Debussy once said, “Music is the space between the notes.” Of course, the composer was referring to the gaps created by your favourite musicians and not the unfortunate noise of your commute or work environments that can so-often pollute your playlists. As someone that values the sanctity of sound, active noise cancellation has become an invaluable feature for me and many others and none do it better than Sony’s WH-1000XM5.
Sony WH-1000MX5
“Flagship wireless headphones with unbeatable noise cancellation, crystal-clear sound quality, industry-leading call quality, luxurious comfort, and more.” – Sony
Over on Amazon US, you can pick up a pair of Sony WH-1000XM5 for $249.99, netting you a discount of 38% ($150) versus its list price. This is the most affordable these cans have ever been in their lifetime, making now the best time to buy them. There savings up for grabs in Blighty too, as the headphones are currently 12% off on Amazon UK.
WH-1000XM5 uses a combination of eight microphones and two processors to deliver its active noise cancellation, both double in number from Sony’s prior generation headphones. The end-result is nothing short of class-leading, keeping unwanted sound at bay while keeping you immersed in your tunes, podcasts, or audiobooks.
The 30mm carbon fibre drivers inside WH-1000XM5 deliver a rich and punchy sound that’s difficult not to enjoy. While these headphones don’t offer the most analytical listening experience, you can expect a high-quality one thanks to Sony’s LDAC codec for Hi-Res audio. Jus bear in mind you’ll need a Bluetooth device that supports LDAC to make use of it.
You’ll have no difficulty wearing WH-1000XM5 for hours on end thanks to Sony’s comfortable design. The headphones are on the lighter side at around 250g and sport ample cushioning around the earcups and headband. They’re stylish to boot too and come in a variety of colours. Personally, I love the ‘Silver’ model but note it’s more pearlescent than metallic.
The only negative of note about the design of WH-1000XM5 and the headphones more generally is their inability to fold. This can make it a little more tricky to throw them in a bag but it’s nothing most people should have trouble accommodating.
Sony built WH-1000XM5 with Bluetooth in mind but the manufacturer hasn’t cut the cord entirely just yet. If you prefer a more analogue approach to your listening, you’ll be thankful to find a 3.5mm jack input and included cable here. Of course, opting for a wireless approach will net you multipoint connectivity making it easy to switch between your phone and laptop for example.
Finally, Sony rates WH-1000XM5 battery life at around 30 hours with ANC enabled. That’s plenty of juice and then some for an entire day’s worth of use. Charging the headphones is quick and easy too thanks to its USB-C port that can provide three hours of charge in three minutes.
