Customer Ratings & Reviews
- Model:
- WH1000XM5/S
- SKU:
- 12498516
Rating by feature
- Sound Quality
Rating 4.8 out of 5 stars
- Battery Life
Rating 4.8 out of 5 stars
- Connectivity
Rating 4.7 out of 5 stars
Customers are saying
Customers regard the product's sound quality as impeccable, frequently praising its comfort, impressive battery life, and lightweight design. While many also appreciate its good bass, snug fit, and decent active noise cancellation, some concerns have been raised. These concerns primarily revolve around its portability, price, occasional connectivity issues, and a desire for louder volume and water resistance.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
Headphones quality
||Posted . Owned for 1.5 years when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.It’s a amazing headphones but over time the rotating part may break off I had my for only 5 months and it broke.
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi RogerM,
Thank you for the review and we're sorry to hear what happened with your headphones. For further assistance, please email us at socialsupport@am.sony.com with the following details:
Name:
Best Buy Username:
Model Number:
Issue:
Telephone Number:
-David
Its good
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Quality sound is good, wish it was a lot better...
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi BryanV, We're glad that you like the sound quality. The WH-1000XM5 headphones have 2 processors that control 8 microphones for unprecedented noise cancellation and exceptional call quality. With a newly developed 30mm driver, DSEE – Extreme and Hi-Res audio support they provide awe-inspiring audio quality. Our Voice Pickup Technology uses 4 microphones that are calibrated to only pick up your voice, resulting in crystal clear calls. The automatic Speak to Chat feature will stop your music once you start talking and let in the ambient sound. With up to 30 hours of battery life and a quick charge feature. The new lightweight WH-1000XM5 headphones provide all day comfort in an elegant design. Thanks for choosing Sony. Erin
- Cons mentioned:Volume
I will not recommend
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Barley can workout it falling off my ears ! Volume is a mess!!!!
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi LoveW,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We sincerely apologize that you are encountering difficulties with the physical fit and performance of your WH-1000XM5 headphones. We understand how frustrating it is when a premium product does not perform as expected.
Please know that the WH-1000XM5 headphones are designed primarily for travel, office use, and passive listening. Due to their over-ear design, they may not offer the secure fit required for rigorous activities like running or intense workouts.
We are also sorry to hear about the behavior you are experiencing with the volume control. This kind of unexpected operational issue can often be resolved with a simple system refresh. We recommend trying these steps in order:
1. Reset the Headset - Please try performing a simple reset first:
Follow the headset reset instructions here: https://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/wh1000xm5/v1/en/contents/TP1000541012.html
2. Initialize to Factory Settings
If the reset does not resolve the issue, we advise initializing the headset to restore it to its original factory settings. This will clear all previous connections and customizations:
Follow the initialization instructions here: https://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/wh1000xm5/v1/en/contents/TP1000541013.html
If, after performing both a Reset and an Initialization, you continue to experience problems with the volume or any other operational features, please contact our Technical Support team directly here: https://us.esupport.sony.com/support/s/support-contact?language=en_US&category=headphones
We really appreciate you considering Sony products!
Best regards,
Dominick
Blocks a Noisy World for a Writer
||Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Great noise canceling and easy connect to all my Apple devices.
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi Indianacustomer, Awesome! We're glad that you like the noise canceling function and ease of pairing. The WH-1000XM5 headphones have 2 processors that control 8 microphones for unprecedented noise cancellation and exceptional call quality. With a newly developed 30mm driver, DSEE – Extreme and Hi-Res audio support they provide awe-inspiring audio quality. Our Voice Pickup Technology uses 4 microphones that are calibrated to only pick up your voice, resulting in crystal clear calls. The automatic Speak to Chat feature will stop your music once you start talking and let in the ambient sound. With up to 30 hours of battery life and a quick charge feature. The new lightweight WH-1000XM5 headphones provide all day comfort in an elegant design. Thanks for choosing Sony. Erin
- Cons mentioned:Portability
Great for working while traveling
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Purchased primarily for working while traveling, I find myself using them more and more in my everyday workflow. My Only negative is that they do not fold up fully.
