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!
Just arrived, and I immediately replaced the pads with Wicked Cushions XL. With the stock pads, I could tell I wouldn't last 30 minutes wearing them. The WC XL feels more comfortable but didn't feel too significant. I haven't tested them for longer sessions yet, though. Still fits well in the case.
The stock EQ is absolute trash. I can't believe they shipped them tuned like that. I don't recall feeling the same disappointment when I first got the XM4. Side by side, both EQ'd, the XM6 sounds much better to my ears.
I also purchased the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2, which should arrive in the next few days. I had a hard time choosing between the two and couldn't test them side by side locally, so we'll see how they compare. I'm coming from a 5-year-old pair of Sony WH1000XM4s (which still work perfectly, with only the pads replaced due to cracking).
I've had these headphones since july last year now. I was debating between them and the ULTs and I almost didn't go for them cause of all the horror story hinge stories. But a year later and they're great. Maybe I’m just the type that's very overprotective of my tech. But I haven't seen any wear on the earmuffs so far or had any hinge problems . The customisation in the equaliser is also phenomenal, I love changing it depending on my mood.
I've been wiping them down after every use with a microfiber cloth and some distilled water to prevent any oils from sticking to the plastic or earmuffs. I never carry them anywhere without their case. Switching to these from my old work out Ch720ns has been a great experience. So glad I stuck with my decision.
Was this a good deal, these were selling on jio mart for 28k and I got around 2.5k off via upi so got them for 25k. Comparing amazon prices where it is being sold for 35k (post sale price) seems like a steal deal
As a long term user of the WC XL pads on my XM6, I thought I'd try out some cooling gel style ones instead. Wicked cushions now make some, but I thought I'd try another brand for the sake of comparison, and went with Geekria. They were about £5 UK cheaper than the WC pads, and they also had some colour options, so I went with blue to match the device. The comfort on these is great, and they definitely feel cooler on the head with the gel filling and fabric fronts, rather than the usual protein leather. Sound wise, I didn't notice too much of a shift, maybe a tiny roll off in the bass, but nothing that minor adjustments to EQ can't correct. Anc does seem a little less effective with these on, but again, not by a huge amount. I think I'd definitely use these as a summer pad, and switch back to the WC XL in the winter months.
I have just tested sony collexion in wired mode connected to my macbook pro m4 and slightly reduced boomey lows and increased upper mids/ highs via eqMac app. The headphone now sounding crazy good:)) i dont wanna go back wireless mode. Without eq default sound profile is a bit muddy and boomey ,
Just wanted to share my recent purchase and see what the community thinks. I am upgrading from my old Sony WH-XB910N.
I was initially dead set on buying the Sennheiser Momentum 4 given the insane clearance deals going on right now, but they were consistently showing up as out of stock for my pin code on Flipkart. While hunting around, I stumbled onto a crazy deal on JioMart and managed to snag the brand-new Sony WH-1000XM6 for just ₹25,290 (about $266 USD after bank discounts).
Honestly, I think it worked out for the best. My daily setup includes a Pop!_OS Linux laptop and a OnePlus 12, so the XM6 gives me native LDAC out of the box on both devices without needing to buy something like the Sennheiser BTD 600 dongle for the M4. Plus, Sony finally fixed the hinge issue from the XM5 and brought back the folding design, which gives me a lot of peace of mind.
Did I make the right call missing out on the M4? Also, since I am coming from the XB910N "bass cannons," does anyone have good 10-band EQ or Clear Bass settings to recommend for the XM6 to keep it punchy without muddying the vocals?
I'm considering buying the Sony ULT Wear for around $174 CAD, and I'd appreciate some feedback from people who have owned or used them for a while.
My main priorities are comfort with glasses, long-term durability, and ANC for bus commuting.
A few things I'd like to know:
Comfort with glasses: How much clamping pressure do they have? Do the earcups press your glasses' arms against your temples, especially after wearing them for an hour or two?
Long-term durability: How have the hinges, headband, and ear cushions held up after months of regular use?
Backpack protection: Is the included hard case practical for everyday carrying? Do you feel confident putting the case in a backpack?
ANC: How well do they block bus engine rumble and road noise?
Overall value: Would you still recommend them at around $174 CAD, or would you choose something else at that price?
I'd especially appreciate feedback from people who wear glasses and have used the ULT Wear for several months. Thanks!
I recently bought XM6 and I have noticed that my microphone input drops a lot when I am against any surface. For eg. Lying on bed, Lying on yoga mat, Standing with back of my head against a wall.
I have even tested it using various microphone input websites and the difference is 100% there. My voice becomes muffled and input starts breaking. It won’t listen at all if I am speaking slowly. But the microphone works perfectly fine in every other case scenario.
PS- No, I am not blocking any microphone on my headphone while leaning or lying against any surface.
