The Sony 1000X series has been at the top of headphones and earbuds for a long time. The WH-1000XM5s are the most comfortable pair of headphones I have ever used, and all the products in this lineup sound great. In this article, we will review the Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds and see if they have the same sound quality and comfort as other popular flagship earbuds like the AirPods 4 and the PowerBeats Pro 2.
Review
The Sony WF-1000XM5s come in three colors, Black, Silver, and Smoky Pink. The new case is very small, it is 15% smaller than the WF-1000XM4s. In the box, you get some extra foam ear tips of different sizes, a USB-C cable, and some documentation. On the back, there is a reset button and a USB-C charging port, and there is an indicator light on the front.
The earbuds themselves have a glossy finish on the body and a matte finish on the touch area. The earbuds are extremely light, and the foam ear tips make them lighter. They also fit well into my ears, and no matter how hard I moved my head, the earbuds didn’t move at all. The Sony WF-1000XM5s also have a rating of IPX4 ( the X means that they were not measured for dust resistance).
You can customize and change the settings of the Sony WF-1000XM5s in the Sony app. You can change the EQ and the noise cancellation settings, switch to a low latency mode, and change the tap commands. You can look at your listening statistics and styles, switch between noise cancellation modes, and connect to two devices at the same time and switch between them.
You can press the Sony WF-1000XM5s to change the volume, skip tracks, and go back to the previous track. A single tap is for play/pause, a double tap is a switch to the next track, and there is a page on the app to change these settings. It will be a little difficult to tap on the earbuds the first time, as there is a small, specific area where you have to tap for the presses to be registered. You can also assign different actions to each earbud, so you have ambient sound controls on the left earbud and playback controls on the right earbud.
The earbuds have four audio codecs, AAC, SBC, LC3, and LDAC, which is Sony’s codec. LDAC allows you to stream hi-res audio with compatible LDAC devices, and this is a codec not found in any of the AirPods.
The Sony WF-1000XM5s come with 360 Reality Audio, which is something like the Spatial Audio we get in Apple and Beats products. This feature analyses the shape of your ears and optimizes the sound based on that. The earbuds also have head tracking, which adjusts the sound to make it like it’s coming from around you. You also have in-ear detection, tracks will pause when you take the buds out of your ears, and you get a little ping noise when you put them back in.
With Edge-AI, the earbuds can enhance compressed digital music files in real-time, even those from streaming services. This AI intelligently analyzes each track’s instruments, genre, and individual elements, restoring the high-frequency details lost during compression for a richer listening experience.
Auto Play is another neat feature. This works with Spotify and Endel to automatically play music according to the scene or environment you’re in. So if you’re starting a workout or if you’re running, the earbuds will automatically play some workout music.
Sony improved the microphones on the WF-1000XM5s with a noise reduction algorithm. This uses AI machine learning to analyze more than 500 million voice samples to suppress ambient noise, increase accuracy, and extract your voice in noisy environments. You can also use gestures to control the earbuds. If you’re getting a call, you can nod your head to accept it, and then you can nod again to end it.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds have a battery life of eight hours with ANC on, and 12 hours with ANC off. The charging case gives you an additional 24 hours, and it can be charged via USB-C, and it has wireless charging.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds sound great, even on high volumes. They have a new 8.2mm driver, and they are powered by the Sony V2 Integrated processor. The bass was deep and punchy, and there was very low distortion at high volumes. Overall, the sound was clean and warm, and the vocals were natural. The earbuds also do a good job of cancelling out white noise, and the ANC is at the top with the AirPods Pro 2.
Verdict
The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds continue Sony’s tradition of delivering top-tier audio quality, excellent noise cancellation, and a feature-rich experience. With a sleek, compact design, improved microphones, and support for high-resolution audio codecs like LDAC, they stand out as some of the best wireless earbuds on the market. The addition of 360 Reality Audio, head tracking, and Auto Play makes them even more immersive.
Let’s talk about the price. The Sony WF-1000XM5s retail for $300, and the AirPods 4 retail for $180. There is a big difference between them, but the sound quality is very similar. In the end, it comes down to preference, and the XM5s won’t disappoint. If you’re looking for premium sound, customizable features, and top-tier ANC, the WF-1000XM5s are an excellent choice.
FAQs
1. What is the battery life of the Sony WF-1000XM5?
The earbuds last up to 8 hours with ANC on and 12 hours with ANC off. The case provides additional charges and supports both USB-C and wireless charging.
2. Do the Sony WF-1000XM5s have good noise cancellation?
Yes, the WF-1000XM5s offer industry-leading ANC, comparable to the AirPods Pro 2, effectively blocking out background noise.
3. Can I connect the earbuds to multiple devices at once?
Yes, the earbuds support multipoint connectivity, allowing you to switch between two devices seamlessly.
4. Are the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds comfortable to wear for long periods?
Yes, they are lightweight, and the foam ear tips provide a secure and comfortable fit, making them suitable for extended use.
5. What audio codecs do the WF-1000XM5s support?
They support AAC, SBC, LC3, and Sony’s LDAC, which allows for high-resolution audio streaming.
6. Is there an app to customize the earbuds?
Yes, the Sony Headphones Connect app lets you adjust EQ settings, noise cancellation levels, and touch controls and enables features like 360 Reality Audio and Auto Play.
7. Can I use gestures to control calls?
Yes, you can nod your head to accept a call and nod again to end it, thanks to Sony’s AI-powered gesture controls.
8. Are the WF-1000XM5 earbuds water-resistant?
They have an IPX4 rating, meaning they are resistant to water splashes and sweat but are not fully waterproof.