Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds Review: Amazing sounding Earbuds

Sony, a name synonymous with excellence in the music industry, is back with a bang, introducing the Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds. Sony has been steadily climbing the ranks in the world of audio accessories, and their latest addition to the WF series is set to make waves.

The WF-1000XM5 takes noise-canceling to the next level, promising the best-in-class feature in the market. But that’s not all; Sony has also revamped the design, ensuring both aesthetics and comfort are top-notch. These earbuds are lightweight, guaranteeing hours of comfortable listening pleasure.

In today’s Sony WF-1000xm5 earbuds review,  let’s find out what Sony has to offer with their premium price asking to attract the audiophiles and music enthusiasts who demand nothing but the best.

Table of Contents:

•  Key Features
• Pros & Cons
• Design & Build 
• Control & App Usage
• Performance & Features
• Connection & Compatibility
• Battery Life
• Specs
• Verdict

1. Sony WF-1000XM5: Key Features

• 2 High-Performance Sony Processors
• 6 Microphones Captures Ambient Sound
• Hi-Res Audio For Astonishing Sound
• DSEE Extreme For Enhanced Sound
• 360 Reality Audio For Surrounds Music
• AI Noise Reduction Algorithm
• Multipoint Connection For Versatility 

2. Sony WF-1000XM5: Pros & Cons  

Pros:	Cons:
👍  8.2mm Specially-Designed Driver;  👍  Great Sound and Voice calling;  👍  Lighter design & Comfortable fit; 👍  Head-tracking feature is creative; 👍  IPX4 Water Resistance.	👎 Very Premium Pricing; 👎 No Find My Feature.  No aptX Codec

Check Latest Price of Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds

3. Sony WF-1000XM5: Design & Build

• Durable & Scratch-Resistance Design
• Environment-Friendly Packaging
• Extra Eartips
• IPX4 Water Resistance
  

Design

The Sony WF-1000XM5 boasts a fresh design, bringing notable changes from its predecessor, the XM4, that are sure to catch your eye. One of the most noticeable alterations is the shift from a matte finish to a glossy one, giving the earbuds a sleek and modern appearance. 

The charging pin configuration has also evolved, reducing from three pins to two, simplifying the charging process. A striking feature is the microphone design, resembling an actual microphone, embellished with gold accents. This not only adds an element of style but also hints at the advanced audio capabilities of these earbuds.

The case showcases a more compact and ergonomic shape, with the addition of a convenient pairing button next to the charging port. This physical button enhances the ease of pairing, eliminating any hassle.

Comfort is a priority, with multiple ear tip options included in the package to ensure a snug fit. A mini LED indicator on the case keeps you informed about the charging and pairing status.

Color

The color options include a glossy black and a silver finish, both exuding a premium feel when held. However, it’s important to note that if you prefer the matte finish of the previous model, you won’t find it here.

Build

The build quality is top-notch, featuring high-quality plastic for the case and earbuds themselves. Remarkably, the XM5 is 20% lighter than its predecessor, with each earbud weighing just 5.9 grams and the case at 39 grams, making them 2.8% lighter overall. 

Despite this weight reduction, Sony has maintained an IPX4 rating for water resistance, ensuring durability against raindrops and sweat. Sony’s commitment to water resistance is commendable, especially considering the overall lighter and more compact design of the WF-1000XM5.

4. Sony WF-1000XM5: Control & App Usage

• Touch Control
• Sony | Headphones Connect

Touch Control

Sony WF-1000XM5 offers intuitive controls and a feature-rich app for an enhanced user experience.

With touch sensors on each earbud, controlling your music playback is effortless. A single tap allows you to play or pause your music, ensuring convenience during your listening sessions. To skip to the next track, simply double-tap twice, and if you want to go back to the previous track, triple-tap three times quickly. 

Adjusting the volume is also straightforward – tap the touch sensor during music playback to increase the volume by one step or hold your finger on the sensor to decrease it continuously. This tactile control system offers a seamless way to interact with your audio.

App Usage

For a more personalized experience, the “Sony Headphones Connect” app is a valuable companion. It enables firmware updates to keep your earbuds functioning optimally. The Equalizer feature allows you to fine-tune the sound quality to match your preferences. 

