Sony ULT WEAR Review vs WH-1000XM4 - Better value! 😯
In this article, I’ll compare the ULT WEAR to the WH-1000XM4. Some of the results of the following tests might surprise you, but keep in mind that the XM4 headphones are 4 years old, and in terms of specs and features, it is still a little better than the ULT WEAR.
For example, the XM4 headphones are Hi-Res certified, so there's more headroom for lossless listening. They have a more advanced audio upscaler called DSEE Extreme, whereas the ULT WEAR only has the basic version. Also, XM4 can maintain LDAC codec streaming while in multipoint mode, whereas the ULT WEAR cannot.
The XM4s have Speak to Chat, which auto detects your voice and activates transparency mode automatically. XM4’s build quality also feels more premium.
But the main reason someone wants to look at the ULT WEAR is the gravitational thumping bass it delivers. There’s a limit to the XM4’s bass, so if you play it loud, it lowers the bass to avoid clipping, but no such limit applies on the ULT WEAR. It truly is a bass monster. It’s even got multiple bass modes which I covered more in depth in my review of the ULT WEAR.
Microphone Comparison
In terms of microphone quality, both the ULT WEAR and the XM4 are quite comparable at voice pickup, and even at reducing background noise and the flapping sound of wind. Really hard to tell the difference whether it be in quiet or noisy conditions. Listen to the mic test samples.
(Mic tested in extremely loud cafe and wind noises.)
Active Noise Cancelling Comparison
In terms of active noise cancelling, the ULT WEAR performed better better at cancelling background chatter, so it sounds quieter in the following recording. And part of the reason is the ULT WEAR’s more effective damping without noise canceling. So when ANC kicks in it’s got less residual noise to deal with. However, when listening closely with headphones, the XM4s performed slightly better in terms of reducing low frequency rumble. Listen to the ANC samples.
Transparency Mode Comparison
In terms of transparency mode, the XM4’s actually less transparent than the ULT WEAR. It has more occlusion, which makes conversations feel less natural. There's also more hissing in the background. It's the only place where it's clearly showing its age.
Sound Quality Comparison
Furthermore, when comparing their sound quality with the ULT WEAR's ULT Off bass option, which disables bass boosting, you can tell that the ULT WEAR has a more v-shaped tuning, with heavier mids and louder bass. It is also darker in the upper mids than the XM4 headphones, which makes vocals sound less clear and bright. On the other hand, the XM4 sounds more revealing, which means that the timbres of different tracks are more distinct, and its soundstage has more air. Listen to the sound samples.
In comparison to the XM4s, this pair has far greater bass. If you thought the XM4s were too bassy for you, you'll hate the ULT WEAR on all three bass modes. On ULT1, you can already feel the rumble of low frequency tracks more than the XM4, but on ULT2, it's even more bloated and boomy than the XM4s on +10 CLEARBASS.
If you want to find out whether you'll like that type of bass, you may listen to and compare their bass modes for yourself at loudnwireless.com/soundsamples. However, if you want greater bass and bass that retains its gravity even at high volumes, the ULT WEAR is a better option.
In Conclusion
To conclude, the WH-1000XM4 is definitely still great value for money for what it is - a flagship Sony product. Some are saying it sounds better than the current XM5 headphones because it is more full and rich. And several of you have highlighted that it is now priced similarly to the ULT WEAR. So, if bass is not a requirement for you, I highly recommend the Sony XM4 as a great choice.
Otherwise, get the ULT WEAR if you want something fun with more bass versatility, with a single button that allows you to switch between bass boost mode, clearer transparency mode, and noise cancelling, which reduces background human chatter and most other types of noises in daily life. On the other hand, I believe the XM4 is better at dealing with plane noise in the background. In terms of comfort, I think the ULT WEAR is slightly more comfortable. The cushions on the XM4 are softer, but the ULT WEAR are more large and roomy.
So those were some compelling reasons to get the ULT WEAR, and some reasons to get the XM4 headphones. If you’d like to check the latest prices of these headphones, click on the Amazon links below.
Check latest price:
Sony ULT WEAR - https://amzn.to/3xVBObU
Sony WH-1000M4 - https://amzn.to/3UL9YID
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