Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Sundara
78Great
$179
Full review dataHiFiMAN Sundara vs Sony WH-1000XM4: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sony WH-1000XM4 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Sony WH-1000XM4 - Outstanding overall at around $300.
Over-Ear
Sony WH-1000XM4
88Outstanding
$300
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
HiFiMAN Sundara
Sound8.2
Value8.0
Sony WH-1000XM4
Sound9.0
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery8.0
Calls8.0
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | HiFiMAN Sundara | Sony WH-1000XM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $179 | $300 |
| HearWiki score | 78 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2018 | 2020 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | planar | dynamic |
| Driver size | 80 mm | 40 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 6Hz-75kHz | 4 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 92 dB/mW | 105 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | - | 5 |
| Bluetooth version | - | 5.0 |
| Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | - | Yes |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | - | 38 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 30 h |
| Full charge time | - | 180 min |
| Quick charge | - | 10 min = 5 h |
| Wireless charging | - | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | Yes |
| ANC type | - | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | - | Yes |
| Companion app | - | Yes |
| Custom EQ | - | Yes |
| Wear detection | - | Yes |
| Controls | - | touch |
| Voice assistant | - | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 372 g | 254 g |
| Water resistance | - | none |
| Foldable | No | - |
| Detachable cable | Yes | - |
| USB-C | No | Yes |
| Balanced connection | Yes | - |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 2 |
What reviewers said
HiFiMAN Sundara
The HiFiMAN Sundara are open-back planar magnetic headphones that deliver highly accurate, neutral sound with impressive detail retrieval and a spacious presentation. They offer excellent technical performance for the price, though they may sound bright or sharp with certain tracks, and their stock cable and build quality have been noted as weak points. With a comfortable fit and detachable cable, they are a strong choice for critical listening, especially when paired with EQ to tailor the tuning.
- Pro:Very accurate and neutral sound signature
- Pro:Excellent detail and clarity in mids and highs
- Pro:Spacious soundstage for an open-back design
- Con:Treble can be forward or sharp on bright recordings
- Con:Stock cable quality is subpar
- Con:Some quality control concerns reported
Sony WH-1000XM4
The Sony WH-1000XM4 are premium wireless over-ears that blend top-tier adaptive noise cancellation with a well-balanced, detailed sound signature. They offer a lengthy 30-hour battery, LDAC support, and a comfortable, lightweight build that still holds up well against newer competitors. With handy features like multipoint pairing, touch controls, and a quick charge function, they remain a versatile choice for daily use and travel.
- Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Detailed, accurate audio with LDAC support
- Pro:Comfortable and lightweight for long sessions
- Con:No dedicated aptX codec support
- Con:Touch controls can be finicky for some users
- Con:Plastic build feels less premium than price suggests
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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