Both headsets microphones are pretty decent, and both cut off low frequencies to combat the proximity effect. Bose has experimented with different materials in QC35. 4) Multi-Device Connectivity: I have my laptop/desktop and listen to music simultaneously using the Spotify web from the work laptop. and whenever I would get a call on my phone or go into a zoom meeting, the audio settings would go out of control with the XM4 and it would have to connect, disconnect, etc. See: Sony WF-1000XM4 review | Bose QuietComfort Earbuds review. While the Sony Headphones Connect app isnt the prettiest it does give you access to all the customization options you need and even some special features. Why is this happening? They are a little airy, so you don't sweat after wearing them for a few hours. Right now you can find a ton of QC 35 ii on ebay for around 100 that leaves enough money to get either a brand new 6xx, HD 560s or a used HD 600. Bear in mind that you won't always need noise cancelling and then think of when and where you'll need it. They deliver good quality sound, provided you keep them powered on.
Many users have complained that this plastic is weak and gives out a creaking sound after some time. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II holds up today but its ANC cant compete with the shiny and new Sony WH-1000XM4. Man, this is another big factor for me -- to have headphones that I can wear for hours without feeling hot or uncomfortable. When it comes to the wired and unpowered mode, Sony is way better than Bose. XM4 provides whole other level of isolation and it's perfect fit for office & outdoor use. The best part is Sony maintains the same level of quality even when they are wired and unpowered. because it just feels the most natural and practical for my needs compared to when I was using the XM4. Nowhere was I able to find out the review about the Microphone Quality during calls. I listen to long sets on YouTube and SoundCloud, and I've been noticing some sporadic clicking sounds (definitely not clipping on the master) on my XM4 while I use my laptop for other needs. As mentioned in another comment the QC buds may be worth looking into or the airpods pro since in-ear headphones are going to do a lot better at passive cancellation on top of the ANC. I still preferred the QC to the XM3 due to the comfort issues, but they improved it with the 4. Though Bose has been in the niche of noise-cancelling headphones for a long time, QC35 is its first entry into the world of wireless headphones. The treble is a bit under-emphasized except for a slight bump between 2-5kHz. but for human voices, the XM4 performs better by about 1-2 levels in sedentary conditions. between devices! If youre using an iPhone youll need a dongle for wired playback, otherwise, youre left with SBC or AAC. This is an especially good choice for iPhone users, the Airpods Max has some of the very best ANC available. The Bose QC 35 II is compatible with the Bose Connect app, but doesnt offer nearly as many features as the Sony WH-1000XM4. This is why you never get tired even when you listen to high notes at reasonably good volumes. The upper notes are also more amplified than our house curve, and you may perceive it as detailed. Additional app functions include noise cancelling optimization, mixing the amount of ambient noise to pass through, and customizing the equalizer. I've been religiously using the QC 35II now and use it without even thinking about the ANC or how hot it gets on my ears, etc. How do you use your XM4 in the office? Though this automatic setting is not too bad, it is very noticeable and the worst part, there is no way to turn it off! I am looking out for the headphone which can at least provide decent call quality during those office calls/meetings.
Bose uses tactile controls for playback, volume, and ANC adjustments. FWIW I also owned the NCH 700 for a period but ended up returning them as they are just a less comfortable QC with a little more isolation. This definitely makes it more comfortable to wear, especially if you plan to wear them for extended periods of time. Another aspect about Bose is that the weight is equally balanced between the two sides, so you will feel balanced when you wear them. In fact, we can go to the extent of saying that Sony WH-1000XM4 provides the most natural sound ever in any headphone with active noise cancellation. I am Marea Harris and I am a Writing Pro. If youre listening to classical music, you might find the treble response a bit too loud and want to EQ is down in the mobile app. You also need the app to use Sonys 360 Reality Audio with high-quality music streaming services. Unfortunately I've only been using it around my home but I can tell you that it has successfully blocked out so much noise that my girlfriend hates how good the ANC is. But if you can't find any discounts, well it is up to you. iPhone users will experience better, more consistent high-quality audio via Boses headset than Android users. Similar to Sony WH-1000XM4, this pair of headphones too, have a warm touch to the notes. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II doesnt have an ambient sound mode. Such an insanely poor shortcoming for a piece of hardware that costs nearly $400. The Bose QC 35 II also has a slightly pronounced sub-bass response, which gives your music that extra oomph right out of the boxhowever, thats pretty much limited to very low-frequency sounds. There seems to be plastic used only on the outer side of the adjustment area and on the edges of ear cups, which makes it less obvious to see. Its multifunction button can be used to access your smartphones native voice assistant. Learn more. They will try to cancel louder sharp noises but aren't meant for that. When it comes to a winner in this category, we think it is too close to call. The refurb xm4 is on eBay right now for $220 with 2 year warranty and free returns, so I ordered them after ordering the QC last week. Have a question about the Bose QC35? I have a small fridge in my office and my computer is fairly loud when it's working and those sounds are completely gone but I can still sometimes hear the kid jumping around upstairs for instance. For example, let's say you're going on your bike and there's a car honking behind you. The Sony WH-1000XM4 microphone array does a good job of blocking out background noise and focusing on the speakers voice. makes me worried that the headphones won't be competitive