detailedReviews: detailedReviews 1: content: I purchased the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds about three months ago, and I am still amazed by their exceptional design and performance. The engineering behind the noise-cancelling technology is remarkable—it effectively blocks out ambient sounds without compromising the rich, detailed audio quality much better than any of my previous wireless earbud experiences. I’ve particularly appreciated how the two dedicated integrated processors optimize the music based on the environment, delivering crisp highs, vibrant mids, and a solid bass response. Finally, Sony's unique polyurethane foam material does, in my opinion, noticeably intercept high-frequency signals at a much higher level of fidelity than any of the other wireless earbuds I have used, and it is the first implementation of such a method I am familiar with, though unfortunately as a result of the properties by which the polyurethane material functions, soft and compressible to form to a wide variety of ear canals and create a sort of pressure seal to reduce incoming noise, the material falls apart over a relatively short period of time(I ran through 3 pairs of earbud tips in a few months, though I likely used them more than the average user) and relatively quickly makes their use prohibitive.
On the software side, the Headphones Connect app allows a surprising level of customization, letting me fine-tune EQ settings, tailor noise-cancelling levels, and even toggle voice controls. These features aren’t just gimmicks; they genuinely enhance day-to-day use by giving me the freedom to configure everything to my personal preference. Despite pairing them primarily with my iPhone, I never felt left out of the advanced features Sony offers.
Unfortunately, I experienced a mishap that highlights how important support options can be. My sister’s puppy managed to chew up the case and both earbuds, eventually swallowing the right earbud. Thankfully, the puppy is healthy after several vet visits, but I am now left with a functioning left earbud and case—both visually battered yet operational—and no right earbud to be found. Because Apple’s tracking features don’t apply to these headphones, I have no way to locate the missing piece. I’m reaching out to Sony in hopes they can assist me in replacing the right side or provide some other remedy.
In spite of this incident, I stand by my 5-star rating. The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds deliver phenomenal audio fidelity, top-tier noise cancelling, and a thoughtfully designed app that significantly elevates the user experience.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Exceptional design, remarkable noise-cancelling technology
detailedReviews 2: content: I bought these earbuds after a lot of research and contemplation but I chose them over the Airpods pro. After weeks with the Sony XM5, I'm I find the sound quality genuinely mind-blowing - there's a richness and depth to the music that the AirPods Pro just can't match. Whether I'm listening to bass-heavy tracks or acoustic sessions, every note comes through with stunning clarity.
What really sold me was the comfort and noise cancellation combo. The XM5s are noticeably smaller than their predecessors, and they stay comfortable even during long listening sessions. The noise cancellation is incredible - it completely blocks out my noisy commute, but with one tap, I can hear everything around me clearly through the ambient mode.
Yes, I gave up the seamless Apple ecosystem integration, but the multipoint connection (connecting to both my phone and laptop simultaneously) and the extensive sound customisation options in the Sony app more than make up for it. The battery life is fantastic too - I'm getting through almost a full work week before needing to charge the case. Though you pay a dear price, I think the XM5s are absolutely worth the investment.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Mind-blowing sound quality, comfort, and noise cancellation
detailedReviews 3: content: These earbuds helped preserve my sanity. I understand that statement may come across as hyperbole, so let me explain...
The day that these headphones came in the mail, I had a family member experience a significant medical event that necessitated me spending multiple nights in their hospital room with them as they recovered. The active noise cancelling (ANC) from these earbuds helped drown out the "hospital" noise at night and enabled me to get some good, quality sleep during a stressful time.
You're probably not reading this review because you're about to spend multiple nights in a hospital room, but you probably are here because you're interested in some great ANC. And this is not just great ANC, it's fantastic.
I'm not sure what exactly is happening, but when you put these earbuds in, there's a slight calibration to your ears. I hear it as a faint hum in the background for a few seconds, and then all background noise is gone. It happens automatically, and it is incredible. I'm excited to try these on an airplane for the first time because I'm pretty sure they will even block out that sound.
Another great ANC feature is the ability of the earbuds to determine what you're doing and adjusting the levels based on that activity. There are settings for "staying," "walking," "running," and "riding in a vehicle." You can also program the headphones through the app to switch to the various modes based on your location. I have one setting for when I'm at my desk at work and another when I'm having lunch in a local park, for example.
