The new cuffie true wireless WF-1000XM4 di Sony they are not only the latest and most updated version of an already top of the range product, introduced in 2017 and now in its third version: they are also a manifesto with which the Japanese giant puts on the plate the state of the art of its audio technology , promising a high-level listening experience.
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The technology of the WF-1000XM4
While waiting to be able to fully test the new wireless headphones, it is already possible to tell the many news and improvements that affect practically every aspect and feature: more compact and lighter than the previous model, the WF-1000XM4 have been built around the new V1 processor. which, working with the integrated bluetooth chip, with two microphones equipped with Dual Noise Sensor technology (one for feed-forward and one for feedback) and with the newly designed 6mm driver and 20% larger magnet, it improves noise suppression while consuming less power than the previous version.
The result is that now a single charge promises 8 hours of continuous listening with noise cancellation enabled, to which are added another 16 provided by the battery of the case, in turn 40% smaller than that of the previous model. This is a very useful detail: when the headphones are needed but are discharged, 5 minutes of charging are enough to have about an hour of autonomy.
Other strong point of the WF-1000XM4 is the high-resolution wireless audio reproduction, made possible by the Ldac audio coding technology developed by Sony, which transmits about 3 times more data than normal bluetooth audio (at the maximum transfer rate of 990 kbps), and is therefore close in quality to a physical connection. A sea of data to process the sound which is then reproduced dynamically by the aforementioned driver da 6 mm, whose highly adaptable diaphragm is designed to deliver full-bodied bass.
The help of artificial intelligence
As for the Noise Cancellation, also in the case of the audio quality the contribution of the new processor V1 which, thanks to Edge AI Computing, a solution that consists in bringing artificial intelligence as close as possible to the data source (already seen on the IMX500 image sensor), employs Dsee Extreme technology to improve the quality of compressed music files in real time. In practice, the system recognizes instruments, musical genres and elements of each song for restore high frequency sounds lost in compression, returning an improved listening experience more faithful to the original.
The audio quality of the calls, as important as that of the music playback, on the WF-1000XM4 is guaranteed by a technology called Precise Voice Pickup, with 4 beam forming microphones (two on each side) and the bone conduction sensor working together with the noise suppression system to pick up the voice more clearly and accurate.
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The most interesting features
Among the features that deserve mention certainly include “Speak-to-Chat” e “Quick Attention”: thanks to the first, the system detects when the person starts talking to someone and stops playing the music, then restarts it automatically at the end of the conversation; the “Quick Attention” mode, on the other hand, allows you to listen to an announcement or quickly interact with other people simply by placing your finger on the left earpiece, immediately reducing the volume and letting the surrounding sounds pass through. Furthermore, the sistema Wind Noise Reduction it activates automatically in the presence of wind and eliminates any rustling that, as happened in the case of the previous WF-1000XM3, could frustrate the noise cancellation.
The latter does not only depend on the effectiveness of the software, but also on the quality of the materials and their ability to isolate the ear from external noise. Sony has also intervened with improvements for this aspect, realizing new polyurethane foam pads, softer, more elastic and comfortable to wear. Supplied as always in various sizes, they can also be chosen by the user with the help of a special function of the Headphones Connect app.
Designed for connect with one touch to Android devices, the Sony WF-1000XM4 allow you to activate Google Assistant and Alexa with voice commands, boast an IPX4 moisture protection rating (they are splash and sweat proof) and are sold in sustainable packaging, without plastic and made at 99% of paper. Available in black or silver, they cost 280 euros.
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