There is extreme competition between the Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose 700. They both are excellent noise-cancelling headphones. There is much competition from their new models (Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones) as newer models have succeeded them. They also face significant competition in terms of price, but they are highly regarded. For a detailed overview, read the information below to determine which headphones are better suited for you.
Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Sony WH-1000XM4: Generally, the Sony WH-1000XM4 has excellent noise cancellation, which is very effective in lower frequencies, such as airplane rumble and train noise. Noise cancellation can be adjusted for fit and altitude using Sony’s app, which is particularly useful when traveling. Some users report a slight hizzle with the ANC in a quiet environment.
Bose 700: It offers an excellent noise cancellation. It is effective, especially at higher frequencies and in voices. It is perfect and has no issues with its ANC, and it has pure ANC without any noticeable hiss. Bose allows an adjustable level of noise cancellation on their app.
Winner: The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a winner for its overall effectiveness, especially in the lower frequency range. The Bose 700 is a close runner-up for its purer ANC and less noticeable hiss.
Sound Quality
Sony WH-1000XM4: It tends to offer a wider sound stage and a warmer, bass-forward sound profile. They are said to have more fun and captivating sound, and the Sony headphone connect app lets you adjust the EQ to your liking. Additionally, it works with Android smartphones that utilize Sony’s LDAC codec for higher-resolution audio.
Bose 700: Provides a flatter and more accurate sound. It provides a sound profile that is more neutral and balanced. Although they also offer an EQ adjustment, people who prefer a less processed audio experience frequently enjoy the unconventional sound. They are compatible with SBC and AAC codecs.
Winner: The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a winner for its warmer and more bass-forward sound. On the other hand, the Bose 700 provides a balanced and clear audio experience.
Comfort & Design
Sony WH-1000XM4: They offer alightweightstructure with soft, pressure-relieving earpads that distribute equal pressure across the entire ear for a stable and comfortable fit. It also provides comfortable headband padding, making it suitable for extended use. They are foldable for easy portability.
Bose 700: It features a stainless steel headband that fits perfectly into the earcups and presents a neat, smooth, and modern style with a more premium appeal. It offers a slightly higher clamping force, making it more complicated than the Sony XM4. The earcups rotate flat but do not fold inside. This makes it less portable than the XM4.
Winner: The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a winner in comfort for extended listening sessions, thanks to its larger earcups with soft padding. The Bose 700 offers a more modern design.
Battery Life
Sony WH-1000XM4: It offers an impressive battery life of approximately 30 hours with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) activated. It also offers a fast charging facility, providing 5 hours of playback from just 10 minutes of charging.
Bose 700: It also offers 20 hours of battery life with ANC activated after a single charge. It also provides a fast charge, allowing for 3.5 hours of playback from a 10-minute charge.
Winner: The Sony WH-1000XM4 boasts an impressive battery life of 30 hours with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) activated, whereas the Bose 700 has 20 hours of battery life with ANC activated. Here, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is also a winner.
Controls and Smart Features
Sony WH-1000XM4: Primarily, you can use the touch controls on the right earcup to control volume, skip tracks, play and pause, and activate noise cancellation mode. Wear detection, multimedia Bluetooth connectivity, and speak-to-chat are some of its excellent features. You can tune your headphones headphones using the Sony Headphones Connect app.
Bose 700: it offersa combination of a physical button to control (ANC level, Bluetooth, and voice assistant) with a touch panel on the right earcup to control volume and playback. It also supports a Bluetooth multimedia connection. The Bose music app offers control over ANC level and other settings.
Winner: The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a winner due to it more advanced speak-to-chat feature which is not offered in the Bose 700.
App experience and connectivity
Sony WH-1000XM4: It connects via Bluetooth 5.0 and supports AAC, SBC, and LDAC codecs, which is impressive. The Sony Connect app offers detailed EQ adjustment, ANC customization, a DSEE Extreme setting, a wear detection setting, and firmware updates.
Bose 700: It connects via Bluetooth 5.0 and supports AAC and SBC codecs, which is less impressive than the Bose 700. The Bose voice app allows control over ANC settings, voice assistance selection, and some basic controls. In short, the Bose voice app offers less in-depth controls than Sony’s app.
Winner: The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a winner due to it more advanced customization and speak-to-chat feature which is not offered in the Bose 700. But both headphones offer a multimedia connectivity.