Given that we already rated the XM4 as the best all-around headphones on the market, where do you go from there? Well, it’s about refinements and materials. The WH-1000XM5 retains the DNA of the line that came to market years ago but is streamlined. You can read our full head-to-head comparison of the Sony XM4 and XM5 headphones; this article will only touch on the subject.
By far, the biggest physical and visual change is the headband. A new design bears some resemblance to the Bose 700 series. It’s a tubular design that no longer folds into a neat little package like the XM3 and XM4. That will ruffle a few feathers because, traditionally, XM headphones are hugely popular among travelers to whom space in a carry-on is at a premium.
There are new drivers for claimed improved sound performance increases on the inside. I will, of course, talk about it later in this review. There are also more microphones and a new chip to improve the noise-canceling strength.
Battery life remains the same at 30 hours, and an updated quick-charge function exists. There will also be a light and a dark color option. We chose to review the black version of the XM5, and it’s holding up well.
Finally, the earpads and materials have been upgraded to make an all-around higher quality product leaning into the luxury market while retaining a fair consumer price (RRP $400 USD).
Specifications
Rather than listing a boring sheet of specifications, let’s talk about the most important features of the Sony WH-1000XM5.
The XM5, as mentioned before, has a quick charge function, but it’s not any old type of quick charge. Depending on the type of power brick you use. You receive either 5 hours of playback from a 10-minute charge (standard charger) or 3 hours in 3 minutes (from a PD – Power Delivery Charger).
That’s a bold claim and not true in our testing. The 10-minute charge gave us just 4 hours of playback, whereas the 3-minute charge proved accurate. This will vary on volume levels and is still a mighty impressive feature to have on any headphones, especially if you travel a lot with them and need a fast top-up of power.
Sadly there was still no inclusion of APTX or APTX HD. You are stuck using only Sony’s proprietary LDAC technology if you want to stream music at higher bitrates than conventional Bluetooth. LDAC is good, but we love options, so it was a disappointment that they have again omitted this much-requested feature.
The relocation of the receivers and the updated materials have improved the range and stability of the connection. I could travel significantly further from my source device using the XM5 than with other leading noise-canceling headphones. Updates to the Bluetooth codec and the hardware are extremely welcome, and I didn’t receive any dropped connections during our review process.
The other features we liked from the previous models, like upscaling audio and the ability to cover an earpiece to get passthrough audio, are still present. It seems like Sony refined existing features and added a few significant spec bumps to get our attention.
Design, Styling and Build Quality
Ok, so as I mentioned above, there is a significant change in this new model, and I’m on the fence on whether or not it’s a step forward or they are just following a trend.
The headband departs from the line’s flat band shape and is now tubular. This looks very sleek from the side, but from the front, it increases the negative space between the head and headband yoke mechanism. I don’t think it looks bad; it’s slightly less refined than if the yoke was more integrated.
Of course, with this new design, you lose the ability to fold the XM5 as you had on previous versions. This will probably irritate travelers who enjoyed the compact folding size of previous versions. However, there is a benefit.
Traditionally, the weakest point of Sony’s XM headphones was the folding mechanism, and while it improved with each version, headphones were still prone to cracking if you weren’t careful.
It’s a trade-off: a bit of modern styling to increase reliability while losing the compact nature and streamlined fit. I call this neither a win nor a loss. Just something a little different, and it should be noted Sony told us that the XM4 line will continue to be sold.
The build quality overall is greatly improved. They feel like a higher-quality product, leaning towards the luxury headphones category. This was to keep them competitive against new Apple and Bang & Olufsen headphones, which inspire confidence through their material choices.
The Sony WH-1000XM5’s earcups feel more premium and substantial, but they aren’t metal, so you do lose out a little in that regard to more expensive models.
The headband we discussed above makes them sturdier than ever, and a new slider mechanism that runs on metal rails allows for precision fit adjustments.
It doesn’t stop there because the contact points have also been upgraded. When we tested them, they felt better on the head, more balanced and anchored. The headband padding is a more resistive memory foam that conformed to the shape of my head and relieved me from contact pressure.
The earpads are just stunning. It’s a protein leather, and probably the softest and most breathable I have ever used on any headphones. All-day comfort is achieved, a noticeable step forward for the lineup.
How Strong is the Noise Cancelling?
The noise-canceling is class-leading. Sony took over from Bose as the best noise-canceling headphones some time ago, but with this new model, they take another step forward, offering the strongest noise-canceling performance we have ever tested.
In my day-to-day life, I am so accustomed to using noise-cancelling earbuds that only when it comes time to travel and I pick up a full-size set of ANC headphones do I realize how advanced the tech is. Really, there is no comparison, and the Sonys, for me, are always the best in the sheer amount of background noise they eliminate.
