Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back!
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- Опубликовано: 11 май 2022
- Sony's MK5 noise cancelling headphones are still king of the hill,
Sony WH1000XM5: amzn.to/3woD6Yj
Sony WH1000XM4: amzn.to/3L88gsg
MKBHD Merch: shop.MKBHD.com
Tech I'm using right now: www.amazon.com/shop/MKBHD
Intro Track: / 20syl
Playlist of MKBHD Intro music: goo.gl/B3AWV5
Headphones provided by Sony for review.
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/ mkbhd
/ mkbhd 
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![Best Premium Headphones 2024 [Tested & Compared!] - AirPods Max vs Bose vs Sony vs Sennheiser..](/img/1.gif)
The sound design in this video is absolutely beautiful. I hope this trend continues in your future headphone review videos.
Did they make a mistake folding up instead of down, like wtf?
All they need to do is pick a better name and these would be way more popular… Sony WH-1000XM5HF7-G3000XFM
@@martinjackson909 The fact that I would actually believe you if you told me that a pair of headphones called that exist...
Come on, Sony.
@@YR2050 No they didn't, it's a design choice. It's so when you take them off you can put them down on a table with them folded down the correct way. This makes them easier to pick up off a table and put them straight on. The old ones you couldn't do this and it's very annoying if you need to take them on and off throughout the day. I never put them round my neck so much prefer the new way.
Are you joking? The heavy echo and sharp peaks in what sounds like the 5k region are utterly annoying
I’m still rocking the Mark 3s and love them, not enough improvement to justify upgrading yet! 🎧
I tried to buy thte XM3s and they suck even for half the price. They should have fixed the clicking hinges before release.
The warranty replacement was just as bad after 1 week.
Somehow the XM3 still are the better choice than the xm4 and xm5
@@Mkrabs In that case I don't wanna know how bad both of these are. The XM3s suck. Clicking hinges are unacceptable at any price point. The fact that these things still retail at almost 300 is ridiculous.
I'm about to return my third pair for the same issue. They all last about 1-4 weeks.
Same here.
Bro, I'm rocking those too. Love the XM3's.
I actually love the fact that they won't fold. Folding make them weaker and they rattle a lot.
Exactly what I thought, that’s a big plus for me.I’ll be picking my pair up today.
I agree, I've 2 past versions that broke at the extension point or hinge of the earmuff
I’m so glad I read your comment, that’s something I completely forgot about. I will be picking up a pair during the sale going on.
@@shawndavismedia1 how much?
I had 3 separate pairs of XM4s that broke at the hinge. It was super frustrating. If these don't fold but also don't break I will take that as a HUGE win.
I think not being foldable will eventually be better for durability in the long term
I mean I've had my XM4's since 2020 and I've had no durability issues with the folding. I, for one, enjoy the folding.
I actually think that the fact that they dont fold will eventually lead to them being damaged….
@@stephaneleduc7934 doubt it, depends on the person as well
Been folding my XM2's daily for almost 5 years. No issue. The fact that they sit on your neck with cups pointed up is the 2nd deal breaker. Looks idiotic--> 7:20
Folding especially when travelling just invites an accident. I think its not a big deal, and most of the time they will be around your neck or in the case and the case is durable anyway.
I absolutely adore my XM4’s - wear them for up to 8 hours a day with absolutely no discomfort. One of the best technology investments I’ve ever made, hands down!
Yeah I just checked the app, and apparently I have been using my XM4's for about 1500 hours. One time I used the entire battery life in one, very intense, coding session. The realization that my headphones had died after a straight 18 hours of work was a real wake up call lol Best investment I have ever made.
At this point for me, Sony ANC headphones are a part of life, not even just a luxury purchase
@@lemi11ion14 Didn't even know you can see that in the app.
If only they sounded good...
@@Adam-vx6to They sound VERY good if you tune them properly. You have an entire EQ graph that you can adjust. That's literally the key to make any headphone sound to your pleasure. Also, given the build quality and the many other features, it's way worth the price even if the sound quality isn't the best in the market.
Literally bought the XM4s less then a week ago and when I saw this video my heart dropped because I thought I made a mistake. After watching it though I realize the XM4s are the correct pair for me. Thanks for all your reviews
I was waiting for the XM5, but after watching this and a few more reviews I'm getting the XM4. The new XM5 don't fold, which is a huge drawback for me, and they also can't turn the cups inward when around a neck, which I do all the time when travelling with my old XM2. XM5 are basically not very travel friendly.
Buying xm4s won't be a mistake anyway. Sony tends to launch their products at relatively high prices but after a while the prices would usually take a sharp fall and go stable for a while 🤣, the WF1000xm4s in my country launched at 295usd but now it can be purchased under 200. Besides WH1000Xm4s are really good, I've been using mine for more than one year and a half. They are much more durable than I expected and from personal experience their sound quality may be the best in noise-cancelling headphones. The noise cancelling is just good enough for me. I haven't tried xm5 yet but I don't think there will be any advantage in sound quality worth the extra price
@@zhixiaoliu9654 what country?
Me too
just return them you have 30 days wherever you got them from and buy these because they are better in almost every way
Honestly as someone that only uses them at home, I prefer the new design. They look and feel way more premium and in-place for such a high price range. The older designs were much more prone to break due to the folding mechanics. I do however agree that the naming is completely wrong. I feel like they should just have 2 design lines. The classic XM-Line with a focus on travel and the ability to carry it around easily, and a more premium line focused on maximizing comfort, sturdiness and design.
