For the past few years, Sony’s flagship noise-cancelling headphones have been at the top. First, they were the Mark 4s, and now the Mark 5s, they are an easy pick and recommendation for people buying new headphones. In this article, we will review the flagship Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, or the Sony Mark 5 headphones, and see if they hold up almost two years after their launch.
Review
The look of the Sony WH-1000XM5s is completely different from Sony’s previous flagship headphones. They now have a simple, sharp, and clean look. They come in four finishes, Black, Silver, Midnight Blue, and Smoky Pink. The ear cups are bigger and wider, and the new leather material is softer and more comfortable. The headphones are very light, only 250g, which makes them comfortable to wear for long periods.
There is a touch-sensitive panel on the right ear cup for pausing, skipping, and more commands. There are eight total microphones, four on each side, and you also have on-ear detection. There is also a new sliding headband design, like the one in the AirPods Max. It is the only way to adjust the size of the headphones.
The battery life is rated at 30 hours, and in testing, we got about the same time. These headphones also have fast charging, so you can charge them for three minutes and get a battery life of three hours. Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant are built in, and you can activate them through the Sony app.
The noise cancellation is top-notch. The Sony WH-1000XM5s cancel out white noise (roads, trains, planes) like no other headphones. All of the previous flagship headphones can do this, but the Mark 5s also eliminate some of the higher frequencies. There are 20 levels of adjustment in the app for the transparency mode, there is an enhanced voices mode, but human voices still get a little compressed and muffled.
The Sony WH-1000XM5s have a new 30 mm carbon fiber driver, and the sound performance is exceptional. You can hear the separate instruments when listening to songs, and the bass is deep and perfect. There is very low distortion, and the sound is clean. They don’t sound as good as the AirPods Max, but they are a perfect choice for Android users.
Most of us get wireless noise-cancellation headphones for travel, even if you’re not traveling you still have to carry them around. The Sony WH-1000XM5s do not fold in any way, and they have a pretty big case that you will have to carry around and it will take up a considerable amount of space. The case looks cool, it is kind of like a backpack, and it has a compartment with a magnetic door that will hold your cables.
If you want to buy Sony headphones, I also think you should consider the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones. They might not have as much of a premium look as the Mark 5s, but you get the same battery life and the same comfort. They are also amazing with the noise cancellation and the sound quality, but they do cost $50 less. The only things you’re missing out on are fast charging, some extra mics, and the new drivers.
Verdict
The Sony WH-1000XM5s are an amazing pair of premium, lightweight, noise-canceling headphones, and they retail for $400. If you are using an Android phone, and you plan on using these for travel or work, or just casual listening, then these are the best noise-canceling headphones you can get. If you are using an iPhone, and you are willing to spend an extra $150, then get the AirPods Max. In the end, it all comes down to preference.