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi JSpen, Excellent! We're glad that you're enjoying your new headphones. The WH-1000XM5 headphones have 2 processors that control 8 microphones for unprecedented noise cancellation and exceptional call quality. With a newly developed 30mm driver, DSEE – Extreme and Hi-Res audio support they provide awe-inspiring audio quality. Our Voice Pickup Technology uses 4 microphones that are calibrated to only pick up your voice, resulting in crystal clear calls. The automatic Speak to Chat feature will stop your music once you start talking and let in the ambient sound. With up to 30 hours of battery life and a quick charge feature. The new lightweight WH-1000XM5 headphones provide all day comfort in an elegant design. Thanks for choosing Sony. Carl
- Pros mentioned:Sound quality
High expectations but ultimately disappointing
||Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Sounds great. Noise canceling excellent. Main problem (two different units tried) was that it was unable to maintain Bluetooth connection. Finally went back to Bose (700) and have had zero problems with sound and noise canceling exemplary.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi there, while we are glad to hear that you are happy with the sound quality and noise canceling of the WH-1000XM5, we are sorry to hear that it had to be returned due to Bluetooth connection issues. These issues can be improved by troubleshooting the headphones and making sure that the WH-1000XM5 has the latest software update. (Version 1.1.3) This can also be remedied by following the steps on our help guide link: https://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/wh1000xm5/v1/en/contents/TP1000534702.html?search=priority%20on%20connection
We hope that you consider Sony again in your future purchases.
Regards,
Carl
- Pros mentioned:Sound quality
Great!
||Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Sound quality. I enjoy music while working out. I would recommend others to purchase headphones like these or similar.
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi Gamerforlife, Awesome! We are so glad to hear that you are happy with your new WH-1000XM5 headphones! These lightweight headphones are beautifully finished in newly developed soft fit leather. This material fits snugly around the head with less pressure on the ears while keeping out external sounds. Our noiseless design with stepless slider, seamless swivel and hanger, and silent joints, makes WH-1000XM5 a pleasure to wear. Thank you for choosing Sony! -Carl
Would find another alternative
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Owned these headphones since December 20th, 2024 and they broke February 25th, 2026 on my right hinge. I would be careful with them daily and put it away and never drop them. I would never take them out of the house. Would not recommend.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Thank you for sharing your feedback, KirkM.
We are truly sorry to hear that the hinge on your WH-1000XM5 broke, especially given the care you took with them. We understand how disappointing it is to experience a hardware issue with a premium product.
To investigate potential repair options, please contact our support specialists directly at: https://us.esupport.sony.com/support/s/support-contact?language=en_US&category=headphones
We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and apologize for the frustration.
Best regards,
Gus, Sony Social Media Team
Moderatky Better than XM4
||Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.More money, few inprovements. My opinion, save some money and go with the XM4’s
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi Mareo, Thank you for taking the time to post the review with the WH-1000XM5 headphones. With a newly developed 30mm driver, DSEE – Extreme and Hi-Res audio support they provide awe-inspiring audio quality. The new lightweight WH-1000XM5 headphones provide all day comfort in an elegant design. Thanks for choosing Sony! Jay
- Pros mentioned:Comfort
Great
||Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Great headphones. Very comfortable. Best noise cancellation in the market in the market. Highly recommend over the Apple AirPod max which I think are over priced.
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi Addie, Awesome! We are glad to hear that you are enjoying your new WH-1000XM5 headphones! These lightweight headphones are beautifully finished in newly developed soft fit leather. This material fits snugly around the head with less pressure on the ears while keeping out external sounds. Our noiseless design with stepless slider, seamless swivel and hanger, and silent joints, makes WH-1000XM5 a pleasure to wear. Thank you for choosing Sony! -Car
Cheaply made trash
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.After less than three months of normal usage one of the flimsy plastic earcups snapped and one headphone is dangling by a wire. So now my headphones don't fit at all and the noise canceling is useless even if I tape it up. The build quality on these is horrible for how expensive this piece of junk is. Even my WH1000XM4s lasted way longer, they redesigned these to be even more fragile. No wonder they push protection plans on us, it's because of shoddily made overpriced stuff like this. Can't believe how much money I wasted on this.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hello Anonymous,
Thank you for considering Sony products.
