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!
A couple weeks ago the alignment of my XM6's got all sorts of messed up. The cups are bending every which way and the plastic ring has snapped on the right side. Any tips for repair, either at home or professionally? I am just barely outside the warranty window and can't find a local place that specializes in headphone repair, just general phone repair shops.
EDIT: Well it seems like I'm SOL but at least y'all's comments are cracking me up, gotta smile thru the pain I guess :')
My XM4s have zero problems. The sound, ANC, and hinge are all still good—if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. For a pair of $200 headphones I bought during Prime Day four years ago, they’ve been great.
I’ve been eyeing the Momentum 5s for a while. Anyone who’s tried both the XM4s and Momentum 5s: are the Momentum 5s a worthwhile upgrade?
I have watched a lot of reviews comparing the premium anc headphones and I am not big on over the ear headphones but I love these! The sound is great and the noise cancellation is superb! I love how I can customize my listening experience through the app! Only downside they stick out a little bit compared to other headphones! I listened to them for 4 hours straight and my ears did not hurt and the headphones did not become uncomfortable!
i just got a pair of these and i LOVE them, but i can’t tell if i just haven’t optimized my eq perfectly yet, or if i just have to get used to the depth of the sound. upgrading from beats solo 3 so the sound quality is COMPLETELY different lol.
so here’s some context. i listen to all different kinds of music. from like slow sad indie folk, to rock, alternative, emo, metal, etc etc. so i’m finding it so hard to optimize my eq to its fullest extent. i want a one size fits all, and i KNOW that’s going to be super difficult lmao. most advice i’ve seen already is to just change it based on what you’re listening to, but it’s so annoying to have to do that tbh, especially if i just shuffle my spotify. i don’t care about making each genre PERFECT, i just want an all around that sounds pretty good with any genre.
the pic i attached is the closest ive been able to get, but something is off. some music sounds kind of echoey? and weirdly distant. and some little background instrumental stuff is getting lost. is this just something i need to get used to, or is there any suggestions of something to change? thanks!! <3
This happened a few months ago and I'm still mourning it. I can't afford to replace it and buy a new one. My right ear bud still works. It's still paired with my pc so i can still use it. Unfortunately I unpaired it with my phone and I found out that you can't pair it back with a single working ear bud. My left ear bud was cut in half - by the seam. I suppose it can be replaced but I don't know for sure. I can't find a reliable technician near me.
Actualmente tengo un iPhone 12 y es el dispositivo que uso siempre, y mis actuales audífonos son los WH-CH720N los cuales siempre uso de forma inalámbrica, me gustaría actualizar mis audífonos, que me recomiendan? Los nuevos 730N o otro modelo o incluso otro modelo de otra marca, estoy bastante en duda, mi rango de CAPITAL es poco más de 100$ 🥀, gracias de antemano ✌️
This is my first time buying Sony and I saw these on eBay but price seems to good to be true even for refurbished. I’ve seen that they are less comfortable than the xm4, but is it really that much of a difference?
Is there a way to reduce the sensitivity of the touchpad on the XM6? I've had to turn the whole thing off since it's so sensitive it gets triggered by a brush from stray hair, or the wind.
No idea what happened but the left headphone of my Sony wh-1000xm5s broke. Sound still works perfectly. Can I DIY repair these with glue? Or bring these somewhere to get fixed?
Hi everyone. I'm deciding between the XM4 and XM4c. The XM4 appeals to me because it is well-tested and known to be durable. Is the XM4c essentially a 1-to-1 build of the XM4? I've heard some horror stories about the XM5's durability, so I'm mainly looking for something that will hold up well and last a long time.
My ears are pretty normal for a Japanese person… they stick out maybe 1cm or so? Angle isn’t all that sharp either.
But the Sony XM4,5,6 are all uncomfortable and I won’t even keep them in my head for 2 seconds because I can instantly feel my ears touch the drivers.
Looking at the inside it makes sense, it’s not angled like Bose, nor is it that deep.
The 1000XX actually fixed this issue and they’re quite comfortable…. But I’m trying to see if XM owners are just delusional, or if other ethnicities have flatter ears.
EDIT: I just want to clarify. When I say drivers I mean the cloth mesh inside. Not the actual drivers.
I want to get a pair of headphones for general use mostly travelling and studying. I don't know what to get but the Xm6 and HDB 630 are on sale right now for around 360 and 420 usd respectively. I want good anc but anc that is as good as the airpods pro 2 will be more than enough as I haven't needed any more (I lost the airpods). I've been also looking at the Bose QC ultra 2nd gen but as they're not on sale there around 100 USD more than the HDB 630. I really do like the xm6s but reliability is of concern mainly the hinge and the overall durability. I would like to add that I'm not a audiophile but a student who is in need of headphones. Please help me decide reddit.
