In a market oversaturated with many headphones, most manufacturers are adding bonus specs to differentiate their products and ensure they remain at the top. Case in point: the WH-1000XM5, wireless Sony headphones that have shaken the market since their release for their superior noise-cancellation technology.
Moreover, the headphones’ sound is engineered to perfection, which explains why they sit at the top of the heap more than one year after their release. Nevertheless, even though the WH-1000XM5 are dubbed the near-perfect headphones, don’t buy them until you’ve done your due diligence. Below is a guide to the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones.
Sony WH-1000XM5: Summary
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Sony |
| Product type | Wireless headphones |
| Release date | May 2022 |
| Price | $349.99 |
| Weight | Approximately 0.6 pounds |
| Battery life | Approximately 24 hours with NC ON 32 hours with NC OFF |
| Charge time | Approximately 3.5 hours |
| Bluetooth version | Version 5.2 |
| Bluetooth range | 32.81 feet |
| Frequency response | 4Hz-40,000Hz (JEITA) |
| Volume control | Uses a touch sensor |
| Wearing style | Over the ear |
| Noise cancelation | Available |
History of the Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones
As any loyal buyer of headphones will tell you, the WH-1000XM5 aren’t Sony’s first headphones on the market. In 2020, Sony released the WH-1000XM4, a wireless headset designed to defy all manufacturing rules and give users the best immersive audio experience.
Despite the WH-1000XM4’s innovation and public appeal, Sony released the WH-1000XM5, which applied and improved the noise-cancelation technology seen in the XM4 to become the best headphones on the market.
Unfortunately, these near-perfect headphones had several bugs, which affected their overall performance. Sony swiftly rectified the problem with a firmware update, which improved the headphones’ performance, noise canceling optimizer, music playback stability, and wearing detection feature.
Overall, the WH-1000XM5 are a neat device you shouldn’t ignore when shopping around for headphones.
What’s Included When You Buy the Sony WH-1000XM5
Unlike in the past, the metrics for good headphones go beyond their brand name, visual appeal, and sound quality. Users must consider other features like battery capacity, connectivity, and noise cancelation technology. This section provides an in-depth review of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones.
Design
Following the release of the WH-1000XM4 headphones, we assumed that Sony couldn’t do better design-wise. They proved us wrong with the WH-1000XM5, which are sleek and curvier than we expected.
The headphones are dressed in a tough plastic casing that protects them against damage when they fall. You will also appreciate the headphones’ color variety as you are not limited to the monotonous dark shade; you can get the headphones in midnight blue and silver.
- Two processors control 8 microphones
- Auto NC Optimizer
- The new Sony V1 Integrated Processor
- Hands-free calling with 4 beamforming microphones
- Up to 30-hour battery life with quick charging
- Ultra-comfortable, lightweight design with soft-fit leather
In addition, Sony packed the WH-1000XM5 with a leather pad at the top to cover the plastic headband, which is impressive. But the gist is the curvy ear cups that are big and well-padded to ensure you’re engulfed in the music world.
In addition, Sony ensured the ear cups are deep and surrounded by a soft leather material to protect your ears while still providing the best noiseless experience. Now, let’s talk about portability.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are lightweight; they weigh 0.6 pounds, so you can comfortably carry them to school or work. They also have a collapsible case for easy storage. Our only criticism of the WH-1000XM5’s design is that they aren’t water-resistant, which is disappointing.
Noise Cancelation Technology
Powered by the integrated V1 processor, the WH-1000XM5’s noise-canceling technology is unmatched. Sony packed these headphones with eight microphones, which can effectively collect and minimize the unprecedented surrounding noise.
Also, the WH-1000XM5 have an atmospheric pressure optimizing feature, which detects the microphone’s surrounding atmospheric pressure. For example, when you move from home to school, it adjusts the noise cancelation settings accordingly.
But where the WH-1000XM5 shine the most is in the personal NC optimizer technology, which allows the headphones to analyze your wearing conditions and adjust the settings, especially if you’re sharing them.
For instance, it can detect your hairstyle, face shape, and whether you wear glasses to know who is currently using the microphone and adjust the settings to the user’s preferences.
However, Sony understands the safety concerns of using noise-canceling headphones, so they included an ambient sound mode feature. The WH-1000XM5 have four microphones on the ear cups, which collect the surrounding ambient sounds to increase your awareness of the surroundings, even with the noise cancelation feature on.
The Quick Attention feature adds to the WH-1000XM5’s specs, allowing you to touch the ear cups and reduce the headphone’s volume to make the ambient sound more apparent.
- Integrated Processor V1
- Up to 30-hour battery life
- Advanced audio signal processing
- Multipoint connection
Overall, the WH-1000XM5’s noise cancelation feature is their best specification. For example, the WH-1000XM5 have more microphones than the WH-1000XM4 to help them clear out all the surrounding noise.
