Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: A Detailed Look at Features, Goods, and Bads
Sony is one of the biggest names in the headphone industry, and they have proved it again and again, especially with the WH-1000 series of headphones. Although you will find many similarities in the overall design of this line of headphones, the sound performance has been improved along with other features like noise canceling abilities, microphone quality, etc. I saw some excellent features in XM4 but if Sony was able to maintain the same quality features in Sony WH-1000XM5 as well? Let’s find out in this article.
Tech Specs:
- Style: Over-ear
- Frequency response: 20 Hz-20000 Hz
- Battery Life: 30 hours
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2
- Audio Formats: SBC, AAC, LDAC
- Weight: 250 g
The Goods
- Fantastic Sound quality
- ANC is pretty effective
- Plenty of customizations
- Decent call quality
- Find My Device supported
The Bads
- Not that portable
- The build feels a bit cheap
- Not a great fit for small heads
Design and Build
Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless has the same basic design as its predecessors, but this one is a bit lighter than the XM4 (only 4 grams). You might find the plastic finish a little cheap (though these headphones are made of recycled plastic to be environmentally friendly, a highly appreciated step) compared to previous models.
Moreover, you will not find any hinges to adjust the headphones and roll them into a ball to tuck away in smaller spaces, so they only fold flat, which is a compromise on portability.
The earcups are comfortable, and they can cover even larger ears well. I feel the earcups grip pretty decent. They feel tight but do not suck the life out of my ears. Moreover, the headphones do not feel heavy on the head, but if you have a small head, you might find the fit a bit clumsy.
Moreover, the headphones are not advertised for IP rating (not that I have seen), so it is better to avoid wearing them during gym or in the rain. If you want work buddies, it’s better to use noise-canceling earbuds than headphones because they come with water/sweat resistance. However, I was very disappointed that Sony WH-1000XM5 earbuds are also not water-sealed. Sony should seriously consider this in the next line of devices.
Controls
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones have responsive touch controls on the right earcups and physical buttons on the left. These are the same touch controls that you will find on XM4. The swipeable controls work as follows.
- Cup hand: Let the ambient sounds pass
- Swipe Up: Increases volume
- Swipe down: Decreases volume
- Swipe Forward: Skip to next track
- Swipe backwards: Plays previous track
- Hold the center: Launch Voice assistant
- Double tap center: Pause/Play
There are also some beeps that you will listen to on the successful register of command. On the left earcups, there are two physical buttons. The power button turns on the headphones and starts pairing after around 3 seconds of powering on, and the noise canceling button allows you to cycle through ANC modes. You can also customize the button to launch voice assistance via the app.
Sound Quality
The sound quality of Sony WH-1000XM 5 headphones is decent and on the bass-heavy side. It means if your favorite music genre is hip hop, you will get that extra punchy sound.
The vocals and instruments at the mid-range also feel nice but I did feel a little distortion in the music. Overall, the default music profile works great and I think an average consumer will enjoy the immersiveness of the sound but if you still want to toggle the sound, you can do so through the EQ presets in the app.
Moreover, the frequency response is also overall great, and you will get consistent audio throughout. However, as I wear glasses, I did feel a little drop in the bass. When I used them without glasses, it all worked well. You might also feel the same if you have thick hair or glasses, so ensure to fit the headphones properly to get consistence frequency.
Noise Cancelation
The noise cancelation of XM5 is excellent compared to many other devices. I used them while commuting and they were significantly able to lower the train and bus noises. You will also be able to ignore the office cheater while wearing the headphones. Thanks to the automatic adaptive noise canceling system that analyses your ambient sounds and optimizes the noise cancellation accordingly.
Moreover, Sony has claimed that they have increased the number of microphones in WH-1000XM5 to better identify the noise. Additionally, you can always turn the awareness mode to let the surrounding sounds pass through.
Call Quality
The call quality is also decent. The person on the other end hears your voice clearly. I have used it in office settings, attended meetings, and did presentations on Zoom, but I never noticed any problem.
