From hours of commuting on trains to flying across the Atlantic Ocean, sleeping in a hospital bed and working in a noisy office, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones have been through it all with me — around 2,500 hours of listening to music, if we're being technical.
Sony XM5 is the fifth generation of the 1000X series headphones, with each sequential model garnering more impressive features and sleeker designs. The active noise-canceling (ANC) headphones can be spotted on plenty of heads (I counted six during my commute home one day) and it's for good reason. While these headphones come at a steep price ($400 when they're not on sale), the excellent sound quality and noise cancellation make the device a standout in the audio industry and among our pros.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Tech and Media Lab, our test engineers and product analysts previously ran audio and spectrum analysis software on both the AirPods Max and Sony XM5 to determine their performance levels and clearness in sound.
This in-depth Sony WH-1000XM5 review combines the Lab data from testing and my thoughts after using them nearly every day for the past 1.5 years. Below you'll find everything you need to know to help you decide if the Sony WH-1000XM5 is the right pair of headphones for you.
Pros
- Excellent noise cancellation and sound quality
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Customizable EQ
- Easy Bluetooth connection to multiple devices
Cons
- Limited color options
| Type | Over-ear |
|---|---|
| Weight | 0.55 lbs |
| Battery life | Up to 30 (NC on) or up to 40 hours (NC off) |
| Colors | Black, midnight blue or stone |
| Extra features | 360 Reality Audio, case with wired audio cable |
Design
The Sony XM5's design is sleek and chic, albeit simple. It only comes in three matte colors: silver (which I own), black and navy. The headband part is thin and the ear cups are an oval shape. I love the monochromatic, seamless appearance with the brand name discreetly written in a gold, small font.
As aesthetically pleasing as the silver color is, I do have one warning: the ear pads may develop a brown spot in the center and makeup can stain the cushions. The browning confused and slightly repelled me as someone who obsessively uses Q-tips, but with a quick search on the internet, I found other people on Reddit threads sharing the same experience with light-colored headphones. The brown stains are caused by sweat from the ears, which is bound to happen over time, especially if you exercise while wearing them.
If you must have the silver color (I understand, it's stylish), you can remove and replace the ear pads every so often to prevent acne on your skin (I also clean my headphones with a disinfectant wipe every day) and keep your headphones looking brand new. Following Sony's instructions, it only took a few minutes to apply the Aurivor Replacement Ear-Pads Cushions.
Comfort
While I love AirPods for their small design, earbuds tend to hurt and itch my inner ears over time. I've always preferred headphones for this reason and the Sony XM5 takes it one step further with its superb comfort. The squishy, synthetic leather ear pads feel soft and never give my skin any rashes or pimples, which is impressive considering the sensitivity of my skin. Headphones in the past have squished the top and bottoms of my ears, but the Sony XM5 fully envelopes my ears, which is extremely comfortable.
"During 8+ hours of international travel, I found the XM5 to be some of the most comfortable over-ear headphones I've ever worn, with super soft and plush synthetic leather ear pads," says Media & Tech Reviews Analyst Olivia Lipski.
The headphones themselves are so lightweight (coming in at under a pound) that they feel almost non-existent on my head — so much so that I've forgotten I was wearing them when a playlist stops and no music is playing. Sometimes when I wear the headphones all day long, I'll notice a red spot on my scalp directly where the headband rests because I wear them at the tightest length. This hasn't caused any problems for me, but I try to switch to my earbuds for a bit when this happens.
Controls
The Sony XM5's controls are as simple as its design. You can raise the volume or switch songs with a quick swipe of a finger with the right ear's touch controls. Just swipe up or down to adjust the volume, swipe right to skip songs and double tap to pause what you're listening to. The left ear has two buttons, one for turning the headphones on and off and another switches the modes between noise cancellation and transparency.
The on-ear controls can be annoying when I am trying to lie down, rest my head on my hand or lean against the train window because I sometimes accidentally pause the song. This occurrence is far and few between, but you can always switch off the on-ear touch settings in the Sony Headphones Connect app.
