Sony H900N Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones Review
Headphones allow you to enjoy your favorite music without disturbing others (or being disturbed by them).
But they have one drawback.
They tether you to the source. Unless you get a pair of wireless headphones, like the Sony H900N.
- Lightweight design
- Durable
- Highly portable
- Wireless
- Can be used with any type of turntable when it’s plugged directly in via the cable
- Long battery life
- Thin padding on headband
- Small ear cups
- Wireless mode may not be compatible with all types of turntables
These headphones offer incredible sound quality and comfort and they even have an active noise cancellation feature. And they let you move around while listening to your favorite music.
Do they have any weaknesses?
Of course. One big one. The same one that all wireless headphones have.
Read the rest of this in-depth review to learn what that is and if these high-quality headphones are right for you.
- 1 Sony H900N Review: Overview And Features
- 1.1 Key Features
- 1.2 Design
- 1.3 Ear Cups
- 1.4 Durability
- 1.5 Comfort
- 1.6 Sound
- 1.7 Noise Canceling
- 1.8 Battery Life
- 1.9 Cable
- 1.10 Pros
- 1.11 Cons
Sony H900N Review: Overview And Features
Everyone is familiar with Sony. They produce a large variety of high-quality, top-of-the-line tech devices, including some of the best headphones for vinyl. Their latest model, the H900N can even connect to turntables wirelessly, if the turntable has these capabilities.
If it doesn’t, you can also just use the included cable and plug the headphones right in. That makes this an incredibly convenient pair of headphones.
They are also extremely well made, comfortable, and they have active noise canceling, so you can easily shut out the outside world and concentrate completely on your music. Especially if you are listening to any of these best headphone albums of all time.
Key Features
- Lightweight
- Wireless
- Long battery life
- Cable included
- Excellent sound quality
- Can handle bass-heavy tracks
Design
If you’re tired of your outdated headphones that come with a cord that’s too long or short, and basically leaves you chained to your record player while you listen to music, then you’ll love this model’s wireless design.
Now, you can listen to your vinyl while you clean the house, cook dinner, work in the garden, or hangout anywhere around the home, free from clumsy cables.
And if you have a vintage turntable that does not have wireless capability, you can use the included cable and plug directly into your record player’s headphone jack.
Ear Cups
The ear cups are somewhat smaller than you’d normally find on headphones designed for adult use. The covers of the ear cups are made out of synthetic leather, which feels great, but can make the headphones uncomfortable to use in hotter weather.
Durability
Many models in this price range still have a somewhat thin, flimsy design that can make them susceptible to damage during transport, if you don’t store them in a hard case. But this pair from Sony is different.
In terms of durability, you won’t be disappointed. The H900N also has a foldable design that allows you to collapse the headphones for storage or when you’re headed out of the house for the day. And even though these headphones are fairly bulky, they still feel quite lightweight.
Comfort
The headband is highly adjustable, so you can get a custom fit and don’t have to worry about the headband sliding backward or forward during use. That said, the headband’s padding is a little thinner than on some competing models, which can make them a bit uncomfortable to wear for longer periods of time, for more sensitive users.
Sound
The H900N offers excellent sound quality, even above its price tag. It has a 5 Hz to 40,000 Hz frequency response for crystal clear treble, mids, and bass.
If you enjoy bass-heavy music, you’ll appreciate how these headphones can keep a tight control over the bass, so the sound isn’t too boomy and distortion is kept at bay.
The overall output at every frequency allows you to hear even older vinyl with fine detail, so you’ll get a totally new listening experience.
The H900N can also be used with a headphone amp, when the cable is plugged in. Using an amp, combined with your turntable, gives you more juice, so you can listen at an even higher volume.
These headphones offer an outstanding performance on their own, but if you believe the louder the better, then an amp or receiver are both great ways to really boost the output.
Noise Canceling
Noise canceling headphones are a must, if you like to concentrate c completely on your music, whether you listen at home or on the go. Noise canceling technology prevents both sound leakage and ambient noise from interfering with your listening experience.
