topic Re: WH-1000XM4 Static / White noise in Portable Audio

WH-1000XM4 Static / White noise

LewisMD2020 — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 21:01:59 GMT

Hi All,

I've had the Sony WH-1000XM4s for about 3 weeks and have already noticed a static / white noise in the left ear cup. The noise is during audio playback but also when there's no playback - just ANC turned on. Needless to say it's pretty annoying given how new they are and that it can often be heard above playback. It happens sporadically pretty much every day and even after I've been using them for a short period of time. Has anyone else experienced this or found a fix. Thank you

Re: WH-1000XM4 Static / White noise

Joe_Dohn — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 14:34:47 GMT

The static noise you mentioned seems to be feedback from the NC circuit. Are you using ANC in a quiet environment? If yes, you should have it turned Off.

Re: WH-1000XM4 Static / White noise

fodaveg — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 10:16:24 GMT

I have the same issue. I bought those headphones to use them in quiet environments with ANC on if I want. The Bose 700 doesn't have any ANC feedback on quiet environments, it's clearly a sony issue.

Re: WH-1000XM4 Static / White noise

venn007 — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 09:14:51 GMT

I don't think this is the issue. I use mine in a quiet environment too. My FIRST pair of these started doing it in the right ear cup after a couple of days, I returned them hoping I just had a faulty pair. My current 2nd pair have lasted 3 weeks in a quiet environment, then suddenly the left ear cup started doing it! It starts happening within an hour of use. Has their been an actual solve to this as many people I see are having this issue. I am on the verge of sending this pair back too. It is a shame because up until now they were a great pair of headphones doing everything I wanted perfectly.

Re: WH-1000XM4 Static / White noise

venn007 — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 13:50:51 GMT

Hi LewisMD2020

Did you get a reply or fix for this? I am on the verge of sending my 2nd pair back with this issue.

Re: WH-1000XM4 Static / White noise

Win_88 — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 18:34:54 GMT

Hi guys

Have your headphones been subjected to any form of humidity? Do you work out while using them for example?

Not sure if everyone here knows about this, but you can use the Headphones Connect app to run the NC Optimizer which can help in some cases.

Win_88

Re: WH-1000XM4 Static / White noise

venn007 — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 18:41:54 GMT

Thanks for the response @Win_88 both sets of headphones hadn't left my office, so both being used in the same environment, which isn't humid. I did try the NC Optimiser, but it didn't help my situation.

Re: WH-1000XM4 Static / White noise

Win_88 — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 15:37:01 GMT

Based on what I read, Sony are actively looking into the problem. So I encourage each of you to log a case with Sony support to give them as much data as possible to find a fix. I know you're tempted to send the headphones back, but it doesn't hurt to give them a call.

Win_88

Re: WH-1000XM4 Static / White noise

venn007 — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 15:41:18 GMT

@Win_88
I tried with Sony support twice. They just emailed back telling me I had to send my headphones in for a repair. I didn't want to do this as I have been offered a full refund. As I ran out of ideas of what to do I posted on here. The headphones are packaged up ready to be sent back, but I am holding out to see if anything comes about from my post on here.

Re: WH-1000XM4 Static / White noise

Win_88 — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 19:25:49 GMT

If that's what they recommend, it's possible they're collecting samples to physically inspect for faults. Which means other users are being offered the same thing and a solution may be imminent. Keep us updated if anything else comes up or if you get an email with more info about a possible fix.

Win_88

Re: WH-1000XM4 Static / White noise

fodaveg — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 18:52:06 GMT

Same issue here. I spoke to sony and told me to send it to a official repair shop, which I did yesterday. If Sony wants to get those headphones and they give me a new pair I will let you know.

Re: WH-1000XM4 Static / White noise

officiallylinz — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 21:08:43 GMT

it probably due to the plastic creaking from the u bracket or hinge with jaw movement. Use the diy you cna find online on the wh-1000xm3 on the xm4

Re: WH-1000XM4 Static / White noise

venn007 — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 21:17:16 GMT

No thats not the case. It is an issue with some of these headphones. The sound issue in one ear cup is constant and not due to creaking head band. I sent my 2nd pair back and got full refund. I then bought a 3rd pair from a different shop. This made sure the batch number was different to my previous 2 pairs. I have had this 3rd pair for over months now with no problem!

My recommendation if you have this problem is to send the headphones back and get a brand new pair that has a totally different batch number. You may get the same problem again, or get lucky and get a pair without this problem.

Re: WH-1000XM4 Static / White noise

John441 — Wed, 12 May 2021 17:15:51 GMT

I’ve had the same problem but with a little internet research found out is because of moisture build up in the left earcup. To remedy the problem I wiped the inside of the earcup with absorbent tissue and the problem totally disappeared. I now clean both earcups before and after use. I have also tucked a 1g silica gel bag in the left earcup to prevent future moisture build up. Simples

Re: WH-1000XM4 Static / White noise

TJWhiteStar — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 07:12:25 GMT

I've mentioned it in another post here and in the Sony Headphones Reddit but I've had this issue where there's like a "Listening to the ocean in a shell" type noise in one ear cup and I solved it by just putting some Silica Gel packets in the earcups when putting them away in my case.

This wicks away any moisture from the air or your ears/head sweating during use. They seem to be really sensitive to moisture inside but I haven't had the issue since I started doing this everyday (and it's not that awkward as I'm putting them away anyway)

The packets aren't that expensive on amazon etc so worth a try.

Hope it helps.