Sony's new $350 'Bose killer' headphones vs. Bose's highly rated $400 noise-cancelling headphones

Antonio Villas-BoasAug 14, 2020, 02:21 IST

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The Sony WH-1000XM4 (left) and Bose 700 (right).Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

The brand-new $350 Sony WH-1000XM4 and the latest $400 Bose 700 offer very similar propositions — a premium set of wireless, noise-cancelling headphones that sound amazing.
At the same time, they're quite different in almost every way. They sound different, they come with different features, and they're priced differently, too.
For people who "just want a pair of good headphones" out of the box and aren't likely to download apps and customize sound, the Bose 700 come highly recommended.
With that said, if you're willing to use the Sony Headphones app and play around with different sound styles, the Sony WH-1000XM4 could let you enjoy your music even more than the Bose.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose 700 both tick off all the basics for a premium headphone experience in 2020 and beyond — they help hush the noise around you with active noise cancelling, they deliver premium sound, they're comfortable, and they're wireless.

At $350 for the Sony WH-1000XM4 and $400 retail for the Bose 700, they offer more than simply the basics. You get important features that let you connect to two devices at a time (great if you switch between your computer and phone), and they also offer among the best phone call quality I've ever heard on headphones. You're getting excellent bang for your buck with these cans.

I've had the luxury and pleasure to try both of these headphones side-by-side, and there are important and major differences between the Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose 700 you should know about before making a decision. You can also check out the full review for the Bose 700 here.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 can be preordered now, and will be released and available to buy starting in mid-August. The Bose 700 were released in June 2019.

Table of Contents: Static

Design and comfort

The Sony WH-1000XM4 (left) can collapse into a more compact shape than the Bose 700 (right). Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

Sound quality

The Sony WH-1000XM4 (left) have a more customizable sound, and Bose 700 (right) sound better out-of-the-box. Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

Noise cancelling and battery life

The Sony WH-1000XM4 (left) and Bose 700 (right) have comparable noise cancelling. Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

Phone calls

The Sony WH-1000XM4 (left) and Bose 700 (right). Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

Apps and other features

The Sony WH-1000XM4 (left) and Bose 700 (right). Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

Which one should you get?

The $50 discrepancy between these two headphones isn't going to sway a decision here — you can find deals on the Bose fairly regularly, and the Sonys will get their days of deals soon enough (they were just released at the time of writing).

You'll be pleased with either seeing as they perform similarly in noise cancelling and phone call quality. And both have excellent sound quality.

But against my preference, I can see myself recommending the Bose 700 more often than the Sony WH-1000XM4 because they sound better out of the box, and I know some people aren't likely to fiddle around with an app to customize the sound.

If I know the person is a little more techy and they're open to customizing their sound through an app, I'd recommend the Sony WH-1000XM4 for their versatility. Indeed, the Bose sound great for a wide range of people, but everyone hears differently, and you might find a sound you prefer with the Sonys. In the Sony Headphones app, I like the "Bright" preset and a +7 "Clear Bass" setting.

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