Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones - 30 hours battery life - Over-ear style - Optimised for Alexa and the Google Assistant - with built-in mic for phone calls - Black: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo (original) (raw)

Customers say

Customers like the sound quality, comfort, and design of the headphones. They mention they can differentiate bass notes, redefining excellence in the audio industry, and vocals sound authentic. Some also like the performance. However, some customers differ on the battery life, value for money, and ease of use.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

557 customers mention ‘Sound quality’429 positive128 negative

Customers like the sound quality of the headphones. They mention they're comfortable to wear, have superb noise cancellation, and can differentiate bass notes. They also say the midrange sounds authentic and detailed. Customers say the headphones work flawlessly with good quality audio and no problems with the microphones. They appreciate the clearer and more defined bass.

"...Really good sound quality, comfy on my ears (no ear fatigue despite wearing them for hours at a time) and the charge lasts for weeks with my limited..." Read more

"...in a pair of Airpod 2 Pro's for the top-class ANC and excellent sound quality but no matter which bud tips I've tried, they feel unbearably..." Read more

"...Pros:- Superb noise cancellation, the transparency mode is good enough but does not compare to Apple's in their AirPods Max or Pros - I have..." Read more

"...I am told by the people I'm calling that it cancels noise around me pretty well. I use it for casual phone calls and for work as well...." Read more

301 customers mention ‘Quality’248 positive53 negative

Customers like the quality of the headphones. They mention they're class-leading, the best on the market, and an outstanding choice for anyone seeking exceptional performance, comfort, and versatility. Some say the software is good, but it's not proximity-secured. Overall, customers are satisfied with the quality and comfort of the product.

"...The way they have implemented pass through is really good so you can just hold you hand to the right ear to lower the volume of your music and have..." Read more

"...Adaptive Sound Control and Speak-to-Chat, the WH-1000XM5 enhances the user experience by adjusting ambient sound settings based on activity and..." Read more

"...the sound when listening to music via Bluetooth is also very good and well-balanced...." Read more

"...The ear pads are fine, though I don't know if the headband pad is replaceable since the material tends to peel over time...." Read more

236 customers mention ‘Comfort’166 positive70 negative

Customers like the comfort of the headphones. They mention they're really comfortable for an extended period of time, have a premium feel in the hands, and the soft ear cups provide a snug seal.

"...Really good sound quality, comfy on my ears (no ear fatigue despite wearing them for hours at a time) and the charge lasts for weeks with my limited..." Read more

"...This is one I can wear all day - the soft headphone cups are very comfortable and I do not feel the strap at all and I have very short hair...." Read more

"...but no matter which bud tips I've tried, they feel unbearably uncomfortable after a few minutes and my ears never seem able to get used to this...." Read more

"...Cons:- Comfort - these are comfortable headphones in general, but the top band is quite thin and hurts of top of the head after about 2 hours,..." Read more

89 customers mention ‘Design’72 positive17 negative

Customers like the design of the headphones. They mention they have a sleek and sophisticated design. Customers also appreciate the quality and looks of the product. They also mention the headphones come in a beautiful fabric case and are better in girls' lighter colors.

"...They look smart, are really easy to use and switch between modes (noise cancelling) and I’ve had lots of compliments on them...." Read more

"...Overall, these have been great, and they look very stylish and sleek...." Read more

"...1. PackagingThe headphones come in a beautiful fabric case and bring two cables inside - one to connect to your laptop/computer and..." Read more

"...Over time, I began to appreciate their minimalist design.They may not stand out from the crowd, but in my opinion they look very good...." Read more

72 customers mention ‘Performance’64 positive8 negative

Customers like the performance of the headphones. They mention it works well, has useful functions, and works well on long-haul flights with a Bluetooth transmitter. Customers also say the controls work perfectly and the ANC is incredibly good.

"...and quality and Tidal for high quality music but it works very well with spotify and standard windows bluetooth connection...." Read more

"...- Functionality - the touch controls on the right side are very very good, although you have to be a bit specific with your hand moves so you don't..." Read more

"...It works very well and pauses the music as soon as you remove the headphones, and resumes it shortly after putting them on...." Read more

"...ProThe ANC is excellent - it almost completely cancels speech, TV, even the lawnmower doesn't break through into my podcasts...." Read more

153 customers mention ‘Battery life’97 positive56 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the battery life of the headphones. Some mention it lasts a really long time, while others say they start to fall apart and feel plasticky. They also say the headphones keep crashing and turn off randomly.