Yeah less places for it to break the less parts the better it provides less fail points
Yeah bose did a better job arranging their new lineup
Yeah my xm4s broke because of the folding mechanics. I just picked them up one day and the ear bit fell off at the hinge
These are my first pair of NC headphones - they have changed my relationship with music. I'm sure the M4s would have been as good - but the M5s look as good as they sound IMO. Excellent review for those looking to buy
I've had the xm3's for years, they're so freaking good, and even after heavy use for years the battery lasts for days
Same
Same here, too! I recommend them far too often 😂
I've had my xm4's for over a year or two now and they're still great!!!!
Same the battery is so good for being used for a while
Same mate!
Have the XM4s, don't plan on upgrading. That being said, I do love this series of headphones; I use them cross platform (windows desktop, macbook, and linux office computer) and it's really convenient that they work more or less identically across all devices.
I love my xm4s too, no need to change them out for anything. The noise canceling is almost too good.
What does “s” stand for? And is it different from ordinary XM4?
@@danyiarsyzdykov5274 thats 's' for plural, like headphone's'
@@darshandev1754 I have just seen in selling websites they write the name of a product as WH-1000 XM4s. I though it stands for like sport, or something different
hi fellow XM4 users, just wondering is there anybody here using Android based devices, and do you have issues on the time log of headphone usage? Mine is so problematic it doesn't really record the hours within the connect app properly.
Sony connect app is already the latest update.
My android version is already the latest update.
Device is Vivo V21 5G. Kindly help for any fix/insights!
Just got the XM4's earlier this year and I was amazed, it felt better than bose, at least for me. Now that I see the XM5's I feel proud to have at least one of, if not the best noice canceling headphones on the market right now, especially for the price. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Not for airpods max or even bose. The design, convenience, and audio is incredible. I'm super happy with them.
Do u have an iPhone or android
i believe sennheiser momentum 4s sound a lot better have comparable anc and are much cheaper
This is such a terrific video, very professional, very informative and I like your straight-forward plain-spoken style. Subscribed!
Alternative Title - Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: Four Microphones Forward, Two Folds Back!
👏👏
Marques use this!
Good one!
This!
Sony WH-1000XM5GH-J300S4X
ayeee good one
I’ve been daily driving the WH-1000XM3‘s and they’ve lasted great and are still really good for daily use and I still find it’s noise canceling really good 2/3 years later
Yes! I have them too, and I use them everyday constantly. I cannot imaggine myself without them, and they will still last me I hope a few more years!
I find it interesting how he talks about it being a downgrade to have a slightly larger case but actively uses the airpods max and makes it work even tho they r absolutely unpleasant to move around with, they r also 150dollars more expensive but he talks abt the 400$ like its insane
@@ridgefrost to be fair he did shit on those 2 things in his review of the airpods max
Can validate this for sure
I was the same with the xm3, had them for a few years no issues. I just recently lost them so I bought the xm4. Still just as good
I can't speak on the travel aspect as I have yet to travel with them. My main use for them is for work. So that aside, I love them. They're super comfortable, the noise cancellation is top notch, and i'm not a sound engineer but I really enjoy the sound quality.
I'm a frequent traveller, have travelled with XM4, Airpods Max and now the XM5 and the case isn't really that bigger. It's flatter too. If your bag is so full that such a small change for your daily headphones don't fit anymore, I don't think the problem is the case, might be you overpacking hehe. ANyway I like them it replaced my Air pods Max, doesn't sound as good though but much more comfortable and no more smelly fabric cushions.
@@BrawndoQC have you tried eq'ing it?
@@penguin7323 Yeah, there's just a little something that I can't point my finger on. Like sometimes when I play games with my Airpods Max I feel some sound are so real, more positional and natural? It's more there's just a little something about how natural the sound is but it might just be my personal preference. XM5 has more advantages to me at the moment so that's what I am using.
@@BrawndoQC I have the xm5s and have tried the AirPods Max and the way I would describe it is the xm5s have a more in your head feel and the max's feel like the sound is happening around you
@@BrawndoQC did you experience high clamping force with Airpods Max? I just got these and I get headaches from the pressure. They sound amazing, way better than my previous Bose QC35ii. I mean I love everything about Airpods Max except the comfort. They start hurting after 20mins.
Now I am contemplating selling them and purchase XM5 instead. I am stuck in dilemma. What do you reckon?
I've had the XM2s for six (?) years now. The case lasted two. Since then, I've just thrown them into my bag and they're still brilliant. I even like the worn look they got since then.
M3 and M4 weakest points were the folding hinges, you can find a tone of sets on the used market with broken hinges. Sony had to fix this and their solution was to remove the folding hinges entirely. I don't blame them for that
Ahh I didn't think of that. To be honest I don't think there was much they could have changed for a new iteration of these headphones, so it makes sense that they went for a design change (especially considering the mark 3 and 4 have an almost identical design)
+1 I have M3s and I had to replace a part of a headband since was showing signs of cracking. I had to find an online vendor that makes 3d printed parts
A bit of the plastic snapped out a bit for me on my XM3's on the side of the headphones. To be fair it was my fault, was watching some football with them and celebrated a bit too heavily. Looks a bit sketchy but just used some electrical tape to hold it down and has been fine since.
Recently bought some Bose 700's on sale and have been using them instead though. Better Bluetooth connectivity (multi-device) and better for VOIP (better mic IMHO). Noise cancelling is slightly better. Also nice that they stay turned on when unplugging the aux cable. Sound quality on the XM3's is slightly better though, at least with bass in my opinion, Boses are no slouch though. The XM3's also have a full sized 3.5mm jack rather than the 2.5mm jack on the Bose but no big deal once you've bought a bigger 3.5mm to 2.5mm cable for cheap on eBay.