To get past the ANC, the audio quality is top notch as well. It's super rare to find some in-ear headphones that have quality bass and that's present here. There are also highly adjustable EQ settings in the app.
Battery life has been amazing too. I mentioned earlier that I was able to have these in throughout the night while with my relative, and even with those lengthy sessions, I was able to go multiple days without needing to recharge.
If you're looking for a set of headphones that sound great, last a long time, and have top-notch active noice cancelling, I doubt you can do better than these.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Fantastic ANC, top-notch audio quality, and amazing battery life
detailedReviews 4: content: If you have money just go for it you won't regret it. I'll say it is one of the most comfortable buds. And quality of sound at another level. Just loved it. Used airpods, nothing buds 2, Samsung buds 2 pro it will come on top no doubt. ( By the only Android get high res audio ud83eudd1e)
❤️❤️❤️
marketplace: flipkart
source: flipkart
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/flipkart
starRating: 5
title: Most comfortable buds, sound quality at another level
detailedReviews 5: content: So, i am a Sony fan. Just going to put that out there...
I had the mk3 headphones of these, and i loved them (the battery eventually failed on one side)... I've always been a fan of the Sony sound design, the fit was great, and the noise cancelling was fantastic. These mark 5's IMPROVE ON ALL OF THIS IN. EVERY. WAY.
The sound is fantastic - i mainly use these for music, and bass heavy dance, and i cannot fault the sound quality. Battery is VASTLY improved on the old pair, and the app interaction is hugely better. Yes, Sony software isn't the best, but the jump v3 to v5 is a big improvement - more granular control and a specific percentage on battery consumption now! Noise cancelling has jumped forward, and we now have a tap to hear function so you really hear the difference as you move in and out of NC. Reviews mention the fit and a new ear mould made of sponge and this was viewed more as a negative, but this has been great for me out of the box. its snug and expands in your ear to seal (and they provide three sizes), very comfortable as far as i am concerned.
I am constantly confused on which side is which tho ngl, and how to hold them to fit to my ear, but its a small teething issue, really.
The reviews online rightly place these at the top of the market and i 100% agree, fit is more than fine; different, and snug, but definitely not a negative by any stretch. Highly recommended.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Improves on previous models in every way
detailedReviews 6: content: I have had these earbuds for 3 weeks now, the size and design of these earbuds is excellent, packaging is world class. Sound quality is very well balanced with little emphasis on heavy bass. These buds do have better overall sound quality as the new drivers give better separation of sound across the frequency range and there is definitely more detail across all genres of music. There is a definite loss of the sub bass that the WF 1000XM4's had, using the app to change the EQ settings helps to increase the sub bass emphasis. Setting them up via the Sony app allows for better customisation for sound, noise cancelling, and the adaptive sound control allows for full control with the AI learning as you wear them in different listening scenarios.
Seamless switching between 2 devices while maintaining connection to both devices. I have found that I need to adjust them periodically to stay in the ear canal and this can be a little frustrating as there is a tendency for outside noise to creep in. This may not be a problem for other people as each ear canal is different. As good as the noise cancelling is it cannot cope with this slight movement out of the ear canal letting in some outside noise.
The tips are much better than the XM4 tips and give a better seal. Case form factor is better than the XM4, the magnet strength could be stronger as the buds can drop out of the case if dropped. Comfort is helped by the smaller form factor of the buds and allow for very long wearing sessions. LDAC, DSEE and noise cancelling do take a toll on battery life, I have received a little over 6.5 hours use before requiring a recharge. Overall, these are a top tier pair of TWS earbuds with excellent noise cancelling, high quality sound performance and are a good value purchase with all the new electronics added. Call quality is something that is unimportant to me as I never use it for phone calls and purchased these for the audio quality. As a pure upgrade they have proven to be a great choice and I can very highly recommend them to anyone thinking of purchasing these over the XM4 buds.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Excellent sound, good value with new electronics
detailedReviews 7: content: The Sony WF-1000XM5B true wireless earbuds have impressive sound quality, effective noise cancellation, and comfortable fit.
Sound Quality The earbuds have a rich audio with a balanced sound profile, making them suitable for all music genres.
Noise Cancellation This feature effectively blocks out ambient sounds, enhancing the listening experience. But continues to play music when finished with calls ect.
