Successor to Sony's Flagship WH-1000XM3 Wireless Headphones Spotted in FCC Filing

[MacRumors]

Sony could be about to launch the next generation model of its popular WH-1000XM3 over-ear noise-canceling headphones, if a new FCC filing is anything to go by.

The company's WH-1000XM3 cans, which we reviewed back in March, are considered by many to offer some of the best noise-canceling in the business, providing great sound, excellent comfort and long battery life.

Now it appears that Sony wants to go one better with news that the company has filed for certification for the next model in the series.

The new "WH-1000XM4" headphones aren't actually named as such in the filing, which doesn't reveal any specs or pictures either. However, The Verge notes that the product ID gives a good indication that the version number will be XM4. (The last two models had the version numbers of M2 and M3.)

With so much going for the current model, it's difficult to know what improvements Sony is aiming for in the XM4's. Having said that, the XM3 cans don't support dynamic switching between audio sources.

Bose's QC35's and 700's have no trouble pairing with two devices and automatically switching between them based on which one is transmitting an audio signal. We think it's baffling that the 1000XM3's lack this ability given how convenient the feature is, so hopefully Sony has been listening.

The filing offers no hint as to when the new model will be out, but the Consumer Electronics Show is coming up in January, so maybe Sony will announce the headphones then.

In the meantime, the WH-1000XM3's are still a top choice if you're looking to get some wireless noise-canceling cans for the holidays, and you can find places like Amazon and Best Buy selling them at around $280, which is a decent discount on their original $349.99 RRP.

Article Link: Successor to Sony's Flagship WH-1000XM3 Wireless Headphones Spotted in FCC Filing

 

[ZeroFill]

Hopefully the mic will be improved too.

 

[Ateam043]

Love my XM2’s and although my AirPod Pro’s have become my daily beaters, the XM2 are still my go to cans for air travel.

 

[SgtPepper12]

I know they are going to stick to that feature, but boy have I learned to hate the touch controls on my XM2s.

 

[Tulani]

they just need to outclass the Bose700s and B&WP7s in overall design and performance

 

[gigatoaster]

Damn. I just bought one last week. Loving it so far.

 

[syklee26]

Durability needs some improvement. I dropped mine once and the bend cracked.

 

[SBlue1]

Cans? Non American here. Is this slang of any kind?

Would go perfect with my ZRX-C30 connected to the ZTX-B01 via the GC-0.7BMP guitar cable on my RG370AHMZ-BMT ST guitar with the TSA15H amp.

All real names by the way. Who is naming those products? Japanese people seem to love those names...

 

[inkhorn]

Cans? Non American here. Is this slang of any kind?

Brit here, cans is typical informal for headphones.

 

[SBlue1]

Brit here, cans is typical informal for headphones.

Ok. Sounded more like 12 year old speak but thanks for the info.

 

[timborama]

I know they are going to stick to that feature, but boy have I learned to hate the touch controls on my XM2s.

You can turn the touch controls off now with the latest update.

 

[ColdShadow]

Love my XM2’s and although my AirPod Pro’s have become my daily beaters, the XM2 are still my go to cans for air travel.

You won’t love XM2 so much once you hear XM3.
I had XM2 and Bose QC35,XM3 sounds significantly superior.
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they just need to outclass the Bose700s and B&WP7s in overall design and performance

In terms of sound quality neither Bose 700,QC35,B&W P7 can touch XM3.
But in terms of comfort,QC35 and 700 are superior.Noice Cancelling is equally good on XM3,QC35 and 700.
I owned all as well as over 5 other major NC headphones.
XM3 has the best sound hands down.

 

[DinkThifferent]

Seriously, who came up with the 'name' "WH-1000XM3"? Oh, I really enjoy my "WH-1000XM3"? said no one ever.

I love my "AirPods Pro" sounds so much better.

 

[Ateam043]

You won’t love XM2 so much once you hear XM3.
I had XM2 and Bose QC35,XM3 sounds significantly superior.
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Thanks for the tip. I may look into them once the price goes down a bit.

