Odi Productions
In this article, I’m going to share my HONEST experience with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM5 and tell you which is best, after personally owning both products. I have thoroughly tested each of these headphones for hundreds of hours, and aim to offer a critical opinion from the perspective of an audiophile and professional music producer.
I’ll be comparing these two head to head on categories like price, comfort, features, battery life, noise cancelling performance, and sound quality.
Then at the end, I’ll share which is the best overall value for the money, and my overall recommendation on which you should buy.
I’ve also conducted a separate in-depth Bose QuietComfort Ultra Review and Sony WH-1000XM5 review, for those who are interested in reading more detailed thoughts about each headphone after. (Links open in a new tab.)
Key Takeaways
- Both the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Sony WH-1000XM5 have equally best-in-class noise cancelling performance and all-day comfort.
- The Bose QuietComfort Ultra has better audiophile-level sound quality, but the XM5 is still very fun to listen to. Both headphones need EQ to get the full sound potential (EQ settings included below).
- The Bose QuietComfort Ultra is typically $30-$100 more expensive than the XM5, depending on sales.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM5 Price Compared
Overall, the Sony WH 1000XM5 is anywhere from $30 to $100 cheaper than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra at current market prices for brand new. They can be much closer in price depending on current sales, and whether you’re buying new, renewed, or used.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Prices
- Retail: $429.00
- New: $429
- Renewed: N/A
Sony WH-1000XM5 Prices
- Retail: $399.99
- New: $328
- Renewed: $253 (save up to $75!)
Order Here for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):
Want to save up to an additional $75?
Disclosure: These affiliate links may provide a discount and in return, give us a commission in order to keep this website 100% independent to ensure honest unfiltered reviews 🙂
Comfort
When it comes to comfort, both the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Sony WH-1000XM5 are the most comfortable headphones available in the market currently.
On my scale, the Sony’s are 8.3 grams lighter than Bose:
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra weight: 254.4 grams
- Sony WH-1000XM5 weight: 246.1 grams
These are two of the lightest wireless noise cancelling headphones in the market today, with competitors like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 coming in at 292.9 grams, and Apple AirPods Max at a whopping 387.8 grams!
Honestly, I find both headphones equally comfortable when it comes to the top headband pressure, and earcup clamping force.
The Sony XM5 actually does feel lighter than the 8 gram difference suggests, but it also has shallower earcup space on the inside, so my ears touch the fabric (see image below).
This really isn’t a big deal, but the Bose QC Ultra does have more ample room inside the earcups and my ears don’t really have much as much contact.
Either way, I can wear either of these headphones all-day without comfort or warm-ear issues, so they both receive a perfect score.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Comfort: 5 out of 5
Sony WH-1000XM5 Comfort: 5 out of 5
Winner: Tie
Features / Battery Life / Noise Cancelling
Features
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra was released in late 2023, and is a fair bit newer than the Sony WH-1000XM5 released in mid-2022.
However, they’re both equal when it comes to all the modern features including: Spatial Audio, Active Noise Cancelling, Transparency Mode, Hands-Free calling, companion smartphone apps with customizable EQ, and more.
The real star of the show for both of these headphones is, of course, the active noise cancelling – which we’ll get to in just a moment…
Build Quality
When it comes to build quality, this is one area where the Bose QuietComfort Ultra is superior to the Sony WH-1000XM5, without a doubt.
The main issue I have with the Sony XM5 is the weak hinge design/material (see image below).
And according to numerous posts online on Reddit, and plenty of broken hinge XM5s for sale on eBay, my fears are likely warranted.
This is a shame for headphones retailing at nearly $400 USD.
On the other hand, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra isn’t necessarily in another league, also relying heavily on plastic to reach their low weight figure…
But at the very least, the hinges utilize a metal component and feel much sturdier and less prone to breaking.
For the weak hinge design, I will be docking 0.5 points from the Sony XM5 in this category.
Looks
Honestly, I greatly prefer the look of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, especially when worn on head.
To me, the Sony XM5 has disproportionately bulky earcups that jut out compared to the really skinny headband.
I find the QuietComfort Ultra to simply be more proportional and stylish.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM5 Battery Life Compared
The Sony WH-1000XM5 has slightly better battery life on a single charge compared to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra:
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Battery Life: Up to 24 hours
- Sony WH-1000XM5 Battery Life: Up to 30 hours
In my testing, I found both of these manufacturer’s battery ratings to be accurate.
In my opinion, 6 more hours of battery life on the Sony’s isn’t that significant of a difference to change the frequency of needing to charge.
I found myself only needing to charge either headphone maybe once per week on average. With lighter use, they can last 2 weeks per charge.
Thankfully, both utilize the more modern USB-C port for charging, making it pretty convenient.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Cancelling: Which is better?
Bose vs Sony’s flagship ~$400 headphones competing for who has the best noise cancelling is a clash of the titans, indeed!
With Bose boasting 11 levels of noise cancelling to Sony’s 20 levels… who will come out on top?
And the winner is…
… actually… it’s a… tie? *Whomp whomp whomp*
Well, this is good news for everyone. Turns out, both the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Sony WH-1000XM5 have world-class active noise cancelling performance.
