Who the Sony WH-1000XM5 is for
If you fly often, work in an open office, or simply want silence on demand, the XM5 is engineered for you. Sony’s eight-microphone array and dual processors cancel low-frequency drone better than anything else we’ve measured.
How we tested
We ran the XM5 through our standard 40-hour protocol: measured attenuation across a 20 Hz–1 kHz sweep, logged battery life at 60% volume, and wore them on two long-haul flights. Every score above is measurement-backed.
Noise cancellation
On our test bench the XM5 attenuated cabin-drone frequencies (80–200 Hz) by an average of 28 dB — a measurable step beyond the XM4 and the class leader at the time of writing.
Sound quality
The default tuning is warm with a slight bass lift. Audiophiles will want to flatten the low shelf in Sony’s EQ, after which the XM5 renders detail cleanly without harsh treble.
Battery and charging
We recorded 29h 40m of continuous playback with ANC on — close to Sony’s 30-hour claim. A 3-minute quick charge yields about 3 hours of listening.
The catch
The redesigned hinge means the XM5 no longer folds into a compact puck. If you live out of a small bag, factor in the larger case.
Score breakdown
- Noise cancellation
- 9.6
- Sound quality
- 9.0
- Comfort
- 9.4
- Battery
- 8.5
- Value
- 8.4
Pros & cons
Pros
- Best-in-class adaptive noise cancellation
- Feather-light 250g frame, comfortable for all-day wear
- 30-hour battery with fast USB-C charging
- Excellent multipoint Bluetooth
Cons
- No longer folds flat — bulkier case
- IPX rating still absent; not for workouts