10 facts about of Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Active Noise Cancelling.
Sony's 1000X line-up has been around since 2016, when the MDR-1000X wireless headphones were revealed. .
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is the latest in the now-iconic and well-reputed line of flagship wireless headphones, and promises improvements across the board, including design, audio quality, and active noise cancellation performance.
Priced at Rs. 34,990, the Sony WH-1000XM5 features a significantly refreshed design and a promise of better performance. However, with the trends leaning towards the more convenient form factor of true wireless earphones, do full-size over-ear headphones such as this still have a place in the premium segment? Find out in our review.
Sony WH-1000XM5 design and features
Sony had used a fairly similar design on the 1000X series from generations one through four, but the WH-1000XM5 sees a significant redesign. The changes are visible across the headset with the ear cups, hinges, headband, and foam padding, all looking completely different. The result is a headset that is arguably more ‘modern' looking, but the familiarity of the old styling will certainly be missed by some.
The overall shape and size makes the Sony WH-1000XM5 light at 252g, and perhaps also slightly more comfortable. The soft padding of the ear cups and on the underside of the headband feel great, and make for a snug and noise-isolating fit. Wearing spectacles did somewhat interfere with the noise isolating seal, which in turn affected the quality of the active noise cancellation, but the drop in performance was small enough to ignore when music was playing.
Like before, the controls on the Sony WH-1000XM5 are a combination of physical buttons and gestures on the touch-sensitive outer side of the right ear cup. The gesture set is fixed and involves taps, swipes, or touch-and-hold.
The headband adjustment is different on the Sony WH-1000XM5, with the adjustment system now moving freely rather than along set grooves on a track. A significant drawback of the new design is that the headphones do not fold completely inwards, unlike the WH-1000XM4. Although the included carry case can hold the headphones conveniently as they are, it's not as compact as the previous model for travel.
You can also set up double-press and triple-press controls for the NC/AMB button using the app
There are only two buttons on the left side, which control power and the noise cancellation or ambient sound features, while playback and volume controls are operated using gestures. The left ear cup has the 3.5mm socket for wired connectivity, while the right ear cup has the USB Type-C port for charging.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 has a 'Speak To Chat' feature, which pauses playback and activates Ambient Sound mode when the headset hears you speaking. There is native support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice assistants, along with the ability to invoke both of these hands-free with just the wake commands. Other features include support for Google Fast Pair, multi-point connectivity for up to two devices simultaneously, and support for Sony's 360 Reality Audio sound format.
Sony WH-1000XM5 app and specifications
The Sony Headphones Connect app has been a part of the experience with most of Sony's headphones and earphones, and naturally works with the WH-1000XM5 as well. The app offers access to controls and settings based on the feature set of the WH-1000XM5, neatly sorted into four major sections.
Usefully, there is a wear-detection sensor which plays or pauses music when the headphones are put on or taken off, respectively. You can also place your palm on the right ear cup to quickly activate the hear-through mode, which reduces the volume and turns on the ambient sound setting to be able to hear your surroundings.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 uses Bluetooth 5.2 for primary connectivity, although you have the option to connect the stereo cable and use it as a wired headset. The SBC, AAC, and LDAC Bluetooth codecs are supported, and the headphones have 30mm dynamic drivers with a frequency response range of 20-40,000Hz when using Bluetooth connectivity with the LDAC codec. It also has a rated sensitivity of 102dB.
There are a total of eight microphones on the headphones for ANC, of which, four are operational for voice communications. The Sony WH-1000XM5 uses the V1 integrated processor with the QN1 noise cancelling processor which specifically enables the ANC functionality. The sales package includes a new collapsible carry case for the headphones, a USB Type-A to Type-C cable for charging, and a stereo cable for 3.5mm wired connectivity.
Sony WH-1000XM5 performance and battery life
Given just how good (and immensely relevant) the Sony WH-1000XM4 still is, I was left wondering just how much better the Sony WH-1000XM5 can really get. Interestingly enough, Sony has managed to make small but meaningful improvements to the sound quality and active noise cancellation on the headphones. However, the general approach remains the same, and the upgrades feel more incremental and less generational.
Verdict
Sony has long been a leading brand for high-end wireless headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 firmly helps to keep that title. With small improvements to the sound quality and ANC performance, along with reliably good battery life and connectivity, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is among the best wireless headphones you can buy right now, if the over-ear form factor appeals to you and you're okay with the price.
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