Odi Productions
In this article, I’m going to give my honest Sony WH-1000XM5 Review with comparisons vs XM6, XM4, Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2, Apple AirPods Max 2, Sennheiser Momentum 4, and Momentum 5.
I’m going to do my best to share whether these headphones are worth it, and ideally who these headphones are for. I bought these headphones with my own money, and was NOT sponsored, paid, or received a free copy for review. All thoughts are my own.
I’ll be sharing my critical opinion with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, audio engineer, and tech journalist. I also run the RecordingNow YouTube channel with over 24,000+ subscribers and over 5 million views.
Let’s dive right in!
Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones review in short
4 years after its release, the Sony WH-1000XM5 still presents a decent all-arounder due to its lightweight comfort and noise cancelling performance that is still arguably in the Top 5 today. The sound quality is a bit debated, but I think it sounds decent with custom EQ and LDAC. I would personally skip the XM5 and upgrade to the Sony WH-1000XM6 myself, which has improved hinge durability and sound quality. Competes with Sony WH-1000XM4, Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2, Apple AirPods Max 2, Sennheiser Momentum 4, Sennheiser Momentum 5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and Apple AirPods Max.
Watch this Review on YouTube! (Or keep scrolling to read)
Sony WH 1000XM5 Pros and Cons
- Fun, decent sound quality (after EQ)
- All-day comfort and lightweight
- Elite noise cancelling performance
- Stock sound without EQ is mediocre
- Poor build quality on hinges
- Not a great value
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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.
Also, the XM5 supports the hi-res codec of LDAC (developed by Sony), leading to higher sound quality potential on paper.
To conduct this test, I used my Questyle QCC Dongle Pro to unlock aptX and LDAC support:
![Questyle QCC Dongle Pro [MFi Certified] USB-C Bluetooth Audio Adapter with LDAC,aptX Lossless&aptX-Adaptive,Low Latency Bluetooth 5.4 Dongle for PS5,Wireless Lossless Transmitter for PC/Headphones](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21jT-Cm5ZVL._SL500_.jpg)
If you’re an iPhone user, or if your phone doesn’t support aptX codecs, then I highly recommend you pick up the dongle above which will cover both LDAC and aptX Adaptive high-res codecs. It’s the only
Best Equalizer Settings for Sony WH-1000XM5
Rock / Metal
- 400: -3
- 1k: 0
- 2.5k: +3
- 6.3k: -2
- 16k: +2
- Clear Bass: 0
Pop / Hip Hop
- 400: -6
- 1k: +1
- 2.5k: +5
- 6.3k: -4
- 16k: +3
- Clear Bass: -2
Result: I started with some of the popular EQ settings from Reddit, and then worked on personalizing my own EQ to strive for a more balanced, neutral sound than most of the EQs out there.
This is what the XM5 desperately needs to bring out its full potential. The resulting sound has so much more detail, airiness, and dynamics. Not as muddy and veiled as the stock sound.
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.
Last Updated 5-21-25
Sound Quality AFTER applying EQ…
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.
So overall, the Sony WH 1000XM5 is one of the more FUN headphones for casual listening in its class, but it ranks below the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Sennheiser Momentum 4, and AirPods Max overall for me.
In terms of pure sound quality, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 is also superior, but I might sometimes put the XM5 slightly above it due to the sound signature preference.
Here are some sound comparisons below…
vs Sony WH-1000XM6
The newer Sony WH-1000XM6 was released 3 years after the XM5 as its official successor, and with it came a significant upgrade in sound quality.
Out of the box, I much prefer the sound of the XM6 over the XM5, but they both benefit greatly from custom EQ.
The stock sound profile of the XM6 is more tonally balanced and neutral than the consumer-friendly XM5, which has a tendency to sound muddier with overemphasized bass bleeding into the mids.
That said, both headphones are towards the warmer and darker end of the spectrum, with the XM5 being more “muffled”.
The XM5 really starts to come alive with LDAC and custom EQ, while the XM6 mostly just needs LDAC to sound better than the XM5.
Everything is more controlled with the XM6, especially in the bass region.
Overall, the XM6 is a considerable step up in sound quality.
vs Sony WH-1000XM4
Out of the box, I actually prefer the more musical stock sound profile of the previous WH-1000XM4 over the XM5.
It’s a bit warmer and smoother, while the XM5 aims to be a bit more clinical, but struggles a bit in the execution.
The XM4 is more forgiving, especially in the treble, while the XM5 does have a higher level of detail that can be more sibilant and harsh as well.