This feature works to essentially pull you into your own world. People talking, kids yelling and playing, the TV turned up, nothing will interfere with your soundscape.
If you’re tired of listening to music with your surroundings competing for your attention, the noise canceling in these headphones is good enough that you can enjoy a listening experience that’s completely free of distraction, so you can listen to your music the way it was meant to be heard. Simply turn on the digital noise canceling and ambient sound mode and use the touch sensor control panel to control what you hear.
Battery Life
Of course, with a wireless model, you’re at the mercy of the battery. Yes, with a corded pair headphones, you are tied down to your record player or other source of music, but you can listen for as long as you like, without the headphones dying on you.
Sony has created a design that gives you the best of both worlds. You can listen in wireless mode until the batteries run low, then you can plug it in and continue to listen while the batteries recharge.
In terms of battery life, you easily get 28 hours between charges. But it does take approximately 6 hours to fully charge. However, you also have a quick charge feature. Ten minutes of quick charging gives you 65 minutes of playback time.
When placed in standby mode, the battery holds a charge for 200 hours, if the noise canceling feature is disabled. With the noise canceling feature on, it will stay charged for 48 hours.
As mentioned, this model supports passive playback. This means, even when the battery is dead, you can connect the cable and continue to enjoy your favorite tracks, as loud as you want.
Cable
The cable is durable and straight, not coiled, so it doesn’t have any extra give. If you want to upgrade and purchase a longer cable, the manufacturer offers a variety of cables to choose from in different lengths and styles.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Durable
- Highly portable
- Wireless
- Can be used with any type of turntable when it’s plugged directly in via the cable
- Long battery life
Cons
- Thin padding on headband
- Small ear cups
- Wireless mode may not be compatible with all types of turntables
Sony H900N Vs Behringer HPM1000 Headphones
If you’re on a budget and looking for a more affordable model, then the Behringer HPM1000 headphones offer a great, lower priced alternative. They are nowhere near the Sony in terms of quality and features, but they are cheap.
The Behringer model does have an ultra-wide frequency response, a high dynamic range, and oval shaped ear cups for improved comfort. They are hardwired, so you can’t use them wirelessly. If you’re only using them headphones for your turntable, this may not be an issue.
The HPM1000 can be used to listen to a variety of genres and can handle bass fairly well for the price, though not nearly as well as the Sony. They can also be used for monitoring, recording, and mixing. Considering the extremely low price, the HPM1000 is impressive.
But they don’t come anywhere close to the Sony pair in terms of sound power and clarity. They also aren’t as comfortable or durable and they do not have noise canceling.
If you only have a limited amount of money to spend, the Behringer headphones are a good choice. But if you can afford to pay more, get the Sony. They are in a completely different league.
Read our full Behringer HPM1000 review for more information.
Sony H900N Review: Conclusion And Rating
Sony has done it again by designing a high quality, versatile model that you can use around the home wirelessly or corded. Add in noise cancellation and the Sony H900N headphones are among the most versatile headphones on the market.
When in wireless mode, they’ll only work with compatible devices, but you can always just use the included cable and plug right into the headphone jack on devices that do not have wireless capability.
The H900N offers excellent sound quality, a comfortable and adjustable fit, a durable but lightweight design, and portability. A long battery life and a quick charge feature round out an excellent set of features.
These are incredibly headphones and they get a Top Record Players rating of 5 out of 5.
A comfortable pair of wireless headphones with excellent audio quality, equally good noise cancellation and solid battery life.
Rating: 4.3/5
I have been reviewing a bunch of in-ear true wireless earphones lately, so a pair of good old over-the-ear headphones was a refreshing change. The fact that they were the latest from Sony’s revered XM series was more than just icing on the cake. Sony’s WH-1000XM3 has won many accolades the world over for its excellent audio quality and battery life. Time to see if the Sony WH-1000XM4 can build on that success.
