Sony WH-1000XM5

 Sony WH-1000XM5

Design

The Sony WH-1000XM5 has undergone considerable design revisions. The business tried to make a thinner, more seamless pair of headphones with the new style, which Sony refers to as a "noiseless design," by revising those regions that potentially contribute to wind noise. This has produced fewer angular edges and more sweeping, fluid lines. Importantly, several of the joints and hinges that enable the folding of the XM4's earcups have also been eliminated.

As a result, unlike the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, the Sony XM5 headphones don't fold any smaller; they simply fold flat. It's terrible news for those who enjoy rolling up our headphones and tossing them carelessly into a backpack. The Sonys feel slightly more exposed right away, and we feel compelled to use the included travel case, which, despite being updated, still takes up significant space.

The WH-1000XM5 feels extremely different from earlier generations, in addition to looking very different (and, dare we say, cheaper). Although the scales indicate there are only four grams separating them from the XM4s, they feel lighter in hand (254g vs 250g).

The WH-1000XM4's 40mm driver has been replaced with a brand-new 30mm carbon fiber composite dome that has been painstakingly built to be incredibly lightweight and durable.

In recent years, Sony's noise-canceling technology has consistently astounded us, and the company now boasts that the WH-1000XM5 is the best in the business. After focusing on low-frequency noise in previous generations, Sony has attempted to improve noise cancellation further up the frequency spectrum with the XM5.

 Now, when you move about, the XM5 headphones automatically optimize the noise-canceling. The Adaptive Sound Control feature and Sony's Headphones app, which keep track of where you are using the headphones, are used in conjunction to accomplish this. Surprisingly, when dealing with fluctuating sounds like background traffic noise, these headphones aren't quite as consistent as the prior version. This effect is more of a mystery than a significant issue.

Features

Sony states that the WH-1000XM5 now offers an upgraded version of its "Wearing Detection" function. When you take off the headphones, your music or film is immediately paused; it resumes as soon as you put them back on. A proximity sensor in the left earcup, which was once visible but is now concealed, is essential to this. According to Sony, the changes lessen the likelihood of playback beginning by accident. We were really aback by how rapidly the XM5 would stop and start during testing and how much this functionality may improve the user experience.

The WH-1000XM5's dual-device pairing capability is one Sony feature we are happy to see reappear. If you're listening to the audio on your laptop but need to be linked to your phone so you don't miss any calls, for example, it may be really useful. Once you have turned on the functionality in the Headphones app, having this capability may be a lifesaver and it functions fairly well. Be aware, however, that you must choose between utilizing this function and streaming music wirelessly via LDAC; you cannot use both at the same time.

Sound quality

The WH-1000XM5 also exhibits a fresh sharpness at low frequencies. The WH-1000XM5 makes even the XM4s seem a touch thick in the lower mids and bass, not that the prior model didn't provide. These Sonys continue to extract more information as you increase the frequency range owing to an added sense of clarity. Duel of the Fates from The Phantom Menace OST is the first test song in our playlist. The song starts out with the choir set the tone for this exciting classical piece. The tune is driven by woodwind and string instruments, and the Sonys delicately transition from the furious movement to the softer parts.

Call quality

Along with noise cancellation, Sony has continuously enhanced the call quality of its WH-1000 line of phones over time. And thus far, the XM5 headphones offer the finest performance. In order to make your calls sound as clear as possible, they have Sony's Precise Voice Pickup technology, which employs four beamforming microphones, AI-powered noise reduction, as well as wind-noise reduction. All of these technologies work together to ensure that the WH-1000XM5 hears your speech clearly and without distortion. The Sonys perform a superb job of blocking out background noise and wind gusts when we use the WH-1000XM5 for a call, which may threaten to drown you out when using less-effective headphones.

Battery life

Even with Bluetooth and noise cancellation turned on, the battery life is still a respectable 30 hours. With the latter off, the WH-1000XM5s will operate for 40 hours, an increase of two hours over the XM4s. With a faster USB PD charger (not included), three hours may be obtained in just three minutes, and five hours could be reached in ten minutes.

Price

While the sound quality over the previous generation has greatly improved, the Sony XM5 headphones may not feel as high-end as they once did. As a result, competitors may once again face a battle. Start your search here if you're looking for a new set of wireless noise-canceling headphones.

At Sevenoaks, $290.68

at Amazon, £290.68

at John Lewis, $299