Customer Ratings & Reviews

Not worth the price at all don’t buy them, if you’re looking for Sony headphones get the base boosters one

After less than 60 days of use, these headphones failed at the joint above the earcup during normal use. I contacted Sony, who declared the issue was "cosmetic or accidental" despite them being unwearable. It was not covered under warranty, and Sony refused to provide a contact or means to escalate the issue. This is a known issue on their own community forums and other platforms.

Premium product for premium price. I love everything about these headphones! Find it pretty comfortable as well.

Sound quality is rely good,the plastic is flimsy and they broke withing 6 months of having them

Bought this sony trash and broke after 4 months , i should have listen to the customers reveiw who experienced same situation, i was blaming them for misuse or bad handling. I bought sony and bose head phone , i returned the bose and kept the sony. My experienced to sony , you can not wear hoodie over sony headphone , the hoodie interfer with every function going on by touching the sensitive button. The build up quality is poor . Attach a picture.

Was very excited to buy these Headphones. Got them the first day they came out. May 17, 2022. I figured these would be able to work with my Sony PS5 but no luck :/ Was concerned at the beginning that they felt a little light and flimsy. Now after only 1 and 5 months. One of the earphones has broken and is now hanging by the wire, Think I have an average sized head and it always felt a little tight even with the headphones fully extended. Called Customer Service and they wouldn't help in any way. Totally not work the money. They also said they haven't run into this before, which I totally doubt.

This is definitely the best over the ear head set Sony has come up with. I own several Sony products, but this headset has become my favorite. Now for the GOOD things. It comes with a cable to convert from wireless to wired headset. The feel is very smooth like silk or silicon cover. In addition, the battery life and range distance are great compared to my in-ear set. It comes with a nice carrying case with is of good quality. One of the best features is the auto on/off of the noise cancellation control. When I start talking, ambient sound comes on and will stop the music. Once I stop talking noise cancelling restarts and so does music. Despite a few things that are not great, the app is easy to use and full of useful features including turning off the headset from the phone. It is a very light weight and very comfortable headset worth of any music lover consideration. The controls and instructions to use them are clear and easy to follow both in print and online. A couple to things I should mention that I do not like but are not worth removing a start. First, it is not water resistant, second the app has the 360 sound feature that it does create a better listening experience but it is too invasive by taking pics of one's ears. The second is that is does not have a complete noise canceling, it is more like a noise reducing capability. While it does reduce the ambient sound significantly, the noise cancelling is not so as effective as the in-ear Sony headset I have. The charging cable is extremely short for such high end headset. It's a very nice, soft, comfortable great sounding headset full with nice features.

I've owned these for less then a year and when i plugged them in to charge one night when i woke up the next day the charger was melted to the charging port and now i cant charge it anymore 0/10 do not buy

The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the latest iteration of Sony's flagship noise-canceling headphones, and they come with a hefty price tag of $400. Pros: Best-in-class noise cancellation: The XM5 boast the most effective noise cancellation Sony has ever produced, thanks to new processors and microphones. They excel at blocking out low-frequency rumbles like airplane noise and engine hum. Excellent sound quality: While not perfect, the XM5 deliver well-balanced audio with rich bass and clear highs. The bass can be a bit overpowering for some, but the EQ in the accompanying app allows for customization. They are often used by hobbyist in the sound and music realms for these reasons. Improved design: The XM5 are lighter and sleeker than their predecessors, with a more comfortable fit (although some users report issues with ear cup size). The new case is also stylish and protective. Convenient features: Multipoint connection allows pairing with two devices simultaneously, and auto-pause/play is helpful for quick breaks. Speak-to-chat automatically lowers volume and pauses music when you start talking. Long battery life: Up to 27 hours with ANC on is impressive, making them ideal for travel or long listening sessions. Cons: Pricey: At $400, the XM5 are among the most expensive wireless headphones on the market. No longer foldable: Unlike previous models, the XM5 cannot fold flat, making them bulkier for travel. Mixed reviews on comfort: While some find them comfortable, others report issues with the ear cup size and headband pressure. For those who desire a headphone for exercise, these headphones are not water rated, so they often face issues with sweat buildup. Transparency mode not the best: While improved, the transparency mode doesn't quite match the natural sound reproduction of some competitors like the AirPods Max. Bass-heavy sound signature: The default sound profile may be too bass-heavy for some listeners. Overall: The Sony WH-1000XM5 are still some of the best noise-canceling headphones on the market, offering excellent ANC, good sound quality, and convenient features. However, their high price, lack of foldability, and potential comfort issues might make them a tough sell for some. If you prioritize top-notch noise cancellation and are willing to pay a premium, the XM5 are worth considering. But if you're on a budget or have specific needs in terms of comfort and sound signature, you might want to explore other options.

