Over-Ear
KEF Mu3
72Good
$249
Full review dataKEF Mu3 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.
KEF Mu3
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling6.0
Battery7.0
Calls5.0
Value7.0
Sony WH-1000XM4
Sound9.0
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery8.0
Calls8.0
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | KEF Mu3 | Sony WH-1000XM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $249 | $300 |
| HearWiki score | 72 / 100 · Good | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2021 | 2020 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver size | 8.2 mm | 40 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-20kHz | 4 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 16 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 104 dB/mW | 105 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes |
| Wireless range | 10 m | - |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | - | 38 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 9 h | 30 h |
| Battery incl. case | 24 h | - |
| Full charge time | - | 180 min |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 1 h | 10 min = 5 h |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| ANC type | adaptive | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes |
| Companion app | No | Yes |
| Custom EQ | No | Yes |
| Wear detection | No | Yes |
| Controls | touch | touch |
| Voice assistant | - | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 5.8 g | 254 g |
| Case weight | 46.8 g | - |
| Water resistance | none | none |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 2 |
What reviewers said
KEF Mu3
The KEF Mu3 wireless earbuds deliver a balanced, natural sound profile that suits both music and spoken content, wrapped in a comfortable and elegant design. They offer solid battery life with rapid charging, but their feature set is lean, lacking extras like aptX, multipoint, or app support. Noise cancellation and transparency are functional but not top-tier, making these a better pick for audio purists than feature hunters.
- Pro:Balanced, pleasant sound signature
- Pro:Comfortable and stylish build
- Pro:Good battery life with quick charge
- Con:No aptX or multipoint support
- Con:Mediocre ANC and transparency
- Con:Lacks app and EQ customization
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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