Calling a product the best of anything isnt something I take lightly.
But when someone asks what noise-cancelingheadphonesshould I get?
my answer is almost always the Sonys.
And there are other excellentoptionsfor those on a budget.
As shown in multipleleaks, the WH-1000XM5 have a sleek new design.
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Those with larger ears will appreciate the extra space inside the cups as well.
It all leads to a design that is more comfortable, looks better, and feels sturdier.
The one big caveat to the chunkier new design is that, well, its bigger.
Accordingly, the new carrying case is also bigger, taking up more space in your bag.
Design aside, there are multiple iterative but meaningful improvements to the 1000XM5.
First things first: The 1000XM5 are better at noise canceling than the 1000XM4.
Whatever the reasons, youre getting some of the very best noise-canceling performance money can buy.
The headphones also sound better than their predecessors.
I found the 1000XM4 to be a bit too V-shaped, with particularly pronounced bass and slightly elevated highs.
The 1000XM5 are better balanced to both my ears and my headphone measurement setup.
But reducing the bass quantity in Sonys app does a lot to minimize this distortion.
It was awkward, and it meant I pretty much never used the feature.
On the 1000XM5, as on SonysLinkBuds, you simply have to say OK Google to invoke the assistant.
It means I can control music and audiobooks hands-free while Im doing the dishes or walking my dog.
The caveat is that you cant use LDAC, Sonys highest-quality Bluetooth codec, while using multipoint.
Youll have to settle for AAC, although most peoplewont be able to tell the difference.
The question on many peoples minds will be should I upgrade?
If youre coming from the 1000XM4 or 1000XM3, then probably not.
The new design is neat, but the improvements are iterative rather than revolutionary.
Its a good thing, then, that Sony is keeping the 1000XM4 on the market for $349.
The Sony 1000XM5 only make small improvements to the 1000XM4, but thats all the company needed to do.
After all, being better than the best is a pretty good place to be.
