Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones review
These noise cancelling headphones have racked up quite the reputation with a 4.7-star average rating, so I put them to the test.
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One thing about me is I can’t live without music. It doesn’t matter where I go or what I’m doing, I will most likely have headphones on – tuning out the world and bopping my head to the same 10 songs I’ve had on repeat.
And as a self-proclaimed music enthusiast with 71,000 minutes of music listening on Spotify just last year (weird flex, I know), noise cancelling headphones that are truly noise cancelling are an absolute must-have for me, especially on public transport. But it can definitely be hard to find headphones that do the job well.
I have the Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) and Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones – my first ever noise cancelling pair and while I do love them both, I can’t deny that I was intrigued by the top-rated Sony WH-1000XM5* headphones.
Do they really live up to the hype? Are they worth the hefty price tag? What exactly is so good about them? Those were just some of the many questions I had going through my head every time I saw them on my feed.
So I decided to test of these best-selling headphones and boy, they did NOT disappoint.
SUMMARY OF SPECS
Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Cancelling Headphones
Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
- Carrying case
- Headphone cable
- USB-C charging cable
- Instruction manual
QUICK REVIEW OF SONY WH-1000XM5 HEADPHONES
Boasting quality, comfort and style – the Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphone ($549) is the headphones that are worth the investment. The noise cancellation is a massive upgrade compared to my Bose headphones, plus the user experience, app support and comfortability of the XM5s are on another level. It’s the perfect commute companion as it effectively blocks out any unwanted noise and it has a cool feature that automatically adjusts the sound settings according to your environment and location. To say they’re a stellar pair of headphones that truly changed my life would be an understatement.
HOW WE TESTED THE SONY WH-1000XM5 HEADPHONES
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I used the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones almost every day for a little over six weeks in a range of scenarios – walking my dogs, playing games, listening to music, watching videos, on public transport, at work and taking calls to truly see what these headphones are about.
In this article
- Full review of Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones
- Design and Comfort
- Features
- Noise-Cancelling and Audio Quality
- App Support
- Battery Life
- Price
- Other comparable noise-cancelling headphones
- Verdict: Should you buy the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones?
FULL REVIEW OF SONY WH-1000XM5 HEADPHONES
Released in May 2022, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones still reign as the “best headphones ever” according to reviewers. The XM5s come after their just-as-popular predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM4 which spoiler alert: I’ll also be road testing in the future.
And while I can’t talk about detailed comparisons between the two (yet), read on for my stand-alone review of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones.
DESIGN AND COMFORT
When it comes to headphones (or anything really), I need them to not only serve their purpose but look incredibly stylish, and this pair definitely passed that test.
They have a sleek and modern design, and offer leather-look padding along the ear cups and headband – making them super comfortable to wear for long periods of time, even with glasses. They’re also adjustable and feel super secure.
I was pleasantly surprised at how lightweight the headphones are despite the ear cups being big and bulky. The left ear cup has a 3.5mm audio jack, in case you wanted to use the headphones wired as well as two buttons – one for power/bluetooth and one for switching between noise cancelling and ambient sound mode. On the other hand, the right ear cup has a USB-C port for charging.
However, a feature that I don’t like is that the headphones aren’t foldable. Although it comes in a collapsible case, that alone would still take up a fair bit of space in my bag as the headphones have to lay flat. So, it isn’t a great portable option if you plan on taking them off while out and about. While it isn’t ideal, it’s something I personally can look past however others may consider it a deal-breaker.
For my gym-goers, one thing you might want to know is that the headphones are not water or sweat proof – wearing them may not be a great idea if you’re looking to work up a sweat. Consider doing light workouts or exercise that won’t have you sweating up a storm so that you do not damage the headphones.
FEATURES
A feature that was new to me was the touch control panel. Yes, I know, you can double tap on AirPods to skip the music and single tap to pause/play but these Sony headphones allow you to have full control of more setting – right at your fingertips.
