Table of Contents
Sony WH-1000XM5 Review:
Sony dominated the premium wireless noise-canceling headphones market with its WH-1000XM series for a very long time, and the latest one it launched in 2022 – the WH-1000XM5 – is the largest redesign and performance boost the series has seen since its launch. Its previous straight-up counterpart, the WH-1000XM4, was segment-best in itself, but the XM5 tries to do better with even better sound, noise cancellation (ANC), and ergonomics. But is it more premium and divergence from Sony’s proven formula worth it? Careful analysis below on audio quality, noise cancelling, appearance, battery life, and price.
✅ Pros
- Unparalleled clarity and balance of sound
- Industry-best grade noise canceling.
- Thin, light, handsome form factor
- Excellent call sound
- Hi-res audio support with LDAC and DSEE Extreme
- Enhanced microphones and sensors
❌ Cons
- No fold-down hinge for a secure fit
- More expensive than WH-1000XM4
- Battery benefit boost is negligible.
- Less booming bass for bass-heads
Design & Comfort: Sleek but Less Travel-Friendly
The WH-1000XM5 has an entirely new build that does away with the creased, angular design of the past and goes for something more streamlined and minimalist. Not only is the headband thinner, but it is also more flexible, and the ear cups are larger and more symmetrical in terms of pressure distribution.
The compromise? Utmost convenience. The XM5 weighs lighter (250g vs. XM4 at 254g), and the new synthetic leather feels nice against the skin. Wear for hours without realizing you have feet.
That one reskinned does lose the folded hinge, however, so it’s slightly harder to schlep around. They’re in a wider hard case, though, a hair bigger, to fill the space in your backpack.
Verdict: More comfortable and stylish, but less travel-friendly.
Sound Quality: Accuracy Meets Harmony
The XM5’s biggest leap is the use of 30mm carbon fiber drivers instead of 40mm drivers. The smaller drivers provide more detail, definition, and balance across the frequency range without sacrificing the sweetness of sound.
Highlights:
- Bass: More controlled and tighter than the WH-1000XM4. Less boom, more definition.
- Mids: Forward, clear vocals and instruments, especially well-suited to acoustic and classical.
- Treble: Clean, natural highs without grit or sibilance.
- Soundstage: More sense of space and air with instruments better delineated.
- Overall sound signature smoother and more balanced, and that will be a delight to audiophiles but perhaps less thrilling to bass-heads accustomed to bassy cans.
- LDAC and DSEE Extreme support also mean compressed music sounds great too, particularly when paired with high-res sources.
Verdict: Wider, more hi-fi sound now. Ideal for serious listening.
Noise Cancellation: Class-Leading
Sony honed an already excellent ANC system on the XM5. Having two processors and eight mics, the XM5 noise-cancels better and across a wider frequency range, with a satisfyingly good result at some in:
- Voices and midrange frequencies
- Office or café background chatter
- Ambient wind and talk
While the WH-1000XM4 was not a relic, the XM5 does have a touch of that feeling of added isolation, even in difficult rooms.
Verdict: High-end ANC, perfect for travel, commutes, or focused work.
Call Quality: A Quantum Leap
The WH-1000XM5 is Sony’s best headphones. AI noise-canceling technology and beamforming microphones make voices crisp on both ends, even in a din.
Background noise and wind sound are cut in half. Night-and-day differentiation from the XM4 or from most others like the Bose 700 or AirPods Max.
Verdict: At last, a Sony headphone that can do business phone calls and Zoom conferences.
Battery Life: Still Great, But Not Enhanced
Battery life comparable to the WH-1000XM4:
- 30 hours with ANC enabled
- 40 hours with ANC disabled
- Quick charging: 3 hours of play from a 3-minute charge through USB-C
Other reviewers were griping that they didn’t get as much battery life from the XM5, but 30 hours remain industry-leading, and quick charging offers some mitigating against some of that concern.
Verdict: Not a step up, but good enough and then some for everyday use or travel.
Smart Features: Adaptive, Intuitive, Helpful
Sony’s Headphones Connect app opens up a lot of the XM5’s smart features, such as:
- Adjustable EQ settings
- Adaptive Sound Control (ANC to activity or location switching)
- Speak-to-Chat (pausing music during a call)
- Wearing detection (on/off when putting on/taking off ears)
- Multipoint connectivity (two devices paired at the same time)
They all work as designed and are another added benefit to listening. The only downside is some of them (such as Speak-to-Chat) are so convenient to unknowingly turn on while humming along to the tune or grumbling.
Verdict: Chock-full of features for everyday use—no gimmicks.
Price and Value
The Sony WH-1000XM5, costs $399, a few $50 more than when the XM4 arrived. With the XM4 so discounted, the XM5 has its work cut out to be worth the extra cost—and for us who care about sound quality, ANC, and call quality, it does.
If you’re an already existing owner of XM4, the update isn’t needed unless you absolutely need the crème of the crème in ANC and sound quality too. But if you’re the one walking in from previous gens (i.e., XM2 or XM3) or a completely new entrant into this series, the XM5 is completely worth it.
Our Verdict: A bit expensive but worth buying.
Final Ruling: Is the Sony WH-1000XM5 Worth Buying?
Yes—if high-end line features sound like a day’s comfort and noise canceling.
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 is an even more polished, more refined version of the high-end ‘bottle’ headphone. It’ll probably be less travel-friendly than the XM4, and the changes to the bass won’t sound amazing to every pair of ears, but other than that, it’s hard to beat.