Comfort and Fit This design , provides a secure fit for extended wear without any discomfort.
Battery Life: I love the long battery life, with quick charging capabilities that allow for extended use on the go.
Connectivity Bluetooth connectivity is stable and reliable.
Touch Controls Intuitive touch controls make it easy to manage playback and calls without needing to reach for me to reach for my device.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Impressive sound quality, effective noise cancellation, comfortable fit
detailedReviews 8: content: I love sony products in general as in I have a blueray dvd player, shelf system, home theater system and walkman media player, so it was a no brainer when I was looking for new earbuds. I love how you can have multiple devices paired and switch them without having to disconnect devices when you want/need to listen to a different device. For example I have them paired to my work laptop, my smartphone and personal desktop and switching quick and ease. I also love that I can have the adaptive sound control auto switch them back and forth from noise canceling to ambient sound depending if my current location is my work location or home location. Also love being able to see the current sound pressure as I listen to my favorite music. I have yet to have them fall out of my ears thanks to being able to use the sound connect app to check if the earbud tips are the right size/ they are in all the way into the ear cannel, ifboth ears pass then all good and if one or both fail the check all you have to do is adjust either just the one or both and redo the check until both pass.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Love multi-point pairing and adaptive sound control
detailedReviews 9: content: I previously owned a pair of Sony Linkbud S, and was looking for an upgrade. It was the Sony WF-1000XM5 or AirPod Pro v2’s. Ultimately audio quality is my main requirement and the XM5’s deliver and live up to the hype. The detail is incredible even at low volume levels, and the way they present bass is excellent. I love to be able to adjust the EQ on my audio devices depending on the genre I’m listening to. Whilst the reviews are correct in saying that the configuration straight out of the box is excellent, I find that a tailored sound to suit my ears is perfect to get that extra special experience. The Sony Headphone Connect app is straight forward to use, and has loads of additional features - I particularly like the adaptive sound control which automatically switches between ANC modes based on my preset locations - which is just another reason to smile when enjoying these buds. Another feature that swung my decision in favour of the XM5’s is the multi-point Bluetooth connectivity - once you’ve paired your devices it will seamlessly switch between two connected at the same time. I appreciate this for when I’m working on the laptop or using my tablet as calls come through with zero delay. I appreciate the AirPods Pro 2 offer auto switching, but that only works with Apple-to-Apple devices. If like me you have numerous brands of devices the XM5’s are a seamless joy. I also find the memory foam bud tips a real game-changer. I personally find the silicon tips on many buds do start to slip over time, yet these hold true for hours. They did take me a couple of days to get used to tbf, but I wouldn’t change them. Overall the XM5’s deliver incredible sound quality that is highly customisable, and if you want that above anything else you won’t be disappointed with Sony’s latest flagship in-ear truly-wireless buds.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Incredible sound quality, highly customizable, seamless multi-point
detailedReviews 10: content: Sony lovers can experience it as always worth enough!! The sound quality is awesome. Still, Sony Ericsson, always 1% was higher, I feel.
marketplace: flipkart
source: flipkart
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/flipkart
starRating: 5
title: Sony lovers can experience it as always worth enough
detailedReviews 11: content: Very Rich sound 🎶🎧 . Fully recommended.