However, one of my colleagues reported that he heard an echo of himself while talking on the call. I don’t think it happened to everyone, and it might be due to a malfunctioned model. The microphone noise canceling is also good. It easily separates your voice from the surrounding noise to ensure you are clearly heard on the other side.
Connect App
The app works well and offers an easy-to-use interface. You can toggle almost every function here. There is a graphic and preset EQ to adjust the sound to your liking. You can also revamp the button functions and pair multiple devices for convenience.
If you lost your headphones, you can track them through the app by enabling the Find My Headphones feature. It also allows you to enable 360-reality audio to provide even immersive listening experience.
The app has been updated to add a head tracking feature to provide the best spatial audio experience, but it will only work on devices with Android 13. Unfortunately, my device is still at 11, so I could not check the feature.
Battery Life
Battery life is another aspect where XM5 shines. It is advertised to be 30 hours, which is true in practical use. On my test, the battery life was around 29 hours with ANC on. I could not test it with ANC off because I got the idea that its battery life would definitely improve more with ANC off.
So, these headphones can be with you on long flights and multiple meetings throughout the week after a single charge. However, if you run out of juice, just plug in for 5 minutes and get 2 or 3 hours of battery life.
Comparison With Other Devices
Sony WH-1000XM5 ratings are 9/10 on my charts, however, to give you a more in-depth idea, I would compare this headphone to other potential competitors as well.
Sony WH-1000XM5 vs XM4
Sony WH-100XM4 is the ancestor device of XM5 and probably the biggest competitor as well. That’s because both have many similar features so it becomes hard to choose between the latest one and the older model.
While the XM5 has improved call quality and overall noise canceling, I still prefer the XM4 for a commute because they are more portable you can just fold them into a ball and tuck them in your backpack and their build quality feels more luxurious.
As far as the overall sound quality is concerned, I like the warm and natural sound profile of XM5 over XM4 because they are more bassy. However, the final choice depends on individual preferences.
Sony WH-1Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bose QC Ultra
XM5 has a warmer sound profile while Bose has more bass and rich sound quality and comfort. They both give tough competition to each other when it comes to sound, but the XM5 has better battery life. However, Bose does offer a more foldable design that adds to portability. When it comes to price, QC is far more expensive, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 price range falls into the budgets of many users.
Sony WH-000XM5 vs Airpods Max
Next, I have AirPods Max. While both XM5 and Max sound fantastic, Apple users might prefer Max. I liked the build quality and overall feel of AirPods Max more than the XM5. The noise canceling works almost the same in both devices but like all other Apple products, AirPods fall short of battery life as compared to Sony. Also, the Connect App offers more customization options.
Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Sennheiser Momentum 4
XM5 and Momentum 4 go neck to neck in sound quality. XM5 has a virtual soundstage, while Momentum 4 supports aptX Adaptive codec. However, XM5 does a much better job at noise canceling. But Momentum 4 offers better build quality, more comfort, and a bit extra playback time.
Bottom Line
Sony WH-1000XM5 is a great device to enjoy music. It offers great noise canceling and battery life. However, a better build quality would be a plus. Moreover, I also found Sony XM5 value for money because it delivers the kind of features that fit best for me. However, you must choose a device that offers your preferred sound profile and features.
FAQs
1. Is there any Sony WH-1000XM5 copy in the market?
Yes, the market is flooded with XM5 clone devices, so make sure you buy from a trusted retailer and also check for the authenticity of the headphones.
2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs. Sony wh-1000XM5 vs. Bose QC Ultra, which is better?
Each of these headphones comes with pros and cons. While you can count on the sound quality of all three, they offer different sound profiles. For example, XM5 is more natural, but Bose and Momentum offer higher bass. Also, the build quality of XM5 feels less premium than the other two. So, in the end, the ultimate headphone choice depends on your preference and budget.
3. Is Sony XM5 waterproof?
No, the Sony XM5 is not waterproof, so it is not recommended in the rain or during workouts. You can use water-sealed wireless earbuds for that.