But with LDAC and applying custom EQ to both headphones, I’m hearing a higher level of fidelity and detail with the newer XM5.
I understand that many people prefer the stock sound of the XM4, but I think the XM5 really comes alive after proper EQ, putting it in a slightly higher league.
vs Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION
I doubt many people are cross-shopping these, but if you’re looking to upgrade, I highly recommend the Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION.
Point blank, the 1000X THE COLLEXION is in the audiophile tier, which is 1-2 levels above the XM5’s sound quality.
The 1000X really exposes the muffled and muddy sound of the XM5, offering a truly neutral and incredibly detailed sound signature that is like watching 4K resolution after 1080p.
vs Apple AirPods Max 2
The AirPods Max 2 is almost 4 years newer than the aging XM5, and represents a significant leap in sound quality.
The newer XM6 is a much better contender with the AirPods Max 2 in the sound department.
These have completely different sound profiles, with the AirPods Max 2 being a neutral bright headphone that sounds much cleaner, more detailed, and more open in soundstage.
Even in stock form, the AirPods Max 2 is more audiophile-friendly than a “maxed out” Sony XM5 with LDAC and custom EQ.
vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 is 3 years newer than the XM5, and is a much better sound quality matchup with the newer XM6 and AirPods Max 2.
The overall sound quality of the QC Ultra 2 is in a level above the XM5, and is simply higher resolution and fidelity out of the box.
With aptX Lossless support and a simpler custom 3-band EQ, the QC Ultra 2 is actually one of the more impressive-sounding “mainstream” wireless headphones we’ve tested.
The sound profile is more consumer-friendly than the XM5 and sounds much less muddy and muffled.
vs Sennheiser Momentum 4
Although the Momentum 4 was released only 3 months after the XM5, it actually still competes quite well with the popular flagship headphones of today, including the AirPods Max 2, Sony XM6, and Bose QC Ultra 2.
With aptX Adaptive and a custom 5-band EQ, the Momentum 4 is still an absolute pleasure to listen to, only now being overshadowed by the newer Sennheiser flagships in the HDB 630 and Momentum 5.
The Momentum 4 has a more pleasing sound profile versus the XM5, at least in execution, as it sounds much clearer, smoother, and open in soundstage.
The bass response is also cleaner and more controlled in the Momentum 4.
vs Sennheiser Momentum 5
The Sennheiser Momentum 5 is an even bigger leap in sound quality from the XM5 than the 4.
The Momentum 5 competes with the higher-end Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION, and is an incredible sound quality performer for the money.
No contest, the Momentum 5 is simply a higher level of resolution, clarity, soundstage, and dynamics over the more muffled and 2D-sounding XM5.
Sound Quality Score: 8.3 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.
Here’s how the XM5’s weight stacks up to its competition:
- Bose QuietComfort (2023 model) – 236.1 grams
- Sony WH 1000XM5 – 245.9 grams
- Sony WH 1000XM4 – 251.6 grams
- Sony WH 1000XM6 – 252.8 grams
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (1st gen) – 254.4 grams
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) – 262.2 grams
- Beats Studio Pro – 268.6 grams
- Sennheiser Momentum 5 – 288.8 grams
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 – 292.9 grams
- Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S2e – 305.2 grams
- Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION – 311.2 grams
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 – 312.0 grams
- Sennheiser HDB 630 – 313.4 grams
- Sonos Ace – 318.1 grams
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 – 320.1 grams
- Bang & Olufsen H95 – 323 grams
- Focal Bathys – 350 grams
- Focal Bathys MG – 365.5 grams
- Bang & Olufsen H100 – 375.6 grams
- Dali IO-12 – 379.4 grams
- Apple AirPods Max 2 – 384.4 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: 9.5 out of 10
Features / Build Quality / 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 large premium hardshell case, USB-C charging cable, and stereo aux cable.
Sony WH 1000XM5 Battery Life
The Sony WH 1000XM5 is rated at 30 hours of battery life on a single charge, which is average for its class:
- Marshall Monitor III – 70 hours (ANC on), 100 hours (ANC off)
- Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE – 60 hours (ANC on), 100 hours (ANC off)
- Audeze Maxwell – 80 hours (no ANC included)
- Sennheiser HDB 630 – 60 hours
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 – 60 hours
- Sennheiser Momentum 5 – 57 hours
- Dali IO-12 – 35 hours (ANC on)
- Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 – 34 hours (ANC on)
- Focal Bathys MG – “Over 30 hours” (ANC on)
- Sony WH-1000XM6 – 40 hours (ANC off), 30 hours (ANC on)
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) – 30 hours
- Sony WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM4 – 30 hours
- Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and Px8 – 30 hours
- Sonos Ace – 30 hours
- Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION – 24 hours
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (1st Gen) – 24 hours
- Apple AirPods Max 2 – 20 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.
