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.

[Ninyu4]

"I wanted to downgrade to version 2 this weekend (Reddit).
I don't know if the downgrade script also works from 4.2.2 to 2."

The script should work with all firmware versions.
Try the 4.2.2 or research..

[PredinCZE]

Sad to say the same thing happened to me. Bought the headphones three weeks ago - noise cancelling was amazing. After firmware update I can hear noises and voices as if no ANC was on (or very little). I can basically use any other headphones I have at home with the same NC quality.

I've tried factory reset, turning off ambient sound and adjusting the NC level. Nothing helps. After update 4.2.2 there's no change.

[tom66279]

hello! may I ask when you first bought this headphone and took it out of the box, what was the firmware version at that time? Was it 1.0.8? As I hear alot of people say that was the best version of firmware with full potency of ANC.

[alexgower]

I have recently started to experience the 'wind noise' issues when I enable noise cancelling. 

One thing that makes me think this could be a software issue is that if i switch the 'Ambient Sound Control' mode to 'Ambient 1' on the app, the wind noise goes away, but if I enable 'Focus on Voice' then it comes back.

It seems like the noise cancelling mode has 'Focus on Voice' enabled by default in this firmware version (4.2.2 or 4.1.1), which could be something to do with the addition of the Google Assistant?

Does anyone else agree with me that the white noise/wind noise sounds exactly the same as when 'Focus on Voice' is enabled?

[Bill99H]

I bought my 1000xm3 2 moths ago and I tested firmware 2.0, then updated to 4.1.1 and it’s clear that Sony has made a major regression. Please please fix this issue with the anc. I do so much research on headphones and I was excited and confident that I bought these, and now I am extremely disappointed and will not purchase another Sony product if this problem isn’t fixed. PLEASE 

[BigBide]

Bought a xm3 that came with v4.1.1 pre-installed, downgraded it successfully with the python script to v2.0.0.

I can't perceive any significative change in the noise cancellation. Voices aren't particularly blocked. Same for any medium sounds. So far I'm not convinced about the 40% change, or maybe it's due to something else.

I actually even think i'm gonna go back to v4.2.2 as you can't disable the notifications in 2.0.0 and they're quite annoying.

I'm gonna test a few days and give my feedback in some other environments (especially in an office i use to hear everything with the 4.2.2). In the transports it's quite clean already.

[Brewster345]

Thank you to you all here for all the info. Was thinking of getting these headphones as I'm fed up with a similar issue with my Bose QC35s. Will steer clear of the XM3s.

[Ninyu4]

Similar issues with the Bose?


Sincerely,
May Kasahara

[victims of audible & neural torture]

[BigBide]

Ok, as promised, after further investigations I do confirm that v4.x.x does change the ANC performance.

I found that voice reduction was ok at work (with v2.0.0), as I couldn't understand my coworker in front of me with the sound at 15.
I did the upgrade to v4.2.2 to be able to deactivate the annoying notifications. I tried again.
Same music, same music, I can now clearly understand what he says. Tried to reappair, reset the ANC, relaunch the optimization. Nothing changes.

I'm going back to 2.0.0 asap. Maybe that's placebo but I seriously doubt it.

[Brewster345]

Yes, the Bose QC35's ANC was completely ruined by an firmware update (just before the 700s come out) and it led me to think of getting the XM3s now they're on sale in a few places. But I'm incredibly wary because of this thread. The Bose can't be downgraded (they could but Bose decided to close that loophole). Can the Xm3's and does the ANC return to normal after that?