 

[yegon]

Love mine, but the XM4’s need simultaneous BT connection like Bose & others. I have got pretty quick at switching between iPad and iPhone, just wish I didn’t have to in this manner (BT off on one device, BT menu and connect on other).

Also, ain’t going to happen, but physical controls please! Had to disable touch controls on mine due to cold weather (UK), but it’s no great loss as I didn’t like or use the touch controls very often anyway.

 

[Pismo]

.

 

[44267547]

Durability needs some improvement. I dropped mine once and the bend cracked.

Wait? Why should Sony have to improve the durability? (Assuming you have the XM2/XM3 variant) Of all the reviews out there, I’ve never read anyone complain about the durability, just because you have one isolated incident, doesn’t mean that Sony needs to go back to the ‘drawing board’ to revamp these to make them more ‘durable’.

I would question what type of surface did you drop them on? Angle/impact/height make a huge difference in terms of how something breaks on a fall.

 

[I7guy]

...
But in terms of comfort,QC35 and 700 are superior.Noice Cancelling is equally good on XM3,QC35 and 700.
I owned all as well as over 5 other major NC headphones.
XM3 has the best sound hands down.

Comfort is a big thing as I sleep with them (QC 35) on aircraft... that is my priority and they are comfortable. Being able to have swap B/T easily is a fine addition as well.

 

[nt5672]

Brit here, cans is typical informal for headphones.

American here, the word "cans" was perfectly clear to me. But then again, I've been around audio enough to remember when most headphones sounded like tin cans.

 

[ColdShadow]

Comfort is a big thing as I sleep with them (QC 35) on aircraft... that is my priority and they are comfortable. Being able to have swap B/T easily is a fine addition as well.

I don’t disagree with you.
as I said I had QC35 and in terms of comfort nothing in the market touches them.BT swap was also nice,NC was among the best.if you need headphones primarily for flights and long sessions they are the best.
However if sound quality is the priority there is no question the Sony XM3 easily beats them.the QC35 sadly sounds “low bit rate” and “compressed “ with bass that is never enough compared to Sony XM3.

 

[I7guy]

I don’t disagree with you.
as I said I had QC35 and in terms of comfort nothing in the market touches them.BT swap was also nice,NC was among the best.if you need headphones primarily for flights and long sessions they are the best.
However if sound quality is the priority there is no question the Sony XM3 easily beats them.the QC35 sadly sounds “low bit rate” and “compressed “ with bass that is never enough compared to Sony XM3.

In my opinion I disagree with the word “easily”, but everybody’s mileage may vary in all aspects of this.

 

[falainber]

Seriously, who came up with the 'name' "WH-1000XM3"? Oh, I really enjoy my "WH-1000XM3"? said no one ever.

I love my "AirPods Pro" sounds so much better.

Simple names work only when the company has one or two models (like Apple). Sony usually has a dozen or so models.

 

[zombierunner]

Looking forward to it although I don’t see myself buying it as long as my QC35’s keep on going.

 

[WaxedJacket]

Currently rocking my 1000xm3's and they're one of the better purchases I've made in the last year. Last forever, sound amazing (once you get the right EQ settings) and they feel like I'm wearing nothing at all.

Really interested in seeing what spec differences we'll see. One of the only improvements I would make would be doubling up the battery size and maybe somehow making them have wireless charging in an earpiece.

 

[GarethR]

You won’t love XM2 so much once you hear XM3.
I had XM2 and Bose QC35,XM3 sounds significantly superior.
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In terms of sound quality neither Bose 700,QC35,B&W P7 can touch XM3.
But in terms of comfort,QC35 and 700 are superior.Noice Cancelling is equally good on XM3,QC35 and 700.
I owned all as well as over 5 other major NC headphones.
XM3 has the best sound hands down.

Highly subjective at best (as is my opinion too).

For me to even look twice at their successor they’d need to fix the build quality and use premium materials (ie less cheap creaky plastics) fitting at the price bracket, fix the bloated muddy bass, and add proper multipoint support.