Music is undeniably a global language that we all understand and have deep links to. While various sounds elicit distinct feelings in us, technology adds to the personalization and enjoyment. What better way to make music more intimate and immersive than with some high-quality headphones that justify the melodies and make us listen to them repeatedly? We’re talking about two of the most popular headphones: Bose 700 vs Sony 1000XM4. Their price points make them arch-rivals as well as their top-tier counterparts.
So we put them to the test in terms of design, music quality, noise cancellation, comfort with additional functions, and battery life. The following is a detailed comparison of the Bose 700 with the Sony WH-1000xM4.
Bose 700 vs. Sony 1000XM4 – Key Differences
Here’s a quick rundown of the significant distinctions before we get into the Bose 700 vs. Sony 1000 XM4 headphone comparison specifics.
- Sony1000XM4 comes in a foldable design, while Bose 700 has a non-foldable design.
- You can listen and charge simultaneously with Bose 700, while Sony 1000XM4 lacks this feature.
- You can’t replace the earpads of Sony 1000XM4 yourself, whereas you can replace them yourself with Bose 700.
- Wearing detection is available in Sony 1000 XM4, while absent in Bose 700.
Bose 700 vs. Sony 1000XM4 – Style & Design
These are two stylish, high-end headphones that you’ll see in first-class or on the necks of celebrities.
Sony 1000XM4 maintains the Mark series’ elegant and sophisticated design. The smooth, polished leather on the headband and earpads feels luxurious and has a rubberized matte surface. Copper highlights, an embossed Sony logo, and a laser-etched model number situated above each extension are among the more refined touches.
The matte-finished ear cups and adjustable steel headband of the Bose 700 Noise Cancelling Headphones give them a contemporary appeal. It has a modern and sleek design. Touch gestures are made easier with a unique anti-stick coating on the ear cup cover.
You cannot fold the broad ear cups into a compact shape near the headband with Bose 700; therefore, they’re bulkier than the Sony 1000xm4.
The Sony 1000mx4 is worth considering if you often travel since you can fold it up nicely, unlike the Bose.
Winner in Terms of Style & Design: Sony 1000XM4
Bose 700 vs. Sony 1000XM4 – Comfort
The Bose 700 and Sony1000XM4 are the most comfortable and well-fitting headphones available. Each over-ear headphones model’s earcup cushioning is soft and lays comfortably on the ears without strain. Both headphones are exceptionally light for noise-canceling headphones, with the Sony 1000XM4 being somewhat broader.
The large, soft foam ear cushions coated with protein leather and the rubberized headband make the Bose 700 very comfortable. In fact, they are one of the best Bose headphones on the market. The Bose headphones have a stronger clamping force. The densely padded headband may exert additional pressure on your skull, causing some discomfort. If you’re wearing it for less than three hours, it’s not a huge deal.
Because of its thinner and more comfortable headband, we like the Sony 1000XM4 for long-term listening. Furthermore, its bigger ear cushions allow additional space for large ears while still providing enough airflow to avoid perspiration.
Winner in Terms of Comfort: Sony 1000XM4
Bose 700 vs. Sony 1000XM4 – Active Noise Cancelation Levels
We put these two pairs of noise-canceling headphones through their paces in a room with a noise level of 50 decibels, which an air conditioner vent generates, blowing gloriously cold air above us. Our tests showed that both pairs of headphones effectively eliminated ambient noise. The noise-canceling abilities of the Bose 700 and the Sony XM4 are excellent and comparable.
When it comes to eliminating background noise, Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones have a long and illustrious track record. The 1000XM4s allow you to adjust noise cancellation levels. You may turn it on or off using the app. You can also change the volume manually using the ambient sound controls located on the headphones and are there for this purpose for that purpose.
