For the past four years if the question is “what are the most worthwhile ANC earphones?” asked us, the answer is to just buy anywhere in the Sony WH-1000XM family. Since being released five years ago and we tried it ourselves at IFA, it has become a choice because it offers a robust audio experience, travel -friendly foldable design, best -in -class ANC and a more reasonable price than that offered by other manufacturers like Bose.
Three years ago we finally bought a Sony WH-1000XM3 to replace the Sony H.Ear On 2 which was already starting to sluggish after thousands of kilometers accompanying a trip across the continent. Throughout the pandemic XM3 became the companion of dozens of teleconferencing sessions and reduced distractions while working at home.
Now it’s also almost sluggish and the recent launch of the Sony WH-1000XM5 made me move to replace the XM3. But after only a few days of commenting, we feel the XM5 is not the expected successor and actually has shortcomings compared to previous XM models.
Specifications
Sony WH-1000XM5
Closed rear earphone type
30mm Neodymium driver
Microphone 8 microphones
Battery 30 Hours ANC/40 hours without ANC
USB-C charger port
Wireless charging None
CODEC AAC, SBC, LDAC
All supported operating systems
Yes/Assistant and Alexa virtual assistant support
Control Pad Yes/ 1 touch pad
Waterproof ability No
Selling Price RM 1799
We start with the positive thing first which is design. Since it was first offered in 2017, the design of the headphones of this series has not changed much. Only the sponge size on the calipers, ear cups and finishes changed year after year. Do you still remember the leather -like finish on the beautiful XM2 but then started to tear after a few years causing the XM3 to use blank plastic panels?
There is a saying that the Mona Lisa does not need to be improved, it just needs to be taken care of for the gaze of future generations. For the fifth interaction, Sony is finally offering the XM5 in an all -new design that is pretty drastically different.
Adjustable head calipers now use a moving rod instead of a plastic caliper. The ear cup extensions are also now only one on the top, no longer two on the sides. The span on the caliper is also larger with the ear cups also larger. According to Sony this design will provide comfort to the wearer.
In this case we agree with Sony because the XM5 is the most comfortable phone of this series we have ever used. Often the ears start to feel sweaty after a few hours, on the XM5 this does not happen. The pressure on the top of the head and jaw that has become normal when using the XM3 is also no longer experienced on the XM5. The XM5’s comfort level is in a class of its own at the moment and is more satisfying than the AirPods Max.
But for the sake of this convenience an iconic feature of the XM series has been sacrificed. The XM5 can no longer be folded small for space saving when stored in a bag. The ear caliper can only be narrowed with the degree of rotation of the ear cup also more limited.
We have a big issue with this design choice because space saving is IMPORTANT when doing assignments abroad. The duffel bags brought into the plane will be filled with several chargers, laptops, tablets, spare phones, powerbanks, travel documents and an emergency exchange dressing.
The XM3 we’ve been using all this time can be put in a small storage bag. The size of the XM5 storage bag is about 30% larger. Seems like an insignificant increase in size but as a reporter every milliliter of space in a bag is needed. During this review period we had to re -order the bag issue as Leon S Kennedy sorted the inventory of items at the beginning of Resident Evil 4.
With a large storage order you would probably guess more accessories would be given away for free but you are wrong. Only a 3.5mm cable and a USB-A to USB-C charger are provided. The 3.5mm dual-head jack adapter for in-flight use is no longer provided free of charge. Why not just give it away when it is a necessary accessory to use headphones with an in -plane entertainment system. Net pockets outside the storage bag are also not maintained.
One positive thing with the storage bag this time around is that it can be stored flat in the bag when it is empty. There are origami -like folding grooves on the sides that reduce the size of the bag by up to 40% when stored flat.
What reduces the frustration is the XM5’s finish that feels more premium. The foam on the ear and head pads feels very soft compared to previous models. Wearing it for six hours does not cause any discomfort. The head caliper adjustment also feels more robust as we experienced while using the AirPods Max.
We have the theory that this new XM5 design is Sony’s effort to provide competition to the AirPods Max and Bose 700 in the premium ANC headphone segment. To compete they have to offer something almost identical so as to leave their own identity. We understand why it was done but we are still disappointed.
Changes were also made to the size of the audio driver which is now 30mm with carbon fiber construction replacing the 40mm driver on the XM4. The new driver according to Sony will offer clearer audio.
Another change that many may not be aware of is that there is no longer NFC support. Instead this is completely replaced with Google Fast Pair support. Let us complain again because NFC makes it easy for us to exchange extras quickly between Android devices. Just touch the NFC logo and the XM3 will come to life before being tethered to an Android phone. The absence of this feature makes the process of using the XM5 initially awkward.
Usage and Software
Turn on the headphones for the first time and the Google Fast Pair screen will appear on the Android phone screen after a few seconds. Follow the instructions provided to perform Google Assistant settings immediately. Users are then advised to download the Sony Headphones application to find the latest software version.
We recommend that the Headphones app be downloaded because the tutorial on using XM5 as well as changing the settings can only be done from this app. Among the features that can be changed are turning off ANC mode, activating Ambience mode, adding to two devices simultaneously and the Talk-to-Speak feature.
The software is nice and provides various settings needed including EQ. Install immediately because otherwise the XM5 will not be usable at real performance.
Everything is fine except for one change made to the XM5 software. Sony replaced the audio que “Power on” and “Power off” with digital sound that was a bit confusing the first time the headphones were used. One reads “du du dooot”. Another reads "di di duu". It almost sounds so confusing.