Build Quality
One point I need to make, and the reason these will be docked 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.
Practicality
The XM5 is mostly a decent daily driver except for its build quality flaw in the hinges detailed above, and also the fact that it doesn’t fold and collapse like the newer XM6, along with older XM4 and XM3 before it.
This leads the XM5 to having a larger hardshell case that is not as portable as most other generations of the WH-1000 series, unfortunately.
It does make up a fair bit due to its incredibly light weight comfort and world-class noise cancelling performance.
Features / Battery Life / Build Quality / Practicality Score: 7.5 out of 10
Sony WH 1000XM5 Noise Cancelling Performance
When it comes to active noise cancelling performance, the Sony WH-1000XM5 was arguably the top performer of its generation, but now faces stiffer competition from newer models like AirPods Max 2, Sony WH-1000XM6, and Bose QC Ultra 2.
Make no mistake, I would still consider it around the Top 5 options for noise cancelling today, but no longer the very peak. Especially if you factor in the XM5’s somewhat muffled Transparency Mode that was greatly improved in the newer XM6.
These 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.
Noise Cancelling Performance Score: 9.0 out of 10
Value
At the time of this writing, the XM5 currently sits at around $278 USD brand new, and on sale for as low as $198.
This is a nice discount from its original $399.99 full retail price.
Since the XM5 has been officially replaced by the newer generation XM6, we should expect these discounts to continue further.
If it wasn’t for the hinge build quality issue, I’d actually be inclined to give the XM5 a higher Value score.
But because of the questionable long-term durability concerns, I have to slightly dock it here.
Overall, I think the XM5 goes from a good value to a great value as you get closer to a sub-$200 sale price brand new.
At around $278 market price, I would personally look elsewhere like the Momentum 4 or Nothing Headphone 1, to name a couple options.
But the XM5 still has those two beat in the noise cancelling and comfort department.
Value Score: 8.5 out of 10
Are the Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones Worth it?
4 years after its release, I think the Sony WH-1000XM5 is still worth it if you can get them on sale for $278 USD, or better yet, closer to $200.
It still has an appealing overall package of lightweight comfort, world-class noise cancelling performance, and decent sound quality after EQ.
That said, the durability concerns with its hinges would worry me for long-term ownership. But if you’re careful with handling them, then this isn’t a serious issue.
I will say that there has been a LOT of innovation and competition in the 4 years since the XM5’s release, so there’s many attractive options that are better today.
If I had the XM4, I would skip the XM5 and go straight to the XM6.
Some very Strong Alternatives in this class of noise cancelling headphones are:
- Sony WH-1000XM6
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2
- Apple AirPods Max 2
- Sennheiser Momentum 5
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra
- Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S3
- Sennheiser Momentum 4
- Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION
- Apple AirPods Max
- Bowers and Wilkins Px8
- Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e
- Sonos Ace
- Bose QuietComfort (2023 model)
- Beats Studio Pro
- Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2
Some Relevant Comparisons in this class of noise cancelling headphones are:
- Sony WH-1000XM6 vs WH-1000XM5
- Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM5
- Apple AirPods Max vs Sony WH-1000XM5
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5
- Beats Studio Pro vs Sony WH-1000XM5
- Sonos Ace vs Sony WH-1000XM5
Overall Scoring Breakdown
Sound Quality (50% of score): 8.3 / 10
Comfort (10% of score): 9.5 / 10
Features / Battery Life / Build Quality / Practicality (10% of score): 7.5 / 10
Noise Cancelling (20% of score): 9.0 / 10
Value (10% of score): 8.5 / 10
Overall: 8.50 / 10
Order the LATEST VERSION for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):
Save money with RENEWED!
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.
Post Update History
- June 2026: Updated scores to “Version 2.0” of our Headphone Scoring System. Added long-term “4 Year Review” updates throughout post. Included comparisons to newer models including Sony WH-1000XM6, 1000X THE COLLEXION, Apple AirPods Max 2, Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2, and Sennheiser Momentum 5.
- May 2025: Added new EQ settings for Rock/Metal and Pop/Hip Hop.
- February 2025: Original publication date.
Read Next
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 Review
Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION Review
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Review
Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM5
Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S3 Review
Bose QuietComfort Review (2023 Model)
Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S2e Review
Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5
Apple AirPods Max vs Sony WH-1000XM5