Sony WH-1000XM4: Build, design and features (8.5/10)
The Sony WH-1000XM4’s design is quite similar to its predecessor and is made of high-quality plastic with a smooth black matte finish. The construction is sturdy and the headphones look elegant. The copper accents on the Sony logo and microphone vents add to their style quotient. Despite their solid build, they don’t feel heavy and weigh just a shade over 250gm. This, on a set that includes active noise cancellation (ANC) circuitry, multiple sensors and microphones and a battery that lasts close to 30 hours on a single charge. That’s quite impressive.
The ear-cups are nicely cushioned and hold a pair of 40 mm drivers along with touch controls on the right ear-cup. The left ear-cup hosts the power button that doubles up as a Bluetooth pairing button, and you also have a toggle for ANC. You get a wear detection sensor on the inside of the left earcup that automatically pauses the content when you take the headphones off, and resumes as soon as you put them back on; a welcome addition. There’s also a 3.5 mm jack to plug in an aux cable in case the headphones run out of battery, or if you wish to use them with a non-Bluetooth device.
The right ear-cup hosts a USB type-C connector for charging the headphones. Interestingly, I noticed something that seemed like an additional USB type-C connector with a copper edge at the top of each of the ear-cups. On close inspection, they turned out to be mics for active noise cancellation. A standard USB to type-C cable and an aux cable are bundled in the package along with an airplane adapter and a cool looking carry pouch; the headphones can be folded and tucked away nicely in there. The Sony WH-1000XM4 let you summon the virtual assistant on your smartphone or tablet and issue voice commands. They are compatible with Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa.
Sony WH-1000XM4. Image: Ameya Dalvi/tech2
Supported Bluetooth codecs include SBC, AAC and LDAC. For some reason, Sony has done away with support for Qualcomm’s aptX and aptX HD codecs. Yes, LDAC does have a higher bandwidth compared to aptX HD, but not every device is compliant with it. Ironically, Sony’s WH-XB900N wireless headphones that sell for half the price of the XM4 are compliant with aptX HD and LDAC both. Another major absentee is any kind of sweat or water resistance. These are not ideal to wear during a workout or in a light drizzle.
Sony WH-1000XM4: Comfort: (8.5/10)
The Sony WH-1000XM4 sits nicely on your ears without any discomfort. The ear-cups aren’t large enough to entirely clear the ears, but the padding is excellent and lends a great degree of comfort. The soft cushions put just the right amount of pressure on the earlobes, while maintaining a strong grip. They also provide decent passive noise isolation even if you do not turn on ANC.
Sony WH-1000XM4 has a soft padding inside.
They do not cause ear fatigue for a couple of hours of continuous listening, but beyond that my ears started getting a tad warm, and needed a breather. In fact, it’s always a good practice to give your ears a break every hour or two irrespective of how comfortable the headphones are.
Sony WH-1000XM4: Performance: (9/10)
As I mentioned earlier, the Sony WH-1000XM4 supports SBC, AAC and Sony’s LDAC codecs on Android. However, if you choose to pair them with Apple devices, you only get AAC. These headphones can be paired with two devices simultaneously, but if you choose to do so, you cannot use LDAC codecs. I was hoping they would let you use LDAC on at least one device, but no! These Bluetooth 5.0 headphones are easy to pair and retain a solid connection up to 10 metres with a clear line of sight, and a little over 6 metres with a concrete wall in between. They are NFC-enabled too for quick pairing.
These headphones support active noise cancellation and you get a toggle for switching ambient sounds on and off. To fine-tune the amount of ambient noise that you want them to let in, you will need to install the Sony Headphones Connect app. The app gives you access to several other audio settings too, including equalisers in case you want to tweak the sound further. ANC here is one of the best I have experienced, and it drastically cuts down on the surrounding noise, giving you great isolation. Once you play any audio, you are simply cut off from the outside world. The QN1 processor does its job well in conjunction with the two microphones that capture ambient noise and feed data to the noise-cancelling processor constantly, which then calculates and applies ANC in real-time. It also factors in atmospheric pressure at your altitude and the shape of your ears to make noise cancellation more effective.
