Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds Review: Premium Audio Experience or Pricey Upgrade?
Sony continues to dominate the premium audio market with its 1000X series, a range known for its exceptional sound quality and impressive noise cancellation. Following the success of the WF-1000XM3 and WF-1000XM4, Sony has now released its latest earbuds, the WF-1000XM5, aiming to deliver an even better listening experience. With a more compact and comfortable design, improved noise cancellation, and a longer battery life, the WF-1000XM5 promises to be another winner. But is it worth the premium price tag? Let’s delve into the details of this latest offering.
Design, Features, and Specifications
The WF-1000XM5 comes in two elegant colors, Black and Platinum Silver, both featuring a glossy finish. With each earbud weighing just 5.9g, they are significantly smaller and lighter than their predecessor, the WF-1000XM4, making them one of the most comfortable true wireless earbuds in the market. The ergonomic design ensures a secure fit, even during active movements, and the inclusion of extra small ear tips expands the size options for a more personalized fit catering to users with smaller ears.
The earbuds boast customizable touch controls via the Sony Headphones Connect app, allowing you to personalize your listening experience. Features like Adaptive Sound Control, which automatically adjusts audio settings based on your surroundings, Ambient Sound Control, and Speak-to-Chat, which automatically lowers the volume when you start talking, are readily available.
The heart of the WF-1000XM5 is its 8.4mm Dynamic Driver X and the integrated Sony Processor V2. Powered by Sony’s QN2e Active Noise Cancellation chip, the earbuds promise the best-ever call quality thanks to bone conduction sensors and deep neural network programming. The WF-1000XM5 supports Bluetooth 5.3 for seamless connectivity, Google Fast Pair for quicker pairing with Android devices, multipoint connection for connecting to two devices simultaneously, and 360 Reality Audio for immersive audio experiences. It also boasts a frequency range of 20Hz to 20,000Hz (up to 40,000Hz with LDAC), an effective operating range of 10m, and supports SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3 audio formats.
While the earbuds themselves are IPX4 rated for water resistance, the charging case lacks water resistance, limiting its use in slightly harsher environments.
Performance and Battery Life
The WF-1000XM5, paired with a Google Pixel 6a, delivers on its promise of exceptional sound quality and spatial audio. The earbuds handle various genres with remarkable clarity and detail. The bass is rich and controlled, offering depth without overpowering the other frequencies. This is evident in tracks like “Calm Down” by Rema, where the Afrobeats are crisp, and instruments like the guitar, bass guitar, and drums are clearly defined. The earbuds effortlessly capture the energy of the song, creating an immersive musical experience.
Testing with the classic “Boom Boom Pow” by Black Eyed Peas shows the earbuds’ prowess in handling both bass and treble. Each element, even at high volumes, is distinct and clear.
The noise cancellation on the WF-1000XM5 is truly impressive, effectively blocking out external noise in indoor and outdoor environments. During commutes, the noise cancellation efficiently cancels out conversations and other distractions, providing a peaceful and immersive audio experience. Even external noises like wind, air-conditioner, and street commotion are effectively silenced.
The call quality is also excellent, with clarity and minimal background noise. Transparency mode, which allows you to hear your surroundings, also functions well, offering a balance between isolation and situational awareness.
In terms of battery life, the WF-1000XM5 boasts a commendable performance. Sony claims a playback time of up to eight hours with ANC and Bluetooth activated, extending to twelve hours with noise cancellation turned off. During real-world usage, which included a mix of music listening and phone calls with ANC always activated, the earbuds consistently delivered around 7.5-8 hours of playback before needing to be recharged. The charging process takes approximately 1.5 hours, which is quite reasonable for a device in this category.
This impressive battery life outperforms the WF-1000XM4, which lasted around 6 hours with similar usage, and even surpasses the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, which managed 5 hours. It is also comparable to the less expensive Sony WF-C700N, which delivers around 7 hours of playback.
Verdict: Is It Worth the Price?
The Sony WF-1000XM5 is a phenomenal pair of earbuds, offering a perfect blend of comfort, exceptional sound quality, and impressive noise cancellation. However, some may find the price tag slightly steep. If you prioritize a complete package that delivers an enriching audio experience and are willing to invest, the WF-1000XM5 is a sure winner. It stands out as a top-tier choice in the premium true wireless earbud market.
However, for iPhone users, the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) might be a more suitable option given its seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem. Ultimately, the decision boils down to your individual preferences, budget, and priorities.