The Ambient Sound Control and Adaptive Sound Control features empower you to manage noise cancellation and ambient sound modes effortlessly. The app even offers a personalization function to enjoy 360 Reality Audio with a spatial sound field tailored to your preferences.

Additionally, the “Activity” feature in the app allows you to track and review usage statistics for your headphones, providing insights into your listening habits. Overall, the combination of intuitive touch controls and the feature-rich Sony Headphones Connect app ensures that the WF-1000XM5 offers a seamless and customizable listening experience.

5. Sony WF-1000XM5: Performance & Features

• 8.2mm Dual Driver
• V2 Chip
• QN2E Chip

Sound Quality

0XM5 stands out in terms of performance, offering a plethora of innovative features and exceptional audio quality.

One of the notable features is “Speak to Chat,” which seamlessly transitions into ambient mode, similar to Apple’s transparency mode when you start a conversation. It allows for easy communication without removing the earbuds, and when you stop talking, your music resumes.

The introduction of a multipoint connection is a game-changer, enabling you to switch effortlessly between audio sources. The voice assist function takes hands-free convenience to the next level, making it simple to interact with your virtual assistant.

The “Find your Equalizer” feature empowers you to customize the sound to your liking with EQ settings, ensuring your preferred audio profile.

Under the hood, the WF-1000XM5 boasts an upgraded 8.2mm driver and 3 microphones on each earbud, powered by Sony’s dual chipsets. This results in an impressive audio experience, with cleaner and punchier bass. The addition of Dolby Atmos, absent in the previous model, enhances the immersion when watching movies.

Noise-Canceling

The V2 integrated processor and “QN2E” noise-canceling technology, utilizing AI, provide precision sound in various environments. Edge-AI and DSEE Extreme upscale compressed digital music files in real time. And it’s great when hearing music outdoors while there is lots of traffic and people’s noise nearby.

Calling & Microphone

The Sony WF-1000XM5 offers an exceptional calling experience, ensuring clear and distortion-free calls. With the introduction of the “Bone Conduction Sensor” and an AI-based noise reduction algorithm, the earbuds excel at isolating your speech from ambient sounds and background noise, resulting in crystal-clear calls, even in noisy environments.

The “Precise Voice Pickup Technology” and advanced audio signal processing further enhance call quality, making your voice audible and distinct to the person on the other end, even in challenging situations. During real-world testing, the earbuds delivered uninterrupted, noise-free calls over a 2-minute conversation.

Equipped with six microphones, three on each earbud, these earbuds feature a wind noise reduction structure and a mesh wrap on the microphones, minimizing noise interference during calls. Users have reported excellent voice clarity when conversing in windy conditions. The Sony WF-1000XM5 sets a high standard for call quality and communication clarity.

Gaming & Latency

While the WF-1000XM5 is primarily focused on music, it does offer support for low-latency LE audio, making it suitable for casual gaming. Overall, these earbuds deliver an exceptional performance package, combining cutting-edge technology with top-notch audio quality.

6. Sony WF-1000XM5: Connection & Compatibility

• Bluetooth 5.3
• Multipoint Connection

Bluetooth

The Sony WF-1000XM5 offers cutting-edge Bluetooth and connectivity features, catering to music enthusiasts and tech-savvy users alike.

With Bluetooth 5.3, the earbuds provide a robust and stable connection, operating within the 2.4GHz to 2.48GHz frequency band. This ensures a reliable connection even when you’re up to 10 meters away from your audio source. Whether you’re grooving to music at home or practicing your dance moves in the studio, the WF-1000XM5 has you covered.

Bluetooth profiles are essential for seamless device compatibility, and the XM5 offers a comprehensive selection, including A2DP, VCP, CCP, and more. This versatility ensures a hassle-free connection with a wide range of devices.

Sony’s commitment to audio excellence shines through in its support for various audio formats. Alongside the standard SBC and AAC codecs, the WF-1000XM5 includes LDAC and L3 codecs as well, offering superior audio quality with no lossless audio during playback.

One standout feature is “Head-tracking spatial audio,” which adds a new dimension to your listening experience. However, to utilize this feature, you’ll need a phone running Android 13 or later, and dynamic head tracking only functions with compatible video apps. 