“World-class” as in, the best I’ve tested to date.
Now if I just HAD to lean one way, I’d give the nod to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra on account of having a much clearer transparency/ambient mode and being able to hear outside noises in detail when configured to the lower settings. The XM5 sounds more muffled.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Features / Battery Life / Noise Cancelling: 5 out of 5
Sony WH-1000XM5 Features / Battery Life / Noise Cancelling: 4.5 out of 5
Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM5 Sound Quality Comparison
Wanna know something funny?
My first listening impression of BOTH of these headphones was… disappointment.
Yes, you read that right.
The Bose QC Ultra was so bloated and overly bass-heavy, while the XM5 just had a strangely muffled frequency response, lacking detail and just sounding pretty bleh overall.
I was honestly going to write off both of these headphones as clearly the bottom of their class compared to the likes of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 and AirPods Max, until I gave them one last chance by trying to tweak the EQ settings on their respective apps.
And thank goodness I didn’t give up… because what was hiding underneath some truly terrible stock tuning were some AMAZING headphones!
Not even exaggerating, EQ makes these sound like completely different headphones entirely.
So as to not leave you in suspense, I’ll be sharing some magic EQ settings below, which will serve as the basis for my analysis in the Sound Quality category. I think this is fair considering the EQ is via each headphone’s official free app, which is mostly required anyways to use the headphones fully.
Best Bose QuietComfort Ultra EQ settings
- Bass: -7
- Mid: +2
- Treble: +2
Result: Much more balanced, hyper-detailed sound. Closer to neutral, reference-quality versus the XM5. Bass is much more tame yet still impactful and present.
Best Sony WH 1000XM5 EQ settings
- 400: +2
- 1k: +4
- 2.5k: +9
- 6.3k: +4
- 16k: +9
- Clear Bass: +3
I found a bunch of EQ settings on Reddit, and out of all of them, this is the one that I preferred the most. I wasn’t able to find the originator of the settings, someone was just passing these on in the comments.
Result: Much more detail, airiness, and dynamics. A very fun, punchy, energetic, “in your face” sound signature that I think most consumers would love.
Comparing Sound Quality AFTER EQ…
After applying EQ to both headphones, I almost couldn’t believe my ears.
Let’s start with the Bose…
First thing that stuck out to me was how hyper-detailed and clear the treble is.
This translates to hearing tons of the finer micro-details in female singer’s vocals, like the ad libs and multiple layers of vocals that is common in Pop music.
Without exaggeration, I was hearing things I never noticed in songs that I use for testing ALL the time, and have tested on audiophile headphones as expensive as the $2,000 Hifiman HE1000SE.
Not saying these are anywhere near that level (they aren’t), but the resolution and details are definitely flirting with audiophile territory. This is new ground for comfy, wireless, noise cancelling headphones.
What separates the QC Ultra from the XM5 is that it has a much bigger soundstage, and much easier separation of all the vocals and instrument layers.
So due to my background as a music producer and audio engineer, I’m used to listening to studio monitors, which are designed to be “flat”. Really, the goal is “accuracy” to make songs easier to mix/master and translate well to all listening sources.
My goal with EQ’ing the Ultra was to aim for this reference-quality, or at least similar to the Hifiman “house sound” (neutral bright). With a little bit of extra treble hype in there just to really eek out extra detail.
This is really where the two (EQ’d) sound signatures diverge: The Bose QuietComfort Ultra is more balanced, detailed, open-sounding, and “relaxed” in its presentation. The XM5, on the other hand, becomes very “in your face”, forward-sounding, energetic, punchy, and plain fun to listen to overall.
Now the reason I brought up my background is because to me, hearing all those little details and nuances IS fun. The balance and relaxed presentation also means that the Bose is less fatiguing when listening to for hours at a time.
That said, I would bet that the mass majority would be more impressed by the (EQ’d) XM5 at first listen, because it basically shoves everything right in your face.
The XM5’s soundstage is almost non-existent versus the QC Ultra, and the separation of layers is more difficult and blended together during busy passages. It’s either much harder to pinpoint certain details, OR some of those details which should be in the background are unnaturally pushed forward in an artificial way.
But the XM5 does have its redeeming qualities forsure…
Again, I do think the average consumer would prefer the XM5’s more “fun” sound, as it is more energetic and lively. Likely to result in anything from head-nodding to full on head-banging.
Everything is so punchy from bass kicks to snare drums, and the EQ added a ton of airiness in the ~16k range to also bring the music alive versus stock. This likely gives a slight edge to the XM5 for the more modern genres like Pop, Hip-Hop, EDM, and even Rock/Metal.
But I enjoy listening to all genres on the QC Ultra, which I find more versatile overall. Also, I can EQ the Ultra to sound more “fun” like the XM5 with a setting like -5 Bass, +4 Mids, +1 Treble. (You can add more bass to taste, I just prefer it to be tamed.)
Both headphones have satisfyingly enjoyable bass, but I lean towards the QuietComfort Ultra which actually reaches deeper in the sub-bass frequencies. There is actually TOO much bass that you can see from the EQ what I have to do to get it under control. Even at -7, it’s still fully impactful and present.