"...and the charge lasts for weeks with my limited use...." Read more

"...Ugh.- Concerns for longevity: Again, search the user reviews online... many many reports of the cups breaking away from the band...." Read more

"...Battery life - there are no concerns here, I get 20 hours of use on a single charge...." Read more

"...7. Battery lifeThe battery lasts a really long time; I seldom need to charge the headphones...." Read more

132 customers mention ‘Value for money’60 positive72 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the value for money of the headphones. Some mention they're amazing and well worth the price, while others say the price is beyond poor.

"...The price is not the lowest, but you have to pay the same or more for competing models." Read more

"...Overall, they’re excellent value for money and I’m glad I bought them." Read more

"...Generally these are *okay* but I think for the money they're overpriced, and the lack of reliability makes them rather frustrating to own." Read more

"...However, in summary, these are amazing headphones and are well worth the price in my opinion (I got them for £250 during a black friday sale)...." Read more

87 customers mention ‘Ease of use’53 positive34 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the ease of use of the headphones. Some mention the app is easy to use and intuitive, while others say the sound quality and ease of operation were disappointing.

"...They look smart, are really easy to use and switch between modes (noise cancelling) and I’ve had lots of compliments on them...." Read more

"...Their operation is a mish-mash, once they come in from the arrow, and sometimes you have to repeat them, especially double-click to start or pause..." Read more

"...The headset is adjustable and it even comes with a tutorial in the app that shows you how to set it...." Read more

"...The app is a mix of really handy and fluff, the fluff being rewarded with' badges' for 'achievements' such as using them for so many days or using a..." Read more

Reviews with images

A great option for music lovers, and with a great microphone system

I bought these headphones about two months ago and I feel in a position to make a review now.1. PackagingThe headphones come in a beautiful fabric case and bring two cables inside - one to connect to your laptop/computer and another one to charge. Some people are displeased that the case doesn't fold, but that doesn't bother me at all.2. Colour and dirt/stainsI bought them in the silver color. One of my concerns was that makeup might transfer over and that they might become dirty over time. This has not happened. When makeup does transfer, you can easily wipe it with a wet cloth. I also tend to wipe the whole headphones every now and then to ensure they don't become dirty over time, especially because if you wear them for a long time, it gets a bit sweaty on the leather bits. The pictures were taken today, and as you can see, they look brand new.3. Noise cancellationThis feature is not perfect. I have not tried other headphones in order to compare; however, when traveling on the London Underground, I can still hear the loud noise that the carriage makes along the tunnels, unless I put the music really loud.4. MicrophoneThis is where they excel. I had Apple AirPods previously, and the microphone was terrible. The Sony XM5 microphone is brilliant. I am told by the people I'm calling that it cancels noise around me pretty well. I use it for casual phone calls and for work as well. It only doesn't seem to work so well if you're sending a WhatsApp voice message - not sure why.5. SoundThis was one of the most important features for me, and it didn't disappoint! You install an app on your phone that will allow you to make some changes to the sound on the Equalizer. I have attached a picture of how I listen to mine. I recommend searching on Reddit for more recommendations on how to play with the Equalizer to listen to music the way you like.One of the first songs I decided to listen to was "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd. Close your eyes, and it's like Roger Waters is singing it right in front of you. My dad was amazed when I gave him the headphones to try with that same song! It's like I can now hear sounds in songs that I couldn't before with my AirPods. But, as I mentioned above, you do need to play with the Equalizer a bit to get to the perfect sound!6. ComfortI find these headphones very comfortable, but it takes a few tries the first time to fit them the way you like. Once you get used to it, you'll be fine. I have worn the headphones for about three hours in a row, and the only thing that starts getting a bit fatigued is the top of your head, but you can always adjust the headphones back or forth to relieve the pressure. The fit is perfect, and they embrace your ears entirely.7. Battery lifeThe battery lasts a really long time; I seldom need to charge the headphones. Just make sure you switch them off when you remove them to put them in the case by clicking the on/off button continuously for a few seconds, as it happened to me not doing that, thinking they would switch off automatically, but they actually stayed on, and the next day there was no battery left. They do charge very quickly, so I just had to charge them for ten minutes to enjoy several hours of music.8. Buttons and systemThese headphones have two buttons on the left side - one that allows you to switch on/off and if you press it once while using it tells you the amount of battery left, and one to activate or deactivate noise cancellation.The right headphone is the one where you can tap with your fingers to play/pause the music; swipe up or down to increase/reduce the volume; swipe left or right for the next/previous song; swipe continuously left or right to move forward or move back on the same song; cover it with the palm of your hand, and it will deactivate noise cancellation while you're covering it (perfect if you just want to listen to the environment around you really quick and then get back to your music).The headphones are a bit sensitive, though, and sometimes when I'm just fixing their position on my head, I accidentally touch the right headphone and end up moving to the next song or to the beginning of the one I was listening to, which is annoying. I am still getting used to this system.9. Overall opinionI would give these headphones a 9 out of 10. They're not perfect, but they're pretty close to it, in my opinion. These are headphones that I intend to keep for years to come. I think they offer a good price/quality ratio, and from the reviews I read before buying these, they are superior to many other popular brands.I did consider buying the XM4, but the reviews stated the microphones were not as good. If you intend to use the headphones for phone calls, video calls, work, etc., I believe the XM5 are the best choice.