I had the Sony XM5 before and absolutely loved it. Finally decided to buy my wife one for Christmas. It has been her motivation to hit the gym everyday. The sound is crystal clear, battery can run for days, noise cancelling is on another level. Design is beautiful. Light weight but very firm on your head, has never fell off my head even when I’m doing cardio. Super soft for the ears as well since I also use them for study. My favorite is it dry super quick when you sweat, doesn’t even leave any water mark or stickyness. 1000% recommend.

After a lot of research I bit the bullet on these XM5’s. Awesome - hands down. Comfort, sound, ANC, features all Great. Daughter just got the Beats Pro these are way better! ( little more bulk but lighter weight)… Forget about the Apples, your paying for the name, sound wise, these XM5 annihilate the Apples. Touch Controls are fluent, effortless & responsive. Sony APP lets you control everything, adjust sounds to your liking etc. I own the XM5 ear buds as well ( my Pros collecting dust) Tried the Bose as well, wasn’t for me… Believe all the reviews , get these XM5’s ands you’ll see why they are the Top Rated headphones.. Disclaimer: ears do get warm when wearing for cardio…

I bought the WH-1000XM5 looking to add an additional set of headphones to my kit. On paper and from reviews of previous versions, they seemed like they had some attractive features compared to my usual go to IEMs (which I love). These have been FANTASTIC. I have used them nearly every single day since I've bought them. These are extremely well rounded headphones. You'd think they'd be a jack of all trades and master of none, but they are not mediocre in any category. Sound quality is great (maybe not audiophile quality, but you can tune them to your liking quite easily). The bass isn't dialed up to 11 like many mainstream headsets, I would say it's tuned to be balanced but fun out of the box, tasteful. Codec selection is good, you can use SBC (with up to 2 devices), AAC or LDAC giving them broad compatibility and bitrate depending on the quality of your files. I use them with AAC codec with no issue, sounds great for a standard streaming service (YT music). Features are great, companion app is easy to use. Switching between noise cancelling and ambient mode is great. The ambient mode is nearly transparent to wearing headphones at all. Noise cancelling is class leading, leagues ahead of what I've experienced in the past. It's not as good isolation as my IEMs, but very good. Talking detection and hand on earcup for awareness are great features. This is very handy on airplanes. Focus on voice and noise cancelling on phone calls are great. I don't use digital assistant features so I can't comment on that, but I'll just say the feature set makes the so versatile in many situations, they are my go-to at work or at home. Fit and finish is great, they are lightweight and easy to fit. I've worn them for long periods of time, including just to use the noise cancelling feature (on flights). I have developed pain on the top of my head from the headband after longer periods, but my advice is to wear them a little bit looser than you think you need to, they should be resting on your head from gravity, not tightened to your head. Doing so relieved the pain I was experiencing and the fit was still secure. They are primarily made from plastic and have a rubberized coating, that being said the don't feel cheap at all. I was worried about the rubberized coating as I've had products with such a coating that have worn off in the past. Time will tell, but I've bumped and scuffed them a few times and they've survived without any noticeable cosmetic damage. Battery life is phenomenal. I use them for hours every day and I don't even think about the battery charge and it gets me through the week. I travel a lot for work and I get through a whole week without even thinking about a charger, it's great. When it comes to charge, they charge FAST. If you forgot to charge them and you only have 10 minutes before getting out the door, great, that's easily all-day battery for you. Other Thoughts: I haven't tried the 360 audio feature. These work well when wired, although I wish you could mix a wired and BT at the same time. I also wish you could use the microphone wired as well as these would be a killer gaming headset without the latency! CODECS: For those who don't know a lot about the BT audio codecs available to you, here's a quick rundown: SBC: An adequate quality codec meant for power saving and stable connection. Early versions of this sounded pretty bad, but the newest versions can get up to good quality with enough bitrate. Use this if you want the highest battery life, most stable + longest distance connection or want to connect to more than one device at once. AAC: This codec has been around a long time and is superior to MP3. If you want a higher quality sound than SBC, this is a good compromise and your only option for higher quality on iOS. This codec is adequate for "High" streaming quality from streaming services LDAC: Use this if you have a "Lossless" quality level in your music streaming service. It's the only one on the list that will push the bitrate beyond CD quality. That being said, you may experience more connection dropouts in congested wireless areas (I have experienced some) and less battery life due to the data transport requirements. My suggestion, use the lowest one on the list that sounds good to you and skip LDAC all together if you don't have high-resolution or lossless files. Different phones handle SBC and AAC very differently, so your mileage may vary. BOTTOM LINE: These are pricey, but well worth price. From what I hear the XM4's offer 90% of the functionality at a cheaper price, so those may be a great option if you're looking for more bang for your buck. I thought these would be a "nice to have" for certain scenarios for me and I ended up using them every single day for everything. I like them so much I've gone out of my way to write this review.