marketplace: flipkart
source: flipkart
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/flipkart
starRating: 5
title: Very rich sound, fully recommended
detailedReviews 12: content: Great sound quality and comfort fitting
marketplace: flipkart
source: flipkart
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/flipkart
starRating: 5
title: Great sound quality and comfort fitting
detailedReviews 13: content: I bought these recently having not treated myself to new ear buds for a while. These were my first venture into Sony earbuds as previously I have been with Bose. Well all I can say is that I wish I made the switch earlier. Very competitively priced, excellent fitting with multiple sized interchangeable buds. The standard and level of noise cancelling is amazing and far superior to any previous I have experienced, This is even measured by the app which can help you ensure you have the best possible seal with the buds. Next and the area which most people will want to know about is the quality of sound. It doesn't disappoint, moreover it exceeds expectation. I listen to a lot of lossless and Hi-Res audio and this is superb. MP3 although less is quality to Hi Res,still sounds fantastic. Finally, I also listen to Dolby Atmos music and the headtracking qualities of the buds is good when playing Atmos or spatial audio. It is still in its infancy Spatial Audio/Atmos Music and often it is the standard how the producer has mixed it to different channels that is the issue l, not the buds themselves (or speakers for that fact when listening to wired or WiFi music ). That genre of music by spatial audio is still much in its infancy and will improve as producers get more used to mixing. In summary, these earbuds exceeded expectations and the battery life is excellent
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Exceeded expectations, excellent battery life
detailedReviews 14: content: I did quite a bit of research on best earbuds and these were consistently at the top of the list...and they do not disappoint. I'm not an audiophile; I only wanted something for the gym, but I can tell when something sounds great and these do. One thing I've always been sensitive to on my old earbuds is how loud I have to set the volume to...almost always at max in order to hear my content over the background gym noise. The noise cancellation on these are so good I am often setting my volume below 50% on my iphone! I think some of this is due to the fitment of the earbuds in my ear canal...its a pretty good fit, much better than previous brand. Truth be told, I have noticed the fit could be a little better but I haven't really played around with the other sized rubber ear inserts. Also, one other thing I noticed....these sync with my phone much better, many times I don't get a notification that they are pairing because they are already connected. The microphone seems to be better for when I need to take a call (this is subjective as its based on feedback I'm getting from different callers). I had complaints with my previous pair. One minor complaint (that seems to happen with other brands as well), as earbuds get smaller and smaller, they tend to be harder to handle when removing from charging cradle to placing in ear. However, I've noticed this with other brands as well. Overall, I think these are an outstanding set of earbuds, with great sound quality, excellent fitment in the ear canal and world class noise cancellation that allows for lower volumes required.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Great sound, excellent fit, world-class noise cancellation
detailedReviews 15: content: Sound quality: 9/10. these earphones sounds amazing and compete well with my FiiO FA9 IEMs. amazingly flat frequency response and super clear and detailed sound. there is the expected slightly muddiness in the bass due to them being Bluetooth and not wired, but that is completely expected and it is the least muddy bass I've experienced with any Bluetooth headphones.
Noise Cancelling: 7/10. Works great to reduce sound wherever you are, but it's not revolutionary. they struggle with wind and sudden loudness and you can still hear background talking fairly easily through them i.e. on a train.
Design/Fit: 9/10. they fit in the ears amazingly, creating a fantastic air-tight seal. don't fall out when running, and they fit snuggly in the conch of your ear. they are not uncomfortable. they are also very lightweight and you can barely notice them.
Features: 10/10. the amount of control you can have over the noise cancelling and over your phone without touching it is fantastic. I can text and make calls without even thinking about my phone, reject and answer calls by nodding/shaking my head, make Google searches super easily and check notifications anywhere. absolutely fantastic.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Amazing sound, great features, lightweight design
detailedReviews 16: content: This is a detailed review from the perspective of a person switching from the Beats Fit Pro.
Compared to Beats Fit Pro, these are a big step up in ANC but the touch controls are problematic with any head/neck gear and (non touchscreen-friendly) gloved hands.
I got these because I was sick of the wind noise while cycling with my Beats Fit Pro (really bad on account of the stabilisation fins). These are both much smoother on the outside, so the wind doesn't 'catch' them and also the superior ANC reduces noise much further so cycling with them is much better. I use a cycling rear traffic radar so am always aware of surroundings.
But, when wearing a buff (neck gaiter thingy) the touch controls are finicky. At first they just don't work, but as soon as a bit of moisture from sweat gets into the fabric they work quite well, most of the time. If it rains and the buff gets wet, however, it stops working properly again. You also get false 'touches' when adjusting the fit of the buff or when moving your head to look behind. As soon as rain or thick gloves enter the equation, the hardware buttons of the Beats Fit Pro are better.
False touches are also an issue off the bike when wearing a beanie/scarf/high collar./
Wearing a buff over your ears also reduces the wind noise, thus kind've negating the benefit and I still prefer my Beats Fit Pro in this scenario, but the ANC is noticeably inferior.
The Adaptive Sound Control is really clever and works brilliantly; There's the ability to adjust the amount of ambient noise allowed through and Voice Passthrough (over other sounds) is genius.
