Sony WH‑1000XM4C Review: Old Design, Fresh Price
According to The Verge, Sony revived its popular WH‑1000XM4 headphones with the WH‑1000XM4C, a model that re‑uses six‑year‑old hardware while trimming the price. The move matters because it offers a familiar form‑factor and decent performance for shoppers who want flagship‑level comfort without paying premium rates.
Classic Design Meets a Lower Price Tag
The XM4C looks almost identical to the 2020 XM4. It folds into a compact shape, ships with a hard‑shell zippered case, and retains the faux‑leather ear cups that felt comfortable during long listening sessions. The only noticeable visual change is the case zipper loop, which now sits on the zipper instead of the edge. Internally, the headphones still use a 40 mm driver and the same QN1 chip that powers active noise cancellation (ANC) in the original model.
Sound and EQ: Small Tweaks, Same Core
Sound‑signature wise, the XM4C inherits the XM4’s bass‑heavy tilt. Bass punches through without overwhelming the mids, while drums and percussive elements stay defined. The mids can feel a bit recessed—think of the acoustic‑guitar attack in Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” or the bite of Robert Plant’s vocals—but the new 10‑band equalizer in Sony’s Sound Connect app lets you boost the 1 kHz–4 kHz range to open up that space. The original XM4 offered only five EQ bands, so the extra granularity is the most tangible audio upgrade.
ANC and Call Quality: Good, Not Leading
Both the XM4C and its predecessor employ four microphones with the QN1 chip. In practice the ANC performance is virtually the same, with the XM4C occasionally edging out the older model on low‑frequency rumble from air‑conditioners or distant traffic. However, newer Sony flagships—XM5 (eight mics) and XM6 (12 mics with the N3 chip)—outperform the XM4C across the frequency spectrum, especially in the low end. Competitors such as the Anker Soundcore Space 2 can match the XM4C’s ANC for roughly half the price, though they lack the same brand cache.
Call audio mirrors the ANC story: background noise is generally suppressed, but louder sounds sometimes break through, and the voice can sound slightly compressed compared with the XM6, which costs $160 more.
Battery, Ports, and Missing Features
The shift to a removable battery—required by upcoming EU regulations—cost the XM4C a few hours of run‑time, down to 27 hours with ANC on versus the XM4’s 30 hours. The battery is not yet sold separately in North America, and Sony provides no DIY replacement guide, leaving users to rely on future service options.
The headphones keep a 3.5 mm wired jack that works with ANC powered on or off, but they omit a USB‑C audio port. Charging still requires a USB‑C cable, which is not bundled. Notably, the XM4C lacks Bluetooth LE and therefore Auracast support, a feature that arrived on the XM5 and XM6.
What the Trade‑Off Actually Means for Buyers
The core trade‑off is fresh price versus stale tech. Sony has taken a proven, comfortable design, added a finer EQ, and made the battery replaceable, but it has not upgraded the ANC chipset or added modern Bluetooth features. For users who value comfort, a solid soundstage, and a familiar touch‑control layout, the XM4C delivers a reliable experience at $300—roughly $160 less than the XM6 that offers superior ANC, a longer battery, and newer Bluetooth capabilities. If you need top‑tier noise isolation for frequent travel in noisy environments, the extra cost for an XM5/XM6 or a cheaper competitor with newer ANC might be justified.
Potential buyers should watch two developments:
- EU battery‑replacement rollout – Sony may eventually sell replacement cells worldwide, which would extend the lifespan of the XM4C and make the replaceable‑battery claim more meaningful.
- Firmware updates for Auracast – Past Sony models gained Bluetooth LE features via software, so a future update could close that gap without hardware changes.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | WH‑1000XM4 (2020) | WH‑1000XM4C (2024) | WH‑1000XM5 (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver size | 40 mm | 40 mm | 40 mm |
| ANC chip | QN1 (4 mics) | QN1 (4 mics) | QN1 (8 mics) |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 30 h | 27 h | 30 h |
| EQ bands | 5 | 10 | 10 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.2 (LE) |
| Auracast support | No | No | Yes |
| Price (USD) | $350 | $300 | $430 |
Actionable Takeaways
- If you already own the original XM4 and are happy with its comfort and sound, the XM4C is not a necessary upgrade; the extra $300 simply buys a newer battery design.
- For first‑time buyers who want premium comfort without paying flagship prices, the XM4C is a solid choice—just be prepared to use a separate USB‑C cable for charging.
- If you travel in consistently noisy settings or need the latest Bluetooth features, consider stretching to an XM5/XM6 or look at lower‑priced competitors that offer newer ANC chips.
- Keep an eye on Sony’s firmware releases; a future update could add Auracast support, making the XM4C more future‑proof.