The first thing you’ll note is the minimalist packaging and design of the headphones. They are the lightest I have tried and all soft touch surfaces. Ear pieces are comfortable and the headband is not obtrusive—it doesn’t feel like it’s weighing down. You need the app for these, and it’s a great app. All adjustments to sound are made through the app and there are features like 360 immersive sound accessible through the app. There is a sample of that feature that will blow you away, but content is limited even with a required third party subscription service. I’ll wait for more brands to hop into that even though it does sound phenomenal. Music and movies sound rich and deep, and Bluetooth pairing to a streaming device, phone, or PC is intuitive and simple. Answering calls is seamless in the middle of other activities. Linking these to my desk phone was even simple! I can be on a video conference call without distractions at home. Sony makes outstanding headphones and these are no exception. The sound is amazing, features are actually useful and well thought, and the comfort stands out. One caveat on these—no sweat! Don’t plan to use these while you work out. They will not tolerate sweat or rain.

Don’t bother buying the side hinge is plastic and will break off a couple months in, sad because I’m still paying them off. Best Buy will give you the runaround tell you to come in, only to give you Sony’s contact who then says they can’t do anything about it and to call United Radio who will flat out be rude expecting your call is because Sony gave you the run around and say there’s nothing they can do about it even with their 1 yr warranty.

Best Buy order #BBY01-8070576244640 5/8/25 WH1000XM5 BLACK Headphones Ear piece feel off 6/15/25. ZERO Warranty Coverage

Broke after 4 months.... Manufacturer warranty doesn't cover the break wanted 100 bucks to send it in and repair it

When you buy something this expensive it should last at least a year, if not more. It lasted less than 7 months. A plastic piece near the headset broke randomly. I won't waste my money on another headset from this company.

