Sony Launches New WH-1000XM4 Headphones with Next Generation Adaptive Noise Canceling

Sony Electronics announced the WH-1000XM4 – the fourth-generation noise-canceling headphones from Sony's 1000X family. The popular wireless over-ear model shows a similar design to the previous WH-1000XM3, with subtle but effective changes in materials providing longer comfort and lighter weight. But the main improvement relies on Sony's latest processing, sensors and a new Bluetooth 5 SoC, providing the WH-1000XM4 with additional smart features that personalize music, improve noise cancelation and adjust ambient sound automatically.

V-MODA, the lifestyle headphone brand that is now part of Roland Corporation, announced the availability of the M-200, described as a reference studio headphone. Already the result of a collaboration work with Roland, the M-200 combines Japanese engineering and classic V-MODA shapes and materials, reimagined for the studio to produce a frequency response that the company says will be appreciated by producers, musicians and audio professionals alike. The M-200 is now available for $350 retail.

For the January 2019 edition of Voice Coil magazine, Mike Klasco and Nora Wong have compiled a special Focus article on New Materials for Earphones and Headphones. For those looking to differentiate their new products, the two Menlo Scientific consultants provide a unique and valuable perspective on multiple possibilities and designs for drivers, materials for assemblies and enclosures, choices for headbands and ear cushions, signal processing, and even cables.

The new AudioQuest ‎NightHawk headphones, introduced at ‎CES 2015, are a bold effort to set new standards for performance, value and innovation. The NightHawk headphones have earcups made of Tecnaro’s “Liquid Wood” ARBOFORM composite material, use a 50mm pistonic driver with a biocellulose diaphragm, and feature a patented split-gap motor to minimize intermodulation distortion.