Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 vs Sony WH-1000XM4

Bose and Sony are the industry leaders when it comes to manufacturing active noise canceling (ANC) headphones. In May 2019, Bose released its latest flagship product: the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700, which aimed to take back the title of best ANC headphones from Sony. The Sony WH-1000XM4 is an attempt to take back its title. We’re pitting the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 vs Sony WH-1000XM4 in this head-to-head to see which headphone is worth your next paycheck.

Editor’s note: this post was updated on December 9, 2022, to update formatting, add detailed controls details, and add the Sony WH-1000XM5 as an alternative.

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 vs Sony WH-1000XM4: Which headphones are designed better?

Both headphones are well-designed pieces of hardware, though they each have their own caveats to consider.

The Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 feature a clean design with matte finished ear cups and an adjustable steel headband. The thick ear cups on these headphones feel snug, resulting in good isolation that blocks out a significant amount of ambient noise. Unfortunately, the ear cups don’t fold up toward the headband for a compact form factor which makes them bulkier than Sony’s headphones.

Also, the thick padding—coupled with the soft, rubberized headband—may put more pressure on your head than with the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. While the added pressure isn’t extreme, some may find it uncomfortable to wear during very long listening sessions.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 sports the same design as the WH-1000XM3 and features the same folding hinge for easy storage and transport. Unlike its predecessor, the ear cups on the WH-1000XM4 are thicker for improved isolation.

When designing the WH-1000XM4, Sony reduced the amount of padding on the headband, leading to increased pressure on your head which can feel uncomfortable during long periods. However, similar to the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700, this isn’t a big deal as the added pressure is barely noticeable.

How do you control the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 and the Sony WH-1000XM4?

The Sony WH-1000XM4 forgo tactile buttons in favor of touch sensors. The right ear cup allows for playback and volume control, while the left ear cup lets you access ambient sound controls or your voice assistant; this may be toggled in the Sony Headphones Connect app. During our Sony WH-1000XM4 review, the touch controls failed to register certain taps, especially when Adam double-tapped the headset to pause playback.

The Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 feature a mix of control methods. There are buttons for pairing, active noise canceling control, and voice assistant access, while volume and playback are controlled through a touch-capacitive panel on the right ear cup. From our tests, we found that the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 did a better job registering swipes and taps than the Sony WH-1000XM4.

Does the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 or Sony WH-1000XM4 support better Bluetooth codecs?

Both headphones offer comparable audio connections and codec support, each headset with its own set of pros and cons. The Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 feature a 2.5mm headphone jack and support just one high-quality Bluetooth codec: AAC, which affords reliable high-quality audio to iPhone users. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Android users because the Android operating system fails to consistently encode and decode the AAC Bluetooth codec across devices. Even still, any user can listen via SBC, the lowest-common-denominator of Bluetooth codecs.

The Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 offer fast and easy pairing with Android phones, allowing you to connect and set up Google Assistant in a few taps. The headphone also features Bluetooth multipoint, which enables you to switch between two devices connected simultaneously.

For people who need a reliable headset for conference calls, Bose sells a USB Link Bluetooth Module for the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700. For just under $70, the module ensures that your headphones are automatically connected to your computer when both devices are powered on. It’s compatible with both macOS and Windows computers, and features tight integration with Microsoft Teams.

On the other hand, the Sony WH-1000XM4 houses a standard 3.5mm headphone jack for wired playback, and supports slightly better codec options—including SBC, AAC, and the company’s proprietary LDAC. Although LDAC has its issues, it remains the best codec we’ve tested for streaming content over Bluetooth. You can connect up to two devices simultaneously via Bluetooth multipoint, though this feature is exclusive to the AAC codec.

Does the Bose Headphones 700 or Sony WH-1000XM4 have better software features?

The last thing you’re thinking about when comparing the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 vs Sony WH-1000XM4 is app support, but app features are an integral part of the Bluetooth headset experience.

Sony offers deep in-app integration with the Sony WH-1000XM4 via Sony Headphones Connect. Inside the app, you have access to features that let you customize your listening experience, including EQ controls, Sony 360 Reality Audio setup for in-ear spatial audio, and DSEE Extreme for audio upsampling of low-quality music files.

The Sony app also lets you customize usability features like voice assistant access, speak-to-chat, touch sensor control mapping, and ambient sound controls. Speaking of which, you can enable the headphones to automatically switch between noise cancellation levels based on your location or activity—whether you’re sitting, walking, or commuting to work.

Software control over the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 is done through the Bose Music app. Inside the app, you get access to firmware updates, equalizer adjustments (new as of 9/17/2020), noise cancellation adjustments (between levels 1 and 11), voice assistant access, and device management options for multipoint connectivity. You may also tweak the EQ in the Bose Connect app so long as you’re running 1.4.12 or later.

Both apps are available on iOS and Android, and afford the same features to each operating system. It’s also worth noting that both apps require a lot of access to personal data.

Does Sony or Bose’s headset have better battery life?

Here at SoundGuys, all active noise canceling headphones are subjected to the same testing standards. We play music constant playback of real music, peaking at 75dB(SPL) with ANC on the highest setting until battery depletion. Your mileage may vary depending on how loudly you listen to your music, or which ANC setting you use.

According to our tests, the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 lasted longer during normal use, lasting roughly 21 hours, 25 minutes. On the other hand, the Sony WH-1000XM4 lasted 19 hours, 59 minutes—roughly and an hour and a half less than Bose’s flagship. You may get more mileage by limiting noise canceling intensity and disabling features like EQ or audio upscaling.

