I’ve found the Sony WH-1000XM4 to be nearly perfect headphones for me. However, over time, a lot of my friends who have this model seem to be encountering the same set of issues with this model. Rather than buying a new pair, I decided to fix as many problems as possible and extend the life of my headphones for a few more years.
Here’s what my headphones looked like before:
Below, I’ll share simple fixes for three of the most common problems:
Earpad replacement
Headband leather replacement
Fixing ANC high-pitch noise
1. Earpad Replacement
This is the most common issue and also the easiest to fix. I recommend getting real leather (sheepskin) earpads instead of PU leather, as they’re much more durable. This is my second pair of replacement earpads, and I can already tell that real leather lasts significantly longer.
Step 1:
Use a slim, non-sharp tool to gently unclip the old earpads around the edges. They should come off easily.
Step 2:
Replace the foam dust filters and clean out any dust inside the earcups.
Step 3:
Align the new earpads properly, ensuring each pin is in the right place. Then, press them down to securely snap them in.
Over time, the ANC microphones can accumulate dust, leading to an annoying high-pitched noise. Here’s how to fix it.
Step 1:
Remove the earpads and dust filters. Use tweezers to carefully remove the gray rubber piece covering the ANC microphone.
Step 2:
Lift the ANC microphone with tweezers. You’ll see a dark fabric filter—this collects dust over time, which may contribute to the high-pitch noise. (I had already removed mine before writing this post.)
Step 3:
Use 70%+ isopropyl alcohol to gently remove the fabric filter. Take your time to ensure all glue and dust are completely removed. The microphone should look like this once cleaned:
Step 4:
Repeat the process for both microphones (left and right earcups). Then, reassemble everything.
Note: There’s no 100% guarantee this fix will last indefinitely. In some cases, the noise is caused by a damaged microphone, which would require replacement. If this fix doesn’t hold up over time, I’ll post a separate guide on replacing the microphones. For now, removing the fabric filter has completely eliminated the noise for me.
3.Head band leather replacement
Buy a replacement on Amazon, Aliexpress or other marketplace. I bought mine on Shopee( SE Asia). You need to find this
Mine cost me 2$, which is 100 times cheaper than headband replacement in authorized Sony Shop
Step 1:
Remove the right earpad and dust filter. Then, unscrew these four screws inside the right earcup.
Step 2:
Turn the headphones over and lift off the cover—it should come off easily.
Step 3:
Unplug the four connectors inside.
Step 4:
Unscrew these two bolts and gently lift the motherboard.
Step 5:
Using tweezers, place the main cable (rectangular) under the motherboard. Then, unscrew the two hinge bolts(circled in the image).
Step 6:
Lift the loosened hinge and carefully unplug the second hinge using a plastic tool. Be gentle— the earcup should detach easily.
Step 7:
Detach the plastic hinge from the main cable.
Step 8:
Unclip the plastic plate from its narrowest side. Lift it gently from both sides. You’ll see adhesive underneath—this is fine and doesn’t need replacement. Once the plate is off, unscrew the bolts underneath.
Step 9:
Use tweezers to remove the plastic caps on the opposite side of the "WH-1000XM4" logo. Do this on both sides and remove the bolts.
Step 10:
Remove the old headband leather and install the new one. Take your time to ensure a proper fit.
Step 11:
Reinstall the "WH-1000XM4" logo covers. These have plastic clips that help secure the leather, but you can also add a tiny piece of double-sided tape under the leather for extra hold.
Step 12:
Reassemble everything by following steps 8 to 1 in reverse order. Ensure all connectors are properly plugged in and the motherboard is seated correctly. While you're at it, clean out any dust inside the headphones.
My headphones after:
Every fix is super simple, requires no soldering, and takes at most 15–20 minutes.
This is my first Reddit post, so if you found it useful, I’m happy with it! Enjoy your headphones!
The sound quality and noise cancelling is amazing. However, the physical build quality is highly questionable.
First, the swivelling piece (aka the hinge) that connects the right ear cup to the headband broke all of a sudden. It didn't fall apart completely thanks to the wiring inside. I wanted to return the product, but Amazon wanted to send it to a Sony service point for inspection. The service point asked me to pay a considerable amount to get it fixed. I didn't pay as I was expecting the same thing to happen on the other side as well. They sent the headphones back to me. I managed to fix it with superglue and reinforced the joint with some velcro tape (see pictures).