My Xm3s look like they haven’t been broken in yet… still mint… 😎
Yeah, that’s what I think too. There are definitely complaint about the folding hinge and the trend seems that people don’t like folding hinge too much in fear of it breaking. Like, I get it, its mechanical thing that is only metal and plastic. It will fail eventually and even if yours don’t, some others might be failing and on a grand scale, that might become big percentage.
But there are also the other side of the argument too with the folding hinge making the entire thing smaller.
But well, they still keep both of them, and both of them are still the best. Aside from not having the latest number, its still great
My Sony WH-1000XM4 don’t jiggle jiggle, it folds
The perspective you bring in these reviews ticks all of my boxes. Thanks for saving me hours of research time.
Thanks for this video. Very helpful.
Considering that the XM4's are great already, the XM5's are small incremental upgrade that definitely already hit mark. You are actually fine with either one of these even if you have unlimited budget.
So are the XM3's to be honest
If only they had a better/shorter/catchier name
And the xm4s are pretty much an xm3... so go for the xm3
@@jsjuhbdn So I have the XM2s and am seriously considering upgrading at this point, like don't get me wrong they are still great but yeah a little less comfortable than the 3s and 4s. But I would definitely go for the 5s because of the lighter and more comfortable build, and as someone who uses them a lot and travels a lot they seem nice. But I do agree that it sucks that they don't fold (once the price drops a bit, It basically always does)
I'm still on my XM3's lol.
I have XM4s, and what I would really need to see to upgrade is:
- Be able to use them while charging.
- Dual-band bluetooth (i.e. use headset in music mode and headset mode at the same time, for gaming), theres no reason I should need to keep an entire extra dongle or microphone around when the hardware has more than enough bandwidth for hi-res audio and a hi-res audio stream.
whats the point of wireless headphones if you use them while charging
When my xm3 battery is empty i use the 3.5mm jack. And otherwise i plug it in for 10 min
@@drixxer using them wirelessly for the remaining 95% of the time?
That's a limitation of bluetooth struggling to do a 2 streams back and forth at the same time with a high bitrate.
I agree, also cancelling out wind noise would be cool too
I will take the more comfortable design all day over the smaller compact mx4s. To me I don’t care how good a headphone sounds if it’s uncomfortable it’s a dealbreaker. Looking forward to getting these now, after watching your review on the mx5s. Thank you!
I picked up a pair. I like them more each day. The light weight, the comfort, the very good noise canceling, the way I can have it paired to my laptop and my phone simultaneously and it'll switch back and forth on the fly depending on which device is outputting sound to it (fairly useful during the workday).
But know the best part? The touch to the side to place it into transparency mode and how it immediately returns to noise canceling once you remove your hand. Extremely useful when you work from home and the kids get home from school. Runner up is how it can be set to automatically go into transparency mode when it detects you beginning to talk. Also useful for the same scenario.
The best $400 I've spent on tech in years.
Does the thin head band hurt after long periods of wear? Wanting to use it for the gym seeing if its good for an active lifestyle
@@RoxyandChris Nope. It is well padded. Although I can’t imagine using over the ear headphones for the gym at all. I just use my AirPods for that type of thing.
I’m buying these shits motherfucker tomorrow. Thanks for review mother.
Is it true the ANC self-adjusting constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
@@desenheanimesonline7521 Honeslty? I’ve never noticed it. I know you can turn off some of the adaptiveness of it.
Loved the way you edited this video and its sound, I am currently wearing the XM4s to watch the video, and the bits where you muffled the sound and cancelled the ambient noise felt like an interactive experience. Kudos to you for amazing editing!
I've had the Mk. 3 for several years now and they were some of the best money I've ever spent on anything ever. I've worn them for an hour or two a day on average and they've shown virtually no wear other than ear cups (which are replaceable). Sony can sure make a pair of headphones.
Yeah and the cups usually just get dust glued to them. So if there are no tears you can use warm water and towel on them and theyr'e practically new.
How is the battery life after these years?
@@aexetan2769 its honestly still as good. I charge mine so rarely I don't notice.
Same here
@@aexetan2769 I still have the M2s & I still go at least 3 days without charging them.
I brought the XM4 recently for $400 and I must say that I don't regret buying it at all. In terms of noise cancellation, yes it does work effectively at cancelling out noises - I don't have any complaints about it and Im soo glad its foldable.
Woah $400? Where I live the XM5s are €330, and the XM4s are €220
You over paid
@@essayedgar That's the price they charge here. I couldn't find any cheaper.
@@argenysgarcia5100 I couldn't find any cheaper. Right now, they're selling XM4 for $429
@@labellajo1918 who wha? i live in a 4th world country lmao, and the xm5 are for like 300 and xm4, 200
I have been watching videos for checking headphones. I was confused seeing the product whether it really folds with this design, but actually none of the videos(other 4-5) was giving me the information which I needed. Then I came to see your video which clearly says that. This is why I love your contents. Absolutely amazing job.
Hey, just wanted to say that you do some really great reviews. The way you present is engaging and interesting. The way you cover the topics is really nice and I really liked that you demonstrated the voice quality in a real-world scenario as that is what I'll be using them for. Keep up the good work. I have never seen your stuff before and I'm going through it now and you do a great job.
I absolutely love how thorough and how honest your test videos are.
Listening impressions:
- Best sounding headset I've purchased to date and sound MILES better than my Sennheiser HD 596 (but to be fair, those sounded ridiculously unnatural and just all-around terrible).