Both these headphones feature USB-C for charging, though the Sony WH-1000XM4 features quick charging, giving you five hours of playtime after only 10 minutes of charging. Bose also has fast charging: 15 minutes yields two hours of playtime. If you need to power your headphones in a pinch, Sony has your back. However, based on sheer battery life alone, Bose is the way to go.

Which headphones have better noise canceling?

Based on our tests, the Sony WH-1000XM4 offers the best active noise cancellation. While both headphones do a similarly great job at attenuating ambient noise, the WH-1000XM4 outperforms Bose’s flagship headphones when canceling out mid-low frequencies between 60-2,000Hz. This means that lower frequency sounds like jet engine rumbles and air conditioner hums are less likely to interfere with your content.

After its latest few firmware updates, the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 is one of the best ANC headphones on the market, able to cancel out a significant amount of ambient noise. However, if you had to choose between Sony and Bose for its noise cancellation, the Sony WH-1000XM4 will offer a better listening experience—whether you’re on a flight or just channeling your inner couch potato.

Does the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 or Sony WH-1000XM4 sound better?

Each of these flagship headphones delivers the best sound that Sony and Bose have to offer, but per our objective testing, the Bose NCH 700 edges out the Sony headphones just a bit. The Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 is tuned with a more neutral frequency response than Sony’s and you can EQ either frequency response from the mobile app.

The sound of the Sony WH-1000XM4 may not be as neutral-leaning as Bose’s offering, but it still delivers a pleasant listening experience. There is a slight underemphasis at 1000Hz, which makes it hard to hear some vocal harmonies and instrument attacks. Similarly, you may notice that cymbals and other high-pitched percussion noises sound off, as the headphones miss our target by anywhere between 2-10dB from 8kHz and up. You won’t notice the emphasis at 30Hz, as that’s usually reserved for sounds far lower than what appears commonly in music.

Which microphone is better for you?

The microphones on both headphones are great, and again both have their deficiencies. The microphone on both headphones shares one common disadvantage. There is a significant drop-off that starts at around 200Hz. Both companies did this strategically to reduce the proximity effect (when bass notes become too amplified if a speaker is too close to the microphone, but that means people with deeper voices will face reduced vocal presence and clarity. Sure, you can increase the gain through your system’s mic settings but doing so will raise the noise floor of your audio.

Listen to the examples below and help us determine which system is best for calls.

Sony WH-1000XM4 mic demo (ideal):

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 demo (ideal):

Sony WH-1000XM4 mic demo (street):

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 demo (street):

Sony WH-1000XM4 mic demo (wind):

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 demo (wind):

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 vs Sony WH-1000XM4: Which one should you buy?

Between these two headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM4 comes out as the slightly better pair of noise canceling headphones for most people, but it’s not objectively better. Though it shares similar hardware to Bose’s flagship, such as touch control functionality and comparable microphone quality, the WH-1000XM4 features a more consumer-friendly overall sound and superior noise canceling performance—combined with deep app integration, a foldable design, and modest battery life. This makes Sony’s headphones the better value, especially since they’re priced at roughly $350 USD at the time of this update.

On the other hand, the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 are still a great pair of ANC headphones that feature a clean design, competitive noise canceling performance, and a neutral-leaning sound signature that Bose fanatics may be privy to. If you already own the Bose QC 35 II, or are rocking an older Bose ANC headphone, their latest flagship is a great choice if you don’t want to step into Sony’s side of the market. These also go on sale during events quite often, so waiting for a holiday to snap these up could be a good move.

Are there other alternatives to the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 and Sony WH-1000XM4?

If you’re looking for some alternatives, there are plenty of other headphones to choose from. The newer flagship Sony headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM5, is an obvious choice here. It has superior noise canceling, improved battery life, and sounds better than the Sony WH-1000XM4. It’s pricier, costing $398 at Amazon, but it’s a fantastic pair of headphones. To see more in-depth comparisons between the two, check out our comparison article. The Sennheiser PXC 550-II is a great pair of noise canceling headphones that offer excellent low-frequency noise canceling, support for aptX and aptX Low Latency, and a comfortable design—all for about half the price of the Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 ($299.99 at Walmart). If you want a more premium pair of cans, the Shure AONIC 50 may be for you. It sports a leather-wrapped design that delivers support for numerous high-quality codecs, a pleasing sound signature, and amazing ANC performance. You can find the Shure AONIC 50 for $249 at Amazon.

While Bose’s latest headphones, the QuietComfort 45, are available, we caution you that both the Noise Canceling Headphones 700 and the Sony WH-1000XM4 are currently a better buy for the long term. The less-expensive Bose QuietComfort 45 may have better ANC, but its sound quality isn’t where it needs to be to perform anywhere near the Noise Canceling Headphones 700. Try to fight the temptation, at least until Bose has the opportunity to issue a firmware update at the very least. Check out our comparison articles to see how the Bose QuietComfort 45 compares to the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 and the Sony WH-1000XM4. If you want to pick up the Bose QuietComfort 45, you can find it for $329 at Amazon.

Apple has entered the noise canceling headphones game with the Apple AirPods Max. It integrates a lot of the features found on the Apple AirPods Pro into a unique, over-ear design. The AirPods Max offers active noise cancellation, Transparency Mode, Adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio, and include Apple’s proprietary H1 chip for seamless connectivity with Apple devices. However, all these premium features do come at a cost, with the headphones priced at $479.99 at Amazon—much more expensive than the Shure AONIC 50.

For a more portable option, consider getting a pair of noise canceling true wireless earbuds instead of over-ear headphones. While they may not offer a long battery life, true wireless buds fit right in your pocket, delivering a great listening experience without having to carry a cumbersome headphone case or pouch. The Sony WF-1000XM4 and Apple AirPods Pro are favorites of ours.

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