Add confusing when in a noisy area because listening to audio "power on" is clearer than "du du doot". Other audio for your virtual assistant ANC/ambient activator is still retained. Why change if the audio que used so far is already perfect.
The same question we want to convey to Sony. Who requested the regressive changes on this XM5? When this question was asked to the 5 XM3 and XM4 owners in the office no one claimed to have ever asked for these changes to be made.
Audio Quality
Audio is subjective. This needs to be explained at the beginning of this review segment as what you will read next may be considered controversial. We reviewed the XM5 from the point of view of XM3 owners over the past two years and sincerely we say the audio quality of the XM5 is mmmmm disappointing. Five times M is parallel to the name XM5.
Why disappoint? On the first day it was attached to the ear it felt quite flat. Sony's often solid sound punches the eardrum until the earwax is removed. If an EQ that amplifies the bass is selected in the application it becomes too loud anyway. There’s no mid -range bass sound that’s been the main reason why we’ve quite liked the Sony XM series since it first went on the market.
We have been using Sony headphones since we were 2 years old. After 40 years of ear accustomed to Sony’s audio profile, we wanted strong bass, loud clear treble as well as good sound isolation even at high audio volume. This is our definition of "The Sony Sound" from before mumayyiz until our grave is now.
For those looking to buy the XM5 expecting the same or better audio profile than the XM3 we feel you will be disappointed. Even when the XM5 was given to the 5 fellow XM4 and XM3 owners we mentioned earlier, they all said the XM5 sounds like a downgrade. We did not like the change in the audio profile .
We have read reviews from other sites praising the audio improvements on the XM5 but sorry we can't hear what they have to say. This is not a reviewed headphone issue as we have two XM5 units to review (another for our English site Nextrift). The same audio experience also applies to this second unit. If we are the ones who don’t like it it may be an anomaly but everyone who uses it in the office unanimously expresses frustration.
The existing advantages can only be heard when listening to songs of classical instruments, acoustics, vocals and modern music post 2020. The best audio experience also depends on the source of the music. The same songs on YouTube Music, Spotify and Apple Music provide a different experience with Apple Music at its best. The DSEE system which is supposed to improve the audio quality on the XM5 in our opinion does not make any significant difference.
We admit the audio isolation on the XM5 is indeed much better than the XM3 but for other features we feel the XM3 is more compatible with our ears. Again repeated audio is subjective. In this case we disagree with the site reviews and YouTubers who say the XM5 is better than the XM4.
ANC
The audio isn’t compatible with our ears but the ANC on the XM5 is the best we’ve ever used. In the office we do not hear when the name is called. Friends in the office who are chatting or are attending a teleconferencing session can be completely muted. The XM5 can mute the world of noise quite effectively. The real strength of the XM5 is that it is the best ANC mode in its class to date.
There is no feeling like the ears are pressed with pressure on the diaphragm like on the much more expensive AirPods Max. We disagree also with the reviews out there that say the ANC on AirPods Max is better. But this is not the first time this review disagrees with the opinion of other reviews about the XM5 only this time it is is positive.
Hold your hand on the right cup and Quick Attention Mode continues to be activated. The interesting thing with this feature is that it automatically feels like the headphones are removed from the head. The sound from outside sounds natural without any hindrance. This is the most robust audio transmission system we have ever seen on any audio accessory on the market especially on closed back headphones.
Microphone
The microphone used is also very good when used to make phone calls or teleconferencing sessions. The background noise is well muted but your voice is still clearly heard by the person calling. The only drawback is that the microphone quality is still not satisfactory enough for podcast or video recordings.
Battery
The advertised battery can last up to 30 hours on a single charge equal to the XM4. This is with the ANC enabled. Without the ANC it increased to 40 hours. Throughout the test period, the XM5 lasted over five days with a single charge at medium audio settings. This is a very good lifespan as it can be used to travel from Malaysia to Europe or Los Angeles twice.
Recharging takes 3.5 hours using the supplied USB-C port. But with the Power Delivery charger, use for 3 hours can be enjoyed after charging for only 3 minutes. Our only issue is that the supplied USB-A to USB-C charger cable is only 15 cm long. Too short to be impractical.
In the box
Here is what is received with every purchase of a device in Malaysia.
1x Sony WH-1000XM5.
1x Headphone storage bag.
1x USB-A to USB-C charger cable.
1x 3.5mm audio cable.
Manual.
Conclusion
The reviews are already too long because there are too many things we need to touch on. The bottom line is to buy the XM5 if you need premium headphones that are comfortable to wear for long periods of time, equipped with the best ANC system on the market and battery life of up to three days on a single charge. Its audio isolation is also better than the XM3 as well as there is support for automatic music pause mode when removed from the head.
Don't buy if you expect audio enhancement from the XM3 or XM4. Audio is subjective but we are not very happy with the new audio profile used. Thus the XM5 is Sony’s first headphone that can be likened to a marmite. The small non -foldable headphones along with the larger storage container are also what we see as a step backwards.
At a price of RM1799, this is a pretty high -end and premium headphone. It doesn’t provide such a significant improvement with the XM4 and for that reason it’s hard to recommend buying it at the current price. Wait a few more months for the price to go down or a better option now is to buy the XM4 which is offered at a price as low as RM999 only now.
Pro
The new design is more modern and attractive.
Very comfortable to wear for hours.
The best ANC we've ever used.
Excellent battery life too.
Pretty perfect software support.
Transparent mode such as headphones is not worn.
Cons
Audio is a step backwards for us.
Cannot be folded and storage bags are now larger.
The charger cable provided is very short.
The new audio que is confusing.