Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Industry Leading Headphones with Auto Noise Canceling Optimizer, Crystal Clear Hands-Free Calling, and Alexa Voice Control, Silver

I had the XM3 and thought now would finally be a good time to upgrade. And the XM5s were only slightly better. I EQ my headphones, so after that, they both sounded good to me, so not a significant enough difference there. XM5s were marginally more comfortable, but not enough to make a difference to me either. The couple things that were much better was its ability to auto pause when removing the headphones connect to 2 devices at once (XM3 doesnt have that), the ambient sound mode was so much better, and the headphones overall responsiveness to touch/button controls was much faster. As for noise cancelling, Im convinced that there is variation in noise cancellation strength between each individual pair of WH-1000XM5 headphones. Ive watched videos of sound engineers doing noise-cancelling samples and graphically showing the XM5s beating out other headphones, including the XM3. So I know that objectively, the XM5s should have better noise cancelling than most competitors, especially the old XM3s. But Ive compared them both on a plane, in a room filled with talking people, and outside when a bunch of cicadas were droning. The 2 are either on par or the XM3s slightly edge out the XM5s. Again, its soooo close, but I expected new model to be leaps beyond the model 2 generations ago. But because I know the XM5s have to be better, the only conclusion I can draw is that there is random variation in ANC strength between individual headphones. Im giving 3 stars for now and will be returning my pair, but I like the headphones enough to give them another chance, maybe when they go on sale or something. Ill update my review then.

As an ardent audio enthusiast who owns an array of audiophile headphones, I am absolutely thrilled with my new purchase. These headphones have exceeded my expectations and made a remarkable addition to my collection. What sets these headphones apart, and the main reason for my purchase, was their highly touted noise-cancellation and ambient adjustment features. These features have proven invaluable when I am in crowded environments such as at work or the library, allowing me to truly focus on the task at hand. Whether its delving into a new book or tackling an intricate work project, the world around me falls away, leaving just me and my work. However, what really takes these headphones to the next level is their phenomenal sound quality. I have had the pleasure of listening to many of my favorite tracks with them, and each experience has been an absolute delight. The sound clarity and fidelity have brought a new depth to my music that I had not previously experienced. In conclusion, these headphones deliver an exceptional audio experience while also providing excellent ambient noise management for those seeking a focus-inducing environment. I wholeheartedly recommend them to fellow audiophiles and anyone else seeking high-quality, immersive audio in any environment.

I bought Nov 2022 and the item broke Already for a $400 item to only last 6 months plus Sony dont cover dry rout or any other physical damage. Sorry $400 wasted

These really are amazing headphones! They are soft and comfortable, great sound quality, and the noise cancellation is unmatched. I dont use them to take calls but I am okay with that personally.

Keeping this short and sweet, very good headphones. Noise cancellation is so good that it wow(s) you when turned off! Battery life is top tier which you should expect at this price, looks good & sleek. Volume control isn’t bad but the constant swiping up and down isn’t as effective as i’d like it to be but still gets the job done! Overall still a highly recommended headphone, you’ll enjoy it!

I got these as a gift for myself almost a month ago. I had a coworker who had the XM4s and I was impressed, so I got the XM5s after doing research and finding that the noise cancellation is better than the previous generations. Based on what I remember from years ago it FEELS like the noise cancellation is about the same. What I love about the headphones is that you can FEEL the noise being cancelled. It feels like your head is in a vacuum (not a vacuum cleaner, but a vacuum of space). And thats what I bought these for. Ive had no issues with the controls, app, or connectivity. I do wish there was more bass, but also thats not the selling point for these. The equalizer in the app has a preset bass boost setting which helps.

The noise cancellation is insane to me. I brought them on a road trip where noise and screaming is prominent and by my surprise canceled it like crazy. And the sound is even better. Just in all a great pair of headphones. 10/10 would recommend buying them.

These headphones are the best investment I’ve ever made. The noise cancellation is so good that I forget about my surroundings. And battery life last so long and I used them daily.

i watched some bad reviews from youtube but wanted to try after a few years of bose fan. i still got a new bose and i love this one for my work as it gives slightly better noise cancellation.

I was never a fan of wireless headphones. I always forget to charge them, but thats not an issue with these. They have a VERY long battery life. Ive been using mine for 5-6 months so far, and the battery life does not disappoint. I charge mine about once a week, and I use them quite often. Almost every day for several hours! Theyre definitely friendly for those of you who forget to charge your devices frequently enough. Sound wise, theyre comparable to most Sony products. A little bass heavy, but not overtly so. The mids are eh, but the highs are good. If youre an audiophile, maybe these arent for you. But for the average listener, youll love these. They sound crisp and clear, and the volume is perfect. Noise canceling wise, these are great for traveling and blocking out noise from noisy neighbors. Car rides are nearly completely silent. If you listen to music, you wont be able to hear any background noise. The first time I put these on and turned them on, I almost cried. Silence was something Id really never got to experience, and these really delivered that. If youre autistic, these are a god-send. These are not great for blocking out dental equipment noises. Thats the reason I purchased these, and admittedly that was my own ignorance of how noise canceling worked, and the frequencies that would not be able to be canceled. But I loved these headphones so much I kept them. I think that says something about how incredible these are. Another feature I think thats worth mentioning is the ability to allow ambient noises in while listening to music. I can listen to music while having conversations with others, and it just harmonizes both sounds perfectly. I also love that theres a setting that you can allow voices in while keeping background ambience out. Over all, these are a solid set of headphones. Id recommend to anyone looking for a good noise canceling headphone, or just a solid pair of headphones period.