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 July 2024

Now I’m no audiophile but I wanted these for listening to audiobooks and they’ve been incredible since I bought them! Really good sound quality, comfy on my ears (no ear fatigue despite wearing them for hours at a time) and the charge lasts for weeks with my limited use. They look smart, are really easy to use and switch between modes (noise cancelling) and I’ve had lots of compliments on them.

My only grumble would be the case as it’s quite big and they don’t fold down so take up quite a bit of room in my bag when travelling with them. However, that’s not a regular occurrence so it’s a minor quibble. Overall, they’re excellent value for money and I’m glad I bought them.

5 people found this helpful

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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 August 2024

I work in a noisy environment and live in one too and over the years, had gained quite a collection of decent quality earbuds and headphones.

To cut a long story short, a few months ago, I invested in a pair of Airpod 2 Pro's for the top-class ANC and excellent sound quality but no matter which bud tips I've tried, they feel unbearably uncomfortable after a few minutes and my ears never seem able to get used to this. I eventually decided to look for something different but on a similar level of quality.

Despite being really disappointed with Sony's WF-1000XM3 earbuds as they were pretty much useless outside of the house because they were shaped like bricks and anything more than a mild breeze would create a whooshing wind noise that overpowered whatever I was listening to. Exercising in them was impossible as they were so heavy, they'd fall out. Sony WF-C700N's buds were comfortable but too light-triggered and would randomly increase volume levels or skip tracks at the slightest touch of the surface of either bud, intentionally or not. Seriously frustrating!

Despite previous gripes with other Sony products, I followed the advice of reviewers and bought a pair. I can honestly say that these headphones are in a different league in terms of ANC in comparison to Airpods. When the WH-1000XM5's are switched on, the outside world's noise dissipates to blissful peace within a second or so even without any music being played.

The sound quality doesn't feel to match up to the Airpods but that may be down to the physics of the Airpods being earbuds, so are focused more directly into the ears. Fine-tuning the equalizer settings in the Sony app, creating different profile for each device they're connected to may make up for the contrasts in sound quality though but I haven't delved that far yet.

Personally, I feel the comfort and peace that the Sony's ANC brings far outweighs the benefits of the Airpods. This review isn't about one product Vs another, just my personal experience of owning two competing products and expressing the pros and cons of each, and I now understand the unique qualities that headphones Vs earbuds offer. Hopefully it will help somebody else who is undecided on which kind of technology to go with in terms of ANC VS sound quality.

Overall, I wished I'd bought WH-1000XM5 headphones in the first place but don't regret buying the Airpods as they're so much more portable.