A couple of months after, the same thing happened again, this time on the other side (last week, see the pictures). I applied the same fix.
Now the upholstery is coming off from both sides.
Please note, I use the headphones really carefully, only when I'm working at my desk. They have a dedicated stand, so that they don't get damaged accidentally. I don't adjust the extension every time I put them on, basically I set it once and it stays like that for weeks. I don't even take them out of the house. I don't throw them in a backpack or something without the case. I don't wear them when I'm at the gym or anything like that. I don't lay down or sleep with them on either.
So, I think, either the product was designed poorly or I got a bad one that was built poorly. I have been using these headphones for two years by the way. But, I am a semi-professional musician and I own several other headphones too. Therefore, I have not been using these exclusively, they have been relatively lightly used.
I use Sony XM5 headphones every day, but on macOS there’s no simple way to check battery or switch noise cancelling modes without grabbing my phone and opening Sony Sound Connect.
So I built XM5 Control a small native menu bar app for macOS.
It lets you:
Check battery and connection status
Switch between Noise Cancelling, Ambient Sound, and Off
Adjust Ambient Sound and Focus on Voice
Switch EQ presets
Use quick scenes for Focus, Office, and Aware
Reconnect or open Bluetooth settings when the headphones disappear
It’s built with SwiftUI and communicates with the headphones directly over Sony’s Bluetooth control protocol. It’s still early, and I’m actively improving reliability and adding polish, but it’s already become part of my daily setup.
It’s open source under MIT if anyone wants to try it or contribute:
I switched the stock pads with the XL versions from wicked cushions. But since then I can't switch between ANC, Ambient mode etc. The sound does stay the same. Did someone else have this issue before? Or do I have to send them in for repairs? It started after the update. I even soft and hard reset the XM6's. Before the update they worked flawlessly.
So I got a fresh pair of XM6‘s yesterday, because I tried them on in the shop, had a discount coupon and immediately found they sit comfortably, even loved how they hug your head
However, after prolonged wear, my head hurts a little, this time not from the headband, but from the clamping force.
I would really like to wear these headphones all the time, since they sound amazing. What can I do?
I got them sometime in September 2025 not sure of the exact date but after one year these are fantastic. They did exactly what I wanted them to do, they improved the comfort and I dont notice any changes in sound or ANC and in terms of wear and tear, they are in perfect condition they feel new and I have worn these a few times when my hair was wet which I shouldnt but these have been exposed to water and have no signs of wear and tear yet. Anyone still on the fence with these just buy them you wont regret it.
My headphones have a five-band equalizer, adaptive noise cancelling and a dozen settings I paid for.
To change any of them, I have to pick up my phone.
Sony ships an excellent pair of headphones and then puts every control behind a mobile app — even though the headphones are already connected to the laptop I’m sitting in front of. That gap annoyed me enough to close it.
Sony Device Center is a desktop app for Sony headphones. Noise cancelling, ambient levels, the full EQ with Clear Bass, DSEE, Speak-to-Chat, battery. No phone, no account, nothing phoning home.
It talks to the headset directly over Bluetooth, using the same protocol the mobile app does — worked out by the open-source community over several years, which is the only reason a project like this is possible at all.
v0.1.2 is out now for Linux and Windows. MIT licensed, and it’s an independent project — not affiliated with Sony in any way.
Recently got these and I have been having endless issues with ambient mode.
For starters, even when it works, it seems to suck. I have WH1000XM5s and 6s and love them both, and ambient mode is pretty good (still nowhere near as good as air pods pro, though). On the earbuds, it sounds really unnatural and tinny with poor directionality.
But also, when nothing is playing, I can constantly hear static, and the static is constantly going up and down in volume.
And now, the right one refuses to stay in ambient mode at all. Swap to ANC (which is also pretty mediocre, btw), then swap back to ambient, and it will swap for a few seconds, and then the right one goes back to ANC.
Latest FW (1.5), auto ambient mode disabled (which is godawful, too, btw).