To my ears, the QuietComfort Ultra clearly has superior audio hardware at its core “underneath the hood”, despite the perplexing stock tuning’s attempt to hide that.
After countless hours of listening, I’ve concluded that I could happily enjoy listening to either headphones, but if you really listen carefully, the QuietComfort Ultra will prove over time that it’s slightly in a tier above when it comes to sound quality.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Sound Quality: 8.9 out of 10 (after EQ)
Sony WH-1000XM5 Sound Quality: 8.5 out of 10 (after EQ)
Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra (after EQ)
Value
Both of these headphones are in that $400 range, with the newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra typically being around $30 more expensive.
No doubt these are expensive, but there are pricier high-end wireless headphones like the AirPods Max at $549, and Focal Bathys at a jaw-dropping $699.
“Value” can be subjective due to differing budgets, but in the overall landscape, I don’t see another headphone offering the OVERALL packages that the QC Ultra and XM5 offer.
I’m talking about the comfort, noise cancelling performance, and sound quality.
So for that reason, I do think both headphones are priced fairly in the market.
That said, they aren’t a “bargain” or a “steal” by any means, so I’ve docked 1 point from each here.
I see these as one of those high-end purchases that are pricy but ultimately “worth it”, and after you start using them daily, you’ll forget about the price and wonder why you didn’t buy them sooner.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Value: 4.0 out of 5
Sony WH-1000XM5 Value: 4.0 out of 5
Winner: Tie
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Overall Rating
- Audiophile-level sound quality (after EQ)
- Unrivaled noise cancelling performance
- Insanely comfortable and lightweight
- Expensive
- Sound signature without EQ is disappointing
- Materials feel mediocre for price
Sony WH-1000XM5 Overall Rating
- Fun, excellent sound quality (after EQ)
- All-day comfort and lightweight
- Elite noise cancelling performance
- Stock sound without EQ is mediocre
- Poor build quality on hinges
- Expensive
Overall Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra
The one thought that I kept having while writing this comparison was just how far Bluetooth headphones have come since I started reviewing them over 10 years ago…
We’re talking like pre-Apple acquisition Beats and WIRED Bose QuietComfort 25.
That’s the beauty of technology and Moore’s Law, things just keep improving every year. 10 years of technological advancement feels more like 100 years have passed.
Now you can have your cake and eat it, too.
Although it was very close, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra ultimately wins this on account of better sound quality and build quality, despite being slightly more expensive.
Both headphones receive top marks for world-class active noise cancelling performance, all-day plush comfort, and pretty much all the modern features you’d want in a Bluetooth headphone.
I do truly believe both of these headphones are worth every dollar, but moreso the QC Ultra is where I would feel more confident investing into long-term.
The XM5 absolutely has its redeeming qualities, notably that most consumers might actually prefer its fun, engaging (EQ’d) sound over the Ultra. But I do believe it is a slight liability with that poor hinge design, a bit worrying when spending close to $400.
You can’t really go wrong here, as long as you apply the EQ settings I shared above. I’m serious.
Lastly, if you’d like to save some money and keep supporting RecordingNOW.com’s 100% independent, unbiased reviews, do consider using some of our affiliate links below to shop and even just compare prices. We purchase all products we review with our own money to maintain the highest level of integrity, and your support goes into that plus a continuously improving site experience.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Prices
- Retail: $429.00
- New: $429
- Renewed: N/A
Sony WH-1000XM5 Prices
- Retail: $399.99
- New: $328
- Renewed: $253 (save up to $75!)
Order Here for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):
Want to save up to an additional $75?
Disclosure: These affiliate links may provide a discount and in return, give us a commission in order to keep this website 100% independent to ensure honest unfiltered reviews 🙂
Frequently Asked Questions
Which headphone is best Bose or Sony?
Both Bose and Sony excel in categories of noise cancelling performance and comfort, with the slight edge going to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra for sound quality and build quality.
Can you wear a Sony WH-1000XM5 in the rain?
No, the Sony WH 1000XM5 is not waterproof and risks malfunctioning or damage if it gets wet.
Is the Sony XM5 sound quality good?
Honestly, the stock Sony XM5 sound quality is not great but can be massively improved with a simple EQ setting via Sony’s official companion app.
Why are Bose headphones so popular?
Bose headphones rose to popularity due to pioneering world-class active noise cancelling technology, which has continued to improve to this day with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra being the best yet.
Which version of Bose QuietComfort is best?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra is not only their current flagship and most expensive headphone, but it tested with the highest scores of any Bose products in our in-depth review.
How We Tested and Our Methodology
RecordingNOW.com is a 100% independent publisher with over 10 years of experience testing and reviewing consumer electronics and headphones.
We currently purchase the products we test with our own money, and are not paid by any company or manufacturer to influence our opinions or decisions.
After purchasing the product, we conduct up to hundreds of hours of detailed hands-on testing in a controlled, acoustically-treated environment.
ODi Productions is our resident expert and author of this article, with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, tech journalist, and audiophile.
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