Sony WH-1000XM3 - v4.1.1 firmware failure?

[GapsOfTheGod]

Having updated my 1000xm3's over the wekeend, there seems to be an introduction of hiss and a background noise of what sounds like distant traffic (even though I can hear nothing at all without the headphones on) when using Active Noise Cancellation, which was previously stellar. The potency of the noise cancelling is noticeably weaker since updating (I'd estimate around 40% less). Familiar auditory environments which were previously rendered almost entirely silent are now notedly audible. I've checked that the noise cancelling slider is left-most, and indeed it is.

I'm also disappointed to find I can't ask Alexa to play music from Spotify, and I press the button and just say "Play Metallica", it responds with "Shuffling music by Metallica on Amazon Music", yet nothing plays at all.

This update is very much a downgrade as it stands.

[janush_]

4.1.1 was 17.01.2019 released so almost 3 months...

[Ninyu4]

>Have they even officially acknowledged it yet?

AFAIK Sony did not. 

Wish there was a new firmware or solution. Really seek to disable voice guidance etc. 

[miglto]

Sony needs to provide a firmware fix for this issue.

A petition has been started:

https://www.change.org/p/sony-fix-firmware-on-sony-wh-1000xm3-about-anc-issues-after-4-1-1-update?re...

The petition already has 178 signatures. If each person tells 5 people not to buy, and each one of those 5 tells another 5 why they didn’t buy, you have 5,340 people who decided not to buy this headphone.

The key here is there are at least 178 people angry enough to go and sign a petition. The network effect of those angry and vocal people is at least the number above. A few more steps and you easily get to 50,000 lost sales.

Sony needs to help their customers.

[andrew_ashby]

I just signed this FB petition...

http://chng.it/YcxK9Jfkyt

[davidbfranks]

I find it strange how none of the YouTube reviews on this matter see any issue -

[sidpc8686]

Huge change for me, I can hear everything. I use it DAILY, atleast 2-4 hours a DAY!

I heard about the issue, so I tested it before updating, and I updated it and I can clearly hear the difference. I KNOW EXACTLY what NC could block out, I used to BRAG to my friend when we commuted once, he couldn't hear me talk at all and I was right next to him! I told him to hold the cup and he did, and he could hear me so clear. So this is 100% a firmware issue. It can easily be fixed, either patch or downgrade by one version.

It's outright BROKEN right now. Called up Sony, they will have me send it to them for inspection.

If it helps anyone, I contacted them via AMAZON, I told Amazon I'm not waiting around again to get a repair, had it less than 4 months!!!

I'll update thread when I get it back from Sony. THEY LITERALLY HAVE TO DOWNGRADE MY FIRMWARE and it'll be fine. But it's incredibly bad, I can hear all typing, talking, annoying white noise. It's horrendous.

[Ninyu4]

Another user did the same and Sony sent the headphones back declaring "user failure", the headphones are fine with the current firmware 4.1.1 . *facepalm

But please keep us updated. 

Just wondering why you still did the update despite of knowing about the NC issue? Voice guidance off feature? 

[Elreportereso4]

Hi.another one here with the same problem. I've tested the headphones of a friend and I loved them. I bought them a couple of weeks ago and first thing was to install the app and upgrade them to 4.4.1 (facepalm). I came from the QC25 and I can say the ANC is better than the XM3. I will return them to Amazon.

[sidpc8686]

I'm not concerned if Sony send mine back. Because they will need to prove it in court, that's not a difficult job when you have the right connections.

But that's one end of the spectrum, I'm very confident Amazon will deal with it.

I will update you guys when I get them back. They said 5 days approx from when they receieve it, so I guess that's like 2-3 weeks since I'm sending them back on 15th/16th April. (More than one residence))

It was annoying using them today, unsurprisingly, I could hear people talking on the train. I tell you what else though, I noticed the 'air pressure' feeling you get when measuring the NC in a noisey environment - that feeling has GONE! That's a big plus, however that directly affects the strength of the NC! That should be proof enough for anyone...

[Ninyu4]

When there are so many people that report the very same issue why is Sony
not listening?