Ok....So you actually prefer the smooth sound of the Sony? See, a lot of people keep saying Sony lacks detail, but I disagree. It's a smooth more rolled off upper register, but it's still there. Reminds me of their house sound. I had zx507 DAP. Smooth overall sound which I liked, but wanted something more powerful. Anyway, xm4 is just soothing to my ears. I'm now using xelastec tips, and I just nestle in at work, or on the street, and enjoy many different genres.
Now, I'm not OP but I feel like there's something about the Sony's and the fit that really is a make or break thing.
I feel like they actually fit my ears quite well if we're talking the feeling in the ears, but they don't sit flush in my ears even though I feel like the eartips are firmly in place in my ears, I just can't get them to sound anywhere near what I enjoy the most.
I think it boils down to a couple of things overall why they're a bit polarizing:
1) The fit, like I mentioned earlier, combined with having to find the perfect tips to get the most of them.
2) People who listen to their music with no regard for ear health and volume restrictions - Because they sound really bad to me over 70%, the last 30% of volume honestly don't sound louder to me, it's like every click of the volume up button just makes it sound more and more bloated and congested in the mids and seemingly making the treble even more rolled off. So if somebody immediately blasts up the music to 70% will probably just think they're pretty bad.
Not basing that on anything other than my experience, but I know that the SQ changes A LOT after 70%-ish and I prefer being around 70-80% if i'm not in a super quiet environment. (don't need to know that I should lower the volume lol).
3) People who haven't even heard them but just seen a frequency graph and thinking that they're "trash" because they do have some treble roll-off with EQ off.
I see a lot of people saying that they're just so good because they make you really "feel" your music. I'm not one who just wants an analytical sound at all, but the XM4's actually leave me completely cold because it's just not delivering enough clarity/details or punch to really move me, nothing sticks out but they're smooth and easy-listened, sure.
They're very easy to use in the long run and supreme as a TWS for everything but the sound imho, but once again that's just my opinion.
Also i'm on AAC so that might also be why i'm not feeling like I enjoy them, but it shouldn't make that much of a difference either even if it's noticeable.
I used to love the wired Sony earbuds I bought when I was younger but maybe I just don't enjoy their "house sound" anymore? I don't know.