Bose QuietComfort Earbuds VS Sony WF-1000XM4 Earbuds
When it comes to truly wireless earbuds and headphones, there are plenty of options on the market.
Often, it isn’t easy to make a choice. Two of the highest rated wireless earbuds are Bose QuietComfort and Sony WF-1000XM4.
There are a few similarities and differences between these two sets of earbuds, so to help you make your choice, we will explore each of them in this article.
What’s the difference between the Bose QuietComfort and the Sony WF-1000XM4 Earbuds?
When it comes down to it, there isn’t too much difference between QuietComfort and WF-1000XMF earbuds technology wise. The user most likely would determine which earbuds they prefer depending on what features they are looking for from a set of earbuds.
Sony’s earbuds have a few extra features that usually come with Sony headphones and which Sony headphone users most likely expect from their products.
However, don’t forget, you can always be assured that QuietComfort earbuds offer that quality Bose sound that all Bose users keep coming back for. Here are the main differences that we were able to find between the Sony and Bose earbuds.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Bose  |
| Buy on AmazonBuy at Bose | |
Sony  |
| Buy on Amazon |
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds vs Sony WF-1000XM4 Earbuds: Comfort and Stability in the Ear
Bose QuietComfort’s distinctive umbrella-like tip design and the soft material they are manufactured from provide a snug fit and comfort for hours of continuous wear. The extended flexible wing aids in comfort, distributing pressure across the entire ear ridge.
Try out each of the 3 different tip sizes to ensure the earbuds sit firmly inside the earlobe, allowing to create the right amount of seal. Once you feel you’ve got it right, the earbuds will stay put no matter the activity you take on.
The QuietComfort earbuds weigh 0.3oz and are 1.54″ x 1.02″ x 1.06″ each and are light enough to wear all day long.
Sony has invested many years in research and analysis of ear shape data. They have come up with an ergonomic earbud design that also provides a better and more stable fit.
The WF-1000XM4’s redeveloped and improved tips are made from a unique polyurethane foam material, which eliminates gaps between the ear and the earbud to maximize sound.
At just 1.45 oz (both) and 3.7” x 2.56” x 3.39” they are, of course, larger and a little heavier. However, it does not mean that they are uncomfortable.
Both of these two sets of buds are completely wireless, which adds tremendously to the comfort of use, as they let you move freely with no wires to get in the way. So, no matter which of them you choose, you will enjoy hours of listening to music or watching TV.
Are either of these Earbuds Good for Exercise? Good for running?
Bose QuietComfort wireless earbuds are recommended by the manufacturer for everyday use. They are also recommending them as being good for jogging. They might be a little too bulky for working out, but they feature Aware Mode, which allows for the outside world noise to come through.
This can be handy while you are jogging along a busy street, for example. If you are after a pair of earbuds for listening to audio while exercising in the gym, Bose are saying that you definitely be better off purchasing a pair of Sport or Sport Open editions.
QuietComfort’s StayHear Max tips provide a better seal and help ensure that the earbuds stay secured. The earbud controls allow you to communicate with a digital voice assistant, answer calls and control music and volume without taking your phone out of your pocket. Handy, while running in a park.
WF-1000XM4 earbuds have a shape that matches the ear cavity and are definitely smaller and more compact than the QuietComfort true wireless earbuds. However, they do not have an inner wing that hugs the inside of the ear canal, so they are less stable for running and exercise.
WF-1000XM4s are also great for everyday use, and they also weren’t designed specifically for exercise.
Sony WF-1000XM4 and QuietComfort Earbuds Sound Quality
QuietComfort has high-efficiency drivers and an acoustic port design that delivers high-quality sound at every volume level. The bass line does not disappear at lower volumes. Bose’s trademarked Active EQ is volume-optimized and works to balance your audio experience.
The tips on the earbuds, known as StayHear Max tips, are for more than just stability. These tips create a seal in the ear canal, greatly intensifying the QuietComfort earbuds sound and enhancing your experience.
The sound quality of the Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds is exceptional. They use Edge-AI and a new integrated processor that supports DSEE Extreme, provides stable connection and transmits sound with low latency using LDAC codec, letting you enjoy high-resolution true wireless audio.
Don’t let the size of the drivers fool you, either. They deliver an extraordinary dynamic sound in addition to the plentiful bass that comes from the high compliance diaphragm. With WF-1000XM4, a fantastic audio experience at every volume level is guaranteed.
* The LDAC codec is Sony’s proprietary technology that allows for audio data transfers that are 3 times faster than with conventional Bluetooth, which is almost comparable to a wired connection.
* DSEE Extreme(digital Sound Enhancement Engine) restores compressed files dynamically and in real-time.
Earbuds Feature Comparison
Noise-Cancelling Ability
Both the Bose QuietComfort noise-cancelling and Sony WF-1000XM4 noise-cancelling earbuds are top of the line technology in their own right.
- Noise cancelling
- Quiet and aware modes
- 6 hour battery life
- Touch controls
- Bluetooth 5.1
Bose QuietComfort has Acoustic Noise-Cancelling technology with two modes: Quiet Mode and Aware Mode.