Sound quality
When I use the Sony XM5 headphones, I can hear every guitar string pluck, drum beat and faint backing vocals. The audio is incredibly clear and I feel as if I am immersed in the music. In our previous Lab tests, the XM5 earned top scores for audio performance. Our test engineers found that the XM5’s audio spectrum analysis curve is more consistent in the high range than comparable models and its low end is slightly boosted.
"The sound quality is pristine with a frequency response that reminds me of my studio monitors," says GH Institute Data Engineer Nik Greenwald, who describes the sound as "smooth with more noticeable bass."
If you're a true audiophile (or you're just curious) you will appreciate the adjustable EQ feature in the Sony Headphones Connect app. You can customize your listening experience and if you're looking for EQ setting suggestions, check out this Reddit thread.
Noise cancelation
Ah, the true star of the show: noise cancelation. Whether you need to block out noise to focus, you live in a loud neighborhood or you have misophonia, the Sony XM5 is the best noise-canceling headphones I've ever tried. I struggle with concentrating if I hear small noises like chewing, clicking, tapping or a television droning on. These headphones block all that out and more.
As I walk through NYC's Penn Station to catch my train, I hear nothing other than one of my favorite pop stars or indie bands singing in my ears — yet I see hundreds and hundreds of people walk past me, chatting on phones, playing guitar on a stool, ordering a coffee and contributing to the daily noises bustling New Yorkers. If that's not convincing enough for you, I wore these headphones listening to white noise as I slept for a week after surgery and I didn't hear a single thing on the hospital floor. The nurses would have to tap me awake and I woke up well-rested every morning.
In the Sony Headphones Connect app that you download as you set up the headphones, you can turn on or off the "Speak to Chat" feature, which pauses your music or podcast if you talk. This comes in handy while working in the office because I can quickly switch between hearing music and having a conversation, although I usually just move my headphones away from my ears. I recommend keeping the Speak to Chat feature off if you are like me and tend to sing or hum along to music because the song will keep pausing on you — a mistake I have been frustrated with plenty of times.
As with all noise-canceling headphones, I do notice people talking or loud sounds if I'm playing soft music. For example, I listen to classical music while I read on the train as I commute to work, which sounds quite pretentious, but it's the only music that does not distract me from the story. If a soft piano song is playing and people are being particularly noisy (think: train ride home after a hockey game) I can faintly hear external sounds. So, if you tend to listen to slow, softer musicians like Laufey or Phoebe Bridgers, you're going to need to crank up the volume to truly block out every noise. Otherwise, I normally only hear the lyrics and instrumentals as I blissfully escape the noisy world and enjoy the music.
Transparency mode
In the name of being fully transparent (get it?), I do not use transparency mode as often as I should. This feature allows you to hear external noises and your music equally so that you can be aware of your surroundings. Wearing noise-cancelling headphones while on a walk and in public can be dangerous no matter where you live. With transparency mode, you can hear cars on the road, stay alert and be safe.
In the Sony Headphones Connect app, you can turn on the Adaptive Sound Control feature, which detects your surroundings that you often visit and automatically adjusts between noise cancellation, transparency mode and regular sound, a.k.a. neither.
Battery life
As a forgetful person who uses her headphones for hours on end, I truly appreciate the long battery life of the Sony XM5. According to the brand, the headphones should last up to 30 hours with noise cancellation turned on or 40 hours with it turned off. The headphones give a low-battery warning (which I rarely hear) and they charge incredibly fast.
You can check the remaining battery life by clicking the power button. I lost the charging wire a long time ago but the charging port is compatible with any USB-C wire, which is the same as an iPhone 15 or Mac laptops since 2021. It only takes 3.5 hours to fully charge the headphones, but as long as I plug them in at least once or twice for a few hours every week, I never face the problem of them dying on me.
If I had to estimate, I most likely wear these headphones around 5 to 8 hours a day, so I'd say they're excellent at holding the charge. Plus, the battery life has not declined since I bought it, which is not a feat I can say for my other devices.
