The contest of manufacturing the best noise-canceling headphones is always heated. You can see a wide range of brands that claim to be the best in that segment. However, two names seem to have stood the test of time over the last decade.
They are Bose and Sony. These names have been popular among users of all kinds and types. You could be a regular listener to music, a gamer, a podcaster, or just about anybody in the world who owns a pair of headphones.
Bose & Sony signify the epitome of ANC that comes embedded in the headphones. It is not surprising to note that their models have outstanding features in the market. Likewise, they are also priced quite steep if you look at things.
They both have been at each other’s throats for quite a while now. You can find that the Sony MDR-1000X headphones took on the Bose QuietComfort 25 headphones. So, they have been at loggerhead since then.
Today, we will be reading about their two new models, the New Bose QuietComfort 45 Bluetooth Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones vs the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Canceling Over-Ear Headphones.
The new Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones were released only a few months ago in 2021, and the Sony WH-1000XM4 was in the market in late 2020. The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are quite impressive.
The build quality is elegant like most Bose models. Besides, you can find that the model has decent features that we will be reading about shortly. The maker wants to retain its reputation as the best in ANC models.
Its 45 model is a small upgrade from the popular QuietComfort 35 II headphones. The earlier unit came with outstanding features like eloquent sound, stunning battery life, and ANC. Besides, users could also find the compatibility with the Bose Music app flawless.
Likewise, the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones come with a light and comfortable design. However, they are quite expensive at almost $350. Is it worth that kind of price? It is an update to the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones that was accepted well in the market.
It came with eloquent audio quality, amazing comfort, and stellar microphone capabilities. These headphones had everything in it. There is no denying that Bose and Sony are the two brands that can call the shots worldwide.
Let us read and find out whether the Bose model can take on Sony’s most talked about model in the market today. We have given the winner at the end of the review.
Also Read: Jabra Elite 85H vs Sony WH-1000XM4
 |  |
|---|---|
| Bose QuietComfort 45 | Sony WH-1000XM4 |
| PROS | PROS |
| The model comes with a comfortable and stable fit. The unit has Bluetooth 5.1 technology. It has an Active noise cancellation and transparency mode. It comes with a 24-hour battery working life. The product has multipoint technology & SimpleSync. | The model is quite comfortable and has a well-built design. The unit has phenomenal Active noise cancellation. It provides you with adjustable ambient listening smart controls. It comes with a 30-hour battery working life. The product comes with tri-digital assistant support & Sony 360 Reality Audio. |
| CONS | CONS |
| The headphones are ridiculously priced above $320. | The headphones are priced expensive above $340. |
| CHECK ON AMAZON | CHECK ON AMAZON |
Bose QuietComfort 45 VS Sony WH-1000XM4: Design & Comfort
The design & comfort of both the models is going to be interesting. Let us read and find out which unit has the better comfort and design features in them. The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are elegantly designed and come with a very comfortable fit.
However, they are quite similar in design to the previous Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II headphone. You can see that the earcups come with vents for opulent music quality. Not to mention, the new glass-filled nylon headband has more protection to it.
The headband of the unit does not break that easily when dropped repeatedly, and the earpads come with a streamlined design in them. A minor change in the model would be USB-C charging port. The earlier unit had a micro-USB.
You can find that underneath the headband, the padding is more suede material. The Bose QuietComfort 45 can be purchased in beautiful colors: Black or White Smoke. The weight of the headphones is quite light, is 238grams that, which is good.
Likewise, the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones have a stunning design to them. You can notice that the earlier WH-1000XM3 and this unit have similar construction. It is almost identical. When you are somebody particular on the looks, then you might want to look elsewhere.
This aspect was slightly disappointing. Otherwise, it is a terrifically designed model. However, they are quite comfortable, and the earcups are nicely padded. This feature in them is phenomenal and makes them second to none in the segment.
Though the Bose models are exceptional in comfort, the Sony units seem to have the upper hand in this category. The padding is just right for wearing for prolonged hours without feeling discomfort.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 comes in some amazing tones like Black, Midnight Blue, or Silver. However, the Bose 45 model is quite comfortable too, and you can have them on for hours. Sony has the right weight distribution among earpads, making them slightly better.