Sony WH-1000XM4 has a Type-C charging port.
As in case of several Sony wireless noise cancelling headphones, you can momentarily disable ANC and reduce the volume of the audio that’s playing by simply placing your palm on the right ear cup. This is quite convenient when someone wants to speak with you or you wish to listen to an announcement. The moment you take your palm off the ear-cup, ANC gets reactivated and the loudness goes back to the original level. There’s also another option too to achieve the same effect.
If you enable the Speak-to-Chat option in the app (or by a long touch on the right can with two fingers), the audio pauses as soon as you say anything and resumes 30 seconds after you stop talking. You can also manually restart the audio prior to that. While this sounds cool, in reality it only works if you truly keep your mouth shut while listening to the audio. If you even as much as hum along, the audio/video pauses and can be a cause for irritation. I opted to keep it off after trying it out for some time.
The touch controls on the right ear-cup are simple and effective. Double-tap can play/pause a track, sliding your finger horizontally lets you go to the next or previous track, sliding it up increases the volume, while sliding it down lowers it. Single tap doesn’t do anything and saves you a lot of headache that accidental touches could have caused, especially during travel. Double-tap is also used to answer or end calls, and a long touch brings up the virtual assistant.
Moving on to the audio quality, it is simply top-notch when it comes to general purpose headphones. I tried different genres of music and pretty much everything sounded good on it. The sound signature isn’t perfectly neutral, and has a hint of additional warmth to it; just the way I like it, to be honest. The bass isn’t remotely as excessive as in case of Sony’s XB (Extra Bass) series of headphones, and doesn’t hamper other frequencies. But worry not, there’s enough there to make those beats sound punchy.
Sony WH-1000XM4 in the case.
The mids are reproduced brilliantly with clear vocals and ample instrument separation. The highs are sharp too without being harsh, and the overall detail in the sound is excellent. The sound stage is as broad as it gets with closed back headphones. I also indulged in some movies; The Dark Knight was thoroughly enjoyable on this pair with all the subtle sounds clearly audible, as was the dialogue.
Long story short, the overall sound quality of the Sony WH-1000XM4 is excellent, and I don’t expect to see too many complaints. If a hint of extra bass isn’t good enough for you and prefer it in heaps instead, better opt for one of the XB series cans like the Sony WH-XB900N, and save a good amount of money too. The design is similar and the rest of the features like touch controls and ANC are available there as well, though the noise cancellation isn’t as good as on the XM4.
Sony WH-1000XM4: Call quality: (8/10)
While the audio quality of the XM4 is excellent, the call quality is not at the same level. I know it may not be a high priority for its potential buyers, but it needs to be checked. The microphone quality is quite good on this headset and you are heard clearly by the person on the line, but noise cancellation isn’t perfect during calls. It does pick some ambient noise when outdoors, and even when indoors, the TV in the adjacent room can be heard ever so slightly by the other person, though it doesn’t distract one from the conversation.
It may seem like nitpicking but it is what it is. Also, the person on the line sounds a tad soft, which can be fixed in the next firmware update. The overall call quality isn’t bad by any means, but for a product with a near 30K price tag, I expect better.
Sony WH-1000XM4: Battery life: (9/10)
Sony claims that the WH-1000XM4 can last for about 30 hours on a full charge with ANC on, and it’s not far from the truth. I managed to get something very close to that with LDAC and ANC on all the time. At around four hours of daily listening, I didn’t have to bother charging these earphones for a full week. That’s 28 hours right there with just a little bit of fuel left in the tank. With ANC off, it can go on for another 8 hours as per the spec sheet, but why bother switching it off? These are excellent figures anyway.
What’s even better is that if they run out of battery, charging them for 10 minutes can give you about 5 hours of play time. It takes approximately 3 hours to charge them fully, and probably a bit less with a fast charger. And if you tend to use them for 3 to 4 hours daily like yours truly, you will need to charge them just once every week or 10 days.