Bluetooth connectivity
A huge pro and a must-have for me when it comes to headphones is Bluetooth connection. If I'm shelling out more than $100, I do not want to worry about a wire that's going to require me to sit close to a phone or laptop at all times. The Sony Headphones Connect app is easy to set up and use, and it takes only a moment to pair the headphones to a new device. I switch between my phone and laptop to take Zoom calls within seconds.
While the headphones would not die suddenly, I did notice my headphones would randomly disconnect sometimes. I have yet to figure out the cause, but it only takes a moment of turning them on and off for them to reconnect to my phone. There is a port for a wire to connect to laptops, phones and tablets, but I rarely use it given the ease of switching from device to device with Bluetooth.
Portability
Noise-cancelling headphones are ideal for long flights and commutes. Sony XM5 comes with a protective case in a matching color to put the headphones in as you go from one place to the next. The case is thin, albeit long, so it's not the most compact design out there. I bring the case with me when I am traveling or if I'm using a flappy tote bag, but otherwise I tend to throw the headphones in my thicker backpack when I go to work if they're not already on my head or around my neck.
While storing them in a bag without the case may not be the best course of action, my headphones have no scratches, dents or faulty parts. In my opinion, they're sturdy enough that you do not need the case (I even wore them in a light drizzle), but the case is compact enough to fit in a backpack or large tote bag.
Voice calling
Walking through Central Park is my ideal way to spend time during my lunch break. While I typically listen to music, I'll make the occasional phone call to a friend. Switching from music to talking on the phone is seamless with these headphones, and the noise cancellation blocks out the blaring sounds of New York City.
In the past, my friends heard external noises like wind and cars when I voice called through air pods, but the Sony XM5 does an excellent job at isolating my voice as I talk. Lipski called family and friends while commuting to the GH Institute in NYC with the Airpods Max and Sony XM5, and everyone agreed that her voice sounded "loud and crystal clear" while wearing the Sony.
I can easily hear my friends talk and they have no trouble hearing me, but the superb noise cancellation has one con: I can barely hear myself. I catch myself practically yelling as I walk through the park because I am unaware of how loud I am. This is not bothersome enough for me to stop using these for phone calls, but I do move one ear pad off my ear as I talk if I'm in a more quiet setting like a store or around my neighborhood in the suburbs.
The bottom line: Are the Sony 1000XM5 worth it?
In my opinion, they're the best purchase I've ever made and I would buy them again and again if I needed to. If I had to pick one materialistic, non-essential item that I loved the most, I'd go with these headphones. On the other hand, I am simply one girl who dislikes loud noises, loves music and commutes for hours every week via train. I would recommend getting one of the older Sony XM models for a lower price if you do not care for the best noise cancellation and sound quality that Sony has to offer.
On the other hand, anyone who is interested in sound engineering, podcast recording or creating music should most certainly consider these headphones because the sound quality is one of the best in the market. And if you're like me and want to block out sounds as you commute, work or study, the noise cancellation will help you forget you're even in public. However, I would not recommend these headphones for running because they get sweaty and noise cancellation can be dangerous while running outside. Instead, opt for some open-ear headphones or one of our experts' favorite headphones for working out.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Our product analysts and audio experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Tech and Media Lab regularly test and review the latest headphones, earbuds and speakers, including noise-canceling headphones, AirPods, Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Bose 700, Beats Solo 3 and the AirPods Max headphones.
This story was written by Assistant Commerce Editor Isabella Cavallo. She has been a lover of music her entire life, from playing the piano at five years old to racking up over 100,000 minutes of listening time on Spotify. Cavallo has owned the Sony WH-1000XM5 for almost two years and even used them while creating short audio projects with Adobe Audition.
GH Institute Data Engineer Nik Greenwald, recently ran a test of noise-canceling headphones where he researched, recorded and analyzed data to compare different devices. Cavallo consulted notes from these tests to assist with the writing of this story.
Isabella (she/her) covers commerce and product-related content in the home, lifestyle, fitness, technology and beauty. She graduated from Binghamton University in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in English: Literature & Rhetoric. Before joining GH, she was an editorial assistant at Prevention, where she covered health topics and celebrity news.