The Bose 700 is an over-the-ear headset with noise cancellation built right into the brand name, and it delivers on its promise. The noise-canceling optimizer technology is on par with what the XM4 platform provides. When they are at their loudest, it is impossible to tell which one is the calmer of the two. You can toggle between three preferred degrees of noise cancellation using the button put only for this purpose, set to 0, 5, and 10 by default. You may get a greater degree of control by using the app.
If we had to choose the best one to use in noisy environments, we’d say the Bose has better noise cancellation, but not by very much at all. If we had to choose one that made things quieter than the other, we’d choose the Bose, partially due to the thick ear cups. So in terms of reducing ambient noise, you won’t be disappointed with any of the available options for headphones.
Winner in Terms of Active Noise Cancellation Levels: Bose 700
View on Amazon: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
Bose 700 vs. Sony 1000XM4 – Sound Quality
One of the most important considerations for each user is the sound quality of their headphones. So what good will your headset be if it doesn’t sound well?
Some of the best-sounding headphones in the NC category come from Bose and Sony, but the Sony 1000XM4 is just in its class. Sony’s massive 40mm drivers and the QN1 create distortion-free loud, vivid, and detailed sound.
Using the Marvin Gaye classic “What’s going on,” we were able to get ourselves into a head-nodding trance with the Sony 1000XM4’s tremendously powerful bass response. The jazzy bassline and smooth harmonies don’t clash or get lost in the thundering rhythmic atmosphere. Additionally, it was gratifying to hear the Sony 1000XM4 faithfully recreate Lenny Kravitz’s “Let love rule” song without overpowering the singer’s laid-back voice.
In addition, Sony has included support for its 360 Reality Audio platform, which works with several high-resolution streaming providers (such as Deezer and Tidal). As someone who have used the feature, we can attest to its uniqueness, transforming regular listening sessions into mini-concerts. With the purchase, you receive a free trial, but after that, you’ll need a premium tier membership to your streaming provider of choice.
The sound quality of the Bose 700 is also one of our favorites since it delivers warm and balanced sound. If you anticipate the Sony1000XM4’s hair-raising bass output, you will feel disappointed. George Benson’s “Give me the night” had beautiful vocals and appealing horns, but the bass response left us wanting more. Sony 1000XM4’s given us better sound quality when we played the same song.
The Sony 1000XM4 also comes with the Sony Headphones Connect app, allowing more EQ adjustment than the Bose Music app. It’s much more adaptable than Bose’s or most phones’ built-in equalizers.
Winner in Terms of Sound Quality: Sony 1000XM4
View on Amazon: Sony 1000XM4
Bose 700 vs. Sony 1000XM4 – Connectivity
Both headphones have similar audio connectors and codec compatibility, with each headset having its own set of advantages and disadvantages. For elaborate, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 feature a 2.5mm headphone jack and only support one high-quality Bluetooth codec: AAC, which delivers steady high-quality audio to iPhone users.
On the other hand, users of Android cannot make the same claim since the Android operating system is unable to encode and decode the AAC Bluetooth codec in a reliable manner across all supported devices. Therefore, anyone may listen using SBC, the Bluetooth codec with the lowest common denominator.
It takes only a few seconds to pair the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 with an Android phone, making it simple to connect and set up Google Assistant. In addition, Bluetooth multipoint is built into the headset, allowing you to switch between two devices simultaneously.
The Sony 1000XM4, on the other hand, has a conventional 3.5mm headphone connection for wired listening and supports somewhat better codecs, including SBC, AAC, and Sony’s LDAC. LDAC is still the finest codec we’ve tested for streaming multimedia over Bluetooth despite its flaws. In addition, Bluetooth multipoint allows you to connect up to two devices at once, although this capability is only available with the AAC codec.
Multipoint technology is a new feature introduced to the Sony WH-1000xm4 that may connect up to two devices at once.
So, once again, Sony 1000xm4 is the apparent winner.