5 people found this helpful

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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 May 2024

I bought these headphones about two months ago and I feel in a position to make a review now.

1. Packaging

The headphones come in a beautiful fabric case and bring two cables inside - one to connect to your laptop/computer and another one to charge. Some people are displeased that the case doesn't fold, but that doesn't bother me at all.

2. Colour and dirt/stains

I bought them in the silver color. One of my concerns was that makeup might transfer over and that they might become dirty over time. This has not happened. When makeup does transfer, you can easily wipe it with a wet cloth. I also tend to wipe the whole headphones every now and then to ensure they don't become dirty over time, especially because if you wear them for a long time, it gets a bit sweaty on the leather bits. The pictures were taken today, and as you can see, they look brand new.

3. Noise cancellation

This feature is not perfect. I have not tried other headphones in order to compare; however, when traveling on the London Underground, I can still hear the loud noise that the carriage makes along the tunnels, unless I put the music really loud.

4. Microphone

This is where they excel. I had Apple AirPods previously, and the microphone was terrible. The Sony XM5 microphone is brilliant. I am told by the people I'm calling that it cancels noise around me pretty well. I use it for casual phone calls and for work as well. It only doesn't seem to work so well if you're sending a WhatsApp voice message - not sure why.

5. Sound

This was one of the most important features for me, and it didn't disappoint! You install an app on your phone that will allow you to make some changes to the sound on the Equalizer. I have attached a picture of how I listen to mine. I recommend searching on Reddit for more recommendations on how to play with the Equalizer to listen to music the way you like.

One of the first songs I decided to listen to was "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd. Close your eyes, and it's like Roger Waters is singing it right in front of you. My dad was amazed when I gave him the headphones to try with that same song! It's like I can now hear sounds in songs that I couldn't before with my AirPods. But, as I mentioned above, you do need to play with the Equalizer a bit to get to the perfect sound!

6. Comfort

I find these headphones very comfortable, but it takes a few tries the first time to fit them the way you like. Once you get used to it, you'll be fine. I have worn the headphones for about three hours in a row, and the only thing that starts getting a bit fatigued is the top of your head, but you can always adjust the headphones back or forth to relieve the pressure. The fit is perfect, and they embrace your ears entirely.

7. Battery life

The battery lasts a really long time; I seldom need to charge the headphones. Just make sure you switch them off when you remove them to put them in the case by clicking the on/off button continuously for a few seconds, as it happened to me not doing that, thinking they would switch off automatically, but they actually stayed on, and the next day there was no battery left. They do charge very quickly, so I just had to charge them for ten minutes to enjoy several hours of music.

8. Buttons and system

These headphones have two buttons on the left side - one that allows you to switch on/off and if you press it once while using it tells you the amount of battery left, and one to activate or deactivate noise cancellation.

The right headphone is the one where you can tap with your fingers to play/pause the music; swipe up or down to increase/reduce the volume; swipe left or right for the next/previous song; swipe continuously left or right to move forward or move back on the same song; cover it with the palm of your hand, and it will deactivate noise cancellation while you're covering it (perfect if you just want to listen to the environment around you really quick and then get back to your music).

The headphones are a bit sensitive, though, and sometimes when I'm just fixing their position on my head, I accidentally touch the right headphone and end up moving to the next song or to the beginning of the one I was listening to, which is annoying. I am still getting used to this system.

9. Overall opinion

I would give these headphones a 9 out of 10. They're not perfect, but they're pretty close to it, in my opinion. These are headphones that I intend to keep for years to come. I think they offer a good price/quality ratio, and from the reviews I read before buying these, they are superior to many other popular brands.

I did consider buying the XM4, but the reviews stated the microphones were not as good. If you intend to use the headphones for phone calls, video calls, work, etc., I believe the XM5 are the best choice.

5.0 out of 5 stars A great option for music lovers, and with a great microphone system
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 May 2024

I bought these headphones about two months ago and I feel in a position to make a review now.

1. Packaging

2. Colour and dirt/stains

3. Noise cancellation

4. Microphone

5. Sound

6. Comfort

7. Battery life

8. Buttons and system

9. Overall opinion

17 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Upgraded from XM4: I don't regret

Reviewed in the United States on 24 June 2023

XM4 where headphones that felt like an experience everyone should experience; their sound quality and noise cancelling were the best allegedly.

