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- Sony has announced three new headphones, the WH-1000XM4C, WH-CH730N and WH-CH530.
- The XM4C brings back the familiar folding design with updated tuning and a 10-band EQ, while the CH730N offers ANC and up to 50 hours of claimed battery life.
- The CH530 offers up to 55 hours of claimed battery life without ANC, giving buyers another affordable option below Sony’s XM6 and 1000X THE COLLEXION
Six years after the original WH-1000XM4 headphones arrived, Sony is bringing them back. The new WH-1000XM4C keeps the familiar folding design, adds updated sound tuning, a 10-band equaliser, and a few new colours, all for AUD$449.95 when it lands in Australia in late October. But it’s not the only headphone Sony has unveiled – there’s room for two more at this wireless headphone party.
As part of Sony’s broader headphone refresh, they’ve also unveiled a new WH-CH730N at AUD$229.95 and a much more affordable WH-CH530 at AUD$99.95. That first pair brings noise-cancelling and a foldable design to Sony’s mid-range, while the other offers a compact on-ear option with up to 55 hours of claimed battery life. Together, the trio gives buyers three new ways into Sony’s headphone range without heading straight for the WH-1000XM6 or the much more expensive 1000X THE COLLEXION.
1/4Sony WH-1000XM4C Australia Price and Key Features
The WH-1000XM4C revisits a design that many headphone buyers know all too well. The original XM4’s folding earcups made it a practical travel companion, and Sony has retained its familiar shape, leaving its newer design style for the XM6 models.
Under the hood, the XM4C keeps the original QN1 noise-cancelling processor and four-microphone setup. Sony also refined the sound tuning, added a 10-band EQ, and introduced Bluetooth 6. Sony claims up to 27 hours of playback with ANC, three hours less than the original XM4. Whether that’s an acceptable trade-off will depend on how much you value the updated tuning and EQ.
But AUD$449.95 has to make sense against the XM6 and whatever discounted original XM4 stock remains available, or even the XM5. If you already own an XM4, you’re probably still happy with how it sounds, so the revised tuning and EQ alone don’t make an obvious case for replacing it.
Sony WH-1000XM4C – Key Specs
- Design: Foldable over-ear
- Noise Cancelling: QN1 processor, four-microphone arrangement
- Weight: ~253g
- Battery Life: Up to 27 hours with ANC
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 6
- Sound: Updated tuning, 10-band EQ
- Colours: Black, Platinum Silver, Lavender
- Price: AUD$449.95
1/3Sony WH-CH730N: Mid-Range ANC Under $230
The WH-CH730N is the more straightforward proposition of the trio. It offers an over-ear design, Dual Noise Sensor noise-cancelling, and a new foldable build for just AUD$229.95. That gives commuters and travellers a cheaper route into Sony’s ANC headphones.
And boy, could you travel with them. Sony is claiming up to 50 hours of battery life with noise-cancellation switched on, with a three-minute quick charge providing an hour of listening for when you really need to finish that podcast. The updated call system combines beamforming microphones, optimised placement and AI noise reduction. How all that tech holds up on a busy bus or in an airport terminal, we’ll have to wait until we get a pair in for review.
If battery life is your priority, the maths is pretty clear-cut: Sony claims 50 hours with ANC on, compared with the XM4C’s more limited 27-hour rating.
Sony WH-CH730N – Key Specs
- Design: Foldable over-ear
- Noise Cancelling: Dual Noise Sensor technology
- Weight: ~207g
- Battery Life: Up to 50 hours with ANC
- Quick Charge: 3 minutes for up to 1 hour of playback
- Connectivity: Multipoint, LE Audio, Fast Pair / Swift Pair
- Calls: Beamforming microphones, AI noise reduction
- Colours: Black, White, Pink, Beige, Blue
- Price: AUD$229.95
1/2Sony WH-CH530: Budget Wireless Headphones for $100
The WH-CH530 keeps things simple with a compact on-ear design and no active noise-cancelling.
Instead, you get up to 55 hours of battery life, customisable EQ and improved calls with AI noise reduction. A three-minute charge provides up to 1.5 hours of playback, while the five-step maximum-volume control gives users another way to manage listening levels.
For $99.95, the CH530 is a practical option for someone who wants wireless headphones for everyday listening, studying or calls, and doesn’t need ANC. Just be aware that the on-ear fit feels very different from larger over-ear cups.
Sony WH-CH530 – Key Specs
- Design: On-ear
- Noise Cancelling: No ANC
- Battery Life: Up to 55 hours
- Quick Charge: 3 minutes for up to 1.5 hours of playback
- Connectivity: Multipoint, LE Audio, Fast Pair / Swift Pair
- Sound: Customisable EQ
- Calls: AI noise reduction
- Volume Control: Five-step maximum-volume setting
- Colours: Black, Cobalt Blue, White, Pink, Coral Red, Mint Green
- Price: AUD$99.95
Sony Wireless Headphones Compared: Price, Battery, and Features
Sony’s new releases add a few extra rungs to the price ladder.
| Model | Price (AUD$) | Design | ANC | Battery |
| WH-CH530 | $99.95 | On-ear | No | Up to 55 hours |
| WH-CH730N | $229.95 | Foldable over-ear | Yes | Up to 50 hours with ANC |
| WH-1000XM4C | $449.95 | Foldable over-ear | Yes | Up to 27 hours with ANC |
| WH-1000XM6 | $579.95 | Foldable over-ear | Yes | Up to 30 hours with ANC |
| 1000X THE COLLEXION | $899.95 | Over-ear (not foldable) | Yes | Up to 24 hours with ANC |
THE COLLEXION, without a doubt, remains Sony’s most luxurious wireless headphone option here, but for nearly a grand, it’s one hell of an investment. One peg lower is the XM6, while the XM4C offers another choice below for buyers who prefer the older design.
If you’re in the market for an upgrade, or a brand-new pair of headphones, ask yourself what you need: newer flagship hardware, the familiar XM4 design, or simply a good pair of wireless headphones with the features you’ll actually use.
When Will the New Sony Headphones Arrive?
The WH-CH730N is available in Australia now for AUD$229.95, while the WH-CH530 arrives in early October for AUD$99.95. The WH-1000XM4C follows in late October at AUD$449.95.
Oh, and we couldn’t end this article without mentioning that Sony has also announced a limited-edition Hello Kitty collaboration, with selected headphone models bundled with an exclusive carrying pouch and tote bag. Australian bundle pricing and availability have not yet been confirmed. Still cute, though.
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