Compatibility

The dedicated Sony Connect app enhances the overall user experience, allowing you to customize settings effortlessly. You can fine-tune your preferences, utilize the noise-canceling optimizer, manage automatic power-off settings to control media consumption, and even adjust sound positioning. 

You also get a multipoint connection, which literally lets you pair 2 Bluetooth devices simultaneously, so when a call comes in, your earbuds automatically know which device is ringing and connect to the right one. It is a great feature if you are a business person or use more devices. 

7. Sony WF-1000XM5: Battery Life

• 1.5 Hour Charging
• 3 Minutes For 60 Minutes Playback
• Type-C
• Qi-Wireless charging

The Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds maintain the same impressive battery performance as their predecessor, the XM4, making them an excellent choice for those on the move. With noise canceling activated, you can enjoy approximately 8 hours of uninterrupted music playback  & 24 hours if you count the case.

This duration is more than sufficient for users who listen occasionally, like during commutes or travel. It’s worth noting that the new Dolby Atmos feature and larger drivers may impact battery life slightly. Notably, turning off noise canceling extends the battery life to a whopping 12 hours, an impressive feat in the world of earbuds.

For users who rely on their earbuds for continuous communication, the XM5 still holds up quite well. With noise canceling active, you can enjoy up to 5.5 hours of talk time, while turning off the noise canceling will grant you an extended 6 hours for your phone calls and conversations.

Charging

You can charge the earbuds from the back with a Type-C cable. Though there’s no official fast charging, Sony claims that just 3 minutes of charging will give you 1 hour of playback, which is a convenient feature. 

Charging the earbuds from 0 to 100% will take approximately 1.5 hours & 2 hours for both the earbuds and case, which is not that fast but not bad either, so carrying the charging cables will be ideal.

Qi-Wireless charging is also available for those with compatible chargers, aligning with the wireless future. Do remember, that it might take longer to charge wirelessly with a 2W charging technology.

8. Sony WF-1000XM5: Specs

While still understanding all the significant details inside the Sony WF-1000XM5 review, here are the more technical specifications of the “Sony WF-1000XM5” below

Specs	Sony WF-1000XM5
Build Quality	Water Resistance (IPX4)
Case Dimensions Weight	64.6 x 40.0 x 26.5 mm Item Weight- 39gram
Earbuds Weight	Approx. 5.9 g x 2 (including earbud tips (M))
Driver & Frequency	8.4mm Driver 20-20,000Hz (LDAC 96kHz sampling 990 kbps)
Headphone Type	Closed, Dynamic
Chipset	V2 Integrated Processor & QN2e Noise-Canceling Processor
Noise Cancelling	3 microphones in each bud Ambient Sound Mode Quick Attention
Battery Life (PlayTime)	Max. 6 hrs (NC ON) | Max. 7 hrs (NC OFF)
Battery Charge	USB charger | Wireless charger (with case)
General Features	(Active Headphones) Max. 8 hrs (NC ON) | Max. 12 hrs (NC OFF)
Charging	USB Type-C To Charge
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3 (10-meter Range)
Frequency Range	2.4GHz band (2.4000GHz – 2.4835 GHz)
Supported Format	SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
Compatibility	Android & iOS
Colors	Black, Silver

 

9. Verdict

In short, the Sony WF-1000XM5 truly delivers an exceptional listening experience. With improved sound quality, impressive noise-canceling capabilities, and advanced chips, these earbuds cater to audiophiles and those who demand top-tier audio performance.

The smaller and lighter design adds to the comfort factor, making them a perfect choice for extended wear. The upgraded processor and drivers ensure that every note is crisp and clear. Plus, Android users will appreciate the spatial audio and head-tracking features, enhancing the immersion.

However, it’s important to note that this level of quality comes at a premium price, which might eventually empty your pocket a lot. The Sony WF-1000XM5 is an investment in audio excellence. Some users may find the glossy finish less preferable than the matte finish of its predecessor, the WF-1000XM4.

Get the Sony WF-1000XM5, if

> You want amazing noise-canceling earbuds;

> You like the great sound quality from Sony;

> You require a good battery life.

 

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