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A Sony is a brand that has always made excellent products, from TVs, video games, stereos and even cell phone cameras (Tim Cook recently confirmed that iPhones use sensors from Sony, for example). Unfortunately, the manufacturer almost no longer operates in Brazil, which is a shame both for fans of the brand and for the market as a whole. — the less competition, the less dispute and the higher the prices can be.
Today's review is exactly about one of the products that the manufacturer of PlayStation distributes here in Brazil, the Sony WH-1000XM5, a premium headphone with a very complicated name (as usual with their headphones).
Design
The design has changed a lot compared to the previous generation. Now the phone is more discreet, with less details and less volume. This had an impact on the number of joints: now there are fewer hinges, which means that it is not as compact when folded, which is why the CASE It's much bigger, which can be a negative point, especially for those who travel and need more space (here is a photo of the size difference).
Another difference compared to the previous model is the material used. The XM5 is made of vegan leather, it is super soft and pleasant to feel. This contributes to the weight of the product: it's only 250 grams, it's very light and you barely feel it on your head. Only after more than 4 hours of using it did I start to feel some discomfort.
On the right side we find a panel touch to play and pause, skip songs and execute some quick commands and this is where the USB-C input is located to recharge the battery. On the other side we have the physical buttons for turning it on and off, the button that activates or deactivates the noise cancellation mode, and the P2 analog connection for those who want to use it via cable (which comes in the case).
Regarding the power button, pressing it for 7 seconds enters pairing mode and can connect the XM5 to another device to use at the same time. Yes, you can connect 2 devices simultaneously. The speaker height adjustment mechanism is very silent and without clicks/stuck. Will it last long? We do not know.
I have to say that the matte finish works like a magnet for skin oil. If you are bothered by oil in your products, be prepared, because the headphones will be marked and you will constantly have to clean them. Ah, information for those who wear glasses: it can be a little uncomfortable, as the headphones will put pressure on the temples.
Gesture controls
Look, it deserves a topic just to contemplate the beauty that is the gesture controls of the touchpad located on the right side of the SonyXM5. By far, they are the most intuitive I have seen to date. See how simple it is:
- Play / Pause – 2 rings;
- Skip or rewind the track: slide forward or backward;
- Increase or decrease the volume: slide up or down;
You don't need to remember which button does what, it's completely intuitive. And, unlike what happens in models like Galaxy Buds2 Pro (we already have a review), there are no accidental touches. The Samsung model even has an option that blocks the touch headphones to avoid accidental commands.
sound quality
Excellent. Definitely one of the best sounds I've ever heard. It makes you understand the musical greatness of new generation artists, like Lorde. The XM5 has new drives 30mm carbon fiber, improving sensitivity to high frequencies to create a more natural sound.
On site Sony They report the following: “Our unique technologies include premium lead-free solder with gold for excellent conductivity, Fine Sound resistor for even current distribution, and optimized circuitry for an improved signal-to-noise ratio, ensuring consistently clear sound.” And look, the end result is truly spectacular. It makes you think that you are recording the music, several sounds and instruments that you don't hear on ordinary headphones can be heard on the XM5.
The WH-1000XM5 supports wired and wireless high-resolution audio thanks to LDAC, Sony's own audio encoding capable of transmitting 3 times more data than conventional Bluetooth. But it is necessary to have devices compatible with the technology. Furthermore, not all services offer the famous HiFi audio. Of streaming services, for example, I think only the TIDAL offers. O Spotify recently said to have been ready for over a year, but it was put on hold by the company and not even they know when it will be released.
The bass is very good here; The Sony possibly accentuated them on purpose to make the songs have more presence. You can change this in the equalization of the app. Headphone da Sony (available to Android e iOS), but I don't know if it's something that will bother people, the songs are still very good. Albums like Joanne, by Lady Gaga, are a delight to listen to, it feels like she is in front of us singing.
I always used it via Bluetooth and at acceptable distances it worked very well. When I moved too far away and had 2 walls between the phone and the cell phone, the music stopped and stopped. For normal uses you will have very little delay between pausing the music and it actually stopping playing. It's very fast, but noticeable that there is a delay.
You can watch movies and series, but I recommend that your device has Bluetooth 5.0 or higher to have less delay between the video and sound. Watching works with sound created by Hans Zimmer is practically magical with the XM5.
Noise cancellation
Noise cancellation makes you think magic exists. Just call and voilà, muted noises. A Sony in recent years it has become renowned for its extremely high quality noise cancellation; taking the Apple , the end result of the feature on Sony products is almost unparalleled.
Computer sound, not very noisy household appliances, on the subway, bus or plane, noise from construction sites and cars passing by, practically any sound is canceled almost like magic by the WH-1000XM5. The V1 Processor (developed by Sony itself) unlocks the potential of the QN1 HD Noise Canceling Processor and the 8 microphones listen to the noises around you.
I have to say that noise cancellation mode can be a danger. It's so good that it isolates you from the real world and you won't hear important sounds putting you in danger, like your mother screaming downstairs.
It doesn't isolate 100% of sounds, but if you need to concentrate to perform a task, the XM5 will be your best friend. There were 2 construction projects near my house, even when I closed the windows the noise continued until I put on the headphones and that was it, just by putting them on my head and turning them on the noises were isolated.
please note that When you use the headphones via cable you do not have access to noise cancellation or ambient mode.