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing the remarkable audio quality offered by the Sony WH1000XM5 Headphones, and I must say, they exceeded my expectations in almost every aspect. Design and Comfort (4/5): The design of the Sony Headphones is sleek and modern, showcasing a perfect blend of style and functionality. T The cushioned ear cups feel soft against the ears and effectively block out external noise, enhancing the immersive audio experience. The over-ear design provides a good fit but when they a worn for a long time they tend to put pressure on my ear and I find myself adjusting them constantly. Audio Quality (5/5): Sony has truly outdone themselves in delivering an exceptional audio experience. The sound quality is nothing short of extraordinary, with deep, rich bass, clear midrange tones, and crisp high frequencies. Whether I'm listening to music, watching movies, or enjoying a podcast, the headphones consistently deliver a balanced and immersive sound that truly enhances the overall enjoyment of the content. Noise Cancellation (5/5): The active noise cancellation feature on these headphones is outstanding. It effectively eliminates ambient noise, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the audio. Whether I'm on a noisy commute or in a bustling coffee shop, the noise cancellation technology provides a peaceful listening experience, making it easier to appreciate the subtleties of the audio. Battery Life (5/5): The battery life of the Sony Headphones is impressive. I can easily get through a long flight or a day at work without worrying about running out of battery. The quick charge feature is a lifesaver, providing hours of playback with just a short charging time. Connectivity and Controls (4.5/5): Pairing the headphones with my devices was seamless, and the Bluetooth connectivity has been reliable. The touch-sensitive controls on the ear cups are intuitive and easy to use, allowing me to adjust volume, skip tracks, and answer calls effortlessly. It does require some practice and time to get use to the controls. Overall Impressions: In conclusion, the Sony Headphones deliver an outstanding audio experience with top-notch design, unmatched comfort, exceptional audio quality, and effective noise cancellation. Whether you're an audiophile or someone who simply appreciates good sound, these headphones are a must-have. Sony has once again set a high standard in the world of audio technology. I highly recommend the Sony Headphones to anyone seeking a premium audio experience.

Having used the XM3 and XM4, I went in expecting incremental improvement in the noise canceling feature that has a competitor sweating. So expectations on using the XM5 weren’t as high as before. From an aesthetic point, I like the new design. But after getting it in my hands and getting a feel for it, I find that I also do not like the design decisions put into this. Many headphones that have cans that swivel so that the cups themselves rest on your chest make it easier to hang your headphones around your neck. Not only does it protect the inside of the cans themselves but it also prevents whatever potential dust and particles from flying in. In the XM5, the cans now swivel in the opposite direction, where the open side of the cans are now facing outward when they rest on your chest. This is a major step back in how headphones are designed. And yes, I did double check that the right side can is undoubtedly right. Another odd design decision is that the XM5 is not as compact as before. The XM3 and XM4 were both collapsible so they can be packed and compact for travel. There is no such thing in the XM5 this time around. I find it a bit sad that this is not part of the design any more. And it makes the whole redesign of the XM5 more questionable than praise worthy. Lastly, as I should have expected, included cables are the 3.5mm analog cable that can be connected to a headphone jack and a USB charging. The analog cable can be used with or without active noise canceling turned on. If your headphone has no power left, the headphones can still be used, which is a side bonus. The USB charging cable is still a massive disappointment, being a mere 6 inches in length. When paying full price for these headphones, you kind of expected to have a longer cable. This has been happening ever since I got the XM3. This may have been going on for longer but I do not own any prior to that. Even a 12 inch (1ft) charging cable would have been better than a pitiful 6 inches. The active noise canceling (ANC) ability of the XM5 has improved yet again but only slightly. Like the XM4 before it, the improvement is only minor and blocks out a bit more. Train noise from my commute is reduced to a whisper and makes it easy to doze off. And with music playing at the same time, it becomes easy to miss automated and train operator messages played over the train’s speakers. You can still temporarily turn off ANC by placing your right palm on the right can, a feature that is retained from previous generations. On a similar note, touch controls are still on the right can. And much like the previous generations, there is no texture to make it easier to feel out the touch controls. For new owners, it makes it a bit tricky and difficult to learn the touch controls. There is an audio cue on swipe so it is a minor improvement from the previous generation. Audio quality is just as great as before. I prefer sound that is as neutral as possible. Meaning, it’s not heavy on the low frequency or tinny from high frequency. Such taste can always be adjusted using an equalizer. Codec when using the headphones over Bluetooth is LDAC. Unfortunately this codec is not available for Apple users. There is 360 Reality Audio but that remains untested due to limited streaming services, where I am either not using or not subscribed to. For call audio quality, I believe it’s a bit better in picking up my voice. Even with a face mask on, it picks up my voice without the need for The companion app, Sony Headphones Connect, allows you to adjust some settings for the headphones. Sadly, adjusting the noise canceling level of the headphone is no longer possible, which is a major shame since there are times when I want to fine tune how much noise is reduced. Next to the power button on the left can of the headphone is a button that is now strictly for switching noise canceling mode or custom function set by the app via double-press. Lastly, the headphone is comfortable to wear. It is light and doesn’t weigh down, despite the change in the top headband having less cushion/padding than before. I can potentially wear it for hours without any discomfort. It’s great for long travels and commutes and is worth having for such an occasion. Is this worth the asking price? Unfortunately, I have to say no. The XM4 is still available and can be had for less. So far, the improvements over generations are incremental and nothing revolutionary. The design choices for the XM5 doesn’t seem to make much sense and felt like a step backward. Not being able to fine tune the noise canceling level like before is also a downer. It’s surprising that for the XM5 it is not a clear winner. So I cannot recommend this for old or new users. Verdict: Not recommended The Good: Better ANC than before, great audio, comfortable to wear for long sessions The Bad: cans swivel in opposite direction, not compact, only 3 levels of ANC The Ugly: the thought of having random particles blow into the cans while worn around the neck

