Odi Productions
In this article, I’m going to give my brutally honest Sony WH 1000XM5 Review with comparisons vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Apple AirPods Max, and Sennheiser Momentum 4.
I’m going to do my best to share whether these headphones are worth it, and ideally who these headphones are for. I’ve owned these headphones for a few months now and have quite a few thoughts.
I’ll be sharing my critical opinion with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, audio engineer, and tech journalist.
Let’s dive right in!
Sony WH 1000XM5 Headphones review in short
The Sony WH 1000XM5 headphones are an excellent all-arounder, but not quite perfect. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra is the only headphone that can match its class-leading noise cancelling performance and all-day comfort. These headphones desperately need EQ to bring out the full sound potential, after which they are VERY FUN to listen to with excellent sound quality. The questionable build quality, especially around the hinges, worries me a little for a headphone of this price range.
Sony WH 1000XM5 Pros and Cons
- 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
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Sound Quality
My first listening impression of the XM5 was… a bit disappointing.
I had fairly high expectations coming in, considering the XM5’s $400 pricetag and success of the previous-gen Sony WH 1000XM4.
Well, the first thing that stuck out to me was how strange the stock sound signature was. Things sounded quite muffled and desperately needed more detail in the treble and airiness.
I was really close to writing them off, until I decided to research some EQ settings (via Sony’s official “Sound Connect” app) that could perhaps improve things.
And to my surprise, EQ not only improved things, it resulted in a night-and-day difference.
I’m not exaggerating, it’s like EQ transformed these into an entirely different headphone!
So my review will be with the EQ settings below, which I think is fair considering Sony’s official Sound Connect app is completely free and required to manage the headphones anyways.
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.
We can see this is a rather extreme EQ, but it’s what the XM5 desperately needs to bring out its full potential. The resulting sound has so much more detail, airiness, and dynamics.
The result is a very fun, punchy, energetic, “in your face” sound signature that I think most consumers would love.
Honestly, listening stock versus after EQ, it was hard to believe such good sound quality was hidden underneath pretty terrible stock tuning.
Bass
The XM5 (after EQ) has a very fun, punchy bass response with more emphasis on mid-bass than the lower sub-bass frequencies.
Personally, I would prefer slightly deeper sub-bass response, but these are still extremely fun to listen to for modern genres like Pop, Hip-Hop, and EDM.
Mids
The stock sound was quite muffled and muddy, but luckily EQ really brings out the Mids and Treble quite well.
After EQ, the mids have some punchy dynamics with snare drums having a really nice “pop” to them, and male vocals sounding fuller and more forward.
These are pretty fun to listen to for Rock and Metal, with electric guitars sounding nice and full, fairly realistic timbre, and distortion “crunch”.
Treble
These EQ settings really push female vocals forward, which is mostly flattering and more intimate.
This “in your face” sound surely brings out a lot of detail, albeit in a somewhat artificial way.
The EQ adds a ton of airiness in the 10k+ frequency range, which really opens things up nicely.
I’d say the Treble exposes some of the shortcomings of the XM5, as busy passages with lots of layers of vocals/instruments lose clarity. We’ll get into this in the Audiophile section next…
Audiophile: Soundstage, Resolution, Separation, Imaging, Timbre
Alright so for my fellow audio nerds, the XM5 gets exposed much more when it comes to the audiophile technicalities.
First off, the stock sound, just… no. Let’s discuss the EQ’d sound instead.
The “in your face” sound is fun, especially as a first impression, but may grow a little fatiguing over time.
The soundstage is quite narrow, music just sounds pretty “2D” and flat compared to competitors in its class like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Sennheiser Momentum 4.
The resolution and separation is also lacking versus its direct competition, this just isn’t a headphone with a lot of “nuance” and micro-details for critical listening. Everything is pushed artificially up front, so not a lot of depth and room for the different instruments/vocals to breathe.
Surprisingly, the timbre can be fairly realistic for instruments like electric guitar which sound full with satisfying distortion crunch. Also I enjoy the snare drum hits which are very punchy. The timbre is less realistic for vocals.
That said, it is a VERY fun and energetic sound, and I personally enjoy casual listening more than some headphones with better actual sound quality – depending on the mood.
If I were to rank these headphones in terms of preference + desired sound signature (NOT in terms of pure sound quality score):
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (with EQ)
- Apple AirPods Max (stock)
- Sony WH-1000XM5 (with EQ)
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 (stock – couldn’t find an EQ setting I liked)
So overall, the Sony WH 1000XM5 is arguably the most FUN headphone for casual listening in its class, but it ranks below the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and AirPods Max overall for me.
In terms of pure sound quality, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 is also superior, but I put the XM5 slightly above it due to the sound signature preference.
Sound Quality Score: 8.5 out of 10
Comfort
The Sony WH 1000XM5 is one of the lightest headphones I’ve ever tested, and actually shaved 5 grams off the previous-gen XM4.
The only lighter headphone is the Bose QuietComfort 45.
Here’s how the XM5’s weight stacks up to its competition:
- Bose QuietComfort 45 – 235.1 grams
- Sony WH 1000XM5 – 246.1 grams
- Sony WH 1000XM4 – 251.6 grams
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra – 254.4 grams
- Beats Studio Pro – 268.6 grams
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 – 292.9 grams
- Apple AirPods Max – 387.8 grams
As you can see, headphones like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 and AirPods Max are significantly heavier, and this difference is felt by the top headband and gravity pushing down over time.
Frankly, this headphone is near perfect when it comes to comfort, with the least top-of-head pressure from the headband, and very soft clamping force.
