Jabra Elite 85H vs Sony WH-1000xm4

When comparing the Jabra Elite 85H and the Sony WH-1000XM4, the competition for the finest active noise-cancelling headphones heats up. Sony now retains the crown with the WH-1000XM4, but Jabra’s offering gets remarkably close.

The Jabra Elite 85H impresses with its noise-canceling capabilities and excellent microphone quality. It is extremely durable and has a long battery life. However, when it comes to functionality and sound quality, the WH-1000XM4 still takes the lead.

The substantial price gap between the Elite 85H and the WH-1000XM4 makes this comparison even more intriguing.

Sony clearly provides a more comprehensive package, but the question is whether these extra capabilities are worth the higher expense. When deciding between these two top-tier noise-cancelling headphones, it all boils down to personal preferences and priorities.

Jabra Elite 85H vs Sony WH-1000xm4: A Comprehensive Comparison

Specification

Feature	Sony WH-1000XM4	Jabra Elite 85H
Form Factor	Over Ear	Over Ear
Frequency Response	4 Hz – 40000Hz	10 Hz – 20000 Hz
Impedance	16 Ohms	Unknown
Driver size	40mm	40mm
BATTERY LIFE	30 h	50 h
Charging Time	3 h	2.5 h
Bluetooth Range	10m	10m
Bluetooth Version	5	5
Color	Black, Blue, Silver	Black, Navy, Gold beign
Weight	254 g	296 g
	See More	See More
Check Details	See More	See More

What’s in the box

Sony WH-1000XM4	Jabra Elite 85H
Hard-shell carrying case	Jabra Elite 85h wireless headphones
Cable with 3.5mm jacks	Hard-shell carrying case
USB-C charging cable	Cable with 3.5mm jacks
Travel adapter	USB-C charging cable

Fit & Comfort

Both the Jabra Elite 85H and the Sony WH-1000XM4 excel at providing remarkable comfort and an excellent fit, making them top contenders for extended listening sessions, especially when investing more than 1500 RON in a pair of headphones.

Beginning with the Sony WH-1000XM4, they retain a design identical to their predecessor but have thinner pads. This design option allows for more space for your ears while limiting skin contact, lowering the danger of perspiration during prolonged use.

Despite some cosmetic concerns regarding the pads, they provide adequate cushioning, ensuring amazing comfort and stability even during movement. Notably, the WH-1000XM4 headphones are lightweight at 254g, which improves their wearability.

The Jabra Elite 85H, on the other hand, compensates for its slightly heavier design (nearly 300g) with additional padding. The ear cups are well-cushioned and provide a lot of comfort. While they encircle the ears, they make significantly greater touch with the skin, potentially leading to faster ear sweating.

Nonetheless, the Jabra headphones have a well-padded headband that relieves strain on the head and maintains a secure fit, allowing you to move freely without worrying about the headphones falling off.

In terms of comfort and fit, both models provide good options, accommodating various user preferences and ensuring a comfortable listening experience.

Design & Build

The Jabra Elite 85H and Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones differ in terms of design and portability. The Jabra headphones compensate for their bulkier and less compact design with a solid build quality and hefty earcups.

They may be folded and packed in a robust travel case, making them perfect for individuals who are willing to accommodate their size. However, they may not be as convenient to travel as some other possibilities.

In contrast, the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones have a good build quality, which is consistent with Sony’s reputation for longevity. While they are quite large and not the most portable option, they come with an extravagant travel case that enables simple movement.

The Sony headphones have an appealing look and feel, with a sturdy headband that provides a sense of robustness and flexibility.

Finally, the choice between the two models may come down to your priorities, with the Jabra Elite 85H offering durability and robustness at the expense of a bulkier design, whereas the Sony WH-1000XM4 combines respectable build quality with a more travel-friendly form factor.

Sound Quality

When it comes to sound tuning, the Sony WH-1000XM4 and Jabra Elite 85H take different approaches. The WH-1000XM4 has a richer and more lively sound characteristic with deep bass, delivering an immersive and exciting listening experience.