We’re sorry to hear about the issue with your Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. This is certainly not up to the quality standards we strive for, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. Rest assured, we will forward your comments to our dedicated Sony team for their review as we continue to work diligently to improve our products.
For affordable repair options, we suggest contacting our authorized parts and repair partner, Encompass, at the following link: https://sony.encompass.com/item/15214669/Sony/WH1000XM5-HBR/.
Thank you for your understanding.
Best regards,
-Fred
Just alright
||Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.For the price i feel like they are mediocre. The noise canceling was not that good nor was the sound quality. I ended up returning them
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi Ashthompson90,
Thank you for the review and we appreciate your feedback. Take note that the sound quality and noise canceling will depend in the source, battery, and environment that you're playing. It is unfortunate that the headphones had to be returned. Thank you for sharing your experience and we hope you will consider Sony again in a future purchase.
-David
disappointing :(
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.these headphones were so disappointing, and that makes me so sad because everyone hyped them up online. the ANC wasn’t the best, but pretty ok. it worked the best when you had your volume way up. the main reason i’m upset it that the second time i tried connecting these headphones to my phone, iphone 12 mini for refrence, they started making a terrible crackling and static sound and wouldn’t power on. i had only used them one time before for about ten minutes fresh out of the box with a full charge. i really thought that these headphones were supposed to be the best on the market :(
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi AllisonR, thanks for choosing and purchasing our product. We're sorry to hear that you have issues with your Sony unit. This is not the experience we want you to have. If the effect of noise canceling is not sufficient, please follow this link:
https://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/wh1000xm5/v1/en/contents/TP1000534745.html?search=noise%20canceling%20
Please also initialize the headphones by pressing and holding the (power) button and the NC/AMB button for about 7 seconds.
If the issue persists, please email us at socialsupport@am.sony.com with the following details: Name: Username: Model Number: Issue: Telephone Number:
~Earl
Not worth it
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I’m had to return it since there are better options for similar price and it feels loose to wear
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi Whitney,
Thank you for the feedback. It is unfortunate that the headphones had to be returned. Thank you for sharing your experience and we hope you will consider Sony again in a future purchase.
-David
- Pros mentioned:Sound quality
Best headphones
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Long time Sony headphone and earbud fan. These do not disappoint. Pretty significant step forward from the xm4's. ANC is great, sound clarity is excellent.
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi Joel, Great! We're pleased to hear that you are enjoying your new headphones. The WH-1000XM5 headphones have 2 processors that control 8 microphones for unprecedented noise cancellation and exceptional call quality. With a newly developed 30mm driver, DSEE – Extreme and Hi-Res audio support they provide awe-inspiring audio quality. Our Voice Pickup Technology uses 4 microphones that are calibrated to only pick up your voice, resulting in crystal clear calls. The automatic Speak to Chat feature will stop your music once you start talking and let in the ambient sound. With up to 30 hours of battery life and a quick charge feature. The new lightweight WH-1000XM5 headphones provide all day comfort in an elegant design. Thanks for choosing Sony. Erin
Review
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.It well made and well I use it everyday and i like them very much
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi Johnduh, Awesome! We're glad that the headphone is perfect for your lifestyle and you are enjoying its incredible audio quality. The WH-1000XM5 headphones have 2 processors that control 8 microphones for unprecedented noise cancellation and exceptional call quality. With a newly developed 30mm driver, DSEE – Extreme and Hi-Res audio support they provide awe-inspiring audio quality. Our Voice Pickup Technology uses 4 microphones that are calibrated to only pick up your voice, resulting in crystal clear calls. The automatic Speak to Chat feature will stop your music once you start talking and let in the ambient sound. With up to 30 hours of battery life and a quick charge feature. The new lightweight WH-1000XM5 headphones provide all day comfort in an elegant design. Thanks for choosing Sony! -Jess
Does not work correctly on a PC with Windows
||Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Do not buy this headset if you plan on using it with a PC because when you enable the hands free microphone in Windows, the sound quality becomes extremely tinny in quality to the point that it hurts your ears. The only way to fix this is to disable the hands free microphone in the device manager. Another issue that this headset allows you to connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time, but if you do this, then any video on your PC will constantly stop playing and the only way to address this issue is to disable this ability, or turn off the Bluetooth of the other device that is is attached to. When you enable the ability to connect to two Bluetooth devices, the headset is extremely sensitive to the location of the Bluetooth antenna on the PC and this results in intermittent disconnecting from the computer. Another issue is that the Bluetooth antenna on the headset is in the left ear cup so if your computer positioned on your right side, your Bluetooth connection will be intermittent. The only way to fix this is to either move your PC to left side, or move the PC Bluetooth antenna where it has a direct line of sight with the left ear of the headset. To get this headset to work with my PC, I had to disable the ability to connect to two devices at the same time, and then move my PC Bluetooth antenna to where the left ear phone was in visual sight of it, and I had to purchase a separate microphone for recording and chatting.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi Rick,
Thank you for the review. We're sorry to hear what happened with your headphones. The WH-1000XM5 will work with a computer and any other devices that support Bluetooth A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) profile for wireless audio playback. We're more than happy to help you out with your concern. For us to better assist you, please email us at socialsupport@am.sony.com with the following details:
Name:
Best Buy Username:
Model Number:
Issue:
Telephone Number:
-David
- Cons mentioned:Volume
2 stars
||Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Not what I expected, I think they amplify background noise when noise cancellation is off and they are not very loud
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi JosephC, We are sorry to hear that the WH-1000XM5 did not meet all of your expectations when it comes to sound quality. We'd love to troubleshoot the issue and make this a better experience for you. In the meantime, please try the troubleshooting steps on our help guide link to isolate and troubleshoot the issue.
Low sound quality, or noise or unusual sound can be heard.
https://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/wh1000xm5/v1/en/contents/TP1000534519.html
For the sound quality
https://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/wh1000xm5/v1/en/contents/TP1000534501.html
Also, check that the headphones are running on the latest firmware version. The software includes key features, applications, bug fixes, and feature improvements.
If you need further assistance, please email the below information to socialsupport@am.sony.com.
Name:
Best Buy Username:
Model Number:
Issue:
Telephone Number:
Regards,
Carl
- Cons mentioned:Price
Headphones hurts your ears
||Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I'm a low budget audiophile....I know good cans (headphones). These headphones design hurts my ears only after an hour of wearing them. The sound these put out sound hollow and artificial. If you're an average user and haven't tried cans Like Grado or Sennheiser......then you obviously have no idea what I'm even talking about when I talk about good sounding cans. I returned these the next day. I do have to say though that #1. Call quality is top notch & Sound cancellation is excellent........but doesn't meaning nothing to me if the music part is not up to par. For $400......these cans are WAYYYYYYY OVERPRICED for the average sound quality.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi SubwooferMaster,
Thank you for your time writing this review. While we are glad you like call quality and noise cancellation of the WH1000XM5, we regret to hear that unit had to returned due to sound quality and discomforts issues. Sound also depends on the music you are playing and audio device connected. However, this may be improved by adjusting the setting on the Sony headphone| Connect app according to your preference for best sound experience. For discomfort issues, adjusting them for a personalized fit is easy with a stepless slider, seamless swivel and hanger, and silent joints, makes WH-1000XM5 a pleasure to wear. We greatly appreciate you and hope you will shop Sony again in the future. Thanks again for shopping Sony. - Kris
Battery life
||Posted . Owned for 3 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Battery life not good doesn’t stay charged while working out
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi MercyB,
We're truly sorry to hear that you're having issues with the battery life of the WH-1000XM5 headphones. That's definitely not the experience we want you to have, and we would love to help you resolve it.
Firstly, please make sure they are up to date by following the instructions in the link below:
https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/wh-1000xm5/software/00278246
Secondly, reset the headphones by connecting them to an outlet. While they're plugged in, press and hold the power button and the NC/AMB button simultaneously. After a few seconds, release both buttons.
Thirdly, perform a factory reset by unplugging the cable, turning them off, and pressing and holding the power button and the NC/AMB button for about 7 seconds. When done, the indicator (blue) will flash 4 times.
Lastly, if the problem persists, consider the information listed in the next link:
https://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/wh1000xm5/v1/en/contents/TP1000541091.html
We hope you find this information helpful. Thank you for choosing Sony!
Best,
Aldair