u/arpit1601

(TLDR at end)

I went to the store fully expecting to come back with the Sony ULT Wear.

I’ve generally liked Sony headphones, and before going in I was pretty convinced that the ULT Wear was what I wanted. I mainly wanted to try the ULT Wear and Sennheiser Accentum Plus side-by-side before actually paying for anything.

I was already aware of the ULT Wear hinge issues, but I’d read that newer batches might be better, so I was still leaning heavily towards Sony.

Then I actually tried them.

The ULT Wear sounded good, but the display unit honestly didn’t inspire much confidence build-wise. I don’t know whether it was just an old and heavily used demo unit, but the plastic felt a bit finicky and there were noticeable creaking noises when handling it.

That immediately brought the hinge/build concern back into my head.

I then tried the Accentum Plus.

Funny enough, there were different salespeople handling Sony and Sennheiser. The Sony guy was really trying to sell me the ULT Wear, while the Sennheiser guy was pretty chill and just let me try everything.

My first impression of the Accentum Plus was that the ANC was definitely weaker than the Sony, which mattered because ANC was one of my biggest priorities.

But the sound surprised me.

The vocals sounded noticeably clearer to me on the Sennheiser, and overall I just preferred the sound. I actually went back to the ULT Wear and played the same song again because I kept trying to convince myself that I wanted the Sony.

Then I went back to the Sennheiser.

Then Sony again.

And somehow I kept preferring the Accentum Plus.

I had my girlfriend with me as well and asked her to listen to both without really pushing her towards either one. She also preferred the Sennheiser’s sound.

At that point we literally sat down and went through the pros and cons.

ULT Wear:

Better ANC
More bass/punch
Slightly cheaper
Folds more compactly
But the hinge/build issue would always be in the back of my mind

Accentum Plus:

Better sound to my ears
Much better battery life
Lighter
Build felt more confidence-inspiring
Sound Personalization
Good multipoint/device switching
But weaker ANC
Not as compact when travelling

The biggest thing that eventually made the decision for me was something that’s difficult to put on a spec sheet: peace of mind.

I realised that if I bought the Sony, I’d probably keep thinking about the hinge every time I put them in a bag, take them to the gym, travel with them, etc.

With the Sennheiser, I felt like I could just use the headphones normally without constantly babying them.

The Sony salesman was still trying to convince me to get the ULT Wear right until the end 😂, but I finally stopped overthinking it and bought the Accentum Plus for ₹12,500 (or $125). The Sony was only around ₹300 cheaper, so price wasn’t really a deciding factor.

First impressions after owning them for ~10 hours

Obviously this isn’t a long-term review yet, but so far:

Things I really like:

- Sound is excellent. Probably the biggest reason I’m happy with the decision.
- Sound Personalization is genuinely really good. I wasn’t expecting to care about it as much as I do.
- Device switching/multipoint works really well.
Battery life is ridiculous.
- Build feels solid. Most importantly, I feel confident actually using them and taking them places.

Overall they just feel like a very good everyday headphone.

There are two negatives I’ve noticed already though.

1. ANC

It’s okay, but definitely not Sony-level. If ANC is your absolute #1 priority, I’d still say the ULT Wear is noticeably better.

I knew I was sacrificing some ANC when I picked the Sennheiser, so I can’t really complain too much about it.

2. Comfort after a few hours

After wearing them for a couple of hours, I started getting some discomfort/pain around my ears.

I’m not sure yet whether that’s because I’m still getting used to over-ear headphones, whether they’ll loosen up with use, or whether the Accentum Plus just doesn’t suit my head perfectly.

To be fair, I don’t know if the Sony would’ve caused the same thing after wearing them for that long either.

Overall though, I’m really happy with the purchase so far.

I went into the store basically thinking “I’m buying the Sony unless something goes seriously wrong”, and somehow walked out with the Sennheiser instead.

TL;DR: Went in to buy the Sony ULT Wear, but preferred the Accentum Plus sound and build. Bought them for ₹12.5k. Loving the sound, battery and multipoint so far; only downsides are weaker ANC and some discomfort after long use.

PLEASE READ FOR CONTEXT ⬇️

I’m stuck between the Sony ULT Wear and Sennheiser Accentum Plus and could use some advice from people who have actually owned/used either of them, especially if you’ve tried both.

I’m getting the ULT Wear for ₹12.3k and the Accentum Plus for ₹13k from a Croma near me, so the price difference is basically irrelevant.

I’ve tried both in-store and here’s where I’m at:

- Sound: I think I slightly prefer the Sony. I like the punchier/more fun sound of the ULT Wear. The Accentum Plus sounded more balanced, though, and I don’t think the difference would bother me much in normal day-to-day use.

- ANC: This is pretty important to me, and from what I’ve tried/read, the Sony is noticeably better here. This is probably the biggest thing pulling me towards the ULT.

- Build quality: This is where I’m hesitant about Sony. I know the ULT Wear has had reports of hinge issues, although I’ve also been reading that newer units/revisions have apparently improved/fixed the hinge. Still, the Accentum Plus feels like it has better build quality to me.