This sound profile is appropriate for a wide range of music genres, particularly hip-hop, EDM, and pop, where the powerful bass adds to the enjoyment.

The Jabra Elite 85H, on the other hand, produces a brighter sound with improved treble details and a more balanced tonal spectrum. While some listeners may enjoy this balanced sound, personal preferences play a vital impact.

The Elite 85H’s sound characteristic is distinguished by a tighter bass response and more accentuated mids and highs, allowing for a more direct focus on individual sounds.

The fuller bass of the Sony WH-1000XM4 contributes to a more calm and prolonged listening experience, making it appropriate for long sessions.

Additionally, the WH-1000XM4 has a slightly wider soundstage, which improves instrument separation and positioning for a more realistic and accurate depiction of audio.

Finally, the choice between these headphones will come down to your musical preferences, with the Sony headphones providing a more immersive and bass-rich experience and the Jabra Elite 85H providing a balanced and detailed sound profile.

Noise Cancellation

While the Jabra Elite 85H is a newer noise-canceling headphone, it comes dangerously close to matching the performance of the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones.

Jabra has made tremendous progress in implementing the ANC technology for the Elite 85H, resulting in noise reduction that is approximately on par with the XM4.

However, it’s worth mentioning that the WH-1000XM4 headphones still have a little advantage in overall noise canceling. Sony has excelled in eliminating conversation sounds, an area where the Elite 85H falls short.

On the other hand, the Jabra Elite 85H may have a slight advantage in terms of call quality, particularly in outdoor conditions. They do an outstanding job of suppressing wind noise, which is a common problem with ANC headphones.

For those trying to save battery life, the Elite 85H provides effective passive isolation, which reduces background noise. In this regard, the Jabra headphones beat their Sony counterpart.

Finally, given that the Jabra Elite 85H is around 500 RON less than the Sony WH-1000XM4, it represents an appealing value proposition in the world of active noise canceling. This makes the Elite 85H an appealing option for anyone looking for a good combination of performance and price.

Microphone or Call Quality

The microphone performance in both the Jabra Elite 85H and Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones is impressive, albeit it may not be the key factor for choosing them.

The Jabra Elite 85H impresses with its microphone capabilities, as it is equipped with a total of 8 microphones, about 6 of which are actively employed during calls to successfully decrease background noise.

This results in remarkably clear chats, whether you’re conversing with someone on the phone or using voice chat during gaming sessions. The recording quality is excellent, and the headphones include a handy mute microphone button.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones also have a noteworthy microphone quality, with 5 built-in microphones that facilitate hands-free calling.

These headphones use precise voice select technology and are powered by the HD noise-canceling processor QN1, which employs advanced audio signal processing to ensure clear and comprehensible audio.

While both models provide excellent microphone performance, the Jabra Elite 85H stands out for its controlled noise reduction and eloquent audio quality, guaranteeing that users on the other end of the discussion can clearly hear you.

Battery Life

In terms of battery life and charging speed, the Jabra Elite 85H wins. When it comes to battery life, the Jabras provide an astonishing 36 hours of playback per charge, depending on volume and whether ANC is enabled.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, while not lacking in this department, allow 30 hours of listening with ANC on. Both headphones have excellent playback times, but the extra 6 hours with the Jabras can translate to an extra day or two of listening before needing to be recharged.

Sony headphones have the advantage in terms of charging speed since they can deliver 5 hours of playback after only 10 minutes of charge.

In comparison, the Jabra Elite 85H requires 15 minutes to get the same 5-hour playback enhancement. Furthermore, both headphones accept USB-C charging, ensuring easy and quick battery replacement.

Control System

The control systems of the Jabra Elite 85H and Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones provide various user experiences.

Jabra uses physical buttons for control, with the left ear cup housing a noise-canceling toggle button and the right ear cup housing a mic mute/voice assistant button, a USB-C charging port, and a 3.5mm audio port.

While these buttons are functional, some users may find them tiny, and the audible wheezing sound they generate when pressed can become a slight irritant with time.