Also Read: Master & Dynamic MW65 vs Sony WH-1000XM4
Bose QuietComfort 45 VS Sony WH-1000XM4: Build Quality
Let us read the build quality of the headphones. The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones come with a robust build performance. The maker knows how to design their products. Our tester noticed that the padding was comfortable and pleasant on the skin.
It does not heat up like most closed-back designs that do during the hot season. Though you may wear them for several hours, there is no moisture build-up using the unit. The headband is able to shape nicely around your head and has a proper setting that helps optimize fit.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphone comes with a superior level of comfort. It has a good amount of padding around earcups and headbands. The extenders can reach appropriately on the head.
Our tester thought that you should set one point lower the comfort level to avoid slipping. A notable feature in the Sony model is the play/pause sensor. This aspect of it is an interesting feature that the maker has provided here.
When you remove the headphone and place it idle on the table or anywhere, it automatically pauses. Then when you place the headphones on your head, it begins to play from where it pauses.
Isn’t that wonderful? It is able to know when you have removed the headphone from your head. Our tester felt it was a boon for those who often forget to switch it off. Later you find that the battery has gone dead.
So, no more worry about the model losing battery because it switches off itself the moment you remove it from your head.
Also Read: Shure Aonic 50 vs Sony WH-1000XM4
Bose QuietComfort 45 VS Sony WH-1000XM4: Audio Performance
It is all going to come down to the headphones’ audio quality. The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones come with a stupendous audio quality that enables you to enjoy the music. The listening attributes of the model are tremendous.
You will want to use it to believe us. The model does not support aptX. That does not have to be a significant thing. The noise cancelation is one of the best in the market. As you know, Bose produces the best ANC models.
We do not have to tell you that. It provides you with two levels of noise cancellation that include the Quiet and Aware. The Aware, as the name implies, allows you to know what is going around you.
Just to let you know, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 comes in 11 levels. Similarly, the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones have eloquent music abilities. The model is compatible with the Japanese LDAC technology.
It lets you to stream top-notch sound through wireless from a compatible source. This feature can be done on a smartphone, and the unit supports tracks encoded with 360 Reality Audio format.
The Sony model makes the notes, vocals, and instrumentation more audible. Besides, it is able to provide you with the opulent timing of the music. It is possible because of its feature, the spatial audio that is almost on par with the Dolby Atmos experience.
Our tester also found the noise cancelation astonishing on the model. The moment you use the feature, you cannot hear a thing from outside. This feature is something that the Bose models are known for; it looks like Sony has taken things a step further.
It works with Sony’s advanced HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1. You would want to beware that it makes precise adjustments 700 times in one second. This feature is truly amazing and has to be tried to understand with the adjustment on the Sony companion app.
Also Read: Bowers & Wilkins PX5 vs Sony WH 1000XM4
Bose QuietComfort 45 VS Sony WH-1000XM4: Microphone Performance
How do they call quality fare for a $300 headphone? Well, they should sound eloquent, and so do they. The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones have a stunning call performance and microphone capability.
The QC45 model is a handy device from which you can make calls or attend them with vigor. But you would want to know that the model offers you with opulent and clear results. However, you do not want to be making calls in a noisy environment.
Your voice might sound a bit weird and stuck. It was able to pick up external noises quite well, and the vocals were intriguing. While they may not be the best, they are worth using in-home or office environments.
The Sony WH-1000WM4 headphones are an excellent option for microphone performance. It has a phenomenal voice quality, and you could hear everything you want. Besides, your voice sounds quite nicely to the person on the other end.
You may not want to expect transcendental performance from either of them. While the Bose model was slightly a step down from the Sony unit, they are quite a good choice for making calls in a quiet environment.
Also Read: Sony WH 1000XM4 vs Apple AirPods Max
Bose QuietComfort 45 VS Sony WH-1000XM4: Compatibility
Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones have exceptional compatibility features except that they seem to have taken everything from the previous models. You can note that most of the functions are assigned to a 3-button module found on the right earcup.
You can see that the action button is present on the left earcup. Unfortunately, you may not be able to find the on-ear detection and touch controls on it. That does not have to be a problem of any significance, and we are fine with that as all the buttons are quite responsive.
