, that's something I'm not willing to deal with).

I have a hard time understanding why Sony didn't include multipoint in these.

The other thing that stops me is that I really don't need the WFs, as I'm mostly happy with my APM and APP combo – APM sound perfect to me, and although I don't like the emphasized low mids of the APP, the "classical" EQ setting takes care of that (just wish there was a way to do systemwide or headphone-level EQ as opposed to just working in the Music app).

 

[sparksd]

I've had my finger on the trigger for a set of these for the past few weeks, but the main thing that keeps stopping me is a worry about how much of a hassle it might be to switch devices (I've heard it's easy and quick, just one tap, but I've also heard that you need to first disconnect from the currently connected device before the WFs will let you connect to a different device, and if so, that's something I'm not willing to deal with).

I have a hard time understanding why Sony didn't include multipoint in these.

The other thing that stops me is that I really don't need the WFs, as I'm mostly happy with my APM and APP combo – APM sound perfect to me, and although I don't like the emphasized low mids of the APP, the "classical" EQ setting takes care of that (just wish there was a way to do systemwide or headphone-level EQ as opposed to just working in the Music app).

I use the WM4's with my iPad & iPhone. To switch between the devices, I open Bluetooth on the device I want to switch to and hit connect for the WM4's that show up there - connection is immediate, no disconnect from or interaction with the other device is necessary. I don't find it to be a hassle. The APP's I had were simpler but since I didn't like them, it wasn't really a selling point to me.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I'm still not a fan of the Sony WF-1000XM4. Reason: the US$279 retail price. I'll probably end up waiting for the AirPods Pro 2 instead.

 

[macphoto861]

I use the WM4's with my iPad & iPhone. To switch between the devices, I open Bluetooth on the device I want to switch to and hit connect for the WM4's that show up there - connection is immediate, no disconnect from or interaction with the other device is necessary.

That's good to hear! Might give them a try.

 

[retta283]

The Sony ones have great bass to my ears. I've owned a few Sony buds over the years and I always loved the bass response I got out of them. The AirPods sound decent, I've listened with them a few times, but the bass just isn't there and I deeply miss it when I can tell it's gone. I got these Sony at a small discount so jumped on them - use with iPad Pro and my old 6S. My last pair of wired buds got lost on the ferry a few years ago so I've just been using some older over-ear headphones.

I must say that @mavis picked an excellent example with the Alexisonfire track, I've listened to that song since it was new and always loved the occasional LF bass in that track. That was always nice when the volume was up - also helped me diagnose a failing pair of phones once. That one on the Airpods just fell flat but on the Sony give the classic effect as intended. It's small things like that making me always go for more rich bass earbuds.

Certainly though if you're on an all-Apple setup there is something to be said for the ease of use of the AirPods, the reason my nephew uses them even though he also complains of poor bass response.

 

[macphoto861]

I just got back from returning my WF-1000XM4s after trying them for about a week... I don't think I've ever agonized about a piece of gear so much.

I really liked the way they sounded (after some EQ to undarken). I wasn't a big fan of the foam eartips, having to squish them before putting them in each time, plus there are lots of reports of these tips falling apart after just a short period. But I switched over to some Spinfit silicone tips, which solved those problems (lost a little bit of noise isolation, but also brightened up the sound a bit). I found them reasonably comfortable, but did sometimes encounter some outer ear cartilage pain, as well as some ear canal irritation (both with the foam tips, and to a lesser extent, the silicone).

Some other minor nitpicks. I don't like having that person announcing everything ("ambient sound", "battery fully charged", etc.) and wish that could be disabled. And during quiet passages of songs, I could prominently hear my own breathing, which I guess is just a normal part of in-ears (I hear it also with the APP, but to a lesser extent).

But again, they sounded GREAT. I mean, I really liked them. But it came down to not being able to find a place for them to fit in my usage scenarios. I quickly determined that they couldn't replace my APP, mainly because of phone calls (plus I also felt like the APPs were more secure in my ears during exercise). So I focused on whether or not they could/should replace my beloved APM as my "sitting at the desk working" or "seriously listening to music" headphones. After days of A/B comparisons, there were sound signature aspects that I liked about both... to my ears, the APM's sound is more "comforting", while the WF had a bit more meat and texture in the upper mids / low highs (again, after being EQ'd to my liking). So, although they sound different, to me it was a wash, and it came down to how comfortable they are to wear for extended periods, and the APM was the clear winner here.

If I were a frequent traveler who needed the better ANC, I might have opted to keep the WF. But in the end, I realized the only time I would ever really use them is for an hour or so when reading in bed at night, and the APP suffice for that, so I couldn't justify the money.

That being said, this experience reinforced my main complaint about the usability of Apple's audio lineup. The APP and APM are great out-of-the-box, but many people would like the ability to tweak the sound a bit to their own liking, and that's where it all falls apart. I can EQ to my heart's content on my Mac, but what happens when I switch over to listen on my iPad or iPhone? I'm limited to EQ presets. And those EQ presets become a hassle when I switch between the APM and APP because I generally only EQ the APP and have to remember to shut it off when using the APM. Similarly, the iPhone enables the really useful feature of running an audiogram test with the Mimi app and using that to shape the sound, but there's (presumably) no way to bring this over to the iPad or Mac, and the "Headphone Accommodations / Balance Tone" setting that a lot of people like to use is also not available on Mac.

