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.

[AndreasPe]

I'm experiencing exactly the same issues with my WH-1000XM2  as described by OP, after updating to 4.1.1.

This thread was started for about three weeks ago and still no word or fix from Sony? Disappointing.

[GordonWTee]

After about 2 weeks Sony came back today with a link to the help page regarding  noise cancelling optimiser.  As if I hadn’t tried that several times to no avail.

Sony Support are the worst ever 😔

[HorvathIldi]

Any update on this?

Just bought them, tried out for an hour, updated to 4.1.1 without using google. Now I can basically hear everything with NC fully turned on. 

If this wont be solved within a week, I'm going to return my wh 1000mx3 and go with Bose qc35II...

I'm very sad about this Sony.

[albert3d]

I bought them a couple days ago and started reading about this. I'm still with 2.00 version, I haven't updated yet. I'm not going to do it after reading all that comments.

Hoping to get a new update that fixes this issue, or I'll think about returning them and getting the Bose for 100+ less euros...

[Trillion2k]

This 4.1.1 update definitely made the ANC worse, all Sony has to do is compare a set with the previous firmware and this firmware. As it stands with this update with anc on you can still hear everything perhaps 10% less on some sounds but most things are audible the same as with anc off.

Tried a set in John Lewis which hasn't been updated and the difference is night and day. I really hope Sony take note and sort a new firmware release or indeed a rollback to previous firmware to sort this ASAP. 

[janush_]

I bought them unfortunately in Switzerland and I cannot return them... I asked in the shop if I can sent them to Sony Andrzej they told me sure but if they don't find anything wrong and send them back the shop will charge me 80 (350 was the price) so now I'm just waiting for the new update and I hope that maybe some IT specialist will get the old soft and show us how we can install it without Sony support...

[Haraldboye]

Same problem here in sweden, Sony, please fix this ANC-issue ASAP! 

[quezak]

I can confirm that the ANC is much worse after the update. Both using my laptop and the phone (why would it matter anyway?). My friend from the office says his unit also works worse.
I can clearly hear everyone talking, even the clicks of my own keyboard and humming of the AC and computers around are cancelled much weaker...

[macbem]

This update ruined what I valued in my Sony WH-1000XM3 - battery life and great ANC. It's all gone now - battery life is not as great anymore and ANC is way weaker than it was before the update. This is ridiculous - those are $350 headphones and it seems like the updates aren't even tested properly.

[janush_]

they are equal to the 50$ headphones with passive NC... did someone tried to send them back for replacement??