Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: Best ANC Headphone In Market?

Sony is one of the biggest electronics brands in the world and makes pretty much everything you can think of. Sony manufactures Cameras, Gaming Consoles, Memory Cards, Microphones, Speakers, TVs, Mobile Phones and Headphones. However, its main area of expertise has always been gaming, cameras and sound. Time and time again, Sony has built some of the most robust headphones ever. Their latest headphones, Sony WH-1000XM5  is also nothing short of extraordinary. In this Sony WH-1000XM5 Review, we will have a look at the headphones and see if these headphones are enough to dethrone Apple’s Airpods Max. 

New Sony WH-1000XM5 

Sony’s latest offering, Sony WH-1000XM5, is a set of Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) headphones with robust sound quality and unparalleled ANC capabilities. Active noise cancelling is a headphone's ability to filter out the noise and sound of the outer world and create a secluded environment around your ears. These headphones, supposedly, take this feature to the next level. In this Sony WH-1000XM5 Review, we will put Sony’s claims to the test. 

2024 Sony WH-1000XM5 Review 

This Sony WH-1000XM5 Review is based on the most important metrics for headphones. These include metrics like design and comfort, sound quality, battery backup, software and features. So, let’s get started. 

Design, Comfort, And Build Quality 

Upon looking at the Sony WH-1000XM5 for the first time, you couldn’t help but notice that Sony has ditched its flat band shape and opted for something much more tubular for this new model of Sony headphones. However, one of Sony's biggest flaws is still there as the headphones are still prone to breaking from where the headphones fold. 

The headphones are very comfortable, all thanks to the padding on the band that goes over your head. Moreover, the padded cups on the headphones make it easy to use them for extended periods of time. 

Build quality is also improved from the previous generations. The headphones look sleek and are made using high-end materials. The padding on the earcups and headband also gives it a premium look. However, there are some areas where Sony lacks in terms of build quality. The extensive use of plastic gives it a cheap feel, and many people might not like it because of this, especially Apple users, as Airpods Max offers top-notch build quality.  

Software And Features

The next thing to look at in this Sony WH-1000XM5 Review is the software used to connect these headphones and the features it offers. So, just like every other Sony headphone, you can connect the Sony WH-1000XM5 to your mobile device through the Sony Headphones Connet app. This app will help you connect your headphones to your mobile devices and show all the features you get with the headphones, like ANC, Ambient sound control, equaliser, touch gestures and many more. 

Just like previous generations, the Sony WH-1000XM5 can play and pause music when you remove or wear the headphones. They also turn off automatically if not used for a while. Moreover, you can connect up to two devices with your Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, and you can see both devices in your Sony headphone Connect app. However, the only caveat of this feature is that it can only support Advanced Audio Coding(AAC) and Sub-Band Coding(SBC) audio formats and not the LDAC audio format. 

Performance

Now, this is what you all came For. The next part of this Sony WH-1000XM5 Review is the performance of the headphones. So, Let’s have a look. 

Audio Quality

Sony WH-1000XM5 uses a 30 mm audio driver that delivers crisp and bassy audio. This 30mm driver is smaller than Sony WH-1000XM4’s 40 mm driver, but a softer edge and carbon fibre composite dome give it the edge. When it comes to sound, the Sony WH-1000XM5 offers the same sound as its predecessors: soft and bassy. This makes the headphones suitable for a long list of genres. However, we found that string instruments sounded the best in these headphones. Moreover, the equaliser that comes with the headphone ‘Connect app’ makes the M5s usable in a wide variety of scenarios. 

Active Noise Cancellation

This Sony WH-1000XM5 Review is incomplete without talking about the ANC capabilities of these headphones. The padded earcups are capable enough to stop the majority of high and medium-frequency noises, and when it comes to low-frequency noises, the ANC kicks in and does its job. One big change in terms of ANC is that in Sony WH-1000XM5s, you cannot adjust ANC according to your choice as the headphones do it automatically. Now. the last thing to discuss is the ambient sound feature. This feature does the job but is not comparable with Apple’s AirPods Max in any way, shape or form. You can listen to the outside world, but if you want to feel like you are not wearing a headphone, you might wanna go with Airpods Max for that. 

Microphone

The next thing to discuss in this Sony WH-1000XM5 Review is the microphone performance of the headphones. We have to say that it is nothing extraordinary. You can do pretty much anything you want, like recording audio and videos, video calling and normal calling. However, the sound recorded by the mic is mostly inconsistent. Also, if you use it in a noisy environment, it will cut the background noise but will also make your voice a bit quieter. 

Is This The Ultimate Replacement For Airpods Max?

Sony WH-1000XM5 Review has shown us that there are some areas where the Sony WH-1000XM5 outshines its competitors by a long shot. That being said, there are some areas where Sony can improve. The build quality is a little underwhelming, considering the price of the unit. Moreover, the app used by Sony headphones is quite old now. However, when it comes to sound quality and ANC, it's safe to say that Sony has the edge there. The sound quality is crisp, and the active noise cancellation will subdue the sound of an explosion. Let us know your thoughts on this in the comment section below.