In short, it ends up being a disjointed, convoluted experience that is not user-friendly nor consistent. This problem could be solved by simply having the APP and APM themselves handle things that affect the sound (I'd settle for just an EQ).

 

[sparksd]

I just got back from returning my WF-1000XM4s after trying them for about a week... I don't think I've ever agonized about a piece of gear so much.

I really liked the way they sounded (after some EQ to undarken). I wasn't a big fan of the foam eartips, having to squish them before putting them in each time, plus there are lots of reports of these tips falling apart after just a short period. But I switched over to some Spinfit silicone tips, which solved those problems (lost a little bit of noise isolation, but also brightened up the sound a bit). I found them reasonably comfortable, but did sometimes encounter some outer ear cartilage pain, as well as some ear canal irritation (both with the foam tips, and to a lesser extent, the silicone).

Some other minor nitpicks. I don't like having that person announcing everything ("ambient sound", "battery fully charged", etc.) and wish that could be disabled. And during quiet passages of songs, I could prominently hear my own breathing, which I guess is just a normal part of in-ears (I hear it also with the APP, but to a lesser extent).

But again, they sounded GREAT. I mean, I really liked them. But it came down to not being able to find a place for them to fit in my usage scenarios. I quickly determined that they couldn't replace my APP, mainly because of phone calls (plus I also felt like the APPs were more secure in my ears during exercise). So I focused on whether or not they could/should replace my beloved APM as my "sitting at the desk working" or "seriously listening to music" headphones. After days of A/B comparisons, there were sound signature aspects that I liked about both... to my ears, the APM's sound is more "comforting", while the WF had a bit more meat and texture in the upper mids / low highs (again, after being EQ'd to my liking). So, although they sound different, to me it was a wash, and it came down to how comfortable they are to wear for extended periods, and the APM was the clear winner here.

If I were a frequent traveler who needed the better ANC, I might have opted to keep the WF. But in the end, I realized the only time I would ever really use them is for an hour or so when reading in bed at night, and the APP suffice for that, so I couldn't justify the money.

That being said, this experience reinforced my main complaint about the usability of Apple's audio lineup. The APP and APM are great out-of-the-box, but many people would like the ability to tweak the sound a bit to their own liking, and that's where it all falls apart. I can EQ to my heart's content on my Mac, but what happens when I switch over to listen on my iPad or iPhone? I'm limited to EQ presets. And those EQ presets become a hassle when I switch between the APM and APP because I generally only EQ the APP and have to remember to shut it off when using the APM. Similarly, the iPhone enables the really useful feature of running an audiogram test with the Mimi app and using that to shape the sound, but there's (presumably) no way to bring this over to the iPad or Mac, and the "Headphone Accommodations / Balance Tone" setting that a lot of people like to use is also not available on Mac.

In short, it ends up being a disjointed, convoluted experience that is not user-friendly nor consistent. This problem could be solved by simply having the APP and APM themselves handle things that affect the sound (I'd settle for just an EQ).

It really comes down to personal preferences and weights you give to evaluation criteria you use. For me, it's the following in order of importance -

Fit/comfort
Audio playback quality
ANC & noise isolation quality
Price
Call quality

If they aren't comfortable to use, nothing else matters to me - it's a deal-breaker. I rarely use mine for calls so I rank that an easy lowest criteria. For me, the Sony's had better fit/comfort and audio quality than the APP's; ANC & noise isolation weren't good with the APP's because no matter what I tried, I couldn't get a good fit (I tried different 3rd party tips); the APP's were a better price and have better call quality but in the end, for me the XM4's were the better choice based on my own criteria and weighting.

 

[macphoto861]

For me, the Sony's had better fit/comfort and audio quality than the XM4's

I assume you meant to say the Sonys had better fit/comfort than the APP, right? Fortunately, I've never had a problem with fit with the APP (even exercising and bike riding).

The Sonys were pretty comfortable to me (not "I forgot I was wearing them" comfortable, but not "I can't wait to get these things out of my ears" either). And they sure sounded great! Having a little bit of return-remorse, and I wouldn't be shocked if I ended up re-buying them at some point down the road.

 

[sparksd]

I assume you meant to say the Sonys had better fit/comfort than the APP, right? Fortunately, I've never had a problem with fit with the APP (even exercising and bike riding).

The Sonys were pretty comfortable to me (not "I forgot I was wearing them" comfortable, but not "I can't wait to get these things out of my ears" either). And they sure sounded great! Having a little bit of return-remorse, and I wouldn't be shocked if I ended up re-buying them at some point down the road.

oops - yes. I corrected it - thanks.

 

[mavis]

Some other minor nitpicks. I don't like having that person announcing everything ("ambient sound", "battery fully charged", etc.) and wish that could be disabled.

You can disable that annoying voice feedback in settings.

As for the foam tips, totally agree. I'm using double-flange tips from an old pair of Sennheiser ie80s, which I didn't like with the Senns but greatly prefer with the Sonys.

 

[macphoto861]

You can disable that annoying voice feedback in settings.

Ah, thanks... not sure how I missed that!

 

[honglong1976]

Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless vs Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless Side-by-Side Headphones Comparison

The Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless. While both headphones are well-built, the Apple have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and are more comfortable, and their ANC can block out more ambient noise. However, the...

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