Winner in Terms of Connectivity: Sony 1000XM4
Bose 700 vs. Sony 1000XM4 – Battery Life
With Bluetooth and noise-canceling turned on, the Bose 700s boast a battery life of 20 hours. It’s a respectable showing but far from exceptional.
The Sony WH-1000XM4s have a 30-hour battery life (38 hours if you shut off noise cancellation ), which is rather excellent.
Do you have to leave quickly? The quick-charge feature on the Bose headphones gives you 3.5 hours of listening time after just 15 minutes of charging. The Sony1000XM4s give five hours of play from only ten minutes of charge, which is commendable, but Sony will get you out the door faster. These headphones are one of the best headphones with long battery life.
The 700s are now available with a wireless charging case from Bose. Although the casing extends the battery capacity of the 700 by 40 hours, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is the obvious victor in this comparison.
Sony has you covered if you need to charge your headphones quickly. However, based on longer battery life, Bose is the way to go.
Winner in Terms of Battery Life: Sony 1000XM4
Bose 700 vs. Sony 1000XM4 – Controls and Ease of Use
The WH-1000xM4’s touch controls work well. As a result of sensitive tap and swipe actions, the touch panels make playing music, volume control, and phone calls simple.
With Bose, you get a unique set of controls that are easy to get the hang of. For example, its microphone technology provides enhanced voice recognition, allowing the Bose 700 to act better as a digital assistant.
In 1000XM4, users can program-specific instructions into the touch panel or the Custom button positioned beneath the left ear cup. But it’s the less well-known features, like Quick Attention and Speak-to-Chat, really set the WH-1000xM4 apart from other headphones. These features halt the music when you place your palm over the right ear cup or when you speak out loud.
In the case of Bose 700, the movements of tap and slide are responsive for the most part; however, you can only do them on the right ear cup of the headphones. Additionally, Bose has reduced the size of the touch panel, and there is an internal extender that often gets in the way of some sliding movements.
Winner in Terms of Controls and Ease of Use: Sony 1000XM4
Bose 700 vs Sony 1000XM4 – Additional Features
Mics and Call Quality
Bose 700 has an adaptive eight-mic system, making it the obvious victor for call quality. However, four of the mics effectively provide pristine call quality. With the Bose 700 headphones, you can experience crystal clear call quality. The other person can clearly understand what you are saying since the sound is clear. No wonder they are one of the best headphones for remote work.
Compared to comparable headphones, the call quality on Sony’s noise-canceling headphones is also rather excellent. However, compared to the Bose 700, the Bose comes out on top due to the latter’s smoother sound. The call quality on these headphones is superior to that of the Sony model.
Winner in Terms of Mics and Call Quality: Bose 700
App Connectivity
Compared to the Bose 700, the Sony WH-1000XM4 has more robust app connectivity. The Sony Headphones Connect app is a simple way to connect it to your headphones. Enhance your music listening experience by using this tool to personalize the sounds.
The bundle includes DSEE Extreme, Sony 360 Reality Audio setup, and EQ settings. You can also use the Sony app to set up touch sensor control mapping, voice assistant access, and speak-to-chat. Moreover, you may also adjust the amount of noise reduction. You may even use it to track down your misplaced headphones.
Bose Music App is included with the Bose 700, although it is limited in functionality. However, you can only alter the noise cancellation, the settings saved, the firmware updated, and the auto-off function used at this time. These headphones include a Self Voice option for controlling call volumes.
Winner in Terms of App Connectivity: Sony WH-1000XM4
Gaming
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are compatible with computers with Bluetooth capabilities. However, it is doubtful that they would be suited for wireless gaming due to their somewhat high latency.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are compatible with computers with Bluetooth capabilities, although it is probable that their latency is too high to be used for wireless gaming. In addition, you cannot use them wirelessly with a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One system.
Winner in Terms of Gaming: Unfortunately, neither.
Using Artificial Intelligence
Both headphones are jam-packed with technology, but the Sony WH-1000XM4s is a little more intelligent and uses superior artificial intelligence than the other pair.
