Odi Productions
In this article, I’m going to share my HONEST comparison review with the Bose QuietComfort vs Sony WH-1000XM5 and tell you which is better, 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 (2023 model) 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
- Bose QuietComfort 2023 has better sound quality, stronger bass, and slightly better noise cancelling.
- Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort 2023 share similarly very good comfort and strong build quality.
- The Bose QuietComfort 2023 is around $100 more expensive than the Sony WH-1000XM4, depending on sales.
Bose QuietComfort 2023 vs Sony WH-1000XM4 Price Compared
Overall, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is about $21 cheaper than the Bose QuietComfort 2023 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 (2023) Prices
- Retail: $349.00
- New: $349
- Renewed: $225 (save up to $124!)
Sony WH-1000XM5 Prices
- Retail: $399.99
- New: $328
- Renewed: $253 (save up to $75!)
Order the LATEST VERSION for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):
Want to save up to an additional $100?
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
Both the Bose QuietComfort 2023 and Sony XM5 are some of the most comfortable headphones I’ve tested.
On my scale, the QuietComfort 2023 is 10 grams lighter than the Sony XM5:
- Bose QuietComfort 2023 weight: 236.1 grams
- Sony WH-1000XM5 weight: 246.1 grams
Both of these headphones are extremely lightweight, with the QuietComfort 2023 being an exceptional standout.
I give the Bose QuietComfort 2023 just short of a perfect score, for the main reason that it isn’t as plush or unnoticeable as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra.
But rest assured, they come very, very close. If I wasn’t able to try wearing these back-to-back with the aforementioned, then these could very well be a perfect score.
Bose QuietComfort vs Sony WH-1000XM5 for Working Out?
I find both the Bose QuietComfort and Sony WH-1000XM5 to feel fairly secure and not cumbersome or heavy during movements or activity.
Add in the light weight, and effective noise cancelling (which we’ll discuss), and these two are perfect workout gear when you need to get psyched for each set in the gym, or HIIT some cardio.
Bose QuietComfort 2023 Comfort: 4.5 out of 5
Sony WH-1000XM5 Comfort: 5 out of 5
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5
Features / Build Quality / Battery Life / Noise Cancelling
Features
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is about 1 year older than the Bose QuietComfort 2023, having been released originally in 2022.
Both headphones shared the same modern features like multiple levels of Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency modes.
Both headphones also have multiple microphones for taking calls, and a companion smartphone app to adjust settings and EQ.
The one advantage the Sony WH-1000XM5 has is Spatial Audio, which the Bose QuietComfort 2023 doesn’t feature. This isn’t a dealbreaker to me, as I tend to leave this option OFF.
User Experience, Buttons, and Controls
Personally, I much prefer the tactile buttons and controls of the Bose QuietComfort 2023 over the Sony WH-1000XM5’s touch controls.
The Bose QuietComfort has physical buttons to adjust volume, and play/pause/skip music.
The Sony XM5 relies on tapping or swiping the right earcup, and I’ve never found touch controls on headphones to be reliable or feel confidence-inspiring. You go to skip forward and end up increasing the volume, and vice versa.
Build Quality
The Bose QuietComfort 2023 has much superior build quality, primarily due to the Sony WH-1000XM5’s notorious weak hinge issue.
Sony actually took a step BACK from the previous-generation XM4, which had a more durable design mimicking the Bose QuietComfort series.
Sony took a risk with the XM5 and based on the negative feedback over the internet, this risk didn’t pay off.
Looks
I prefer the sleeker look of the Bose QuietComfort 2023 over the bulkier and disproportionate Sony WH-1000XM5.
The XM5 has these blocky earcups paired with a very skinny headband, resulting in a not-so-pleasing silhouette in my opinion.
This Bose QC in Cypress Green is gorgeous in real life, understated yet a bold splash of color that instills some personality.
Bose QuietComfort 2023 vs Sony WH-1000XM5 Battery Life Compared
The Sony WH-1000XM5 has about 6 hours more battery life than the Bose QuietComfort 2023 on paper.
- Bose QuietComfort 2023 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.
I consider these battery life ratings to be slightly above average, although not class-leading by any means, with Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 leading the entire pack at a jaw-dropping 60 hours. It is better than the Apple AirPods Max at 20 hours.
I’m just glad that both headphones feature modern USB-C charging ports, fitting in nicely with other devices.
Bose QuietComfort 2023 vs Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Cancelling: Which is better?
I find the active noise cancelling on the Bose QuietComfort 2023 and Sony WH-1000XM5 to be nearly on par at a world-class level.
I would give a very, very slight nod to the Bose QuietComfort 2023 for two reasons: Better transparency mode, and a new feature called “Wind Block”.
I’d say Wind Block does make a significant difference if you live in a windy city or are outside frequently, as it actively filters wind noise that can mess with other headphones.
Inside of the Bose app, you can choose between 11 levels of noise cancelling mixed with “ambient” transparency modes.
You can make presets for your favorite settings, and easily switch between them depending on the setting.
Meanwhile, the Sony WH-1000XM5 has about 20 levels of customization between Active Noise Cancelling and Ambient Noise.
