New Era of Sound: Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones Redefine Premium Listening Experience

The Sony 1000X series has existed since 2016, when the MDR-1000X wireless headphones were introduced. Since that time, four successors to the MDR-1000X have been released, with the most recent model hitting the market in mid-2022, almost two years after the Sony WH-1000XM4 debuted. The Sony WH-1000XM5 stands as the newest iteration in this iconic and respected flagship wireless headphone lineup, delivering enhancements in various areas including design, sound quality, and active noise cancellation capabilities.

With a price tag of Rs. 34,990, the Sony WH-1000XM5 sports a notably updated design and claims to offer superior performance. Yet, as the trend shifts towards the more compact design of true wireless earphones, is there still a space for larger over-ear models like this in the luxury market? Discover the answer in our detailed review.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 showcases an updated design, despite many elements resembling the WH-1000XM4

Design and features of the Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has typically maintained a similar aesthetic across the 1000X series from the first to the fourth generation, but the WH-1000XM5 presents a marked redesign. The alterations are apparent throughout the headset, with ear cups, hinges, headband, and foam padding taking on a completely new appearance. This results in a headset that is arguably more ‘contemporary’, though some users may miss the familiarity of the prior design.

The overall dimensions and weight of the Sony WH-1000XM5 make it lightweight at 252g, likely enhancing comfort. The soft ear cup padding and the underside of the headband provide a pleasant feel, ensuring a snug and noise-isolating fit. Wearing glasses did slightly compromise the noise isolation, thereby affecting the active noise cancellation quality, but the decrease in performance was minimal enough to overlook when music was playing.

The headband adjustment mechanism on the Sony WH-1000XM5 has changed, functioning on a free-moving system instead of fixed grooves. One significant drawback of the revised design is that the headphones do not fold inwards as entirely as the WH-1000XM4. Although the accompanying carry case conveniently accommodates the headphones in their new form, it is not as compact for travel as the previous version.

The controls on the Sony WH-1000XM5 continue to feature a mix of physical buttons and touch-sensitive gestures on the outer side of the right ear cup. The gestures are predefined and include taps, swipes, and touch-and-hold actions. Additionally, you can configure double-press and triple-press functions for the NC/AMB button using the accompanying app.

Power and ANC controls utilize physical buttons on the Sony WH-1000XM5

Noteworthy is the wear-detection sensor that automatically plays or pauses music when the headphones are worn or removed. You can also activate the hear-through mode by placing your palm on the right ear cup, which decreases volume and engages the ambient sound feature to enhance awareness of your surroundings.

On the left side, there are only two buttons that control power and the noise cancellation or ambient sound settings, while playback and volume are managed through gestures. The left ear cup is equipped with a 3.5mm socket for wired connections, while the right features a USB Type-C port for charging.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 includes a ‘Speak To Chat’ function that pauses playback and activates Ambient Sound mode when it detects your voice. It also supports Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice commands, allowing you to invoke them hands-free using wake phrases. Additional features encompass Google Fast Pair support, multi-point connectivity for up to two devices at once, and compatibility with Sony’s 360 Reality Audio sound format.

App and specifications for the Sony WH-1000XM5

The Sony Headphones Connect app has been integral to the experience with many of Sony’s headphones and earphones, and it works seamlessly with the WH-1000XM5 as well. The app provides easy access to controls and settings that correspond with the capabilities of the WH-1000XM5, neatly categorized into four main sections.

This encompasses Adaptive Sound Control for customizing noise cancellation based on your environment, displays for exact battery level and active codec, equalizer settings, Bluetooth connection quality, DSEE Extreme mode, custom controls, and other features such as multi-point connectivity, voice assistant configuration, and Spotify Tap setup.

The Sony Headphones Connect app allows users to tweak various functions and settings on the WH-1000XM5

Personally, I found the natural sound profile of the WH-1000XM5 to be excellent and saw no reason to adjust the equalizer, though plenty of users may appreciate having that option. The setting for Bluetooth connection quality appeared unnecessary, considering the significant improvements in stability offered by the LDAC Bluetooth codec. Notably, enabling multi-point connectivity disables the LDAC Bluetooth codec, allowing use only with the AAC codec.