- Plenty of "thump" by default, but definitely dropping off significantly below 50Hz or so, which is exactly what I like to have present in my mix. You can see I've put a HUGE boost in the low lows on my EQ curve to make things like low synths, bass drops, and sub-harmonics sound even with the rest of the sound stage. Even still, the sub-bass that is there still sounds a bit thin and artificial like they're using some processing trickery to make it sound like it's playing lower than it is (there are a few ways to do this, but they're never as authentic as just reproducing the frequency properly).
- Little bit "dark" sounding, so a slight bump in the high mids as well as a 10k+ shelf bump really helped brighten up the sound stage.
- Imaging is ok but definitely not spectacular. It's only got a single 30mm driver per ear, so that one driver is covering EVERYTHING from 20Hz to 40kHz. As such, it's expected that imaging won't be super detailed, so no surprise there. I was really hoping to see at least 2 drivers per ear. By contrast, my CCA C12 in-ear-monitors (IEM's) that I use when playing on stage are about $50 and have 6 drivers PER EAR each playing a different frequency range. Needless to say, the imaging, and extension on those IEM's is a LOT better than these headphones that cost 7x the price. Due to their small form factor, IEM's can use armature drivers where 'can' style headphones like this can't use armature drivers (not loud enough), but I would still like to see 2 dynamic drivers in these just to allow one driver to focus on the highs and the other to focus on the lows rather than having the one driver trying to play the whole shebang.
- Minimal, but still present, "pressure" sensation when noise cancelling is on, but it's not intrusive like a lot of other ANC headphones I've tried and effectively disappears when music is playing. Having a set of ANC headphones with "pressure" that grabs my attention is an absolute deal-breaker for me regardless of price point.
Overall, these are going to be my go-to headphone for the office. They sound good enough (especially with some EQ), and are comfy enough, to have some background music playing for hours at a time while also cancelling out loud office talkers.
Is it true the ANC self-adjusting constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
Any new updates on the headphones?
I got those like a month a go I just love them it’s very comfortable to wear for long hours and I really needed them to muffle the sounds around me they sound great and the battery life is fantastic I would really recommend these i tried the M4 wasn’t as great to be honest but the best part you can try them both in the store and choose which is better for you, MKBHD as always great video 👍🏻
Which store can you try them on at!!?
i just bought these 2 days ago and they sound amazing. i really don’t care about them not folding as long as they sound amazing and the noise cancellation is top notch!
How is the bass ?
@@cashangel8368 It's really good, still feel impressed like the first time I listened to them.
Folding is over rated
@@cashangel8368 I like the bass. Its not as bad as the Beats. I prefer Sony XM5 vs Bose, Sennheiser, AirPods Max, Beats. I don't mind at all that, they don't fold. Not an issue for me.
how much did u get it for?
It's crazy, I still have my Mark 1... (5 year+) Used it almost every day for many hours. Still amazing piece of engineering
Same here
MDR gang!
The microphone isolation from XM3 to XM4 was drastic. A lot less background noise for taking calls in busy areas/offices. Not noticeably different based on your recording. And the fact that they take up more space makes this a pass for me.
I never fold my WH-1000XM2. When I travel I wear them around my neck when not in use. Also make good ear muffs in cold climates.
Definitely good earmuffs
I’ve had the XM3’s for a few years now and love ‘‘em to death. These won’t be worth an upgrade for me, but I’m still astonished to see noise cancellation technology becoming even better. Can’t wait to see where noise cancellation will be when I need to buy a new pair. Sony will have a good mark in my books.
pun intended.
I have the XM3’s and bought the XM4’s for my son when they came out- straight up, they blow my pair out of the water.
Even in one generation, they sound much much better to me.
I totally understand why you don’t think it’s worth the upgrade but I’m guessing if you wore the XM5 for a couple of days you’d never go back… that’s true for me at least lol
I too has the XM3's, use'em every day but I pre-ordered them so I got a little bit ahead of the launch day
And I also got the limited edition silent white XM4
XM4 don't sound better, it's all in the app settings.
Same with the xm3 about 2 years now daily and just now i notice some dissconnect issues so im thinking about buying xm3 again
I have the M4 version and I love them. Honestly the larger footprint from the lack of folding is a dealbreaker for me. My backpack is jammed full when I travel and being able to get the M4 folded up small is something I won't look over again.
Right there with ya. I don't know what sony was thinking
Same here. They wouldn't even fit anymore in my daily bag. Love the XM4's.
Repent to Jesus Christ
“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
John 15:2 NIV
J
Haha, try the Anker life q30 with Oluv's eq since these sound like a toy...
@@jesusislord6545 does jesus like sonys or sennys??
I'm even more impressed by the quality of your videos than the actual products ^^, and the way you are criticizing finding every little pro and con is pure gold!
Thanks for the honest review. I have the xm4 and are the best headphones I've ever used. I wear mine in a factory and the noise canceling is great while music is playing. I've had mine for a year now. Was considering upgrading but now I think I will just buy another pair of xm4's.
why do u need another pair of them
Still rocking my mark 2's and loving them, might be time for the 4's though!
I also have the mark 2 headphones. But as long as they are working, I'll keep them.
I have WH-XM2 and WF-XM4 and it surprises me how similar the sound quality is between these two models (buds vs over-ears)!
Usb C love
The 4s are absolutely amazing, I truly love them
Got the 4s.. I’m never buying any other version of headphones… although I’d buy audio technicas (you hear parts of the song you’ve never heard) , the Sony headphones are just overall perfect.
I appreciate the way you displayed the effect of the transparency mode without cutting off the talking.