4 microphones that are built into these earbuds to monitor exterior environmental sound and produce the opposite frequency for a noise-cancelling effect.
Bose QC earbuds have Quiet Mode that completely blocks out the world and helps you focus on what you are listening to.
This is ideal for things like studying in a busy coffee shop, relaxing on an airplane, and more.
Aware Mode minimizes the loud noises of the world, but does not completely block out the sound. This allows you to stay aware of what is around you while you listen.
Aware Mode is the best mode for exercising, and it has ActiveSense, which is a technology that automatically senses what level of noise cancellation you need for your specific environment.
The technology used in Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds is called Integrated Processor V1. This noise-cancelling technology includes a new driver unit with high performance, noise sensing microphones, and earbud tips that are tailored to fit tightly and block out noise.
These earbud tips are called the Noise Isolation Earbud Tips. The noise-cancelling technology used here is inside the QNe1 chip, which includes Bluetooth System on chip. All of these combined create a seamless noise-cancelling experience.
The Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds also have dual sensing microphones. This means one microphone is feed-forward and one microphone is feed-back, allowing the earphones to detect ambient noise around you for a noise-cancelling effect
Automatic Wind Noise Reduction in the Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds detects when there is wind noise around you and automatically adjusts the sound to ensure you can still hear your audio perfectly.
Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds also have Ambient Sound mode, which allows you to listen to your music while staying connected to your environment.
Microphone Quality
As part of the Acoustic Noise-Cancelling technology in the Bose QuietComfort earbuds, there are extra microphones built into the earbuds. This is so that the voices of the assistant and the calls that come through are amplified through the earbuds, even when the Acoustic Noise Canceling technology is in effect.
With these earbuds, a caller can also hear you well. A microphone separates your voice from the other noises around you, allowing the caller to hear clearly, even with such a small microphone inside the earbuds.
The Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds also have multiple microphones in the earbuds that are dual sensing for both feed-forward and feed-back mode. The extra microphones in the earbuds enable a better noise-cancelling experience, and offer great volume.
Speak-to-Chat microphone technology in these earbuds automatically stops the audio when a call comes in, lets in ambient sound, and gives a clear connection so that you can hear the caller clearly.
When the call is over, these Sony earbuds automatically resume the audio you were listening to and re-enable the noise-cancelling technology.
The Speak-to-Chat technology in these earbuds also recognizes and reacts to your voice. A technology called Precise Voice Pickup Technology acknowledges your voice and responds to commands using four microphones in these small earbuds with advanced audio signal processing.
Battery Life
Bose QuietComfort and Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds both have impressive battery life for one charge. The QuietComfort earbuds last for six hours and comes with a charging case that can give the earbuds two full additional charges, for a total of 18 hours.
Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds are even more impressive for battery life. With one charge, the true wireless earbuds will last for eight hours. The charging case also stores another 16 hours of battery life, giving a total of 24 hours of charge. A quick, five-minute charge gives up to an hour of listening time.
Water and Sweat Protection
Bose QuietComfort earbuds are sweat and water-resistant. They are rated IPX4, which means that the interior technology is protected in the event of rain, sweat, or any splashing while running. The earbuds have a special mesh built into the earbuds to keep out moisture and debris.
The combination of great water and sweat resistance, IPX4, and the StayHear Max tips make the Bose QuietComfort great earbuds to use for any kind of exercise, sport, or athletic activity. Even in the rain, they will not budge or get damaged while you are exercising.
Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds are also rated IPX4 for water resistance. Any splashes of water or sweat will not affect these earbuds. They do not, however, have built in mesh for extra sweat resistance.
The Bose Music App vs Sony Headphones Connect App
The Bose Music App is compatible with the Bose QuietComfort earbuds. This app allows you to name your set of earbuds, set your preferences for the earbud system, choose a voice assistant, check battery, and more. The App also walks you through the setting options and guides you through the setup process.
The Sony Headphones Connect app is compatible with the Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds. This app allows you to go through the settings and setup process, and takes you through a measurement process to find which Noise Isolation Earbud Tips are the right size for you.
Sony WF-1000XM4 vs Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Which is Best?
Both earbud options offer many incredible features, including state-of-the-art noise-cancelling technology in both options. Both earbuds have a stable fit, great call quality, and a similar price point.
One earbud option is not better than the other, but the Bose QuietComfort earbuds are better suited for an athlete or someone who needs these earbuds for a wireless sports experience. Bose QuietComfort earbuds are built for sport, while the Sony WF-1000XM4 are not.
Conclusion
All in all, the Bose QuietComfort earbuds come out on top. With the additional features of added sweat resistance and added stability with the earbud tip wing inside the ear, the Bose QuietComfort earbuds are better for sports and exercise.
The Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds do have a smaller, more compact look, and they have much more battery life than the Bose QuietComfort earbuds.
However, considering the added sports features, Bose QuietComfort earbuds are the best.