- Battery: I’d obviously prefer the better battery life. Not necessarily a deal breaker, but definitely something I care about.

- Portability: Pretty important. I plan on travelling more in the future, so I like that I can fold them and throw them into a bag/case easily.

- Use case: Mostly wearing them while working and listening to music, plus occasionally taking them to the gym. I’m not an audiophile or anything.

There isn’t really one huge deal breaker for me. The Sony seems to win on ANC and the more fun/punchy sound, while the Sennheiser is making me feel a bit more confident about build quality and longevity.

The hinge situation is probably my biggest concern with the ULT Wear. If the newer batches genuinely don’t have that issue anymore, I’d be much more comfortable choosing them.

For anyone who has owned the ULT Wear, Accentum Plus, or preferably both — which would you choose at ₹12.3k vs ₹13k?

Also, if you’ve bought a newer ULT Wear recently, have you had any hinge/build issues?

Thanks in advance!

(Used AI to rephrase my post)

PLEASE READ FOR CONTEXT ⬇️

I’m stuck between the Sony ULT Wear and Sennheiser Accentum Plus and could use some advice from people who have actually owned/used either of them, especially if you’ve tried both.

I’m getting the ULT Wear for ₹12.3k and the Accentum Plus for ₹13k from a Croma near me, so the price difference is basically irrelevant.

I’ve tried both in-store and here’s where I’m at:

- Sound: I think I slightly prefer the Sony. I like the punchier/more fun sound of the ULT Wear. The Accentum Plus sounded more balanced, though, and I don’t think the difference would bother me much in normal day-to-day use.

- ANC: This is pretty important to me, and from what I’ve tried/read, the Sony is noticeably better here. This is probably the biggest thing pulling me towards the ULT.

- Build quality: This is where I’m hesitant about Sony. I know the ULT Wear has had reports of hinge issues, although I’ve also been reading that newer units/revisions have apparently improved/fixed the hinge. Still, the Accentum Plus feels like it has better build quality to me.

- Battery: I’d obviously prefer the better battery life. Not necessarily a deal breaker, but definitely something I care about.

- Portability: Pretty important. I plan on travelling more in the future, so I like that I can fold them and throw them into a bag/case easily.

- Use case: Mostly wearing them while working and listening to music, plus occasionally taking them to the gym. I’m not an audiophile or anything.

There isn’t really one huge deal breaker for me. The Sony seems to win on ANC and the more fun/punchy sound, while the Sennheiser is making me feel a bit more confident about build quality and longevity.

The hinge situation is probably my biggest concern with the ULT Wear. If the newer batches genuinely don’t have that issue anymore, I’d be much more comfortable choosing them.

For anyone who has owned the ULT Wear, Accentum Plus, or preferably both — which would you choose at ₹12.3k vs ₹13k?

Also, if you’ve bought a newer ULT Wear recently, have you had any hinge/build issues?

Thanks in advance!

(Used AI to rephrase my post)

PLEASE READ FOR CONTEXT ⬇️

I’m stuck between the Sony ULT Wear and Sennheiser Accentum Plus and could use some advice from people who have actually owned/used either of them, especially if you’ve tried both.

I’m getting the ULT Wear for ₹12.3k and the Accentum Plus for ₹13k from a Croma near me, so the price difference is basically irrelevant.

I’ve tried both in-store and here’s where I’m at:

- Sound: I think I slightly prefer the Sony. I like the punchier/more fun sound of the ULT Wear. The Accentum Plus sounded more balanced, though, and I don’t think the difference would bother me much in normal day-to-day use.

- ANC: This is pretty important to me, and from what I’ve tried/read, the Sony is noticeably better here. This is probably the biggest thing pulling me towards the ULT.

- Build quality: This is where I’m hesitant about Sony. I know the ULT Wear has had reports of hinge issues, although I’ve also been reading that newer units/revisions have apparently improved/fixed the hinge. Still, the Accentum Plus feels like it has better build quality to me.

- Battery: I’d obviously prefer the better battery life. Not necessarily a deal breaker, but definitely something I care about.

- Portability: Pretty important. I plan on travelling more in the future, so I like that I can fold them and throw them into a bag/case easily.

- Use case: Mostly wearing them while working and listening to music, plus occasionally taking them to the gym. I’m not an audiophile or anything.

There isn’t really one huge deal breaker for me. The Sony seems to win on ANC and the more fun/punchy sound, while the Sennheiser is making me feel a bit more confident about build quality and longevity.

The hinge situation is probably my biggest concern with the ULT Wear. If the newer batches genuinely don’t have that issue anymore, I’d be much more comfortable choosing them.

For anyone who has owned the ULT Wear, Accentum Plus, or preferably both — which would you choose at ₹12.3k vs ₹13k?

Also, if you’ve bought a newer ULT Wear recently, have you had any hinge/build issues?

Thanks in advance!

(Used AI to rephrase my post)

Been wanting the Sony WH-1000XM4 for a while and finally decided to pull the trigger. Specifically after the white/silver one.

