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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for great sound quality on a budget, the AKG K361 headphones are a good choice; they deliver strong performance at a lower price than the Sonys. However, they are wired and lack a microphone, making them less versatile for calls and travel. The Sony WF1000XM4 earbuds are wireless, offer excellent sound quality and comfort, have active noise cancelling, and come with a built-in microphone, but they are more expensive. While the AKG is better for concentrated listening sessions or studio work, the Sonys are more suited to everyday use, especially for those who want premium features like noise cancellation and wireless convenience. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the AKG K361
Good for TV and video
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM4
Excellent for music
Very good for air travel
Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.5/10
9.0/10
The Sony WF1000XM4 is excellent for music, while the AKG K361 is good.
Gaming
6.3/10
5.6/10
The AKG K361 is only fair for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is poor.
Phone Calls
3.2/10
6.7/10
The Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair for phone calls, while the AKG K361 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.0/10
10.0/10
The Sony WF1000XM4 is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the AKG K361 is poor.
TV and Video
7.8/10
6.0/10
The AKG K361 is good for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
6.0/10
8.3/10
The Sony WF1000XM4 is very good for noise reduction, while the AKG K361 is only fair.
Battery
N/A
9.0 Hours
The AKG K361 does not have a battery. The Sony WF1000XM4 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$100
$278
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The AKG K361 has a price of $100 and the Sony WF1000XM4 costs $278.
"The K361 retains much of what makes the K371 such a winner, though it has a leaner sound, and the build changes made to trim the price down are immediately apparent. Still, it’s another excellent offering from AKG, and other companies in this fight should either be very worried or quickly designing updates to their old models."
"The headphones deliver a satisfying user experience, class-leading battery life, some of the best noise-cancelling we’ve heard in this category, and absolutely stunning sound quality."
Get a great deal on the AKG K361 or the Sony WF1000XM4
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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