by the end of next year. Of course, some people find that headphone apps collect too much personal data, in which case you can still access the primary functionslistening to music, cancelling noise, and taking callsof either set of headphones without using an app. Plus with Amazon Alexa, you can enjoy entertainment, get information, and manage your day. One word of caution here. Switching between multiple devices on the QC35 II feels smoother than the XM4 despite the better technology. We do know that they have Apples proprietary H1 chip, making for easy pairing and battery optimization with iPhones, and they also have Spatial Audio, which mimics surround sound, and is much like the Sony headphones 360 Reality Audio. Sony WH-1000XM4, on the other hand, is a different story altogether. Here are my thoughts/review based on 5 categories that I personally care about (the whole call quality/zoom thing is irrelevant to me, everyone has terrible mics/speakers anyway) --, QC35 II: 8.5/10XM4: 9/10 (8.5 before/9 after adjusting EQ). So after all of this, which one is better? The sound isolation on the XM4 is fantastic. Great breakdown here, I know this forum is a year old but I just bought the qc35 ii which had a $100 discount for the black Friday sale this year and I honestly can't wait for them to arrive. Bose has its own proprietary active EQ controls that kick in automatically. What are your thoughts? To make up for it, the ear pads are made of a good quality material, and the best part is they are replaceable. Your assesment seems to be where I was too. Couldnt be happier. Well, they are bluetooth headphones. The XM4 is not bad in anyway, but I definitely feel like I need to take it off every hour or two due to it making me feel warm or slightly fatigued. Bose QC 35 is the winner because it really makes you feel comfortable after you have got the head fit right. Some might prefer shallow ear cups while others may prefer to have deep cups so their ears don't touch anything. A selling point for me was how little the Bose stick out behind my ears, making it comfortable to lay may head on a pillow. I currently use the QC 35's while studying at home. However, my needs revolve around something that I can block out noise and listen to music all day long, and the QC35 II provides a balanced experience which doesn't fatigue my ears over a long period of time. Sometimes, these EQ controls tend to be a little off, and that' when the music starts sounding a little off. While the Bose QuietComfort 35 II is named for its comfortable build, the Sony WH-1000XM4 feels great as well. Bose, on the other hand, is a good choice too but pales when compared to the sound quality of Sony. Would love to hear what you think about both these headphones, so that I can finally make a decision! The XM4 feels like something from 2020 versus the QC35 II uses dated technology. All that said, our pick between the two is Sony WH-1000XM4. But if you want to listen to great music, then these are your perfect choice. In cyan is the WH-1000XM4, yellow the QC 35 II, and pink the house curve. That said, if you find Sony WH-1000XM4 for a lower price, go for it by all means as it is a better headphone at that price. None of the notes sounds muffled or lagging. If you havent yet bought a pair of the QC 35 II but youre planning to, and youd like this detachable boom mic, it might just be worth the extra $30. Both headphones use Bluetooth 5.0, and if you want, you can connect either with a 3.5mm cable for wired listening. No matter which headset you choose, youll be very pleased with the noise cancelling performance. Press J to jump to the feed. The XM4 isn't that far off though, and it is noticeably more comfortable than the XM3 was (I had a pair but sold them as I preferred the QC). In the end, the XM4 is now my go to. These microphones compare that outside sound with the sound of your music to generate an anti-noise sound wave so that the outside noise blends well with your music and there is no interference whatsoever from it. Both sets of headphones have plush ear cups, though the thin padding on the WH-1000XM4 headband makes it slightly less comfortable. I read a bunch of blogs + watched reviews on YouTube but wasn't 100% convinced so I decided to purchase both the BOSE QC35 II + Sony XM4 to test it out myself. This is not something that many people like, as they don't prefer to have their ears touching anything when they wear their headphones. etc. So, there is a $50 difference and this brings up the question of whether Sony's WH-1000XM4 is worth the extra price, especially if you don't find them at a sale. For Android devices, the LDAC codec is a big plus when it comes to high-quality wireless playback. Hope that helps! Incredibly comfortable of course, the clarity has almost brought me to tears before, I only charge mine once a week or so but I only use them in the evening for a couple hours maybe, the bluetooth range is pretty good though I did end up getting my original pair replaced due to poor range and crackling at high volume, they wont quite melt my eardrums but are plenty loud, the clarity tricks you though since they will not distort. This padding for these headbands is stiff, probably to balance out some weight of the ear cups. However, the WH-1000XM3 does support aptX, and so may appeal more to Android users. Bose QC is quite expensive, and you can rarely find it on sale. I haven't tested out the full battery life on either devices, but it has gotten me through multiple days without having to recharge them which is great. Through the Sony Headphones Connect app, you can program the Custom button on the Sony WH-1000XM4 to access its integrated voice assistant or to toggle noise cancellation, but you cannot have both at the same time. But if you can't find any discounts, well it is up to you. They have used metal instead of plastic and this gives it a nice and rounded look. Yes, the Bose QC 35 II has an IPX4 rating, while the Sony WH-1000XM4 lacks an IP rating. I'll mainly be using them for travel and work so comfort is a must and not so much critical listening. They both have pros/cons where if they could fix each other's shortcomings and fused into one device, they would be the perfect wireless headphones. The QC35 II does a great job, but the XM4 is definitely superior here. I would say that the QC35 II has the right amount of pressure around my head and also does not get warm, which is very important for prolonged usage.