Sony WH-1000XM4: Price and verdict
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is priced at Rs 29,990 with a one year warranty, but can be purchased for an introductory price of Rs 28,490 online or in stores. Yes, they are a bit expensive, but they are currently the best around. And given their excellent, detailed sound output, top of the line noise cancellation and solid battery life, it is hard not to recommend them to anyone looking for premium wireless headphones with ANC. You can’t go wrong with this pair, unless you are a basshead.
Sony WH-1000XM5 vs. Bose QuietComfort 45: Which Is Best?
If you want the best wireless noise-cancelling headphones and can spend up to 400, you should be deciding between the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort 45. We’ve tested both and are here to help you figure out which pair is right for you.
I’ve been a contributing editor for PCMag since 2011. Before that, I was PCMag’s lead audio analyst from 2006 to 2011. Even though I’m a freelancer now, PCMag has been my home for well over a decade, and audio gear reviews are still my primary FOCUS. Prior to my career in reviewing tech, I worked as an audio engineer—my love of recording audio eventually led me to writing about audio gear.
Bose QuietComfort 45
- Best-in-class noise cancellation
- Sculpted audio with rich bass and crisp highs
- Exceptionally comfortable
- Expensive
- ANC can’t be adjusted
- Sound signature isn’t accurate for true audiophiles
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones pair top-notch noise cancellation with class-leading audio quality in a comfortable, attractive design.
Though the competition is stiffer than ever, the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones continue to lead the industry with the best active noise cancellation you can buy.
It’s no secret that noise-cancelling headphones are pricier than regular models, nor is it surprising that Bose and Sony offer some of the best active noise cancellation (ANC) on the market—we’ve been recommending ANC headphones from both companies for years. In 2022, the best models for your money are the 399.99 Sony WH-1000XM5 and the 329 Bose QuietComfort 45. But which pair is superior? The answer is complicated.
Depending on what you’re looking for, some aspects of the Bose QuietComfort 45 are a slam dunk, while Sony’s headphones excel in other areas. We’ve extensively tested both pairs, and are here to walk you through their performance across several categories, including noise cancellation and sound quality, to help you decide which one is best for you.
Sony WH-1000XM5 vs. Bose QC45: Noise Cancellation
Believe it or not, we don’t take a flight from New York to LA, sit all day in a crowded cafe, or lurk in the corner of a noisy office every time we review a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Sure, we try them out on the noisy streets of NYC, but the real testing happens indoors in a noise-isolated room where we pit the headphones against challenging sound scenarios with the aid of near-field monitors.
We use a consistent suite of sound files to determine low-frequency, midrange, and high-frequency noise cancellation efficacy. So although we’re not pitting the ANC circuitry against the actual rumble of a plane or the noisy bustle of a coffee shop, this process closely approximates those environments and enables a consistent testing process. Here’s a more in-depth explanation of how we test noise-cancelling headphones.
With that in mind, here’s how the two pairs stack up in the cancelling the various types of noise we subject them to:
Low-Frequency Noise Cancellation
Most ANC headphones do a decent job of dialing back low-frequency rumble like you hear on a plane, but the best models take it up a notch. In this regard, both the Bose QC45 and the WH-1000XM5 cut back intense low-frequency rumble very well. Sony’s headphones allowed a thin Band of high-mids through that the Bose headphones blocked out, but Sony ultimately eliminated more of the lows, giving it the win.
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5
Midrange and High-Frequency Noise Cancellation
The QuietComfort45 headphones pull ahead in our high-mid and high-frequency tests, because they suppress more of these frequency ranges than the WH-1000XM5. Bose adds a slight masking hiss that Sony doesn’t, but the effect is very minor. So for mids and highs, Bose offers stronger performance.
