Sony has released a new iteration of its best headphones. The series is known for its good sound quality and features (in addition to serial numbers that cannot be tied to a string). But these new Sony WH1000-XM5 headphones differ from their predecessors in a few ways.
There seems to be some logic in the series name of Sony’s headphones, but there is a line. Sony WH1000-XM5 replaced Sony WH1000-XM4 which also replaced XM3, etc. Sony has made a great name with these headphones. Released in 2020, the Sony WH1000-XM4 recently took first place in our test, thanks to its good sound quality and noise reduction. Sony has surpassed Apple and Bose, among others.
The 2018 Sony WH1000-XM3 also scored well. In fact, it looked so much like the XM4 that the earphones are still a very smart buy due to their slightly lower price. In terms of appearance, these headphones were hardly indistinguishable from each other.
Sony WH-1000XM5
This fifth generation is a pretty on-trend break from other earphones in the XM series. It looks like Sony took inspiration from Apple’s AirPods Max and Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700. Meanwhile, Sony opted for matte-coated plastic instead of metal, as Apple did.
This is not the case with the Sony WH1000-XM5 where the Sony WH1000-XM3 and XM4 are hardly distinguishable from each other.
Other features are that this new version is more flexible thanks to the thinner headband and considerably lower weight. The earphones are not foldable, making them less compact in storage bags than their predecessors.
Specifications
The new Sony headphones stand out in other ways, too. For example, Sony has developed a special, more compact 30mm driver instead of the 40mm. There are also twice as many microphones: eight in total. These, along with a dedicated chipset, should make noise reduction and ambient mode work better. For example, to better filter wind noise.
There are also more microphones for speech: this can be via a phone call, online video meeting or voice assistant.
This appears to be at the expense of shorter battery life on paper: 30 hours with noise reduction.
Sony Headphones
You can further configure the headphones via the Sony Headphones app. Sony claims to have advanced adaptive volume control, a function that adapts your sound profile to your environment. You can also save locations so that your sound profile is saved for specific locations.
Sony is selling the headset for a suggested retail price of 420 euros.
Source: Computer Totaal
I am Bret Jackson, a professional journalist and author for Gadget Onus, where I specialize in writing about the gaming industry. With over 6 years of experience in my field, I have built up an extensive portfolio that ranges from reviews to interviews with top figures within the industry. My work has been featured on various news sites, providing readers with insightful analysis regarding the current state of gaming culture.
