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Sony WH-1000XM4 — Over-ear · 2020
Sony

Sony WH-1000XM4

Over-ear · 2020

90
/ 100
From $349
VS
Sony WH-1000XM4 wins by 2
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White — Gaming · 2022 · Black
SteelSeries

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White

Gaming · 2022 · Black

88
/ 100
From $249
Specdex verdict

Sony WH-1000XM4 takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Sony WH-1000XM4 lands at 90 and SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White at 88. That puts Sony WH-1000XM4 ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Sony WH-1000XM4 if…

  • ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • ✓Premium build
  • ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)

Pick SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White if…

  • ✓Low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless (most)
  • ✓Detachable broadcast mic
  • ✓Console compatibility
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Sound quality

Sony WH-1000XM4

Tuning, detail, and staging

Sony WH-1000XM4 leads on sound (90 vs 88).

Noise cancelling

Sony WH-1000XM4

ANC strength for commute and travel

Sony WH-1000XM4 leads on anc (88 vs 70).

Comfort

Sony WH-1000XM4

Long-session wearability

Sony WH-1000XM4 leads on comfort (89 vs 86).

Value for money

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White more score per dollar ($249 vs $349).

Sony WH-1000XM4 90
vs
88 SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White

Score breakdown

Sony WH-1000XM4
90
anc 88
sound 90
comfort 89
battery 82
features 86
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White
88
anc 70
sound 88
comfort 86
battery 86
features 88

Specs side-by-side

Sony WH-1000XM4 versus SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White — full spec comparison
Spec Sony WH-1000XM4 SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White
Type
Over-ear
Gaming headset
Release year
2020
2022
Variant
—
Black

Sony WH-1000XM4

Pros
  • +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • +Premium build
  • +Active noise cancellation (most models)
Cons
  • −Battery varies by codec
  • −Some are Bluetooth-only
  • −Price creep vs previous gen

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White

Pros
  • +Low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless (most)
  • +Detachable broadcast mic
  • +Console compatibility
Cons
  • −Bulkier than audiophile cans
  • −Game-tuned EQ
  • −Software required on PC

FAQ: Sony WH-1000XM4 vs SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White

Which is better, Sony WH-1000XM4 or SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White? +

Sony WH-1000XM4 scores 90 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Sony WH-1000XM4 worth the price? +

At $349, Sony WH-1000XM4 delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in sound.

Is SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White worth the price? +

At $249, SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in sound.

Does Sony WH-1000XM4 or SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for sound quality, Sony WH-1000XM4 or SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White? +

Sony WH-1000XM4 — leads on sound (90 vs 88). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, Sony WH-1000XM4 or SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Black) · Arctic White? +

Sony WH-1000XM4 — leads on anc (88 vs 70). ANC strength for commute and travel.