In contrast, the Sony WH-1000XM4 features touch-sensitive controls on both ear cups, letting users manage calls, adjust volume, and change music with swipes and touches.

While the double-tap to-pause function does not always work, the overall gesture controls work flawlessly, providing an easy and convenient method to interact with the headphones.

The decision between physical buttons and touch controls is ultimately a matter of personal opinion, with touch controls being preferred for their simplicity of use and tactile feel.

Connectivity

Both the Jabra Elite 85H and Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones excel in terms of connectivity, offering a solid wireless connection with a range of up to 10 meters. Within this range, users can expect a flawless experience with no apparent drops in connection strength.

Both variants enable Bluetooth 5.0 and multipoint connections, allowing up to eight devices to be linked and two devices to be connected at the same time. This adaptability allows users to fluidly move between audio sources or manage calls while listening to music.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 has a modest advantage in terms of connectivity because it supports the LDAC codec in addition to the normal SBC and AAC codecs.

LDAC offers greater sound quality, albeit at a higher bandwidth cost. Notably, while using a multipoint connection, the headphones automatically convert to the AAC codec to maintain a solid connection.

However, it’s worth mentioning that neither of these headphones supports aptX or any of its derivatives, which may be a consideration for audiophiles looking for specialized codec compatibility.

Support for Bluetooth Codec 

At first, I thought it was odd that the Jabra Elite 85H only supported the SBC audio codec, which seemed insufficient for a premium product.

Thankfully, AAC functionality has subsequently been introduced via a firmware upgrade. The Sony WH-1000XM4, on the other hand, features LDAC, a high-fidelity Bluetooth codec that provides greater audio quality.

Both models enable multipoint connectivity, which allows you to connect to two devices at the same time. This capability is useful if you need to use your phone and laptop at the same time.

It’s worth mentioning that Sony has chosen to disable LDAC when Multipoint is active, so keep that in mind when managing your audio sources.

At first, I was perplexed by the fact that the Jabra Elite 85H only supported the SBC audio codec, which seemed insufficient for a premium product.

Fortunately, AAC functionality has subsequently been introduced via a firmware upgrade. The Sony WH-1000XM4, on the other hand, has LDAC, a high-fidelity Bluetooth codec that provides improved audio quality.

Both models provide multipoint connectivity, which allows you to connect to two devices at the same time. If you need to use your phone and laptop at the same time, this capability comes in handy.

It’s worth noting that Sony has chosen to disable LDAC when Multipoint is active, so keep that in mind as you manage your audio sources.

Extra Feature

In terms of app connectivity and personalization, the Sony WH-1000XM4 outperforms the Jabra Elite 85H. Both headphones come with separate applications that allow users to customize their listening experience, but Sony’s comprehensive feature set and the Jabra app’s occasional difficulties tip the scales in favor of the WH-1000XM4.

When coupled with Sony’s app, the headphones truly shine, revealing a multitude of features. The app allows you to fine-tune noise cancellation settings and adjust them to your environment.

Sony’s exclusive function monitors your surroundings and optimizes noise suppression accordingly. Jabra’s SmartSound, on the other hand, adjusts equalization based on your surroundings.

While both headphones have sound equalization tweaks and preset, the WH-1000XM4 goes above and beyond to improve the user experience.

It has a proximity sensor for auto play/pause, a Speak-to-Chat capability that pauses music when you speak, and the option to activate Ambient Mode with a simple gesture over the ear cups.

Sony also provides advanced audio processing with features such as HSEE HX and compatibility for 360 Reality Audio. It works seamlessly with voice assistants such as Google Assistant.

The WH-1000XM4 goes a step further with sophisticated touch controls that make navigation and interaction easier than the physical controls on the Jabra Elite 85H.

The choice between the two ultimately boils down to personal preference, but Sony’s app and feature-rich products provide a full and varied listening experience.

Which is the Winner?

The comparison of the Jabra Elite 85H and Sony WH-1000XM4 reveals that both headphones provide enticing features and performance, with each excelling in different areas. The Sony WH-1000XM4 stands out for its broad feature set, superb sound quality, and advanced technical features.

