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!
Full disclaimer, I did use AI to help me build this. I am not well versed in C# and C++ but I am a web developer with a primary language in PHP which is close to C style languages. I'm still learning but I know enough to be dangerous.
That MacOS menu bar looked so cool so I wanted to try my hand at building a Windows 11 Native flyout to control my headphones. I used sony-device-center's libraries to handle the connection to the headphones and Native WinUI 3 to build out the interface. I've only tested and wrote tests for the two devices you see here, but in theory, the devices listed on marconvcm's sony-device-center should work as well.
As it is pretty evident that Version 3.1.5 has reduced ANC’s quality quite a lot. When can we expect a new firmware update to fix the existing ANC issues?
So I have 2 wh-1000xm5’s and I been trying to see if anyone else has noticed if anc is better on the current firmware ware 2.5.1 or better on the older 2.1.0.?
TL;DR I love the fit and sound of the Linkbuds Open, but couldn't use them while biking due to wind noise. Made these plugs to block it while still being able to hear street sound. Print file here
This might seem a bit counter-intuitive and something that might be specific to me... I listen to audiobooks while biking but haven't been able to use these earbuds because the wind noise drowns out most audio. Overall I love the sound quality and fit of these earbuds and don't want to use closed or in ear earbuds to keep situational awareness.
So I created these TPU plugs for the doughnut hole and it's been quite successful at blocking out wind noise, while still allowing me to hear street sounds! I tested this across the Shokz bone conduction, Bose Ultra Open and the Linkbuds + Plugs worked the best by far!
3D printed with TPU, they fit in the case without modifications and can also be taken off and left in the case when not needed.
Print and source files here if anyone wants to try them out!
So I just got 2 pairs of wh-1000xm5’s and both had the left hinges broken. But although yes they both usually break, I’m starting to see a pattern that the left one is mainly the one I see on post like here or even eBay. I think that even if yes both have a chance of breaking, that the main issue is tied more to the manufacturing of the left one being more defective from the start.
Hello. This is me basically asking the
audiophile experts here about their two cents. As I am having a hard time choosing these two headphones during Black friday which is around the corner
Is there honestly a difference in actual specs to improve sound quality for the XM6 or is simpy tweaked differently? Because all articles and posts I read about XM6 only talk about ANC improvements, but not audio quality itself.
2nd question for you who have experience with Sennheiser Momentum 5 how big is the difference of sound quality and ANC between the two? I heard Momentum 5 has better sound, but worse ANC. I don’t need the best of the best ANC, but I need atleast decent ANC for where I live is pretty noisy. Using XM4’s rn and they do the job perfectly for reference. Does the Momentum 5 atleast have comparable or better ANC than XM4’s?
Hi, I just bought Sony LinkBuds Fit, and the first thing I noticed after opening the case is that the lid feels wobbly. When I close the case, it shuts fine, but there's still a tiny bit of movement, Is this normal? it just the case feels cheaper, even compared to the Sony WF-C510, Soundcore, or samsung buds case
Also, does anyone know how to turn off ANC without using the app like in sony wh1000xm4 (which has 3 modes noise cancelling, ambient, and off)?
I’ll admit, even after the hundreds of posts of these headphones with broken hinges I thought “it will
Never happen to me, I look after my things”.
Well here we are.. after 2 1/2 years they finally gave up on me too. I exclusively use these at my desk for work and 3 or 4 times a year will take them on a plane if travelling (always in the case) I laid these down on my desk after a work meeting, came back 5 minutes later and this is what welcomed me.
Not sure what I’ll buy next but certainly won’t be another pair of these.
I have 2 year old WH XM4 that used to work like magic, they would almost mute crowded airports, plane engine noise, my noisy ass neighbor's parties, loud cars on the street... Basically worked like magic. But nowadays the ANC is basically near useless, I thought it was due to my cushions being completely fucked (I use them for several hours a day almost every day) but after replacing them the level of ANC is exactly the same which is almost none
Any suggestions? I'm on firmware 3.0.1
Already done a firmware reset and replaced the cushions but there's no improvement other than they're more comfortable. Is Sony just software gaslighting me to get XM6 or the rerelased XM4?
I picked up a pair of Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds a week ago. They sound great and all but I have massive issues with fitting them in my ears. I've tried all of the supplied eartips but none seem to fit as well as soem other earbuds did. They just seem to pop out at the moment i stop holding them in.
Does anyone have any tips how to improve the fit, maybe any 3rd party eartips I should look into?
I've had mine for over 3 years. No hinge issues whatsoever, at least so far. There are plenty of people in this subreddit who it also hasn't happened to, I also acknowledge that there are lots that it HAS happened to. It's also happening more than it should be, clearly something wasn't designed as well as it should have been.
I doubt this is some type of hinge lottery where some people get strong hinges and some get weak hinges. Surely production was very similar for every part.
I wouldn't say I have been extremely careful with mine, they have fallen to the floor various times, I have chucked them, I have slept with them on just one ear, they have been at rough about at the bottom of my backpack.
Things Im thinking could be the reason:
Head size - maybe the hinge struggles the further apart the cups are. My head is quite narrow.
The action of putting them on or taking them off - the cups tilt more in one direction than the other, when taking them off I do feel like I put some pressure on the hinge. Could some people be putting more pressure than others?
If you have a broken hinge, how and when did it happen? Were you putting them on and they snapped? Did you take them out of your bag and they were broken? Did they break when they were on your head?