Sony’s noise-canceling headphones come with DSEE Extreme audio processing. This processor can upscale compressed digital music files to near high-resolution quality. Additionally, it uses artificial intelligence to analyze music in real-time, enabling the headphones to reproduce a more accurate sound.
Speak-to-Chat is another feature that one can find on Sony products; when you start conversing, the music will immediately halt. Even if it has certain flaws, having this feature means you won’t have to take your headphones off to hold a conversation with a fellow employee or flight attendant.
The Bose 700 headphones offer a similar “Conversation mode,” although activating requires the user to touch a button on the headphones themselves. As a bonus, Sony’s headphones come with “Wearing Detection,” which automatically pause music when you take them off and resume playback when you put them back in. The Adaptive Smart Control feature also learns your preferred locations and automatically adjusts the sound settings according to that information.
Atmospheric Pressure Optimizer is the latest addition to Sony’s bag of tricks. This feature adjusts the sound of Sony products to compensate for high altitude, making them ideal for those who lead an active lifestyle that involves frequent travel.
Winner in Terms of Using Artificial Intelligence: Sony WH 1000XM4
Bose 700 vs. Sony 1000XM4 – Compatibility With iOS vs. Android
Both Android and iOS devices are compatible with the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. The Bose headphone app not only functions as a radio and music player, but it also acts as a one-stop-shop for all of your preferred music streaming services. In addition, it eliminates the need to go through many music and radio applications. However, our testing discovered that it does not perform as effectively on Android smartphones as on iOS devices.
Winner in Compatibility with Android: Bose 700
Built to last, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is easy to use with any iOS smartphone and Android, and the headphones perform well with both.
Winner in Compatibility with iOS: It’s a tie!
Frequently Asked Questions About Bose 700 vs. Sony 1000XM4
The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones may sound better than the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless to some listeners. Both its noise isolation performance and the continuous battery life of Sony are superior to its competitors. They include additional talk-through controls, perfect for users who wish to know their surroundings while listening to audio. In addition, the Bose offers a default sound profile that is more neutral and less heavy on the bass, and the performance of their integrated microphone is superior to that of Sony’s.
Ultimately, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 triumphs in the noise-cancellation arena owing to the absence of additional hiss in the headphones. Sony’s WH-1000XM4 headphones have a better mix of lows, mids, and highs and an EQ, making them better for listening to music. As a result, we have given both sets of headphones the same grade since their difference is only the slightest degree. Because both are almost equal, you won’t be making a considerable sacrifice by picking one over the other in any area.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 emerges as a somewhat better set of noise-canceling headphones for the majority of people when compared to these two pairs of headphones. Still, it is not objectively superior to the other pair.
The WH-1000XM4 boasts a more consumer-friendly overall sound, excellent noise-canceling capability, full app connectivity, foldable design, and modest battery life. The XM4s boast better noise cancellation than Bose’s flagship model while sharing similar technology like touch control and a comparable microphone.
Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are our top pick for best noise-canceling headphones and the best headphones overall because of their superior sound quality and additional capabilities like Speak-to-Chat and multipoint connection. XM4’s capacity to evaluate and adjust to its environment 700 times per second makes it the most advanced noise-canceling technology.
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 may entice music enthusiasts who care about style away from Sony’s headphones cans, which are comfy but don’t do much to distinguish themselves from the competition.
Noise-canceling microphone array in the Bose headphones makes them excellent tools for making phone conversations.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones are our top pick, but you can’t go wrong with the Bose.
Final Words
If you want to purchase noise-canceling headphones of the highest quality, the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the Bose 700 are the models you should purchase. If you’re going to get the finest headphones, you can use our comparison guide of these two headphones to examine each model’s characteristics and choose which one is the most suitable for your needs. However, if you ask us to choose one, we’ll pick Sony WH-1000XM4 over Bose 700.