Ambient mode
I placed ambient mode as a subtopic of noise cancellation mode because this headset has a very interesting feature. When noise cancellation is active and you start talking, the headset automatically detects it and switches to ambient mode, so you can better hear the people around you talking to you. In the Sony app you can activate or deactivate this chat feature, if you wish. Ah, after 15 seconds of silence it returns to noise cancellation mode.
I particularly don't like ambient mode, to date I haven't tested any headphones where the feature works without seeming strange or synthetic. The XM5 was no different. You can switch between 20 levels of ambient sound and it comes from the factory set to maximum, generating a lot of noise, it's almost strange. But by adjusting things they improve a lot and at level 9 it becomes much more comfortable.
Microphone
There are 8 microphones, 4 on each side. It's double the previous model and this provides very natural audio for those who listen to you. Do you know when you're talking to someone and you notice the audio is muffled or distant, sometimes even with an echo? The XM5 doesn't have any of that, whoever listens to you doesn't even notice that you're wearing a headset with microphones “far away” from your mouth.
It's not perfect, on Zoom calls, for example, people complained that sometimes my voice was too far away, and sometimes the noise around me increased a lot.
Other resources
Perhaps this is the hardest part of this review. Talking about the other points was super easy, since it is an extremely high-quality headset, but talking about the other features is complicated because this headset has many functions. Sony put in practically everything that was possible to put in.
You can find it via Find My Device, that feature of Google to track lost devices. It's the kind of feature we hope we never have to use, but if necessary, it's there. Furthermore, in my cell phone's Bluetooth settings I found the function to make it ring while lost. They need to be connected to each other, it's not like I can track it if I lost it somewhere else and it's far from me.
- When you take it out of your head it pauses the music. And play when placed again;
- Ambient mode can be activated automatically when you start speaking while noise cancellation mode is active;
- It is possible to make a sound if you forget it at home;
- It can be linked to Find my Google Device, and you can find it anywhere;
- 360º virtual sound provided by 360 Reality Audio. (Even though there are only 2 drivers);
- You can connect to 2 devices at the same time (but only plays sound from one at a time);
- Compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa;
- Support for Swift Pair and Fast Pair (for faster connection);
- Dolby Atmos experience.
Battery
Battery is always a weak point in most devices and the Sony comes to prove that it knows how to work magic even on battery life. It lasts a long time, it's impressive, I rarely had to recharge it, even though I always use it with the noise cancellation mode active (there's no going back, once you try it, you want to use it all the time).
The manufacturer informs that you can listen to music for 30 hours with active noise cancellation and 40 hours with it turned off, the same autonomy as the previous model, but what changes is the fast charging, just 3 minutes of charging offers around 3 hours of battery life.
Price
A premium headset has a price to match! It's not the most expensive, but it's far from being the cheapest. Outside he was thrown by $400, but you can now buy it at lower prices. By way of comparison, it is more expensive than the entry-level iPhone sold there.
Here in Brazil you can find it at Amazon, for example, for R$2.345,00. It's not a low price, but it's less worse than the R$4.000,00 starting price here.
Conclusion
It is a headphone for those who like to listen to quality music and for those who want a excellent noise cancellation.
It was launched for USD 400, a very high price. If you are a user of Android, perhaps this is the best headphone you can buy in this price range. If you have iOS, maybe the AirPods Max would be better. Noise cancellation, ambient mode, and the company's headphone ecosystem Apple end up justifying you not choosing to buy the Sony WH-1000XM5.
If you travel a lot and need a headset that is less bulky, this may not be the best option for you either, as the CASE It's quite big, it doesn't even fit in my notebook backpack, for example. The XM4 is a better option for you and basically the only thing the new model has that the old one doesn't is fast charging and extra microphones to improve noise cancellation and improve voice quality. Otherwise, they have very similar specifications and offer basically the same thing. (firework.com)
Technical specifications
Model number | WH1000XM5/B |
Product dimensions | 22,48 x 7,7 x 26,31 cm |
Shot put | 250g |
Impedance | 48 Ohm |
Adjustable | Wireless, Bluetooth 5.2 Or 3,5mm |
average battery life | 30 Hours |
Special features | Touch Control, 8 microphones, Carrying case, Automatic noise canceling optimizer, Wear detection, Multipoint connection |
Release year | 2022 |
Type of material | vegan leather Metal Plastic |
Battery Type | lithium ion |
Diaphragm | 30 mm |
Frequency response | 4 Hz – 40 000 Hz (JEITA) |
Frequency Response (Bluetooth) | 20 Hz – 20 Hz (000 kHz sampling) 44,1 Hz – 20 Hz (LDAC 40 kHz sampling 000 kbps) |
Profile | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP |
Supported audio formats | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
Text proofread by: Pedro Bomfim (2 / 10 / 23)
Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: excellent in everything
Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: excellent in everything-
Design9/10 Amazing
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sound quality10/10 Excellent
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Noise cancellation10/10 Excellent
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Construction10/10 Excellent
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Great review I just bought this model but it hasn't arrived yet. Excited already. Thanks