Speak To Chat is very useful in certain situations where you need to switch to speaking to people in the room, but annoying when you don't want it, as it picks up throat-clearing, humming etc as speech and all of a sudden the world comes rushing noisily into your ears. It is easy enough to toggle this on & off in the app.
The app has a load of superfluous stuff and takes a little while to filter that out, but I find it pretty intuitive after a few days and nave no trouble quickly toggling the different ambient noise reduction features.
As for the sound quality; they're much the same as my Beats Fit Pro, which is excellent, but the superior ANC just means you hear more of your music.
Fitting them is so easy as the tips aren't memory foam and don't need to be pre-rolled. I honestly think that memory foam tis would NOT be an upgrade as these just fit so well. Haven't worn them running yet, but they feel about as stable as my Beats Fit Pro in general use so I reckon they'll be fine for moderate activity.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Superior ANC for cycling, clever adaptive sound control
detailedReviews 17: content: I had the Airpods Pro but they were like 2 1/2 years old, so the sound had become terrible. I found this on YouTube reviews and decided to give them a try instead of getting again Airpods. I love it since the moment I listen how great this sound. In my opinion, this sound way better than the Airpods I had. After navigating the app, I found features that I did not know before buying but get to know when watching reviews. If I had known this, I would had bought it without thinking twice. If you are listening to music and start talking, it will automatically pause the music and enter Ambien Sound almost immediately so you can start or listen a conversation without having to touch the earbuds or your phone. It also learns when you are moving to a different place and choose between noise cancellation or ambien sound depending on what you have used before in that exact location. You can also reject or accept calls by simply moving your head with a no or yes movement. You also get the hour announced, weather, and more when you put them on but you need to adjust this in a different app. This earbuds are so confortably that I don’t feel they will fall off or cause pain after using them for a long time. Battery is amazing, I have neved get them below 50 percent while using them and if you drain the battery, 3 minutes of charge will give you 1 hour. I went with the silver color because the glossy black seems like a cheap plastic and also, I read that the case shows your fingerprint. Scratches or dirt will be more noticeable on the silver but I like them more. I recommend you get a case for this as soon as you buy them because the case is some kind of soft material. That makes me believe that it will get dirty or scracth easily and might not come off even if you clean it. I bought one on Amazon for like 8 dollars so is cheap but a must have. The material of the case is like one inside the case where you put your glasses in. The sound is great, I like music with bass and I am loving this. This also read notifications of a few common apps like iMessages, Messenger, Gmail, etc. I highly recommend them and I hope they last because this is not cheap. I will update if any issue comes up.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Great sound, comfortable, amazing battery life
detailedReviews 18: content: One of the best high quality bluetooth earbuds out there. Easily better quality than Apple airpods or Samsung buds. And it works amazingly with both ecosystems. I ended up getting this to try it out, and ended up keeping it. I own both Samsung Bud's Pro 2, and Powerbeats Pro. Be easily beat them in sound quality, which I should expect for it a bit higher price tag. They claim you can get an hour charge in just 3 minutes, and I would say that's pretty darn accurate. Took these on a 13 hour flight to japan, and only had to really take one earbud and plug it in and use the other one while it was charging after 9 hours. And I would just swap between the two after that until they got mostly a full charge. Never really have to worry about battery life when it comes to these ear buds.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Better than Apple/Samsung, amazing battery life
detailedReviews 19: content: These have the best sound quality I have ever heard out of a pair of earbuds. The sound cancelling is amazing, the battery life is outstanding, and they don't falling out when you use the right earbud tip. They come with 4 and if I remember right medium is already on there and it goes all the way down to super small, and I was using those until I tried to clean them, the tips get very dirty as they are made out the same type of foam the ear plugs are made of, the will pull most of the earwax out of your ear. So cleaning them is a must, this however is very hard to do they are extremely easy to damage with finger nails, they fall apart in hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol, use warm water and a cotton q-tip. There are some cheap replacement options on amazon.