However, the Jabra Elite 85H is a more affordable option, combining durability and outstanding battery life while costing roughly 500 RON less.

The decision between these two headphones is influenced by your personal preferences and priorities. If you prefer a louder sound character and superior technical capabilities, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is the way to go.

On the other hand, if you want good value for money, long battery life, and solid durability, the Jabra Elite 85H is a tempting option. Furthermore, the Jabra headphones provide sound personalization via their app, allowing you to fine-tune your audio experience.

Overall, both headphones are excellent picks, and you can’t go wrong with either. It’s worth mentioning that the Sony WH-1000XM3 is also available, with similar performance to the WH-1000XM4 but fewer features. As a result, your decision may take into account both budget limits and specific sound preferences.

Alternative Options

Several more premium noise-canceling headphones compete with the Jabra Elite 85H and Sony WH-1000XM4. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is a strong option recognized for its superb noise-cancelling and comfortable fit.

The Bose 700 is another option, with greater call quality and touch controls. The Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless boasts exceptional sound quality for audiophiles.

If cost is a consideration, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 offers good noise canceling at a cheaper price. Furthermore, the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 feature a distinct appearance and seamless connection with Windows devices. 

Individual preferences, such as noise cancellation, sound quality, comfort, or price considerations, influence which of these choices is chosen, allowing customers to discover the best pair of headphones to meet their demands.

Jabra Elite 85H vs Sony WH-1000xm4 – FAQs

Which headset has greater noise cancelling, the Jabra Elite 85H or the Sony WH-1000XM4?

Both headphones provide great noise cancellation, however, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is widely regarded as superior. Sony’s sophisticated noise-canceling technology and specialized QN1 processor deliver remarkable noise reduction, making it a top choice for travelers and anyone looking for the ultimate noise isolation.

Are the Jabra Elite 85H and Sony WH-1000XM4 pleasant to wear for long periods of time?

Yes, both headphones are designed to provide comfort during extended listening sessions. They have cushioned ear cups and adjustable headbands for a comfortable fit. However, because comfort is subjective, it’s best to try both versions to evaluate which one best meets your needs.

Is multipoint connectivity supported by these headphones?

Yes, multipoint connectivity is supported by both the Jabra Elite 85H and the Sony WH-1000XM4. You may pair them with many devices at the same time and move between them fluidly, allowing you to take calls or listen to music from various sources without disconnecting and reconnecting.

Which has a longer battery life, the Jabra Elite 85H or the Sony WH-1000XM4?

The Jabra Elite 85H has a longer battery life, with up to 36 hours of playing on a single charge, depending on volume and ANC usage. In comparison, the Sony WH-1000XM4 provides up to 30 hours of playback with ANC enabled. Although the difference is minor, it is worth considering for people who value extended battery life.

Can I change the sound settings on these headphones?

Yes, both headphones come with companion apps that allow you to personalize the sound settings. The Jabra Sound+ app and Sony’s Headphones Connect app both offer EQ changes, preset sound profiles, and other audio customization options. Sony’s app also includes adaptive sound control and 360 Reality Audio capabilities.

Final Thoughts

We’ve provided a full examination in our comparative study of the Jabra Elite 85H Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones and the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Industry Noise-Canceling Overhead Headphones to help you make an informed selection.

The Jabra Elite 85H is a terrific pick for neutral listening, with strong and thumpy bass, superb mid-range, and exceptional treble.

While it shines in a variety of music genres, it may lack some definition and brightness on the leads. The Sony WH-1000XM4, on the other hand, is perfect for travelers and commuters, however, it is not the most portable alternative.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 has a lower low-frequency response, a higher high-frequency response, a neodymium magnet, a lighter weight, an L-shaped plug, and NFC Bluetooth pairing compatibility.

Our winner in this comparison is the Sony WH-1000XM4, because of its superb build quality and top-tier active noise-canceling features.

While the Jabra Elite 85H is an excellent headset in its own right, the WH-1000XM4’s extra capabilities, such as programmable bass, graphic EQ, and presets, make it an excellent pick for audiophiles.