Winner: Bose QuietComfort 45
Adaptive Noise Cancellation
All active noise cancellation is, by definition, adaptive—if noise cancellation circuitry didn’t adjust to changes in audio, it wouldn’t be very effective. You can clearly hear when the WH-1000XM5 headphones are trying to adapt to a new sonic scenario or position of your head, as the ANC gets slightly less effective for a moment before before reverting to its previous performance level. Thus, you can argue that not hearing this temporary adjustment period with the Bose headphones means they offer a more consistent (and therefore superior) ANC experience; it’s not a huge issue in practice, however.
Transparency Modes
The transparent listening modes (also sometimes called ambient modes) on both headphones are high-quality, with neither suffering from obvious latency issues. However, the Aware Mode on the Bose headphones seems a bit quieter than Sony’s Ambient Sound mode (which isn’t ideal when you want to hear your surroundings). The Sony app also gives you an option to emphasize the human voice in this mode, which gives it a slight edge.
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony WH-1000XM5 vs. Bose QC45: Audio Performance
Out of the box, both the WH-1000XM5 and QuietComfort45 headphones offer pleasing sound signatures. The Bose pair doles out bright audio that packs plenty of bass depth, while the Sony headphones also deliver crispness and plenty of robust low end, though they bridge the lows and highs with far more midrange presence. The QC45 headphones sound a little more scooped out in the mids, by comparison. As we discuss a bit later, both apps feature customizable EQs that work well and can transform the sound signature dramatically, though we like Sony‘s implementation more.
As for Bluetooth codecs, Sony’s headphones have an advantage, with support for AAC, LDAC, and SBC. The Bose QC45 headphones offer only AAC and SBC.
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony WH-1000XM5 vs. Bose QC45: Mic Clarity
Both headphones deliver superb wireless mic clarity. Over a reliable mobile signal, you shouldn’t have any issues with call clarity or voice assistants.
The WH-1000XM5’s mic sounds a little crisper than QuietComfort 45’s and its signal is slightly louder, but the QC45 headphones let in less background hiss. Thus, a winner is too close to call in this category—these are two of the clearest headphone mic arrays we’ve tested.
Sony WH-1000XM5 vs. Bose QC45: Comfort and Battery Life
Fit and feel are subjective, but you’re likely to find both pairs of headphones quite comfortable. They each have plush memory foam earpads and headbands, and use lining materials that don’t get too hot over long listening sessions. Both are also more comfortable than the Airpods Max because they exert less pressure on your head and are less bulky.
Speaking of long listening sessions, Sony estimates that the WH-1000XM5 headphones can last roughly 30 hours on a charge, which is a bit longer than the 24-hour claim for Bose.
One note for travelers: The case for the QuietComfort45 headphones is smaller than the one for Sony’s headphones. If you’re usually tight on space, the Bose case is slightly easier to shove into a suitcase.
Sony WH-1000XM5 vs. Bose QC45: Apps and EQ
A companion app isn’t likely to factor heavily into your decision about headphones that cost several hundred dollars, but they are generally handy for customizing the user experience.
Both the Bose and Sony apps include adjustable EQs, but the one in the Sony app offers more adjustment bands (five, plus a bass fader, versus three for Bose). That said, Sony’s app also features a host of unnecessary, borderline annoying features—some of which feel a bit like they’re designed to track your behavior rather than provide functionality. Both apps feature varying degrees of control over the ANC and ambient listening experience, but Sony’s app has a slight edge in this regard because it lets you specifically FOCUS on voices.
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony Takes the Cake
If you care primarily about noise cancellation, the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are worth considering because they’re highly competitive with the WH-1000XM5 and cost nearly 100 less. But Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones ultimately come out on top in this comparison because they combine excellent ANC with top-notch audio performance and a better EQ. You won’t have any regrets about either one from a comfort or battery life standpoint, so you must weigh the importance of Sony’s advantage in audio quality. Neither pair will disappoint, however.