For a costly model, we found the lack of digital assistant slightly a poor move on their part. The digital assistant comes with features that include Google Assistant, Bixby performance, and Siri for hands-free voice commands.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones come infused with spectacular features that make them stellar as far as compatibility is concerned. It comes with opulent features like physical, motion, and touch-detection controls.
You will be delighted to know that both swipe and tap gestures are genuinely recognized effortlessly. The buttons are able to provide you with phenomenal tactile feedback for ensuring that the commands given are done.
Additionally, the play and auto-pause features are splendid. This feature comes activated when you place and remove the headphones from your head. There are two more features added here.
The Quick Attention feature pauses what you are listening to when you place your hands on the right earcup. It also has Speak-to-Chat that makes use of the built-in microphone and advanced signal processing.
It also comes with the Google Assistant & the Alexa integration. Users can say the words, Hey Google or Alexa, to activate the AI bots found in them. You can also activate Siri and Bixby on them.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 provides you with better audio quality, higher call performance, and stunning battery life. They seem to have more features than what can be found on the Bose QuietComfort 45 for now.
You never know because Bose can add some features and upgrade their model. This aspect can make them a strong contender for being the best in the market. They need to address the sound quality urgently.
On that note, we might let out a secret that the QuietComfort Series of models are no longer Bose’s go-to models. That honor now goes to the Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones 700. Though they are expensive, they have several stupendous features missing from the QC45.
Also Read: RAZER OPUS VS SONY WH 1000XM4
Bose QuietComfort 45 VS Sony WH-1000XM4: Price
The New Bose QuietComfort 45 Bluetooth Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones is priced under $330. It comes infused with the ability to charge through USB-C. This feature is an interesting one and convenient for users.
It is a Bluetooth wireless noise-canceling model that can work seamlessly from 30 feet of the device that you have paired. There is also the capability of you with compacting Bose Music app that enables you to set up your unit with other devices.
Besides, you can perform a barrage of features using it, including being able to manage your Bluetooth connections, you can enable shortcuts, and accessing adjustable noise cancellation settings.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Canceling Over-Ear Headphones is priced under $350. The unit comes with the Edge-AI that was designed in partnership with Sony Music Studios. You can also use the dynamically recognizing instrumentation and have individual elements of each song and musical genre.
The model also comes with a great battery life of 30 hours. You can make use of the headphone for a few days without worrying about charging them. Though you have less charge on the unit, you can charge it for 10 minutes and effortlessly use it for 4-5 hours.
Bose QuietComfort 45 VS Sony WH-1000XM4: Verdict
We have ended our comparison review between the New Bose QuietComfort 45 Bluetooth Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones vs the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Canceling Over-Ear Headphones.
We hope that you found it useful and were able to make up your mind on the headphone of your liking. If you haven’t, we suggest that you read the post again, you will find something that suits your requirements.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones come with fantastic specifications on them. The comfort & the design of the model is amazing. It provides you with a noise-canceling feature that is seldom found on most units.
You do not have to be a fan of Bose to consider this model. Though it could have come with better features, they are quite good enough for the unit. When you are on the lookout for a model that has a 24-hours battery, eloquent sound performance, and decent call quality, then go for it.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are a really stunning pair of a model. The sound performance, smart technology, microphone abilities, and battery life are too hard to ignore. They are striking units, and Bose’s new model needs more work on it.
At the end of the day, Bose carries the brand value compared to most makers. It is true in this case also. However, compared to the Sony model, the list of features seems to be its undoing. The Sony unit comes with tremendous potential and a wide range of specifications.
It is safe to say that our winner in comparison review of Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones vs Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones is the Sony model. Though it was bound to happen and the obvious choice, it does not mean that the QuietComfort 45 is no good.
It comes with distinctive features and a decent battery working life. The sound performance and the microphone quality are good too. However, the Sony model seems to have an answer for everything that was thrown at it. For now, they seem to be untouchable.
James Smith has always been intrigued by electronic products since his childhood. After his post graduation in electronics from a popular university, he decided to pursue a career in the electronics sector. But his calling for writing about these marvellous pieces of work got the better of him. That is how UBG was started. With a writing career spanning more than 12 years, James has worked on several hundred product reviews. During his free time, he like to spend time with his pet dog and relax in the swimming pool.