Sony’s WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones are on sale for 188 euros with a travel bag, or 206 euros with a hard carrying case, making one of the brand’s most praised recent products accessible at under 200 euros.
Sony positions itself alongside rivals such as JBL, Sennheiser and Audio Technica in the noise-cancelling headphone market. Although Sony has since released the WH-1000XM6 as its flagship portable audio product, the changes between the two generations are said not to justify the higher price.
Noise cancellation and audio quality
The WH-1000XM5 uses two dedicated processors and eight built-in microphones to deliver active noise cancellation described as among the best currently available. The system is designed to isolate the listener in environments ranging from aircraft engine noise to cafe crowds and city traffic.
The headphones offer a balanced, warm sound profile with a high level of detail, and support Sony’s LDAC codec for high-resolution wireless audio transmission.
Comfort, battery and smart features
The XM5 generation brought a significant redesign focused on comfort, with soft synthetic leather materials and a streamlined headband intended to distribute weight and reduce ear pressure during long sessions.
Battery life reaches up to 30 hours of continuous playback with noise cancellation active, or around 45 hours with it switched off. A three-minute charge via USB-C is said to recover three hours of use.
The headphones also include a Speak-to-Chat function that pauses music automatically when the wearer begins speaking, along with multipoint connectivity that allows switching between a computer and a phone without manual input.
