Want the best sound-canceling headphones that money can buy? You will not go far wrong with both Sony and Bose. Both brands offer quality headphones with modern innovative sound-canceling technology and top-notch sound.
Two of the best pairs on the market right now are the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700. Book which pair of wireless, sound-canceling headphones is the best? It is a difficult choice, so let us talk to you about the pros and cons of each …
Before we dive into the specs, let’s take a quick look at the attackers. The Sony WH-1000XM4s come with a fine pedigree – their predecessors, the WH-1000XM3s, are twice What Hi-Fi? Prize winners.
The Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700s are no less impressive. Bose has established itself as one of the industry leaders in sound attenuation technology and is renowned for its premium cans.
That said, two pairs of wireless headphones are top-of-the-range, both with sound cancellation, made by brands with jealous track records. But which is better? Read on as we compare price, battery life, features, sound quality and more …
Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700: price
The Sony WH-1000XM4s launched in August 2020 and are a major improvement over the outgoing WH-1000XM3s, which arrived in 2018. Hence, they come with a slightly higher price tag – £ 350 ($ 350, AU $ 380).
The Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700s are a bit older, having debuted in July 2019. We test them at £ 350 ($ 399, AU $ 550), but the prices have since been a bit dip (we have listed the best deals below).
When it comes to budgeting, Bose headphones are the most affordable choice. But would it be worth the effort to shake things off for the Sony? Let’s find out …
** Winner ** Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700
Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700: battery life
The Bose 700s require 20 hours of battery life with Bluetooth and sound cancellation enabled. It’s a decent performance, but not leading to a single class.
The Sony WH-1000XM4s last about 30 hours (38 hours if you turn off sound cancellation), which is impressive.
Step out in a hurry? The fast charge feature of the Bose cans gives 3.5 hours back from a 15 minute charge. Respectively, though, Sony will get you out the door faster – the WH-1000XM4s deliver five hours of play from just 10 minutes of charging.
Bose now offers the option to buy the 700s bundled together with a wireless charging case for £ 400. The case adds 40 hours to the overall battery life of the 700s, but because this is a straight head-to-head, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is the clear winner.
** Winner ** Sony WH-1000XM4
Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700: design and fit
The Sony XM4s look almost identical to the XM3s, although they do have slightly larger earpads, an improved fit and a custom design that looks a bit more seamless. Thanks to their plush pads and rock-solid build quality, they are some of the most comfortable headphones we have ever tested. If ‘slim and mature’ is your style, you’ll love the WH-1000XM4s.
The Bose 700s, on the other hand, sport an elegant, sleeker design that is probably easier on the eye and looks more premium. The combination of ‘invisible’ hinges and a swooping stainless steel headband inject some real wow factor into procedures.
Both pairs float lightly on the head – they both weigh 254g – and stay in position without a ‘vice-like’ grip.
If you’re a regular traveler, it’s worth noting that the Sony folds up neatly, but the Bose 700s are not fold-up (the earcups are flat in the case, but the headband does not fold due to their hassle) design).
The more traditional-looking WH-1000XM4s come in black and silver finishes, while the stylish 700s come in black, silver and limited edition ‘Soapstone’.
Whatever brand you choose, you are guaranteed plush pads and a beautifully decorated design. The refurbished and faster charging Sony can get your vote, but we can see the premium fit and finish of the Bose that have equal appeal.
** Winner ** Draw
Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700: Features
Both headphones are full of tech, but the Sony WH-1000XM4s are a bit smarter and make use of some pretty impressive artificial intelligence.
Sony’s sound canceling headphones feature a new DSEE Extreme audio processor that scales compressed audio to near hi-res quality and also uses artificial intelligence to analyze music in real time, to reproduce a more accurate sound.
The Sony also has Speak-to-Chat, which automatically interrupts your music when you start chatting. It’s not perfect, but comes in handy because it means you do not have to remove your headphones to chat with an employee or aircraft.
The Bose 700s have a similar ‘Conversation Mode’, but you have to manually press a button to activate it. The Sony headphones also have Adaptive Smart Control, which learns your favorite locations and adjusts the sound settings automatically afterwards, plus ‘Wearing Detection’, which means they automatically pause music when you turn it off and resume playback when you turn it on .
Sony’s bag of tricks continues with Atmospheric Pressure Optimiser, which handles its sound for high altitude – perfect if you happen to be leading a jet-setting lifestyle.
Just replace the Sony WH-1000XM4s with more features and more useful.
** Winner ** Sony WH-1000XM4
Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700: noise-canceling
Do you want to exclude the world so that nothing comes between you and your music? Sony and Bose make some of the nicest sound-canceling headphones we’ve tested, but how do their top-tier cans compare?
The 700s make the most of the Bose’s next-generation sound-canceling chip, which delivers 11 degrees of sound-canceling intensity, ranging from complete isolation to total transparency. You can scroll through levels in the company Bose Music App and customize it to your liking.
The tech works brilliantly and also helps to deliver crystal clear call quality. The 700s use six mics to mute the sound around you, plus four mics to enhance the clarity of your voice. Overall sound-canceling performance is really breathtaking.
The Sony WH-1000XM4s hold more than their own against the Boses, thanks to their advanced HD Noise Canceling Processor QN1, which uses a special algorithm and Bluetooth system on Chip (SoC) to control audio and ambient sound, and create precise adjustments 700 times per second to optimize their sound cancellation. And, as with the 700s, you can adjust the intensity through Sony’s companion app.
The upshot of all this tech? Excluding both of these sound-canceling headphones sounds brilliant.
** Winner ** Draw
Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700: sound quality
The Bose 700’s show an excellent level of musicality and clarity. They sound straightforward, dynamic and detailed – but they can’t quite compete with the depth of bass and detail offered by the Sony WH-1000XM4s.
The Sony sounds that somewhat more composed, self-assured and punchy and poised. Their timing is also brilliant.
And while no headphone supports aptX HD, the XM4s supports LDAC, Sony’s proprietary codec that enables higher quality files to be played wirelessly from a compatible source.
Lastly, it’s also worth noting that the Sony Headphones Connect app allows for a wider adjustment of EQ settings, compared to the Bose Music app. That extra layer of usability adds to the appeal of the XM4s.
** Winner ** Sony WH-1000XM4
Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700: Conviction
The WH-1000XM4s are without a doubt the better all-rounders, with stellar sound cancellation, longer battery life, superb sound quality and some ingenious features. If your budget is tight and you love their traditional styling, we think the five-star XM4s are a no-brainer.
That said, the four-star Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700s are a good pair of headphones for the money. They may not be as feature rich as the XM4s, but they are probably more stylish and feel more premium. And Bose’s noise cancellation is still top notch with the best. They are also cheaper.
Our money would go over the Sony’s, but there’s enough fun about both pairs of headphones.
MORE:
Best Wireless Headphones 2020
Best sound-canceling headphones 2020
Read the full review: Sony WH-1000XM4
Read the full review: Disconnect headphones 700 from Bose sound
