Sony WH-1000XM5

Excellent sound Very good comfort Ultra-clear call quality Best-in-class noise canceling Very good battery life Hi-res compatible (wired/wireless) Hands-free voice assistant access Classy, modern design

Fold-flat, but don’t fold up

“Sony proves once again that it's the brand to beat in noise-canceling headphones.”

Supreme comfort

More expensive than the M4

What’s more, activating DSEE Extreme doesn’t make a huge difference in the sound quality. On other Sony devices, that algorithm’s ability to recover some of the detail lost to compression makes a noticeable impact. On the M5, the results are subtle,...

Excellent audio performance with robust bass depth and crisp highs ; Top-notch active noise cancellation ; Intuitive on-ear controls ; App offers an adjustable EQ and other customization settings ; Comfortable, stylish design

Expensive

Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones pair top-notch noise cancellation with class-leading audio quality in a comfortable, attractive design.

Even better active noise cancellation ; More balanced, tighter sound ; Much-improved voice call quality

Design is very plasticky for $400 ; No major new features over 1000XM4 ; Bulky, awkward carrying case

Sony’s new WH-1000XM5 noise-canceling headphones are the company’s most advanced to date — but also the most expensive at $400. For that money, you get a fresh design, upgraded sound, and even better ANC.

Outstanding ANC performance ; Clean, wide musical soundstage ; Long battery life

More expensive than WH-1000XM4 ; Less practical design for travelers ; No water resistance or USB-C audio

Well-built design. 27-hour continuous battery life. Graphic EQ and presets available. Can be paired with up to two devices at a time. ANC cuts down mid to treble range noise. Mic has great noise handling.

Poor passive soundstage. ANC struggles to block out bass-range noise. If you have a small head, you may not find their fit comfortable.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 are satisfactory for neutral sound. They don't create a very immersive experience due to their closed-back design, and their out-of-the-box sound profile is quite bass-heavy. They also deliver extra thump, rumble, and boom to mixes,...

New carbon fiber driver delivers intoxicating sound ; Best-in-class noise cancellation is better than ever ; Outstanding adaptive noise-cancelling performance ; Beam-forming mics make near-perfect calls in noisy environments

Noise cancellation subject to the occasional audible artifact ; No support for aptX codecs

This headphone is nothing short of spectacular, delivering both exceptional sonic performance and stellar active noise cancellation.