Now on to the sound quality and range, The biggest thing is the sound cancelling on these is out of the world because of the tips are designed to seal your ear completely so it is insane good, The highs are amazing and mediums are amazing, and the lows are great. The lows are diffidently the spot they lack in. The sony headphone app will help a lot with that so I highly recommend using it. The battery life is probably like 8 hours per charge, I could spend a whole day using them and they would not disconnect or anything. Pairing them to a pc is easy as long as pc or laptop has bluetooth just open the case and hit the pair button the back. I use them a lot when I drive to answer calls or just to listen to music. The call quality is lacking and makes it go to transparency mode automatically.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Best sound quality, insane noise cancelling
detailedReviews 20: content: These earbuds have a fantastic, clear soundstage which really bring out the best of your music. Couple this with LDAC support and high bit rate content it doesn't get much better.
Battery life is good, Noise cancelling is adequate, though if you're outside and it's windy I suggest turning the noise cancelling off completely.
The buds themselves are glossy to the touch and trying to pick them straight out of the case is a little awkward at first until you get the technique of rolling them from the centre outwards beforehand.
The memory foam eartips take a bit of getting used to if you've used silicone ones before. They are comfortable but do feel fragile and I feel these will need replacing somewhere along the line.
The case supports wireless charging.
Being able to answer or reject a call with a nod or shake of the head is actually a really useful feature.
The touch controls are ok but the app does not allow you to customise what each tap does which is a real let down.
Controlling the volume requires 4 quick taps in succession and then each subsequent tap actually adjusts the level and if you wait slightly too long between taps then you'll inevitably end up pausing your music or cycling noise cancelling. This is by far the most irritating thing about these buds.
It would have been a 5* review if it wasn't for that.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Fantastic soundstage, adequate noise cancelling
detailedReviews 21: content: As an on-the-go tech professional, endurance athlete, and musician (I know it's a lot...), I rely heavily on a good pair of headphones to make hands free phone calls and messaging, listen to music and podcasts, and noise cancelling. I have used several other brands before, and look for high quality, fast charging, sweat resistance, interoperability, and quality of sound. These headphones are just on another level and better than any competitor I've ever tried. They sailed through common tasks like setup (a breeze), customization (so many options!), and voice quality. I am a multitasker and rely on my voice assistant for making calls and sending messages in windy and loud conditions, like on a bike, in a crowded place, or in my extremely loud car (she's old but good). People dont even KNOW I'm in these conditions when making a call!!! It's next level. The sound quality is unparalleled, and like surround sound for your brain. The controls are touch or voice and easy to use. There are useful reporting features and safety controls to track your listening and protect your hearing. There is automatic detection and recalibration of noise cancelling based on your location and speed of movement. They stay in your ear when running. The ONLY thing I found difficult to adjust to is the fact the voice recognition is SO strong, it goes into listening mode if I am jogging past someone and say "Good Morning" (pauses the music). Definitely not a deal breaker for me. If youre on the fence between these and another pair, get these. They are PHENOMENAL.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Phenomenal sound, ANC, and battery life
detailedReviews 22: content: I bought this almost a month back and use it regularly for work and personal stuff. Being old school, I have always adored the Bose noise-canceling headphones. I have had Bose items in the past as well. However, after trying the new Sony WF 1000XM5, I am blown away. This was my first earbuds. After figuring out how to place it in my ear without falling off, features like the multi-point connections (greatly help in seamless on-demand connectivity such as listening to music on the phone and attending the call on the laptop, etc.), Customized equalizer, ambient sound control, Noise canceling, ear shape analysis (for optimal ear bud shape), google voice assistant, and optimized services for certain apps such as Spotify blew my mind.
The true shocker was the noise cancellation impact. I literally had a vacuum cleaner running in my hand and had to attend a call that came in - and surprisingly its sound was not heard over the call and this was observed last week! With all the office-related calls on MS Teams and Webex, this is a lifesaver. The Bluetooth connectivity range is great too. I had the laptop & phone on the ground floor and went up to the 1st floor to tend to other things in between a call without facing any disruptions!
The whole set is of black matte finish which is a great look. The earbuds did fall out once on the concrete ground and thankfully, not a scratch.
This tech is soo good and lots of features packed into this tiny bug that I am still exploring the more in-depth features of noise canceling and enjoying this while I am at it!