I own the Bose 700s and honestly, the noise cancelling is not the best, that's for sure. However, one of the best features in comparison to the XM4s is the sound isolation of the mic. I use them for work calls in open space offices and I am literally the only one able to conduct meetings without participants being annoyed about other meetings taking place right next to me... because they simply don't hear any of it. For me, that has become one of the KEY features and I think I might not be the only one. Maybe just an idea for an additional test when you do the mic test. ;)
Great video, amazing editing as always, just a delight to watch. Keep it up!
Thanks Marques for the review! I like that you present the important features.
Excellent review Marques. I'll be sticking with my XM3s since they still work great and battery lasts my whole day. I might get the M4s if I see them on sale but the XM5s not being foldable is a deal breaker for me.
I have been using the XM4s since over a year now. I use them for more than 10+ hours a day on most days and the battery always lasts 2-3 days. They charge up very very quickly, i can plug them in for 10 minutes and they will last me the whole day. Absolutely amazing purchase. And to the people who cry about it being bass heavy or not very flat, there's literally an application where you can customize the sound signature according to your liking, so stop whining about that and enjoy the headphones!
I’m still rocking my XM2’s and still works flawlessly, didn’t find a need to upgrade to the 3 or 4’s, and I might just continue to hold onto to them, and wait for a sale on the 5’s and Fr the app for these headphones literally let enjoy any kind of audio experience honestly,
agree 100% with you. YOu can always EQ out bass but you can't EQ more bass past the headphones capabilities
I absolutely hated the sound of my XM4s out of the box, but then I used the app, and they are the best sounding pair of headphones I've ever used! The app makes a huge difference, at least to me.
Cant use the app on console or tv btw buts thats a small niche
@@LeoLeahy I’ve been using my out of the box for years now, tho the app does great features for some circumstances but sound out of the box is greet for me for regular use at home and what not, travel is a bit different,
Thank you for your review!
Your review actually made it clear these are the headphones for me.
I primarily use them to drown out noises that give me flashbacks so noise cancellation is #1 and comfort #2 as that makes it possible for me to use them longer.
So far the headphones feel a lot less intuitive than my old Bose 700 though, still gotta figure them out.
I'd love to upgrade, but my XM3's are still absolutely great even after years of daily heavy use they still look and sound like they just came off the shelves brand new.
If you're in the market for new headphones I'd say you can't go wrong with any of these Sony headphones.
Sony really makes good headphones. I also have XM3 and I use them every single day (travel and work from home), still as comfortable and high quality audio as the day I bought them. Battery quality also very good as well
I bought the XM4 about 2 months ago, just before the XM5 was released. I was almost disappointed that I hadn't waited a few more weeks, but thank you for showing me that the XM4 is perfect for me and the changes would actually have been worse for me personally. Thanks!
Same here, I bought the XM4 2 days ago and I didn´t even know about XM5. And I agree about the changes have been worse.
Yup I was about to buy the 5. But not been able to fold them sucks. I will get the 4s.
I almost bought the XM4, and waited for XM5 to be released. I tested them both out before purchasing and In my opinion XM5 I feel sound quality are better than XM4. I use to own the AirPods Max and those were just too heavy to wear for several hours.
@@JosueJimenez18 is the xm5 slightly or significantly lighter than the xm4?
Changes are not worse, the XM5s are just in another category, I know they needed to go with the XM name to sell but they aren't XM headphones, is just something out of the group.
I use the XM3 (bought them 2 years ago) best headphones I've ever had. Having 30~ hrs of battery life and fast charging is amazing.
I too has the XM3's, use'em every day but I pre-ordered them so I got a little bit ahead of the launch day
I bought the mx3 and had mechanical problems (parts that moved in the right ear) I had it replaced and same for the new one I got. I took a voucher and bought something else... They are really bad quality headphones
@@iskiiwizz536 mate, the mx3 is a car… get your facts straight
With the exception that you can't charge and listen at the same time :( But other than that, they're mint yeah.
The battery life and fast charging are stupid nice.
I just got the XM5 and they changed my life! Great video.
Awesome review.
You definitely pushed me over the edge, I just bought the xm5 after watching this. Thanks
I have my XM2s for good 4 years now. During those years I used them quite frequently and they still sound perfect and ANC is still very powerful. Battery life came down to about 20 hours, which is still fine with me. Even after these years, the foldable hinges work just fine. And long charge time through Micro USB port is not a big deal for me, therefore after 4 years I am still very much enjoying them and I am not planning to replace these. Only thing I had ti replace were the ear cushions, but that applies to all over ear headphones with long-term use. Therefore if you consider buying mark 5, 4 or even 3, just go for it, they won't let you down.
I’ve broke two mark 3s, with daily usage so ymmv
Me too I love my XM2s long charge time doesn't matter much when you only have to charge once a week
I have the same, still working 👍🏻
Rocking same as you. And going strong. Only thing I don’t love is the looks. But I’d rather use them till they die than buy a new pair every few years.
XM2 user here too, they've held up so well. I can't see myself ever getting rid of these, even when the battery eventually dies I'll just keep using them through the wired connection.
I've had the Mk. 3 for several years now and they were some of the best money I've ever spent on anything ever. I've worn them for an hour or two a day on average and they've shown virtually no wear other than ear cups (which are replaceable). Sony can sure make a pair of headphones.
mazing representation for the sound Marques.. totally love it ❤
The best reviewer gives you the whole experience of the product 🔥
Thanks for the video and keep it up 😊
I’m still rocking the Mark 3s and love them, not enough improvement to justify upgrading yet! 🎧
Yup I got them for my birthday and they work out fine lol
How can we get replacement ear cups?
