Sony’s new WH1000-XM5 headphones take a different course


Sony’s new WH1000-XM5 headphones take a different course

Sony just released a new iteration of their best headphones. The series is known for the good sound quality and features (in addition to serial numbers that cannot be tied to a rope). However, these new Sony WH1000-XM5 headphones are different from the predecessors in the series in several ways.

Although there seems to be little logic in the series name of Sony’s headphones, there is a line. The Sony WH1000-XM5 succeeds the Sony WH1000-XM4, which in turn succeeded the XM3, and so on. Sony has built a great name with these headphones. The Sony WH1000-XM4, which appeared in 2020, recently came out on top in our test thanks to good sound quality and noise reduction. Sony left Apple and Bose behind, among others.

The 2018 Sony WH1000-XM3 also scored well. In fact, it looked so much like the XM4 that the headphones are still a very smart buy, due to its somewhat lower price. In terms of appearance, these headphones were hardly distinguishable from each other.

Sony WH1000-XM5
The Sony WH1000-XM5 (left) is not collapsible and therefore a lot less compact.

Sony WH-1000XM5

This fifth generation is quite a trend break from the other headphones from the XM series. It seems that Sony has been inspired by Apple’s AirPods Max and the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700. The ear cups are attached to the thinner headband with a stem. Incidentally, Sony has opted for plastic with a matte finish, not metal as Apple did.

Where the Sony WH1000-XM3 and XM4 can hardly be distinguished from each other, that is not the case with the Sony WH1000-XM5.

Other features are that this new version is more flexible, thanks to the thinner headband and remarkably low weight. The headphones are not collapsible, which makes them less compact in their storage bag than their predecessor.

Sony WH1000-XM5
Sony WH1000-XM5
Sony WH1000-XM5
Sony WH1000-XM5

Features

The new Sony headphones also stand out in other ways. For example, Sony has developed a special, more compact driver of 30 mm instead of 40 mm. There are also twice as many microphones: eight in total. These, together with a special chipset, should ensure that the noise reduction and ambient mode work better. For example, to better filter out the sound of wind.

There are also more microphones for speech: this can be via a phone call, online video meeting or voice assistant.

That seems to be at the expense of the battery life, which is shorter on paper: 30 hours with noise reduction.

Sony WH1000-XM5
Sony WH1000-XM5
Sony WH1000-XM5
Sony WH1000-XM5

Sony Headphones

Via the Sony Headphones App you can further configure the headphones. Sony claims to have improved adaptive sound control, a function that adapts your sound profile to your environment. You can also register locations, so that your sound profile is saved for specific places.

†

Recent Articles

Related Stories