True Wireless
Denon PerL Pro
72Good
$350
Full review dataDenon PerL Pro vs Sony WF-1000XM4: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sony WF-1000XM4 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Sony WF-1000XM4 - Great overall at around $199.
True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM4
84Great
$199
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Denon PerL Pro
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling7.0
Battery6.0
Calls7.0
Value7.0
Sony WF-1000XM4
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery7.5
Calls7.0
Value7.5
Specifications
| Spec | Denon PerL Pro | Sony WF-1000XM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $350 | $199 |
| HearWiki score | 72 / 100 · Good | 84 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2023 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | 6 mm |
| Driver size | 10 mm | 6 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-40kHz | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Classic, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless range | - | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | - | 12 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 8 h |
| Battery incl. case | 24 h | 24 h |
| Full charge time | 120 min | 90 min |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 1 h | 5 min = 1 h |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | - |
| ANC type | adaptive | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | Yes | - |
| Companion app | Yes | - |
| Custom EQ | Yes | - |
| Wear detection | No | - |
| Controls | touch | - |
| Voice assistant | voice assistant support | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 17.2 g | 41.1 g |
| Case weight | 55.5 g | 41 g |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| USB-C | Yes | - |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 4 | - |
What reviewers said
Denon PerL Pro
The Denon PerL Pro is a premium true wireless earbud that prioritizes personalized audio via an in-app ear-shape test and custom EQ, delivering spacious, clean sound with hi-res LDAC support. It packs adaptive noise cancellation, Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint, and a comfortable fit, though its ANC performance and battery life have drawn mixed feedback in real-world testing. While feature-rich and well-built, its higher price and somewhat bulky design may not suit everyone.
- Pro:Excellent, customizable sound with personalized EQ
- Pro:Comfortable fit and solid app/control support
- Pro:Supports hi-res LDAC and multipoint Bluetooth 5.3
- Con:ANC performance is underwhelming for the price
- Con:Battery life may fall short of advertised figures
- Con:Bulky design may not fit all ears comfortably
Sony WF-1000XM4
The Sony WF-1000XM4 are high-end true wireless earbuds that excel in active noise cancellation and sound quality, with a compact 6mm driver and support for high-resolution LDAC streaming. They provide about 8 hours of playback per charge, extendable to 24 hours with the case, and include handy features like multipoint connectivity and quick charging. Their IPX4 rating makes them suitable for workouts, though the overall design is a bit bulky for some ears.
- Pro:Excellent active noise cancellation
- Pro:Rich, detailed sound with LDAC support
- Pro:Good battery life with fast charging
- Con:Bulkier fit compared to rivals
- Con:No wireless charging on the case
- Con:Touch controls can be finicky
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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