@@ryanfinley6747 You buy and replace them yourself.
how tf is your last sentence is the same with another high-liked comment to the letters...
literally me
A bigger case is worth it when compared to folding headphones to place them properly into smaller cases. Also appreciate the magnetic space for holding wires.
Really great review, thanks! I have the XM3s and considering which pair to upgrade to. The same things bum me out about the XM5s that you’ve highlighted, although I’ve been longing for the same soundstage quality but with better noise cancelling abilities than the XM3s. Still slightly torn, but decision soon.
@Geist8745 No
I’ve had the xm4s for a year now. I love them! I started this video thinking I was gonna be jealous, but I’m good lol. I mean the upgrades look nice but I like the folding feature and the hard case of the xm4s better. One thing I would like to see upgraded is the call quality. It does the trick when I’m indoors, not so great at times when out & about. Other than that tho thumbs up 👍
Me too 😆😂
I'm with you,
I got the XM4s right after they came out, they were my first pair of nice headphones and I havent regretted buying them. Seeing that these came out I expected to come away jealous of the new model, but honestly if I were in the market today I would probably still buy the XM4s, especially because they are frequently on sale for like $280 and are better for traveling.
Ya I just got the xm4 right after the xm5 came out and I feel like the xm5 not folding is a huge turnoff
I have the 4s since launch and they have ALWAYS had the mic fluttering issue that started with the MK3.
Great pair nonetheless.
How about you?
I have the 4s since launch to replace my MDR-1RNC that were the flagship before the XM1000 series and they have ALWAYS had the mic fluttering issue that started with the MK3.
Great pair nonetheless.
How about you?
just bought the xm4's as well, wanted to even go for the xm3's but unfortunately they're all gone from where I live except like one shop where they're going for 1k+ for some reason? lol
Never even really considered the xm5's because they looks really bad design wise imo
I believe the problem with the folding is defaintly one that types of people could have problems with but with me i always have headphones on my neck when travelling and obviously when i eventually put them into an oversized case it does getting annoying with space but its defaintly a problem that most people could have with them
definitely
Tried the XM4 vs XM5 in the store. The XM5 fit my head, the XM4 headband can't be set small/short enough. Just dismissed the XM4 because of that. I liked how the latency/sync was good enough to enjoy videos on the XM5, unlike a lot of bluetooth headphones.
Is it true the ANC self-adjusting constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
SONY needs to be appreciated more, their tech is always inspiring!
AirPods max the best 🔥
@@MaxAndersonn nop
@@martinvilport2428 yep
@@MaxAndersonn bass are not better, and the xm4 is more confortable to me
@@MaxAndersonn Sony is the only king of sound, no company has gone above Sony when it comes to sound, not even Samsung/AKG. Especially on TVs too.
4:17 That sound effect immediately reminded me of GTA San Andreas. I've heard that menu screen so many times.
Also the cheats activation sound
😂😂😂
Got the XM4's for about half the cost of the XM5's during black friday. Translating my currency to USD it was a $187.52 USD for the 4s. I'm happy with the purchase, I do travel a lot so hopefully I'll enjoy them.
Dead ass could not hear a difference in the Mic test. Great quality video as usual. Keep up the great work Marques and team
Thanks for the review, Marques. Fast and informative as always. I am gonna keep my XM4s for now. Non-folding was a deal-breaker for me... :(
Still really happy with my mk4, and do not feel the need to upgrade at all. The fold and rotation of the cups is crucial for traveling (even to uni/work and back) and the sound quality and noise cancellation is so impressive already. The quality upgrade per model isn't that shocking it seems, very minor improvements. And I wonder if the thinner headband will become less comfy after wearing it for a while.
I agree I don't see any compelling reason to upgrade. Unless they implement a new codec for higher sound quality and 3D audio content becomes more mainstream.
I'm still rocking my XM3's. There's no way I'm upgrading perfectly good headphones for $400. That's just insane. I get audio quality costs a bit, but there's really no audio difference in 4 years to justify any kind of price increase.
Didn't the mark IV practically just come out? I recall upgrading to fours after my threes broken under warranty, less than a year ago
@@PC-ge5rf they launched xm4 2 years ago actually, last year I wanted to wait for the xm5 but saw their 2-year cycle so I went with the xm4
The sound quality is bad though
Thank you for the review. You covered everything well. I hope these connect to my work laptop better than the Bose NC700. The NC700 would crackle unless the Bose Link USB dongle is used.
The folding orientation on the neck is meant that way so that moisture can evaporate when the headphones are not being used. This has been an issue on the last generation: in hot weather the ears get sweaty and after a few hours the moisture can interfere with the ANC as it happened to many users, including myself
I was surprised he had this complaint when the AirPods Max also do this.
great content as always! my only question would be whether they have improved water resistance? i always reconsider wearing my xm4s when it gets rainy… would be nice to see an improvment
@4:58 that was a very clever way to demonstrate your opinion of the feature!!!! Well done!
Awesome vid but I feel like these may be a lot better than the xm4’s for a student standpoint where the travel foldability isn’t more important than comfort and ANC for study sessions.
That was a great review; really clear with no bias or ego. I have the XM5's. The size wasn't an issue to me. To be honest, the main reason for choosing them over the XM4's was the increased number of microphones. I naively assumed this would make voice quality better. I'm a writer, so record lots of voice notes to clients while out walking. I generally leave voice notes on WhatsApp for them to listen to, while out walking my dog. What I have discovered is that these things are absolutely unusable in even a very gentle breeze. My voice notes simply can't be heard at all, with the volume of my voice changing randomly and often being completely inaudible. I hear planes, and dogs barking with beautiful clarity on my recordings, but not my voice. I believe on the XM4's there was a dedicated wind noise reduction mode. This is sadly absent on these, and I have tried every combination of modes, from one extreme of noise cancellation all the way to having no cancelling on at all; they're completely unusable. If anyone knows of a way to combat this, I would be extremely grateful.