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is probably the most well rounded noise canceling headphones on the market. It makes top marks in noise canceling, sound quality, call quality, and comfort. All top marks for me when deciding what to buy. Noise Canceling – The specs will tell you about the 8 microphones and the two noise canceling processors. What it really means is that it works really well. I don’t travel often but I do work almost all day with headphones on. I recently wore them on a 2-hour road trip (legal in my state) and tested the noise canceling for a few miles just to see how well it drowned out the roar of the road and hum of the air conditioning. It was shocking at how quiet things got when I turned on the noise canceling. It really helps you dial in on whatever you’re listening to, whether it’s music or a podcast. I did still hear a slight hum from the road but it was buried in the background of the music and I barely noticed it. I’ve used several different noise canceling headphones and earbuds and these are as good or better than the ones I’ve used. Sound Quality – Sony seems like they continue to refine and improve their sound profile on the WH-1000XM series of headphones. The XM3’s had good bass but sometimes it could sound a bit muddled when there was a lot of highs and lows mixed together. I didn’t get a chance to listen to the XM4’s but everything comes through loud and clear on the XM5’s. I appreciate being given the ability to customize the sound with the EQ in the Sony headphones app and adapt the sound to my personal taste. I like to have clear vocals with prominent bass but the bass isn’t obtrusive to the rest of the instruments and vocals. With the best in class noise canceling coupled with the crisp sound from the headphones it becomes a premium listening experience. It’s also worth noting that call quality comes in clear. I made a call to my mother and she said it sounded like I was standing next to her. Comfort – I can easily go a few hours with these headphones without having to make any adjustments for comfort. The only discomfort I’ve felt is after a few hours it gets a bit uncomfortable on the headband. I think this is mostly due to Sony’s decision to thin the headband, concentrating the weight distribution a bit more on the top of my head. Usually, I just adjust it forward or back a little to alleviate the pressure point without any detrimental effect to the sound or comfort. The ear muff material is a soft leather material and like anything that sits against your skin for a prolonged period of time, it will get warm. Usually after wearing them a few hours non-stop, a 20-30 minute break is enough to alleviate the building sweat forming under the leather. I think a slightly wider headband would have increased the time until discomfort threshold but making a small adjustment after hours of wearing them isn’t such an inconvenience that would deter me from these headphones. As for those with small narrow head shapes, you may want to try these first before buying. My wife found that on the smallest adjustment, it still set low on her ears and she wished they were a bit higher on her head, but just couldn’t get there because of the default smallest size. Design – I’m perfectly content with the design change for this generation of headphones. They’ve opted to abandon the folding design of the previous XM models, which in my opinion, only introduced two additional failure points being the hinges on the headband. Folding did make it, ever so slightly, more portable, but I think the slim case included with the XM5’s fits perfectly in my backpack. The headphones have a straight band design and the ear cups slide up and down for adjustment. I do like how the headphones fit around the neck and can fold out so the speakers face outwards. The Headphones themselves are very light and have a slight rubberized texture to the feel of them. The sliding motion to adjust the headphones feel smooth and easy to adjust. I do wonder if they will stay this smooth in the long