The touch control ability is built into the right ear cup and you can adjust the volume, skip songs, pause or play songs, fast forward or playback and more by swiping your finger in certain directions.
- Swipe forward = skip song
- Swipe backward = replay song/play previous song
- Double tap = pause/play
- Swipe up = volume up
- Swipe down = volume down
- Swipe forward + hold = fast forward
- Swipe backward + hold = fast reverse
- Tap + hold = Siri activated
The headphones also have built-in capacitive sensors that allow them to detect when the headphones are on or off. The music will automatically stop when taken off and will play when put back on.
Not to mention, you can keep the headphones connected to two devices at once – which is convenient if you’re listening to music on your laptop and need to take a call on your phone.
NOISE-CANCELLING AND AUDIO QUALITY
With a whole heap of advanced features to offer, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones bring superior noise cancellation to the table.
It features Adaptive Sound Control which is a feat that completely blew my mind. The headphones are able to assess where you are and what you’re doing, and automatically adjust the ambient sound settings according to your environment – so if you’re walking, sitting, running or in a vehicle, you best believe your headphones will detect that, adjust accordingly and allow you to enjoy your music in peace.
Plus, you can receive app notifications in real time when the sound settings change.
To further praise the noise cancellation, sometimes I will pop the headphones on with no music playing and it will still effectively drown out the noise pollution in any environment I’m in, which is super impressive. Perhaps that isn’t due to the NC but more so the design and thick ear cup padding.
The audio quality on the other hand is just amazing. It’s detailed, clear, crisp and being able to hear each instrument or beat in a song separately is so satisfying. So, these headphones truly deliver an immersive listening experience.
Built with multiple microphones, these headphones are great at picking up your voice clearly regardless of background noise and environment. The call quality is second-to-none and it’s great if you’re constantly in remote meetings or calls.
APP SUPPORT
The Sony Headphones Connect app is extremely user-friendly and a must-download for those that own a pair of Sony headphones.
The app does a great job at introducing the different features like Adaptive Sound Control, Voice Assistant, Spotify Tap and more – and it also has a tutorial section that explains the different functions that you may not know about. You also get notified if there is a pending software update.
I appreciate that the app allows you to set-up your headphones, tailor the controls and settings to your personal preference and lets you track your activity, as well as earn different types of badges by listening to music and using different functions – I found this to be a fun and interesting feature as a customer. It’s kind of like a loyalty program in a sense, which I don’t think I have ever seen with both Bose and Apple.
BATTERY LIFE
The battery life of this bad boy is just as impressive – with 30 hours of battery life, these headphones truly last a long time. Over the six weeks I’ve been using them, I’ve only ever had to charge them twice because the battery doesn’t drain fast. And if they do die, you can get three hours’ worth of power just from three minutes of charging – talk about a powerhouse. However, it does depend on how often and long you use them.
PRICE
Retailing for $549, the Sony WH-1000XM5’s are clearly of a higher price point, however, you can rest assured that you’ll be getting superior active noise cancellation, crisp sound quality and a premium user experience with this pair.
We’ll also be checking for any rare deals and discounts on the headphones during Black Friday.
OTHER COMPARABLE NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
Bose Headphones 700
Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Cancelling Headphones
Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones
Apple AirPods Max - Space Grey
VERDICT: SHOULD YOU BUY THE SONY WH-1000XM5 HEADPHONES?
If you don’t have a pair or noise cancelling headphones or are looking to upgrade from an old pair, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are an unrivalled choice. I’ve been using them almost everyday for six weeks while at home, walking my dogs and commuting to work – they’re truly a game changer.
Not only are they stylish but the active noise cancellation is far better than what I’ve ever tried, they offer great app-support and provide full customisability to match your personal preferences, plus the touch controls are intuitive.
While they are quite hefty in price, if you think about the cost per use – it definitely makes it worth every cent as they’re so versatile. You can use it for gaming, travelling, working and everything in between.
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*Product was provided by Sony for an independent and honest review.
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