Im sure you figured this out by now, sony removed the wind feature on the 5 because the said with the new mics you dont need it anymore.
Great video as always. Can't wait to get my hands on these headphones and see the improvement from z
Xm3
No AptX Low Latency support. 😑😑😑
I wish they improved the name. Non-tech folks choose products with short names
I would buy the xm5 for that amazing anc but there are just better value headphones out there which does everything I want and cost almost 1/3
@@martinjackson909 that's not remotely true lmao
@@lightly-red-huedmaleindivi6266 you like the name Sony WH-1000XM5? Lol. You’re funny
Have the XM4 and am quite happy with them, the XM5 look good too. Either way: I have _noise cancelling_ headphones not really for traveling but mainly for home office usage - having sat in a bunch of loud offices in the last 15 years or so, I was always really happy to have noise cancelling (when I did)
Does it eliminate the noise of people talking in a house? Example roomates? (I love studying in silence!)
@@ariadna3291 It's best for eliminating wind noises, plane sounds, and lower frequency sounds from experience. Higher pitches, especially women's voices, I tend to hear while wearing the headphones though they're still much less than without.
@@ariadna3291 yeah it's extremely good at that.
@@andreasnulein782 great m planning to get xm4 then
Xm5s are not foldable thts a big deal breaker for me
@@amitpadhy5443 xm4 are amazing, I kid you not, I wear them all day, only take them off to shower or sleep. I'm currently wearing them now. A good advice, whatever you do, don't forget to adjust the noise cancelling. If you don't scan your ear, you'll get a headache right away because of the pressure. To do this, simply hold the Mode button for 3 seconds and the ai will talk to you, that's it.
Ive had two x4s break with simple home use. The twisting design when putting them in the case causes the headset to break over time. I was super gentle and careful with them.
That being said, i know first hand why they moved away from that twisting design for storing them. The x5 doesnt have this issue and im ok with a larger case because of it.
Ive had consistent issues with the mic on the x4s.
i have the xm4s and they’re really good, but i still just use my airpod pros at the gym. i think it’s because the transparency mode is just so much better. i like how you guys made like that distorted or muffled sound of reality with the xm5s because that’s really what it’s like. it’s not terrible but when you have airpods on and it feels like you can hear everyone even better it just always wins
Very insightful video! Seems that the XM4s I purchased recently for ~$250 still made for a very worthwhile purchase. The additional value brought by this new model probably would not have justified the price bump if I was able to choose between them.
Rocking the XM3 for a few years now. Not being able to fold this new design would be a major downgrade for me, as you said their main use is for travel so the smaller the can be folded the better. Hope they one day bring a folding design with the new upgrades. I mainly miss multi device support on my XM3 so would consider getting a new one.
Agreed, not folding down flat whilst over your neck is a huge downside
The XM4 has multi-device support
the fun part that even sound on xm3 is better then in xm5
@@NileshR12 XM4 can't do LDAC at the same time as multi-point though. I checked the XM5 specs, same limitation. Maybe it's a niche use case, but I'd like to be able to rock one headset all day, for web calls and music, without having to sacrifice the quality of LDAC. Even if it could only do one LDAC device plus another via SBC, that'd be fine and I'd instant buy, but until something with that capability comes along I'm happy with my XM3s for music and either a second headset for calls at home, or switching over the source if I'm in the office.
Does it last long? in terms of the wear and tear of the fabrics
I've had the xm4's for almost 3 years now. Very very happy with them! My main complaint is the touch control that's sensitive to wind and rain. When it's windy, it litterally keeps pausing and playing every 5-10 seconds which ruins the listening experience completely. Hope the next version (xm6) will be more compact again and have actual PHYSICAL buttons instead of the touch panel.
Or simply better touch controls that aren't affected by wind and such.
great review and very helpful. Thanks Marques.
As a video creator, the wired connection counts to avoid the latency. What is the sound quality, ANC performance and latency in wired mode? Anyone? Thanks!
just a little better not a huge problem wired or on Bt
Wow, I didn’t realize how long it’s been since the XM4s dropped.
The folding , well to me it’s not a small thing since that it’s a traveling gadget then folding to pack or on my neck is very important.
Testing the voice at 9ish minute
Hmmmm very similar I can’t tell the difference 😍
Great video as always 👍🏻
Been using the Mk2s for around 6 years now and they are still so so good, battery is amazing, sound is very crisp and they still haven't broken
Looking forward to upgrade from my xm2.
The lack of folding is pretty irrelevant to me; They’re either around my neck or dumped on a table somewhere.
Even when traveling I probably only fold them at customs
I loved it when you said muffled and the actual audio of the video got muffled and also with the mic testing 💯💯 you're simply the best reviewer I've ever viewed 😅 in town !
Awesome review now i gotta decide between the mk4 and mk5. Note i have XB900n so with that being said im aiming for the Mk5 for a difference and, the XB900n will be my travel units after i buy replacement pads lol.... still rocking the original pads. What are the Headphones in the background Out of focus @ 3:47? Thanks
Purchased a new set of XM4 for $180 and a refurb set of XM5 for $220. Can't decide which one to keep. The refurbs look brand new and come with a 2 year warranty, the XM4s are new so they are also perfect, I think Sony warranty is 1 year. Both sound great to me, I've been testing both at work.