I got these headphones, and I was speechless by the noise cancelling, it's finally to a level close to wearing ear plugs at a gun range.

The comfort and build quality have also been improved greatly, it feels like a complete upgrade with a fully padded headband, lighter weight, and improved ear cups.

The sound quality is not much better than XM4s, infact, I don't know if it's actually gotten any better. The listening experience is greatly improved with the noise cancelling. I got the XM4s a long time ago and I know their sound quality has slightly degraded.

Definitely buy these over XM4s so your not too far behind the tech in 2 years when the XM6s come out, I think the upgrade is also worth it because although the sound quality seems to be uniticably improved, the comfort, styling, and NC all combine for a worthy upgrade experience.

Also some quirks that impressed me that people don't buy headphones for:

The interaction feedback sounds are super cool like bass strings when u interact with buttons and trackpad unlike the annoying beeps and ugly sounding female voice on the XM4. The track pad feels amazing and responds amazingly relative to the crappy XM4 trackpad. I would describe using it like touching a glass slate floating next to your ear. Even the buttons feel much more luxurious by being more clicky. They also got rid of manual optimization which may have been a gimmick, but nonetheless, the headphones feel more futuristic through all the simplicity added to the experience.

5 people found this helpful

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5.0 out of 5 stars Bir anda dünya sessizleşiyor...

Reviewed in Turkey on 17 September 2024

Özellikle ANC özelliği ve telefonla konuşma için aldım. Şehrin veya evin gürültüsünden uzaklaşmak istediğimde butona basıyor ve soyutlanıyorum. Telefonla konuşurken, ne benim ne karşıdaki kişi için hiç cızırtı yok. Telefon kulağımdaymışçasına, hatta daha pürüzsüz bir ses... Dokunmatik özelliklerini sevdim. Çok ergonomik. Sesi kaliteli. Sevdim ve kullanmaktan zevk alıyorum.

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfekte Allround-Kopfhörer mit Top Sound, Noise Cancelling und praktischer App!

Reviewed in Germany on 12 September 2024

Die Sony WH-1000XM5 Kopfhörer sind einfach genial! Das Noise Cancelling ist wirklich erstklassig – egal, ob ich im Büro bin, im Flugzeug sitze oder einfach nur draußen unterwegs bin, ich höre absolut nichts von meiner Umgebung und kann mich voll auf meine Musik konzentrieren. Der Sound ist großartig: Klare Höhen, satter Bass – perfekt für Musikliebhaber!

Die Akkulaufzeit von 30 Stunden ist ebenfalls ein großer Vorteil, und die Schnellladefunktion ist ein echter Lebensretter, wenn es mal schnell gehen muss. Nach nur 10 Minuten Ladezeit kann ich wieder stundenlang Musik hören. Die Kopfhörer sind super bequem, auch bei längerem Tragen dank der weichen Ohrpolster.

Was ich besonders praktisch finde, ist die App. Die Bedienung ist total einfach, und man kann damit viele Einstellungen wie den Klang und das Noise Cancelling individuell anpassen. Alles lässt sich super leicht regulieren und personalisieren – ein echter Mehrwert!

Auch beim Home Office oder bei Anrufen unterwegs machen die Kopfhörer eine super Figur. Das Mikrofon liefert eine gute Sprachqualität, und die Bluetooth-Verbindung ist stets stabil.

Für Sport, Reisen, Musikgenuss oder Arbeit – diese Kopfhörer sind wirklich in jeder Situation ein Volltreffer! Volle 5 Sterne von mir!

One person found this helpful

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5.0 out of 5 stars Kolejna generacja

Reviewed in Poland on 7 September 2024

Mam i używam świetnych słuchawek od Sony model wh-1000xm4. Tego modelu używa dziecko i prawie się z nim nie rozstaje. Wnoszę z tego, że zakup był strzałem w dziesiątkę :)

5.0 out of 5 stars Au top

Reviewed in Belgium on 25 August 2024

Franchement sûrement le meilleur en qualité son et autres