Sony Unexpectedly Revived an Old Pair of Noise-Canceling Headphones

Sony is unequivocally one of the biggest names in noise-canceling headphones. They are known for blending great sound with elite active noise cancellation, as well as being lighter and more comfortable than their Bose and Apple rivals. And today, Sony makes several different models. In May, Sony introduced the 1000X The ColleXion, a new flagship pair of wireless noise-canceling headphones that sits just above its previous flagships, the 1000XM6, which were introduced in mid-2025 and are still very much available. The two models cost $650 and $460, respectively. (Although the 1000XM6 are frequently on sale.) Sony makes several more budget-friendly models (including the just-announced WH-CH730N, which costs $180). However, it also did something a little more interesting this year: it reimagined an older flagship pair of noise-canceling cans from a few years ago. Meet the Sony WH-1000XM4C The Sony WH-1000XM4C is the brand's new midrange option for wireless noise-canceling headphones. Sony That's right: Sony just announced the WH-1000XM4C, which is essentially the same as the 2024-released WH-1000XM4 (in fact, Sony refers to it as the XM4 2nd Gen). They have identical hardware, use the same 40mm drivers, and include the same QN1 processor for active noise cancellation. Naturally, Sony tweaked a few things to update it and make the WH-1000XM4C just a little bit superior to its predecessors. This includes access to a 10-band equalizer (instead of the XM4's 5-band equalizer) and more options when creating a sound profile. They also come in a new lavender finish, in addition to the standard silver and black options.