If you're taking calls at work while wearing the headphones, definitely go for the xm5. The difference in how your voice sounds to the other party is immense.
@@tomharing4412 I do use them at work and answer calls that come through my cellphone. Thanks
where did you buy them refurbished ?
and where did you get the xm4 for $180?
@@Christian-nc5vc ebay from Secondipity but they also have a website
Used the Sony Mark 3 when it came out and loved the headphones. A few months after the M4 came out I got it and these are my daily drivers, use them every single day almost all day. I have really high expectations for the M5, even though I don't need them I've enjoyed the last headphones so much I can't wait to try these.
Got the mx5, can’t say the mx5 is better than the mx4.
I would recommend the mx4 over the mx5 if anyone was torn about it.
Great review! Although I thinh the design concept of not folding is much different. Avoid crackling sounds, no tearing on mechanical joints because of constant fold and unfold and more importantly easier to carry! The latter is not so obvious, but the blueprint of the case is slight wider but thinner, because when you use it on backup thinner can save up more space that 2-3 centimeters wider, as all equipment (laptop, tablet, books) is vertically stacked
Man, I'm still on the 3rd (and it's still very good of course!), but these newer ones looks really nice.
I think if they ever release a sequel to the 5th one, that's when I will start considering getting a new one!
PSA I’ve owned the MK 4s for over a year now and I love them. I will say though, one of the reasons the hinge may have changed in the MK 5 is durability. My MK 4 left hinge cracked and I had to repair it myself about 8-9 months in (keep in mind I use these headphones around 2-4 hours a day)
The moment I started thinking how the mic quality would be, he said wait and tested it for us! Don't know if the flow injected the question or they placed the test the right moment, but anyways well done as always!
Again I’m happy I waited on getting headphones until the xm4s and been my daily over ear headphone for the past 2 year they have been amazing. Movies and music sound amazing along with being so comfortable. I bought them at 380 when they came out and I have no regrets. I even use them in the gym.
I bought the XM5's due to the where the headband breaking on my XM3's - where they meet the earcup on one side. They were perfectly fine but I couldn't handle them being 'broken'.
the sound cancelling compared to the XM3's is superb, and the call quality is in another league.
I never use the carrying case - as far as I'm concerned they're packaging. I carry them as headphones.
The sound quality is probably there or there-abouts compared with the XM3's but the smaller driver delivers a different bass response. I prefer the punchy and hard bass in the XM3.
Overall I like these XM5's, lets see how long they last.
Mknhd is my comfort yt channel everything is satisfying with nice quality
Oh yes, how exciting!
I own the XM2 for more than 3 years now and absolutely love them. Although I regularly travel with them, my main use for them is the office. I had been missing some features like being able to connect them to multiple sources (for example phone + laptop) at the same time, a usb c port and better microphones.
Now that they visibly changed them and apparently made them even better and even more comfortable I am really considering buying these.
im in the same boat.. havent used my xm2's in years solely because it doesnt have a usb-c port.. these look fresh and have a usb-c so imma have to cop that at black friday or back to school events
@@pastabilly5450 I have the 2’s as well, and I see how not having a usb c can cause you not to use them for a year, other than that there still kicking and working great already over four years old, though, I really can use the two device feature, but I think I’m going to hold onto them for another year or two, these the 5’s go on sale
I'm still rocking the XM2 aswell, and havent had any issues with them, except for the fact that in the last couple of months when I'm listening to music, it randomly disconnects from my phone and then connects again immediately🤔 I still think the XM2 has the best design/look, compared to the others.
@@EstaDePiPi I totally agree with you! If I wouldn't be switching audio sources from a laptop/computer to a phone and back all the time, both in the office and for example in trains, I would totally keep them as my daily drivers.
Great review as always. I appreciate what you do!! I would like to point out a whole segment of users that don't just get them for travel. I have the Mark 4's and love them. I rarely travel but I use them almost every day in my woodworking shop. The noise cancellation works great on noisy tools and still let me zone in on music too! Plus, they work great on mowing the lawn and things like that. Just saying...
I did a lot of reading of user reviews, and tested both for noise cancelling in the shop. I decided to buy the XM4s. A LOT of users are saying the XM5 noise cancelling is too clever, so at times there are lags of strength and changes. When the XM5s are in the ideal situation, they do have the best cancellation, but when things are changing people prefer the constant amount of blocking on the XM4. The XM4 partially uses white noise, which I personally like. I had to choose between the XM4 and BOSE QC45s in the end, and it was a really hard decision. The QC45 have excellent basic buttons, are lighter, and very comfortable. For people with smaller heads the QC45 may feeel a bit loose. But in the end I felt the noise cancelling in an average office/shop environment was a tiny bit better on the XM4s, but it was a 50/50 call to choose between these two. Again, many users really like the XM4s.
that was really helpful. thank you.
Is it true the ANC self-adjusting constantly gets annoying? I read this as a big flaw of the XM5s that doesn't get discussed much. Reviewer said it's most notable in environments with random noise sources, which makes sense.
@@desenheanimesonline7521 absolutely is an issue. if you’re in a quiet environment (at home alone for instance) they’re best best noise cancelling headphones for the price, but if you’re around even 1 person who makes too much noise the anc gets wonky
I had the m4 and it was spectacular, BUT. The folding area broke on one of my earphones and rendered it unusable until it was fixed. I caved in and bought the 5(probably not the most financially efficient) and im actually glad they don't fold. Either way, no matter which ones you pick, they are my favorite headphones without a doubt, and the long battery life is a blessing. Cheers!❤