Beyond Bose and Sony
It’s worth noting that you don’t have to spend over 300 to get good noise cancellation. Our guide to the best noise-cancelling headphones has several affordable picks that block out noise effectively and sound good while doing so. And if you want a more able, gym-friendly way to block out distractions, our guide to the best noise-cancelling true wireless earphones has plenty of options.
Like What You’re Reading?
Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
Sony’s Noise Canceling WH-1000XM5 Headphones Have Arrived and Bose Needs to Worry
Building on the foundation of the very popular WH-1000XM4, the new Sony WH-1000XM5 arrive with some physical and performance enhancements for 399.
Summer is rapidly approaching and so are airline trips with the kids to see family in Florida and Canada; which makes it the perfect time for new wireless ANC headphones from Sony. Sony, Apple, and Bose have dominated the category for years and we think the new Sony WH-1000XM5 might be a big problem for Bose and Apple. A really big problem.
The previous WH-1000XM4 were excellent wireless headphones and Sony took a big piece of the market with them; Apple still trails the Sony in the sound quality department and the new Sony WH-1000XM5 have us thinking that gap is about to widen.
The following is an overview of what to expect.
Improved Noise Canceling
The WH-1000XM4 already provides excellent noise reduction, but Sony isn’t resting on that success. The WH-1000XM5 ups the ante over the XM4 with two processors controlling eight microphones that further reduce mid- to high-frequency noise and automatically optimize noise cancelation depending on the environment.
Sony’s physical design for the WH-1000XM5 has changed from the XM4. Instead of a 40mm driver, the XM5 has a smaller 30mm driver (mentioned in the previous section) that has a light and rigid dome that uses carbon fiber composite material that improves high-frequency sensitivity for more natural sound. Other construction materials include premium lead-free gold solder excellent connectivity and optimized circuitry that ensures users are experiencing clear, consistent sound.
Hi-Res Audio and
Similar to the XM4, the XM5 supports High-Resolution Audio via wired or wireless connection via LDAC. All digital music files are upscaled in real-time using the DSEE Extreme technology.
Sony 360 Reality Audio is also supported for an immersive listening experience. If you are looking for 360 Reality music sources, nugs.net and PeerTracks have recently released 360 Reality Audio mixed music videos.
Using the Sony Spatial Sound Personalizer App (Android/iOS), you can optimize your TV listening experience with the WH-1000XM5 (this requires a WLA-NS7 transmitter connected between the headphones and a compatible Sony Bravia TV).
Tip: Dolby Atmos headphone listening is also supported.
Phone Calling
In addition to great music listening, phone call improvements have also been made to the XM5 over the XM4. The Precise Voice Pickup technology in the XM5 uses four beamforming microphones and an AI-based noise reduction structure to isolate the user’s voice, while a newly developed wind noise reduction structure minimizes wind noise during calls.
Comfort
One of the problems with headphones is that after a period of time, they become uncomfortable which can be a major distraction when listening to music, making a phone call, or participating in online meetings.
Refining the design of the WH-1000XM4, the WH-1000XM5 introduces features a new design that includes a newly developed soft fit, synthetic leather with a stepless slider. The synthetic leather fits snuggly around the head taking pressure off the users’ ears and blocking out external noise.
Control
The WH-1000XM5 incorporates Adaptive Sound Control. This automatically tailors sound to suit a specific situation, recognizing most frequented locations and adjusting the ambient sound settings accordingly.
Additionally, the WH-1000XM5 headphones integrate With Quick Access. This allows users to configure the headphones to resume Spotify music playback with two or three taps – no need to touch their smartphone.
Sony also helps users to listen to their music safely with the Sony Headphones Connect app, comparing sound pressure data recorded by their headphones with the guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO). Through the app, you can receive notifications when listening levels are too high.
The Speak-to-Chat feature allows users to stop for a quick conversation and their headphones will automatically stop the music and let in ambient sound. Once the chat is over, the music plays on. With the help of instant pause, their personal soundtrack will stop playing as soon as they take the headphones off.
Tip: The WH-1000XM5 also has Google Assistant and Alexa built-in. To activate, just say “OK Google” or “Alexa” and you are set to go. Siri control is also available through compatible iOS devices.