Bose QuietComfort 2023 Features / Build Quality / Battery Life / Noise Cancelling: 5 out of 5
Sony WH-1000XM5 Features / Build Quality / Battery Life / Noise Cancelling: 4.5 out of 5
Winner: Bose QuietComfort
Bose QuietComfort 2023 vs Sony WH-1000XM5 Sound Quality Comparison
An Important Note…
Out of the box, I much prefer the sound of the Bose QuietComfort 2023 over the Sony WH-1000XM5. The Sony XM5 really disappoints me out of the box with a rather muddy, veiled, and overall unsatisfying sound signature.
All hope is not lost, as I found that I was able to squeeze out a LOT more sound quality out of the Sony XM5 with EQ, so we’ll use the settings shared below to compare.
The Bose QuietComfort also received a slight boost in sound quality from EQ as well.
I think this is fair considering the EQ is via both headphones’ official free apps, which are mostly required to use the headphones fully, anyways.
Best Bose QuietComfort (new 2023 model) EQ settings
- Bass: -4
- Mid: 0
- Treble: -3
Result: Still very bass-forward with good slam, just more controlled. Much smoother highs with most sibilance removed and smoothened out. Mids are now much more present and detailed. Overall sound is much better balanced.
Best Sony WH-1000XM5 EQ settings
- 400: -2
- 1k: -2
- 2.5k: +4
- 6.3k: +2
- 16k: +2
- Clear Bass: 0
After testing a bunch of EQ settings I found online, I decided to dial in my own preference that aims to be more balanced and less “hyped”, while still opening the XM5 up and reducing the stock muddiness.
Result: Less muddiness, much more clarity, detail, airiness, and dynamics. A fun, clear, energetic, “in your face” sound signature that is consumer-friendly.
Comparing Sound Quality AFTER EQ…
Make no mistake, had this comparison been stock vs stock, the Bose QuietComfort 2023 would easily be superior to the Sony WH-1000XM5’s sound quality in every way.
However, the XM5 actually receives a really significant improvement after EQ, and it gets much closer afterwards.
Overall sound signature is actually more similar than different, as they both go for that consumer-friendly “hyped” sound that is very much bass and treble-forward. Definitely fun to listen to!
When it comes to bass, both headphones are fun to listen to, but the Bose QuietComfort has some of the most satisfying slam and heftiness to the bass that really makes it shine for modern genres.
Both headphones are fairly detailed in the mids and treble, but I give the slight nod to the Bose QuietComfort due to having a larger soundstage and slightly better separation, resolution, and clarity.
There’s more depth and sense of space inside the Bose headphones, but it’s more of a slight difference than a wide gap.
Both headphones can sound a bit artificial and unrealistic in timbre, but I think the XM5 has the more artificial sound and is a bit more limited on genres it excels in (primarily modern music).
Personally, although I do find both headphones truly FUN to listen to, I’d rather reach for the Bose QuietComfort 2023 if sound quality is one of my main priorities. Seeing the scores on paper now actually makes me want to slightly lower the XM5’s score, but they are truly close.
Bose QuietComfort 2023 Sound Quality: 8.4 out of 10 (after EQ)
Sony WH-1000XM5 Sound Quality: 8.3 out of 10 (after EQ)
Winner: Bose QuietComfort
Value
At the time of this writing, the newer Bose QuietComfort 2023 is about $21 more expensive than the Sony WH-1000XM5, which is one of the smallest price gaps compared to other comparisons I’ve written about.
However, it’s important to note that there are times when I’ve seen the Bose QuietComfort 2023 on sale for around $249. If that’s the case, I’m taking the QuietComfort 2023 all day.
When visiting these headphones back-to-back, they really are more similar than different when it comes to pretty much every single category we’ve tested here today.
I think both headphones are fairly priced, and consider each to be very, very good values depending on the current sales.
Personally, I think the Bose QuietComfort 2023 is a better overall value for the money, as the Sony WH-1000XM5 has slightly worser sound quality and a worrisome build quality issue with its hinges.
Bose QuietComfort 2023 Value: 4.5 out of 5
Sony WH-1000XM5 Value Value: 4.0 out of 5
Winner:Â Bose QuietComfort
Bose QuietComfort 2023 Overall Rating
- Fun, excellent sound quality (after EQ)
- Strong noise cancelling performance
- Very comfortable and lightweight
- Excellent value if on sale (or used)
- Less impressive for audiophiles
- Full retail price is less of a value
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 2023
The Bose QuietComfort 2023 barely edges out the Sony WH-1000XM5 in today’s head-to-head comparison as the better overall headphone.
I find the Bose QuietComfort 2023 to be equal or better to the Sony WH-1000XM5 in every category, and especially prefer it for its slightly better sound quality, amazing bass response, and much better build quality.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 wins on comfort, and is about equal in active noise cancelling performance.
Some strong alternatives in this class of noise cancelling headphones and price range are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Apple AirPods Max, Sennheiser Momentum 4, and Beats Studio Pro. I recommend you check those out next!
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 (2023) Prices
- Retail: $349.00
- New: $349
- Renewed: $225 (save up to $124!)
Sony WH-1000XM5 Prices
- Retail: $399.99
- New: $328
- Renewed: $253 (save up to $75!)
Order the LATEST VERSION for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):
Want to save up to an additional $100?
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 🙂
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 all of 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. Noise cancelling performance is tested in the real-world, primarily on airplane flights, coffee shops, and walking around large metropolitan city environments.
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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Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM5
Apple AirPods Max vs Sony WH-1000XM5
Bose QuietComfort Review (2023 Model)