I got my WH1000-XM4 back in 2022, now I am seeing a few problems that happen simultaneously.
The headset stops emitting any sound. I still get announcements of noise cancellation changes, volume changes through the touchpad, meaning the headset is powered on. My laptop also says it is connected, but I get no sound.
With dual connection on, if I disconnect my phone, I can never reconnect to it. I have to power down completely.
After powering down, I cannot immediately power on. Holding the power button does nothing. I have to give it a break of about 1-2 minutes before I can turn it on. Charge is not the issue here.
All this happens simultaneously. I changed the ear-cushion and headbands to give the headsets a new look and now this. I don't think I caused any hardware damage, every instruction was followed and it fit perfectly.
If anyone faced similar problems, please let me know. Thanks.
Im looking for brown earpads for the XM6's. I have the black version and would like brown earpads for the aesthetics. I value ANC alot, so an improvement on that would be wonderful. Lastly, i feel like a few mm's of extra depts would prevent my ear from touching the back. Any recommendations?
I'm in China, so the options for a new pair are basically XM5s for $240 or XM6 for $295, both are with tax included already. Which one should I go for? Or maybe something else? I'm prioritizing noise cancellation, but sound quality is still important, though I only use them 99% of the time travelling. (2 months/yr)
is there anyone know how to fix this issue…. my xm5 always automatically turning off after a few seconds.. a sudden pop sound then OFF… i tried resetting, turn off and on the settings in the app, cleaning the ear muffs and near the sensor.. anyone please help🙏🙏
After years of use they are already peeling and the noise cancelation has worsened. Is there any replacement around that will maintain good noise cancelation?
I just wanted to confirm that when you use the 3.5 mm headphone jack, that you lose access to the sound connect controls, even though the head set is powered on. Seems like an odd choice and waste of battery.
No AI- any generative AI disgusts me so getting it out of the way and as a heads up since this could be a long essay and most probably all over the place. Also this is in no way a technical review but an emotional one and totally my own bias.
It was Feb 2024 when I brought this pair of 1000XM5 in smoky pink and since then I have used it extensively day and night and I really mean it (except a brief pause). I went back to check the listening history in the app and it shows about 3528 hours, now that is 147 days in total usage.
Anyway I was riding my bike home and as usual I had the buds in with music at about 50% volume, even with the traffic all around me (here I point out I hail from Delhi, India) with honking no reason and yet I was amazed to hear none of that even in the lows of the music playing. I was impressed with the noise cancellation since day 1 but how it continue to amaze me like a child in some echo chamber (weird analogy) (also I understand it is not safe to be on road and having your hearing sense totally out of it). Also this is what made me to come here and write this long essay which I hope doesn't get deleted.
But despite that the biggest reason for me to replace my old and terrible buds (one plus buds) was its battery. I was coming from these buds being almost dead (only lasting an hour on full charge) and they were only 1 year old. So I had my initial doubts reading XM5 delivering approx. 8 hrs on single charge but still given the price and reputation I went with them anyway and to my surprise they DO DELIVER and continue to do so (now may be 6-7 hours on adaptive mode).
I also give that saint of a salesman at Sony for his simple tip on maintaining the battery which I consistently follow; never charge the buds directly from an outlet, especially from a high watt brick instead I use a simple 10000mAH power bank with the Sony provided c-type which definitely adds up to its battery healthy.
These buds have continued to be my lifeline as an introvert who travels almost solo every where and while I started off this post on a positive note, things have been tough.
One day I met with an accident in Jan 2025, lost my left bud (also breaking my right arm) (not owning to my carelessness of having buds on while riding), I thought this pair is done for and they did lay dormant for almost a month and half until I was somewhat recovered.
This next part is in appreciation for India Sony service when I contacted them for a chance I might just be able to purchase the left bud separately which was indeed possible though for a good price of almost $100 and again despite the flawless process (it took only like a week) I was skeptical if it would work just as before and pair well with the existing right bud on all aspects. And again I was pleasantly surprised since it's been a year and half since then and they both work like they were always together, no disparity in battery levels is what I mean.
Also the true appreciation for Sony India and to that lady at the service centre is for the fact they provided me with a free pair of original medium size eartips.
While other factors eclipses these solid three for me I would point out that at no given time I felt they were lacking at all, be it the clarity, the interface, the touch gesture or anything else.
I am a simple man and it doesn't take much to impress me but Sony you have truly out delivered yourself with this model of truly wireless.