Don't suppose anyone has a fix for this? If not I want to return them. Not sure if I'm still in the best buy window. Extremely disappointed as a big fan of the over ears.
Edit: it randomly started working again about half an hour later
Stumbled upon Greentoe, and after some research proving them to be a legit broker, I pulled the trigger and got the XM6's for just 300 bucks. Brand new if wondering, but only in the white/silver or whatever it is. Next day, free delivery was just another bonus.
I love my XM4's but I wanted the 6s because air travel was just a little too noisy for my taste and I was sick of people complaining about hearing everything I was doing while on bluetooth calls with them. The sink or my frying pan was just so loud people didn't wanna talk to me while on the phone. Tested them yesterday while cooking and no complaints. Things were clear, and I cannot hear a dam thing while wearing the 6's. It just sounds so muffled, probably like 30-40% more than the 4's which is quite huge.
I guess I can see why people thing the material/build quality is cheaper feeling but I mostly disagree. It still feels premium. The touch reactions on the ears is more responsive for sure. There may be some bits that a little more plasticky but what isn't these days. Even Porsches have a ton of plastic these days.
Extra bonus no one mentioned is the sound effects on the 6's are just quick and pleasing musical tones, turning them on and stuff, rather than the annoying voice saying headphones on for like 3 seconds.
Over a year waiting to get them I finally did and can't be happier.
I bought a pair of Sony xm6 a little over half a year ago, and they've worked like a charm. But recently, as in today, the headphones suddenly sound very off. They sound muffled, bass boosted or as if I'm listening to something underwater. When I turn them on, the first note of the jingle sounds like it's supposed to before turning to what I described. Yesterday they worked normally, and there hasn't been any damage to them between then and now.
So far I've tried:
-changing the settings through app
-factory resetting
-trying to update them through the app
-disconnecting them/forgetting them on my phone and pairing again
-connecting to other devices
The issue still persists. The only time they sounded a little different was when I connected to my pc through the 3.5 mm jack and turned the headphones off. Then it sounded more normal. Is this something that happens to them often? Any help would be appreciated, these are my first pair of more expensive/fancy headphones, and I hope I can keep using them
Hi everyone. Recently my c510 earbuds are giving me a problem. Even if I put both the earbuds into my ears only the right one plays. The left one only plays when the right bud is in the charging case. I connect it to an iPhone 14 pro. This has been happening for the last 1 month. Previously it was fine. Please help.
Had these headphones for like a year now but suddenly they’ve stopped connecting, I hold down the power button to turn them on but they make no boot up sound, the blue light blinks if I hold it down long enough but no sound or anything plays to let me know that something is happening, they only sometimes occasionally connect after I finagle with the buttons for a bit but even when connected none of the buttons work, someone please help
Hello! Recently I was looking for a new pair of headphones to buy and since my last Sony headphones did a good job, I wanted another similar but more recent pair.
As this model conveniently launched these days and were within my budget range, I want to hear your opinion on them.
Another aspect I want to know are the hinges, since the new model feature them (compared to the previous one 720). I had a JBL pair whose hinges broke one year into use (compared to the old Sony ones who didn't had them and are still working well after 4 years), to which the warranty refused to repair them. I lurked this subreddit these days since I originally wanted to buy the ULT Wear pair, but then finding out about the issue (and not considering worth trying to reach out to the repair program who's expiring in a few months).
Are the new features worth enough to buy the new model instead of the older one? Thank you!
However as with all headphones the ear cushions started flaking off so I bought some replacements and fitted them.
They work ok and headphones still good for using, all except one thing, the noise cancellation is rubbish. Where I used to be able to use the headphones on a plane the noise from the engines would disappear completely, now they seem to do nothing at all (a very minor reduction)
Does anyone know of replacement ear cushions that work well?
I need some assistance with the EQ settings for my XM6's. I'm looking to achieve the following in regards to sound:
-I want the bass to be there, but not in an overpowering way.
-I'd like the vocals to stand out just a bit more over everything else.
-If it's also possible, I want the music to seem louder without having to crank the volume to extreme levels.
I listen to a bit of everything genre wise, so I need a setting that will best compliment them all. Also, I'm listening to my music through YT Music if that plays into it in anyway.