Even though the difference between the XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra is less than 10 grams, the Sony’s do feel lighter and less pressure.
I only have one minor gripe when it comes to Comfort, and it’s that the earcups are very shallow so my ears press right against the fabric inside of the earcup.
This is different than the Bose QuietComfort which has more space inside and my ears feel much more “free”. That said, it’s really not that big of a deal, and these are wholly deserving of a perfect Comfort score.
Comfort Score: 5 out of 5
Features / Battery Life / Noise Cancelling
Features
The WH 1000XM5 was actually released in May 2022, so it’s slightly older than some of its competitors.
That said, it has pretty much all the bells-and-whistles of the competition including its own version of Spatial Audio, multiple active noise cancelling modes, Transparency mode, built-in microphones, and EQ via the Sony “Sound Connect” app.
The active noise cancelling is the real star, which we’ll discuss below soon.
These do come with a really nice premium hardshell case, USB-C charging cable, and stereo aux cable.
One point I need to make, and the reason these will be docked 0.5 points, is the questionable build quality around the hinges (see below).
These plastic hinges feel quite frail for a $400 headphone, and I think is a design oversight.
I’ve seen plenty of these broken at the hinge for sale on eBay, and a widely-complained issue on Reddit.
No other headphone in this class has this issue, and I truly did think it was worth noting.
That said, I haven’t had any issues with my pair, but I make sure to be extra careful when handling.
Sony WH 1000XM5 Battery Life
The Sony WH 1000XM5 is rated at 30 hours of battery life on a single charge, which is above average for its class:
- Sennheiser Momentum 4: 60 hours
- Sony WH 1000XM5: 30 hours
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra: 24 hours
- Apple AirPods Max: 20 hours
In my testing, I found the battery life figure to be quite accurate, and only needing to charge these once every 1-2 weeks at the most.
Sony WH 1000XM5 Noise Cancelling Performance
When it comes to active noise cancelling performance, the Sony WH 1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra are currently in a league of their own.
Both headphones boast very effective noise cancelling that is also not too invasive, feeling fairly natural compared to older products that relied on hums and hisses.
Whether it’s silencing the jet engines on airplane travel, or working in an open office or busy coffeeshop, the XM5 is excellent for focus.
The XM5 has a whopping 20+ levels of noise cancelling customization, allowing the user to fine-tune how much ambient noise they want to be mixed with the noise cancelling.
There’s also an option to turn off noise cancelling/transparency mode altogether, a rare feature that I love when I don’t want any of that to affect the music.
Features / Battery Life / Noise Cancelling Score: 4.5 out of 5
Value
Depending on the day and what sales are available, the Sony WH 1000XM5 currently sits between $328 to $399 market price currently.
That is a pretty big range, so let’s call it $399 on average.
No doubt about it, these are one of the more expensive headphones in the market, but not as much as the $429 Bose QuietComfort Ultra, or $549 Apple AirPods Max.
Some cheaper and compelling models would be the sub-$300 Sennheiser Momentum 4, and previous generation Sony WH 1000XM4 which can be found under $250 now.
Personally, if it weren’t for the EQ magically salvaging the sound quality from mediocre to excellent, I would rate the XM5’s value much lower.
But thanks to EQ, combined with world-class comfort and noise cancelling, I do think these are priced fairly.
So overall, I’m giving them a 4 out of 5. They aren’t a steal, but they also aren’t overrated in my opinion, especially if you prioritize comfort and noise cancelling over pure sound quality alone.
Value Score: 4.0 out of 5
Are the Sony WH 1000XM5 Headphones Worth it?
As far as overall packages go, especially when prioritizing comfort and the best active noise cancelling technology, I think the Sony WH 1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra are in a league of their own.
So with that said, I do think the XM5 is worth the money, BUT only after EQ’ing the sound with their free app. Which, ironically, is the same thing that must be done with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra to get the most potential out of it as well.
The only knocks against the XM5 are the stock sound and the questionable plastic hinges, but overall I think these headphones would make a LOT of consumers happy.
Personally, I would lean towards the Bose QuietComfort Ultra myself, as I think those have even more Audiophile-level sound quality and don’t have the weak hinge build quality issue.
You can’t really go wrong here. But if you do decide on the XM5, please for the love of all things holy, apply the EQ settings above. Set it, forget it, and enjoy 🙂
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Overall Scoring Breakdown
Sound Quality: 8.5 / 10
Comfort: 5 / 5
Features / Battery Life / Noise Cancelling: 4.5 / 5
Value: 4.0 / 5
Total: 22 / 25
Order the LATEST VERSION for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):
Want to save up to an additional $100?
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 🙂
FAQ
Can you wear Sony WH 1000XM5 in the rain? Are they waterproof?
No, the Sony WH 1000XM5 is not waterproof and therefore not recommended to be worn in the rain, in the shower, or any other wet environments where they can risk electrical damage and malfunction.
Does Sony WH 1000XM5 come with a case?
Yes, the Sony WH 1000XM5 comes with a premium hardshell case that also has a compartment for the charging and stereo cables.
How long does the Sony WH 1000XM5 last?
The Sony WH 1000XM5 is rated at 30 hours of battery life on a single charge.
Does the Sony WH 1000XM5 fold?
Yes, the Sony WH 1000XM5 earcups do fold flat in a single direction, but they don’t collapse completely like Bose headphones.
Does the Sony WH 1000XM5 have a mic?
Yes, the Sony WH 1000XM5 includes 4 beamforming microphones for wireless hands-free calling and voice audio.
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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