Sony, Beats and Sonos refresh premium over-ear headphones

The premium over-ear headphone market saw three notable announcements in the past month. On September 7, Sony introduced the WH-1000XM4C, a refreshed version of its WH-1000XM4, at $299.99. Beats has launched the 360 in India at Rs 42,900, with retail availability starting September 24, according to 91Mobiles. And Sonos is preparing an Ace Ultra for a September launch, according to an FCC filing and a Bloomberg report cited by Hypebeast on August 13. Gadgetry has not tested any of these models; all performance claims come from the companies, regulatory filings, or retailer listings.

Sony's XM4C is a modest refresh

Sony's September 7 press release says the WH-1000XM4C builds on the WH-1000XM4 with "legendary 1000X Series noise cancelling" and a new 10-band equalizer. The company lists colors as Lavender, Black, and Platinum Silver, and says the headphones are foldable and designed for travel. MusicTech's coverage of Sony's announcement says the XM4C keeps the same 40mm driver as the original and adds updated sound tuning, but battery life drops from 30 hours to 27 hours because the older battery no longer complies with EU battery regulations. In the UK, MusicTech says the XM4C costs £219. Sony's announcement also included the mid-range WH-CH730N at $179.99 with up to 50 hours of battery with noise cancelling on, and the entry-level WH-CH530 at $69.99 with up to 55 hours. TechRadar's August 11 guide still recommends the newer Sony WH-1000XM6 as its top overall pick, noting its class-leading noise cancellation and 30-hour battery with ANC on. So the XM4C is positioned below the XM6, offering an older design at a lower price.

Beats 360 arrives with swappable cushions

The Beats 360 is Beats' first over-ear model with interchangeable ear and headband cushions, available in Performance Knit and UltraPlush materials. Beats claims the 360 has its strongest Active Noise Cancellation system yet, with a 1.75x increase in total noise cancellation over the Beats Studio Pro. The headphones rely on dual-magnet dynamic drivers of Beats' own design, a high-dynamic-range amplifier, and Adaptive EQ, and they support personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. The battery is rated for up to 32 hours with ANC and personalised Spatial Audio active, and a five-minute Fast Fuel charge adds about an hour of playback. The 360 is IPX4-rated for sweat and water resistance, and it has nine microphones total, including eight for ANC and three for voice pickup. Beats also cut the Studio Pro price to Rs 32,900, a Rs 10,000 difference from the 360. What Hi-Fi? reported earlier that leaks from MacRumors and retailer listings suggested a US price around $300 and colors including Pink, Black, Sky, Cloud, Volt, and Navy. Those leaked listings also mentioned AI-powered voice calls and all-day battery life, but no official figures had broken cover at that time.

Sonos Ace Ultra is still on the way

Sonos has not officially launched the Ace Ultra, but Hypebeast reported on August 13 that FCC filings spotted by Lowpass point to a September launch, and the unannounced model will come in five colors: Greige, Shadow Black, Agave, Blush, and Sand. The report cites Bloomberg and says Sonos CEO Tom Conrad acknowledged that the first Sonos Ace, released in 2024, lacked enough whole-home integration to stand out. The Ace Ultra is expected to tie into Sonos' broader AI ambitions, with voice controls that can manage Philips Hue lights and Lutron Caseta smart-home gear. Sonos hopes to differentiate by using its whole-home system as a platform for voice interactions, especially as Apple's AirPods Max 2, launched in March, added stronger noise cancellation and Live Translation. No detailed specifications, price, or exact release date have been confirmed by Sonos.

Where each model fits

TechRadar's August 11 update to its best over-ear headphones guide shows how crowded the premium segment has become. It lists the Sony WH-1000XM6 as best for most people, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 as best premium at $799, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) as best for noise cancellation, and the AirPods Max 2 as best for Apple users, with 20 hours of battery. For budget buyers, the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 remains TechRadar's top budget pick at under $100 with 65 hours of battery with ANC on and 100 hours without. Against that backdrop, Sony's XM4C is a lower-cost entry into the 1000X line, the Beats 360 competes on customization and sweat resistance, and the Sonos Ace Ultra will need to prove its whole-home AI features justify a premium price once official details emerge.