Even though the two models have similarities, the WH-1000XM5’s ambiance sound mode is better than their predecessor’s. Thus, don’t hesitate to acquire the XM5.
Good Sound Performance
We cannot have a complete review of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones without discussing their audio performance and quality. Sony packed the WH-1000XM5 with a 30mm driver unit, which left us dumbfounded, as their previous headphones, the XM4, had a 40mm driver unit.
The primary adage in the headphones market is that bigger drivers produce a better base. But it seems Sony is ignoring this long-standing tradition and going with a smaller driver, which surprisingly sounds better.
Sony added a light rigid dome, which surrounds the driver unit and aids the headphones in producing high frequencies, thus improving overall sound quality. Moreover, Sony packed the XM5 with a fine sound resistor to ensure equal power distribution to both ear cups.
Also, they included an optimized circuitry connection, which boosts the headphones’ signal-to-noise ratio for better sound quality. So, even though the WH-1000XM5 have a low driver unit, their surrounding cast ensures that these headphones produce clear and consistent sound.
Lastly, these headphones support high-resolution audio, which increases the headphones’ sampling rate to make your music more life-like. And with the XM5’s DSEE Extreme, you can listen to low-quality audio, as the AI analyzes the audio’s quality in real-time and enhances it, making it crispier.
Overall, you may have initial concerns about the WH-1000XM5’s reduced driver unit, but you should change your mind after testing their audio performance.
Long-Lasting Battery
The WH-1000XM5’s battery packs enough juice to give you 32 hours of call time and 40 hours of music playback on a single charge. But you can squeeze out more hours if you use the headphones moderately.
- Battery: 30 hours
- Features an automatic noise optimizer (AI noise cancelling)
- Includes Sony's V1 Processor for great sound
- Features soft leather ear-cups
In addition, the XM5 takes 3.5 hours to charge, which is impressive. However, the headphones’ standout feature is that they give you 3 hours of usage time after charging for 3 minutes.
Other Features
The WH-1000XM5 have other exciting features that defy various rules of headphone manufacturing. For example, Sony included the speak-to-chat feature, which recognizes your voice and stops the music instantly, allowing you to talk with others.
Moreover, thanks to the microphones built into the headphones, the XM5 can filter the surrounding ambient noise and detect your sound when talking. The headphones also have a Quick Access feature that allows you to access your playlist promptly when you want to shuffle or skip some songs.
But the gist is the microphone’s instant pause and play feature, which you can activate by removing the headphones. Moreover, Sony packed them with a hands-free virtual assistant, which gives you access to Google Assistant and Alexa.
We must also mention the Sony Headphones Connect App that allows you to connect to two devices simultaneously. The headphones also have Fast Pair that helps you locate your headphones using your phone, which is a welcomed feature.
Moreover, thanks to the buttons on the ear cups, everything is at your fingertips, which helps you change the headphones’ settings quickly. Ultimately, the WH-1000XM5 are one of the most versatile headphones you can buy today.
Sony WH-1000XM5 Reviews
Our review of Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones should give you a solid understanding of how they work, including their exciting features. But what are other people saying? Is it all love, or are there mixed reactions?
For one, many people love the headphones’ sound quality, which is clean and well-refined. For a device released over a year ago, it’s surprising that many people still love the XM5’s audio performance.
Moreover, these headphones’ noise cancelation feature has surprised many, with some using them even on a plane. Also, the WH-1000XM5’s personal NC optimizer technology has left people buzzing, and many consider the headphones’ price tag a bargain.
The main criticism is that they’re uncomfortable, especially if you wear glasses. Additionally, early buyers complained about the headphones’ underwhelming performance and bugs. However, Sony rectified the issue by releasing a firmware update a few months later.
Should You Buy the Sony WH-1000XM5?
So, are the Sony WH-1000XM5 the best headphones you can buy today? Our overview should help you decide whether they are worth your money. However, the answer depends on your budget and preferences.
Go for the XM5 if you can afford their price tag, as they’re among the most premium headphones on the market. Moreover, if you’re strictly looking for noise-canceling headphones, the XM5 are a perfect choice and rank high, mainly due to their eight microphones.
However, the XM5 aren’t the perfect choice if you only want headphones that can play music. Furthermore, if you already have the XM4, you don’t have to buy the XM5.
Even though the WH-1000XM5 are slightly better than the former, both devices are good and have solid sound quality. All in all, the WH-1000XM5 are a good device, so don’t hesitate to buy them if you’re shopping for near-perfect headphones.
- Two processors control 8 microphones
- Auto NC Optimizer
- The new Sony V1 Integrated Processor
- Hands-free calling with 4 beamforming microphones
- Up to 30-hour battery life with quick charging
- Ultra-comfortable, lightweight design with soft-fit leather
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Hopix Art/Shutterstock.com.
