The WH-1000XM4 headphones from Sony surpassed their predecessors to become our top choice last summer. Eight months later, it seems that Sony felt that a change was due, as it launches a new limited edition version of the headphones in “silent white”. The new color range will be launched in Europe between May and August or until the stock expires, although we would expect a global launch in the future.
But they will not be cheap. While the XM4s were already expensive at $ 350, a number of offers saw them cut to $ 278. However, Sony raises the price to 400 GBP or 459 EUR for the new editions, which would probably translate to 400 USD in the USA if it ever got here.
In terms of design, the white headphones pack the same bronze accents as the black and silver versions. The difference here, according to Sony, is that they have an extra layer of paint compared to their traditional counterparts. This seems to make them “even more stain resistant”. Sony also offered a quiet white treatment to the accompanying accessories, so that the carrying case and cables match the look of the headphones.
Internal features remain in tact. Sony has updated the M4 over the M3 with a new Bluetooth Audio SoC (chip system) that detects external noise more than 700 times per second. A new algorithm for the dedicated noise elimination processor QN1 also supports sound, applying real-time computing power. The two work in tandem to block the noise on the frequency curve. In addition, the headphones feature an audio upscaling technology called Digital Sound Enhancement, which brings compressed music files closer to their high-resolution version.
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