Overall connectivity for the Sony WH-1000XM5 relies on Bluetooth 5.2, but it also allows the option of a stereo cable for wired use. The headphones support SBC, AAC, and LDAC Bluetooth codecs, equipped with 30mm dynamic drivers, featuring a frequency response range of 20-40,000Hz when connected via Bluetooth using the LDAC codec. They also boast a rated sensitivity of 102dB.

A total of eight microphones are integrated into the headphones for active noise cancellation, with four specifically dedicated to voice calls. The Sony WH-1000XM5 utilizes the V1 integrated processor combined with the QN1 noise-cancelling processor to facilitate ANC functionality. The packaging includes a new collapsible carry case, a USB Type-A to Type-C charging cable, and a 3.5mm wired connectivity stereo cable.

Performance and battery life of the Sony WH-1000XM5

Given the strong performance of the Sony WH-1000XM4, I was curious to see how much enhancement the Sony WH-1000XM5 could deliver. To my surprise, Sony has achieved small but significant advancements in sound quality and active noise cancellation in these headphones. However, the overall approach remains consistent, and the upgrades feel more like refinements than generational leaps.

Once again, the appeal of the Sony WH-1000XM5 lies in its sound signature, which is detailed yet enjoyable. The full-sized ear cups and large drivers significantly enhance sound quality on the WH-1000XM5, providing a spacious, flexible, and detail-oriented auditory experience that is deeply satisfying.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is equipped with 30mm dynamic drivers

The sound signature features a somewhat V-shaped curve, with bass and treble prominently emphasized over the mid-range. However, the expansive character of the sound ensures that the mids do not come across as muted or overwhelmed. While listening to «When I Get There» by Big Wild, the introduction was powerfully rich and full-bodied before evolving into the tight, punchy, and fierce bass of the downtempo beat. Throughout the track’s varying segments, the Sony WH-1000XM5 displayed remarkable ease and remarkable responsiveness to changes.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 adapted effortlessly to all musical genres I explored; whether fast-paced or slow and easy, the headphones adjusted almost intuitively to match the track. While listening to «Living On Video» (Claptone Remix), the headphones elevated energy levels whilst maintaining the rhythm of the track seamlessly, while the slower, pop-driven «Bom Bidi Bom» by Nick Jonas and Nicki Minaj adeptly highlighted the sultry beat and rhythmic vocals.

As expected, the Sony WH-1000XM5 performs optimally when utilizing the LDAC Bluetooth codec and high-quality audio files. However, audio quality remained satisfactory even when using an iPhone with the AAC codec, resulting in only a minor reduction in detail and sound space. The dynamic and adaptable nature of the sound, along with its enjoyable and well-balanced sonic signature, persisted.

The active noise cancellation of the Sony WH-1000XM5 is slightly improved compared to the WH-1000XM4, both indoors and outdoors, with the internal microphones functioning marginally better. It generally took a few moments for the ANC to calibrate to the environment, but the noise cancellation efficiency steadily enhanced as the internal microphones adapted to the sounds around me. This feature proved helpful when I wore glasses, as the ANC could even adjust to the small gap in the noise-isolating seal.

When alone and not listening to music, I found the level of noise reduction impressive indoors: the WH-1000XM5 successfully muffled sounds from my ceiling fan and significantly dampened the traffic noise from an open window. Outdoors, the headphones performed reasonably well in mitigating wind noise. With music playing at moderate volumes, only minimal ambient sounds could be detected.

Call quality and connectivity stability were satisfactory with the Sony WH-1000XM5, functioning smoothly at distances up to 4 meters between the headphones and the smartphone. The LDAC Bluetooth stream maintained stability even at the 990kbps bitrate over reasonable distances. The battery life of the Sony WH-1000XM5 is excellent, lasting around 28 hours on a single charge with ANC activated and volume set at moderate levels.

Conclusion

Sony continues to be a front-runner in the realm of premium wireless headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 strongly upholds that reputation. With subtle enhancements in sound quality and ANC performance, along with consistently strong battery life and connectivity, the Sony WH-1000XM5 stands out as one of the finest wireless headphones available now, provided that the over-ear design is to your liking and the price aligns with your budget.

While competition in this category is limited, there are commendable alternatives such as the Yamaha YH-L700A and Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones. If you own an iPhone, you might also consider the (considerably pricier) Apple AirPods Max. Nevertheless, regardless of your preferred source device, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is a competent and dependable pair of active noise-canceling headphones, making it worthy of your consideration.