Superb-sounding headphones with a structural problem. Sony redesigned the XM4's folding hinge into a fixed headband, and a reader poll found close to half of respondents had experienced a failure.
This entry is written from the 3 sources listed at the bottom of the page. The numbers are our editorial estimates drawn from that material, not measurements, and no statistical sample sits behind them.
It depends on how you will use it. 62% would buy it again, which means roughly 38% would not. A reader poll found nearly half of respondents had a pair fail.
The sound keeps its fans while the structural complaints accumulate — failures cluster well past the return window, which is what makes this one sting.
A reader poll found nearly half of respondents had a pair fail. The failure point is the frame, which is not user-serviceable. Ear pads flatten and need replacing.
Worth it for: People who mostly use them in one place; Frequent flyers who want the best noise cancelling; Anyone who will keep the warranty paperwork. Think twice if: You throw headphones in a bag daily; You want something that folds small; You expect five years from a $400 purchase.
Our reading of how sentiment moves across an ownership period, drawn from the sources below. It is an editorial estimate, not tracked longitudinal data.
| At purchase | 7.9 / 10 |
|---|---|
| First week | 9.1 / 10 |
| One month | 8.6 / 10 |
| Six months | 7.6 / 10 |
| One year | 7.3 / 10 |
| Two years or more | 7.2 / 10 |
Owner reviews move this score. The researched figure stays visible next to it, so you can always see what the sources said before anyone voted.
Leave a review on the live pageEvery complaint and every piece of praise above traces back to these. The summaries are ours; nothing is quoted, and no link, quote or username anywhere on this site is invented.
Reader poll on headband and hinge failures, with close to half of respondents reporting one.
Eleven-month ownership account, strongly positive on sound and comfort.
Specification coverage of the model's noise cancelling and battery claims.