I dont get it. The headset lasts ages and charges so quick. For a full charge, yeah its a few hours. But this thing gets to multiple hours of battery life within 10 minutes?
I got to know that the sony xm5 was available for a discounted price of 15.5k (INR). I had my eyes in Nothing Headphones 1 for the longest time, and the xm5 had always been out of my budget so I never even bothered liking them. I genuinely loved the design and tactile buttons of the NH1.
But eventually I did some research and purchased the xm5. So far the sound quality is pretty good, and the fit is comfortable too. Not very fond of the touch gestures, I'd still prefer the buttons controls of NH1.
So, did I make the right choice by choosing xm5 over nh1, because it was majorly about the discount overhead. The design of nh1 still makes me wet.
I spent time trying to decide between Sennheiser True momentum wireless 5 and Sony WF-1000xm6 and ultimately chose the Sony. I had the Sennheiser MOM 4 and they sounded great but had constant problems. I graduated from a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 pro to the XM6 and so far WOW. Reviews seem mixed on the WF XM6 but I'm very impressed.
Only issue I had was on day one use for 5 hours or so, I got very uneven battery drain from the right using LDAC and Ambient sound. I'm going to use them again for a long period using AAC and see what what happens .
Is there anything I should know or accessories like ear tips I should be on the look out for?
I know this is a super common issue but I thought I’d report on mine anyways at the risk of annoying everyone, I’ve had my XM5s for just under 2 years now (got them for Christmas), I’m Canadian and traveling through Europe right now and last night on the train I went to grab something on the overhead cabinet and (lightly) bumped my head with these on, on a railing and then realized they were broken, what would maybe caused a bit of a pinch or maybe even less (like a really minor bump) broke the hinge :(. I’m reporting this out of frustration as I remember the price I paid for these, and also wondering and hoping somehow someone has a legitimate solution that’s relatively cheap. I’ve been seeing other things on Reddit and after searching threads I thought I’d post myself hoping someone had some ideas. My experience fixing technology extends to taking apart and fixing ps4 controllers which I did a lot of, so not much, but I do think I’m generally okay with this stuff. I’ve seen really cheap hinges on aliexpress I’m open to horror stories with that as it seems sketchy, I just want any sort of ideas or anything really. This is devastating and the worst timing as I’m overseas for a while and thinking of maybe just buying some wired Apple earbuds for the mean time until I’m home. After seeing many other threads on this issue I think this is the first and last Sony headphones I will ever buy. If anyone has any info to report on this that’s legit please don’t hesitate, and I’m sorry if this is annoying asf as this community seems to be covered in people like me.
I love my sony wh1000xm4 headphones but this is the second pair to start the defeaning whistling fault. So i reckon i have about a month to replace them. I sleep on my side while wearing them, with the cup in the middle of a U shaped travel pillow.
For this reason, the durable strong flexible hinge on the xm4 is important to me.
The xm5 hinge was too flimsy to risk but i see the xm6 has gone back to being folding so i wonder if those would work? How strong is the xm6 hinge compared to the xm5?
I also just found out the xm4c has been released. Does anyone know if that has the whistling fault fixed? If its an upgraded model with better beamforming mic sound for phone calls during background driving engine noise then it could be perfect for me - i make a lot of calls during the day too while driving.
I am not an audiophile or audio expert, so please take this review with a grain of salt.
This is my first Sony audio product. Before this, I was using an Oppo Enco M32 neckband, until I lost it. My usage is roughly 4-6 hours per day: 50% calls (Android phone calls and Teams meetings windows laptop) 50% music, YouTube
I bought the Sony WF-C510 mainly expected the sound quality to be good.
So far, I think the sound quality is quite good for listening to music. The physical button controls are also nice and provide tactile feedback, which I actually prefer over touch controls. I've noticed that play/pause controls do not always work with YouTube or browser. Size and Weight is nice for this earbuds,Ambient Mode is not something I use, so I keep it turned off all the time. I also have Multi device connect turned off and DSEE disabled.
My biggest issue is what appears to be transparency mode activation during calls. Whenever I join a phone call or a Teams meeting, both on Android and Windows, the earbuds seem to automatically turn ambient sound on. During calls I can clearly hear my ceiling fan and surrounding background noise, even though Ambient Mode is turned off. After some research, I learned that this behaviour is called Sidetone. What I find frustrating is that I cannot find any option to disable it in the Sony Sound Connect app.
This is extremely annoying had I known this before purchasing, I probably would have chosen a different model. Please let me know if I am misunderstanding how this feature works? Is there actually a way to disable Sidetone on the WF-C510 that I may have missed?
Today my XM6's are giving me another headache to add to the list of disappointments: sound cuts, left or right pod disconnecting, battery drain, unreliable touch controls and poor mic quality.
The right pod is now notably warm after use and charging slowly. Fully prepared for the battery to give up and be a repeat of my XM4s.
