Sony WH-1000XM5 review – The Hindu
The Sony WH-1000XM5 with its features and smart engineering does not lag behind the competition
The Sony WH-1000XM5 with its features and smart engineering does not lag behind the competition
The race in the flagship ANC headphones has gone up to a new level with the latest Sony WH-1000XM5. The competition is heating up as Sennheiser recently launched its Momentum 4 headphone in the flagship category. So, what Sony WH-1000XM5 has to offer that makes it stand apart?
(Sign up to our Technology newsletter, Today’s Cache, for insights on emerging themes at the intersection of technology, business and policy. Click here to subscribe for free.)
In the box
In the box lies a comparatively bigger case than the previously launched XM4. The case contains an elegant-looking headset, a charging cable, and a 3.5mm audio cable.
Design
The new Sony WH-1000XM5, unlike other companies, departs from following the looks and design of its predecessors. The new Sony WH-1000XM5 comes with a refined and clean design which we liked because it seems very neat and holds an aesthetic appeal and while we wore it outside it caught a lot of attention from the people passing by.
Unlike its predecessor XM4, the earcups of the new Sony WH-1000XM5 do not fold inside. The company has used synthetic leather cushions on the earcups and the hairband. The earcups are designed very smartly as they fit any size of ears quite comfortably. The headphone weight is comparatively lighter than the Sennheiser Momentum 4 which we reviewed a few days back.
The company has opted for only two buttons in the new SONY headset: a power button and a toggle button for ambient mode and noise cancellation which are placed on the left earcup. The right earcup consists of all the touch control features where you swipe up to increase the volume, and swipe down to decrease it. Holding in the center of the right earcup activates the voice assistant. You can also swipe forward and backward to change the track and double tapping in the center to pause/resume the track. Also covering up the right earcup activates ambient awareness modes that let in sound from outside. On the bottom of the right earcup lies a Type-C port to charge the headset.
Connectivity and controls
The new Sony WH-1000XM5 easily pairs with Android and iOS devices and in starting we paired it with our Android phone just over Bluetooth, but for better controls and sound experience, we suggest that you download Sony Headphones connect app. The headset can connect to Bluetooth-enabled devices through AAC, LDAC, and Bluetooth codecs, and surprisingly the company has left out aptX support.
There is also a 3.5mm audio jack on the left earcup which can be used to connect the headset to your device. Using the app allows ANC optimization, 360 Reality Audio, and a custom equalizer feature.
The app allows you to choose between complete noise cancelling blocking all the external sounds, an ambient sound mode that allows you to hear your surroundings especially when you are walking on the road, and an OFF mode which completely shuts the ANC. The responsive EQ boosts the bass and can be adjusted according to your preference. The headset can also learn the daily routine by tracking the usage behavior and accordingly can adjust …….