Never underestimate a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Whether it’s blocking out the whirr of a long-haul flight or getting me a step closer towards paradise with sweet, sweet alone time, I always have a set by my side. Choosing the correct cans is challenging, but in this writer’s humble opinion, Sony is always a fantastic way to go.
I’ve long struggled to recommend the latest Sony WH-1000XM5s, but not because of their capabilities. The launch price was simply too out there to warrant consideration when previous-gen XM4s still hold up wonderfully to this day. In fact, I own a pair of XM3s that haven’t steered me wrong yet.
Thankfully, it’s come down off its high horse and tacked on a price tag I can get on board with. Sony WH-1000XM5 regularly dips in price from its $399 MSRP, but this is the first time a 25% discount has brought it below $300. For a limited time, you can grab a pair for just $298 on Amazon US.
There are similar deals dotted across the globe, some a little better than others. Amazon UK drops the device by 26%, offering the same speakers for £279. France goes a step further, as 29% off puts the pair at its lowest-ever, costing just €295.99. Italy ups the ante with 34% off at €277.99. And the best I’ve seen is 35% off in Germany at €270.51. If you want to check your region, click the button below.
Sony WH-1000XM5
“With two processors controlling eight microphones, WH-1000XM5 uses Auto NC Optimizer to tune noise cancelling based on your wearing conditions and environment.”
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Active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones are a dime a dozen nowadays, but none do the feature better than Sony. Whereas most handle low hums fairly well, WH-1000XM5 is world-class at ousting higher frequencies, keeping unwanted sounds out of your ears.
Funnily enough, my favourite thing about noise-cancelling is the complete opposite. Using the same microphones dedicated to defeating atmospheric noise, you can use the ambient feature to amplify sounds around you. I use this feature when in meetings or playing games to regulate the volume of my voice rather than accidentally shouting down the mic.
Keep in mind that Bluetooth 5.2 still has a little latency compared to a 2.4GHz dongle, which can make competitive gaming a little tougher. During these moments, you can plug it in using the 3.5mm jack and still use all the funky noise-cancelling features, no problem.
If you decide to keep it wireless, you’ll get anywhere up to 30 hours with noise cancelling or ambient on and 40 hours with it off. You’ll want to set aside around 3.5 hours to charge it back up to full from empty, but it’s easy to get into a routine so you’re not caught short.
The 30mm drivers cover between 4Hz and 40,000Hz frequencies when wired or 20Hz to 20,000Hz across Bluetooth. Wireless always demands a sacrifice.
Personally, I feel the default tuning is pinpoint perfect for what I like, but there is an equaliser on hand to fix it to your liking. Each present makes a substantial difference, so there’s enough to keep everyone happy.
Finally, there are buttons and touch controls on the side for when you’re out and about. On the fly, you can adjust ANC modes, activate Bluetooth, and adjust the volume. A triple press of the ANC button even activates Spotify Tap, bringing your music player up without having to whip out your phone. It’s the easiest it’s ever been.
It’s no small chunk of change, even with the savings, but you can be sure it’s going somewhere good. If you’re not happy, you can send the product back for a full refund within 30 days in the US and UK (sometimes it’s 14 days in European territories). This lets you try it risk-free before the deal runs out.
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