Top product – The Sony WH-1000XM4 portable headphones at €279.99

How does one succeed a product having received such a dazzling critical and commercial triumph as the Sony WH-1000XM3? This is a very difficult question, to which the aptly named WH-1000XM4 finds a nice answer.

It would be hard to blame the Sony WH-1000XM4 for its extreme similarity to the WH-1000XM3. The eldest was already extremely close to a certain form of perfection, and with small functional adjustments that are often minimal, sometimes notable (the multipoint Bluetooth connection, finally!), the youngest naturally takes over as the benchmark for headsets wireless noise reduction. The only precaution to take before buying: make sure that you will not be inconvenienced by a sound that is certainly remarkably precise and musical, but with a very pronounced leaning towards the bass.

Points forts

• Excellent sound definition, dynamic and musical reproduction.
• Incredibly precise highs, very spacious soundstage.
• Active noise reduction among the very best available.
• Comfort, top-flight manufacturing quality.
• Great autonomy.
• Full and responsive touch controls.
• Connexion Bluetooth multipoint.

Weak points

• A few decibels too much in the bass.

An alternative

No need to revolutionize anything when developing the successor to an already excellent product. On the very solid foundations of the WH-1000XM2, Sony has made some subtle but noticeable improvements in sound and comfort, which make this WH-1000XM3 only a little closer to perfection. All that’s missing is better Bluetooth ergonomics (multipoint connection…) and a slightly less bassy sound reproduction, and we’re there, with the next WH-1000XM4…