Problem is the price. Flipkart has it at 22k right now which is way above what I'm willing to pay. My budget is 15k or less.

Before anyone says it, yes I know 15k is not the usual retail price for these. But I've managed to pull off similar deals with other gadgets before by digging around enough, so I don't think it's impossible. Just need the right lead.

I stay near Karol Bagh so the offline markets are pretty accessible to me. If anyone has recent experience buying from a shop in KB, Gaffar, Nehru Place, Lajpat Nagar, wherever, I'd really appreciate a name of the shop/number or any sort of lead. Only looking for brand new sealed box, not refurb or open box. Happy to travel anywhere in Delhi NCR if the price is right.

Also open to online options if there's something I'm missing. Flipkart is the only site I somewhat trust at this point and even that has gone downhill compared to a few years back. Are there other places people actually order from without getting burned? And is it worth just waiting for the next big sale, or do XM4 prices not really move much anymore?

Any leads appreciated. 🙌

Been wanting the Sony WH-1000XM4 for a while and finally decided to pull the trigger. Specifically after the white/silver one.

Problem is the price. Flipkart has it at 22k INR right now which is way above what I'm willing to pay. My budget is 15k INR or less.

Before anyone says it, yes I know 15k is not the usual retail price for these. But I've managed to pull off similar deals with other gadgets before by digging around enough, so I don't think it's impossible. Just need the right lead.

I stay near Karol Bagh so the offline markets are pretty accessible to me. If anyone has recent experience buying from a shop in KB, Gaffar, Nehru Place, Lajpat Nagar, wherever, I'd really appreciate a name of the shop/number or any sort of lead. Only looking for brand new sealed box, not refurb or open box. Happy to travel anywhere in Delhi NCR if the price is right.

Also open to online options if there's something I'm missing. Flipkart is the only site I somewhat trust at this point and even that has gone downhill compared to a few years back. Are there other places people actually order from without getting burned? And is it worth just waiting for the next big sale, or do XM4 prices not really move much anymore?

Any leads appreciated. 🙌

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to buy my first pair of serious over-ear ANC headphones and I’m torn between the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the XM6.

\# A bit about my usage:

\\- iPhone user

\\- Currently using AirPods Pro (Gen 1)

\\- Mixed usage: music, YouTube/Netflix, travel, work calls, and the occasional gym session.

\\- I’m \*\*not an audiophile\*\*, so I probably won’t notice tiny differences in sound quality.

\\- My budget is stretchable, but I just can’t seem to justify spending around \*\*₹35k\*\* on headphones it’s absolutely out of this world.

I’m not considering the XM5 because of the hinge breaking issues I’ve seen reported. I’d rather avoid that altogether.

\# My questions:

\\- Is the XM6 actually worth paying almost triple compared to the XM4?

\\- Is the XM4 still a good buy in 2026, or is it starting to show its age?

\\- If you were buying today, which one would you pick and why?

\\- For someone coming from AirPods Pro Gen 1, will I notice a huge difference with either pair?

Would really appreciate opinions from people who’ve used both.

Thanks!

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to buy my first pair of serious over-ear ANC headphones and I’m torn between the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the XM6.

# A bit about my usage:

\- iPhone user

\- Currently using AirPods Pro (Gen 1)

\- Mixed usage: music, YouTube/Netflix, travel, work calls, and the occasional gym session.

\- I’m **not an audiophile**, so I probably won’t notice tiny differences in sound quality.

\- My budget is stretchable, but I just can’t seem to justify spending around **₹35k** on headphones it’s absolutely out of this world.

I’m not considering the XM5 because of the hinge breaking issues I’ve seen reported. I’d rather avoid that altogether.

# My questions:

\- Is the XM6 actually worth paying almost triple compared to the XM4?

\- Is the XM4 still a good buy in 2026, or is it starting to show its age?

\- If you were buying today, which one would you pick and why?

\- For someone coming from AirPods Pro Gen 1, will I notice a huge difference with either pair?

Would really appreciate opinions from people who’ve used both.

Thanks!

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to buy my first pair of serious over-ear ANC headphones and I’m torn between the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the XM6.

# A bit about my usage:

\- iPhone user

\- Currently using AirPods Pro (Gen 1)

\- Mixed usage: music, YouTube/Netflix, travel, work calls, and the occasional gym session.

\- I’m **not an audiophile**, so I probably won’t notice tiny differences in sound quality.

\- My budget is stretchable, but I just can’t seem to justify spending around **₹35k** on headphones it’s absolutely out of this world.

I’m not considering the XM5 because of the hinge breaking issues I’ve seen reported. I’d rather avoid that altogether.

# My questions:

\- Is the XM6 actually worth paying almost triple compared to the XM4?

\- Is the XM4 still a good buy in 2026, or is it starting to show its age?

\- If you were buying today, which one would you pick and why?

\- For someone coming from AirPods Pro Gen 1, will I notice a huge difference with either pair?

Would really appreciate opinions from people who’ve used both.

Thanks!