honestly shocked at how cheap these are, this is a steal
Praise
Headphones
Sony WH-1000XM4
Best Value Premium ANC
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is the previous flagship — and at its current Canadian street price, it offers nearly identical noise cancellation and sound quality to the XM5 at $80–$120 CAD less. The smartest value buy in premium ANC headphones right now.
13 mentions · 4 threadslast mention Dec 2024ClearPick Score
8.3 / 10
Good
Score informed by 13 owner mentions across 4 Reddit threads · see every quote ↓
8 positive1 mixed4 negative
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Best Value Premium ANC
Sony WH-1000XM4
~$373.60 CAD est. on Amazon.ca
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Every mention, sourced
Real comments from Reddit, linked to the original thread. Nothing paraphrased.
I have them both and for audio quality and ANC strongly prefer the XM4s... I use them about equally as they fill different roles for me. The Space Travels are great in the office, the Sonys are what I take on flights and to do yardwork.
Comparison
For one, the Travels are great for the price but they aren't close to the XM4s... The XM4s are of course bit bloated but they're still a step above, and with in-app EQ they are really nice.
Comparison
These things make sitting in airplanes silent. They're like a gift from the gods. Turn that s*** on and it's like taking a Xanax, life just calms down. Best headphones I've ever had the pleasure of using.
Praise
Comfortable enough that I fell asleep on a 14h flight with these on and had them on for 5-6 hours at least.
Praise
I had to return mine. There was a crackling sound in one ear... Seems to be a somewhat common issue based on threads in /r/sony.
Complaint
I wanted to like these so bad but they are fairly shallow and don't fit larger ears well at all.
Complaint
These are fantastic headphones but their strengths are their battery life, noise cancelling, and sound quality over Bluetooth. IMO these are best suited for the office space and for travel, which is how I use them.
Praise
this EQ genuinely unlocks the potential of these headphones
Praise
I don't hate the Sony's but when it comes to sound quality they seem less nice now
Complaint
Sony headphones in general tend to be tuned more bass-heavy out of the box, like a better quality Beats... However the EQ on these can be adjusted with the app, so you can pretty much tune them to your liking.
Mention
These are PERFECT for being on public transit, planes, in public, and I use them constantly for that.
Praise
I think the WH-1000XM4 sound really good after setting an EQ curve. I did have issues where after a while of listening there would be popping or crackling sounds. I ended up tucking small silica bags in both sides to absorb moisture and that has fixed that issue.
Complaint
📖 See our guideSony WH-1000XM4 to XM6: Owners Who Upgraded Report Back
📖 See our guideSony XM4 to XM6: What Owners Who Upgraded Actually Found
✅ What Works
- At its current street price of around $200 CAD the XM4 delivers ANC and sound quality that still competes with headphones costing $100 more — TechRadar calls it the best bang-for-buck in the category even in 2025
- Folds flat into a compact case unlike the XM5 — meaningfully more travel-friendly for Canadian commuters who stuff headphones into a bag daily
- 30-hour battery with multipoint Bluetooth handles a full work week on a single charge for most users
- Conversation Aware mode pauses music and lets ambient sound through when you start speaking — practical for transit and open offices without removing the headphones
⚠️ Worth Knowing
- The XM5 has better ANC and slightly improved sound — if buying new at similar prices the XM5 is the upgrade, but the XM4 regularly goes on sale for significantly less
- No IPX rating — not water or sweat resistant, so gym use or rainy Canadian commutes require care
- Call quality microphone is serviceable but not class-leading — fine for casual calls but professionals on video calls all day will notice
ClearPick Verdict
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is the headphone that proves last year's flagship is often this year's best value. The ANC is still class-competitive, the sound quality is excellent, and the foldable design makes it genuinely more practical for travel than its successor. If you find it on sale for under $200 CAD — which happens regularly at Canadian retailers — it's one of the best headphone purchases you can make.