Easy Pairing
WH-1000XM5 headphones use multipoint connection with Bluetooth technology. This simplifies the pairing process with two devices at the same time. When receiving a call, these headphones know which device it’s coming from and instantly connect the consumer to the right one. Users can also quickly switch between devices via a quick touch of a button.
Google Fast Pair: This makes it easy to pair with Android devices as well as makes it easy to locate where you set down your headphones.
Swift Pair: This feature supports easy WH-1000XM5 pairing Windows 10 or 11 laptops, desktop PCs, and tablets.
Power and Portability
The WH-1000XM5 supports up to 30 hours of battery life. In addition, when using USB Power Delivery, three minutes of charge can provide up to three hours of use.
The WH-1000XM5 headphones come with a collapsible travel carrying case that has room for the headphones, a 3.5mm audio cable, and a USB charging cable.
SonyKhalid
To promote the launch of the WH-1000XM5 headphone, Sony has partnered with global superstar and Sony Music Entertainment artist, Khalid on storytelling around how WH-1000XM5 headphones provide premium listening for music.
Pricing Availability
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are available in black and silver for 399.99 or less and are available for pre-order at Sony.com, Amazon, and Best Buy beginning May 20, 2022.
International pre-ordering is also available from: Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk
Tip: The Sony WH-1000XM4 remains available for 349.99 or lower price, also at Sony, Amazon, and Best Buy as well as internationally at Amazon.ca
Home Latest New Products Headphones Wireless Headphones Sony’s Noise Canceling WH-1000XM5 Headphones Have Arrived and Bose Needs to Worry
4 Комментарии и мнения владельцев
This reads like an ad not a review. Pretty much everyone says the Airpods sound better than the XM4s by a wide margin. I certainly do since I thought the 4s sounded awful.
Darwin, It’s a news article not a review. Our sample is forthcoming. I’ve never met a single reader who thinks the Airpods sound better than the XM4s. Not one. Best, Ian White
Yup. This is fAd Copy but as stated else where, this ain’t a review and I trust the writers here to do more than what I call a “freeview” when they do get a pair of these beauties. Leave the “freeviews” to the typists (and believe me, their kind are legion on the interwebs), I know the difference when I read it. I have no need to kiss ass, I trust the folk here and at least one other site to be honest and would not say so were it not true. Now then… Other than Sony paying some idiot (con)artist to be their sellebrity, these appear nice enough and unless Sony tries to farce that sellebrity connection down my throat, I may get a pair to test out and either buy them and give them away to a family member or return them. I own QC45s and that is after purchasing and using the Sony XM4s and two different Sennheister models. The Bose were simply better and so I kept them. I also gave some Bose ‘phones to my brother and his wife and just sent his wife a nice pair of Bose sunglasses. I may give these new Sonys a look but in all honesty, I am happy with I have. But as I said, that does not mean I will not look into them and should I buy a pair I will test them out and either return them if I find they wanting or give them to a relative. And I do not give junque to my family. I may ask them to try some thing inexpensive out but I also do that my self. Sony makes some good equipment. I would imagine these are very nice. Sad that Sony finds it necessary to hire an idiot as their spokeswoke. Yeah… The way of this world is pathetic now and companies will do what ever they feeeeel is needed to be competitive. I NEVER buy any thing because a sellebrity “endorsed” it. And if I am disgusted by a spokeswoke? I eschew (the kiddies will have to ask a “boomer” what that word means, LOL!) said company for as long as I deem necessary. Monetarily speaking, any one is a target for these ‘phones because a great many folk buy what they feel makes them look cool/hip/woke/fill-in-the-blank. Humans have always been human. ORT
I just read that these have “touch” controls. No thank you! Those things sucked on the XM1000XM4s and both of the Sennheiser models I bought and tested. Vague does not begin to describe them and on a headphone that has more than enough room, buttons are preferable. To me. ORT