haul. I’m curious to see if they’ll get too loose after a year of adjusting them. Time will tell. The right ear muff is all about charging and touch controls while the left is all about physical buttons and headphone jack. The controls are pretty intuitive and doesn’t take too long to get used to. Swipe forward or back to change tracks, up or down for volume. Double tap to pause or answer a call, tap and hold for voice assistant. On the left, you get ambient sound toggle and a power button. I do also like the obvious left and right indicators located on the headband just above the ear cups so you’re not guessing at which is which. I love how the case included with the headphones perfectly fits the outline of the headphones, it feels sturdy and premium and includes a small compartment for a headphone cable and charging cable. I think an industry leading product should come with or at least offer a custom fit case for protection. Features – The XM5’s come with several noise canceling features that you may find useful. First is adaptive noise canceling. This feature will listen and detect your environment and determine the perfect amount of noise canceling. For example, if there’s a lot of traffic noise, it will assume you’re a pedestrian and having your wits about you will likely help you react to any distracted drivers coming up on a red light. It’ll do this by adjusting the ambient sound so that it enhances the sound around you as if you weren’t wearing headphones. On the other hand, if you’re riding home on the bus, it may max out the noise canceling so you can focus on what you’re listening to and drown out the ambient noise. There’s also speech detection which will turn on ambient sound and pause what you’re listening to so you can engage in conversation. After a few moments, noise canceling will re-engage and your music will resume. I did find the ambient sound mode to not work quite as well as other’s I’ve tried. Not that it's bad, but I wouldn’t it’s the best. Hopefully Sony can improve this with a software update. Multi-device connection will allow you to connect to two devices and can switch between the two depending on the audio demand. The most likely scenario for this is being connected to your phone as well as your laptop so you can stream music or video from your laptop while being connected to your phone for calls. I used mine for Teams calls on my work laptop while listening to music on my phone. I was impressed at how as soon as my Teams call started, it paused my music and when the call was over, without doing any switching or pushing buttons, it started playing my music again. Other features include preset EQ settings as well as two custom profiles you can adjust to your choosing. Having the ability to fine tune your sound preferences should come standard with high end headphones and Sony delivers. Sony also has 360 audio which is their answer to Dolby Atmos surround sound. Unfortunately, I’ve not heard of most of the supported apps. Also featured is DSEE Extreme which uses AI to help restore some of the sound quality lost with audio compression. Finally, cupping the right ear muff will turn down the volume and turn on ambient sound so you can hear your surrounds. This is nice if you need to hear an announcement or want to listen to something happening around you. Last, I’ll mention this one tidbit. I found a noticeable bump on the left earpiece and I thought this to be an issue with the manufacturing process. I reached out to Sony to see if my unit was defective or if this was on all their headsets. Come to find out, this is for those visually impaired to easily and quickly identify the correct orientation of the headphones. I love it! Sony has demonstrated the ability to make excellent noise canceling headphones and they continue to be the medium in which everything else is compared to. it’s a no brainer to recommend the WH-1000XM5’s. With industry leading noise canceling, fantastic sound, lightweight design, premium materials, and a highly customizable feature set, these set the bar.