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Blown away by noise cancellation and features
detailedReviews 23: content: Let me preface with saying I’m an audiophile, and sound engineer. I have focal 906 bookshelves and svs pb3000 in my home, kenwood excelon components and FI subs in my car and Yamaha hs5s with and hs8s sub and Sony MDR 7506 cans in my studio and, so my standards are high. Sony knows how to make headphones, my MDR’s are incredibly neutral and accurate. I had the apple AirPod 2’s as my earbuds prior to these. I tried desperately to like them. For most people that use iOS devices, those will work quite well. For myself, I found them lack in sound quality, especially in the low-mid bass. It’s overdone, and muddy on top of that. I couldn’t find a preset in my iPhone that I could truly enjoy my music on. Not to say they are bad per se, ANC was good, integration within an iOS devices is great, and the “find my” feature is nicer. Despite my efforts to like them for more than just convenience, I couldn’t, and gave them away. I was torn between these, the Bose QC II’s, the B&W’s and the sennheiser momento’s. I had a set of Bose QC 35 cans. The ANC on those is astonishing, they have typical Bose tuning (emphasized bass and bright highs) and are great for when I want that Bose sound. After hours and hours of reading reviews, I boiled it down to the Bose and these. The Bose probably have a tad better ANC, as they should. (They invented the tech after all) but I decided to let sound quality be the deciding factor, as I listen to all kinds of music, and wanted the most neutral and accurate sound possible. The Sonys, to me, are perfect. More comfortable in my ear then the AirPod pro 2’s, more accurate, more robust midrange. I feel like apple and Bose really tune their stuff to just try to squeeze a bit too much bass out of a tiny driver. Ironically, the Sonys have the larger driver of the 3 earbuds. Nice lightweight case, they cold a charge for longer than the AirPods and I couldn’t stand the finish on the AirPod case (scratches so easy). The ONLY area they aren’t flawless in is low bass, but it doesn’t bother me, again, quality over quantity (and I have 2 15” subs on 3500 watts in my car if I want that). I’m really impressed by these earbuds, very happy I gave away the AirPods and picked the xm5’s up.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Neutral and accurate sound, comfortable fit
detailedReviews 24: content: I have used the Bose QC ultra and enjoyed them but lost them and decided to give these a try. The sound quality feels more clear with vocals and the multi point is the best feature I didn't know I needed.
I can watch YouTube on my Samsung phone and simply pause the video/music and start playing something on my iPad and it switches seamlessly.
I am fairly new to wireless earbuds as I have mostly only used Sennheiser and beyerdynamic. These are so convenient to carry around and they have been very comfortable to me. I worry about them falling out more than the Bose but they have been pretty snug.
The battery life is incredible. I have fallen asleep with these and have woken up 8 hours later with them still charged (Nothing playing with ANC on). this is a big advantage over the Bose. I feel like the ANC is not as good but it's really hard to tell. They are quite similar enough to me that it doesn't matter.
Just a note on the apps between the two. The Bose app almost always fails to connect and requires re-pairing the buds or at least 20+ tries to get the app working to change settings or EQ but the Sony app works flawless and is always ready to go to make adjustments or EQ.
The only issue I have had with these is the touch controls. I wish I could remap them to whatever I want but you can only set them between a couple of predefined profiles(Bose is the same if I am remembering right).
Overall I am really enjoying the Sony XM5 buds
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Clear vocals, best multi-point, flawless app
detailedReviews 25: content: Best TWS of 2023 nice sound quality and it's better than its predecessor xm4
marketplace: flipkart
source: flipkart
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/flipkart
starRating: 5
title: Best TWS of 2023, better than XM4
detailedReviews 26: content: Best earbuds with awesome fit as it has memory foam eartips. Anc is best. Better than airpods pro 2.
marketplace: flipkart
source: flipkart
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/flipkart
starRating: 5
title: Best earbuds with awesome fit, better than AirPods Pro 2
detailedReviews 27: content: Last week, I traded in my old pair of WF1000XM4's for these, and much like the previous model, they are excellent noise cancelling earbuds with long battery life, and great portability. In the interest of full disclosure, I use non-standard memory foam eartips from Comply, which in my particular case improve comfort and noise isolation. Sound quality is crisp and clear, the touch controls are relatively intuitive, the earbuds themselves feel relatively light, and can sit comfortable in my ears for hours at a time. The multiple-device connection feature works pretty seamlessly too, and it's very convenient for any situation that may require you to switch back and forth between two audio sources. For anyone looking for a set of ultra-portable noise cancelling headphones, I can highly recommend these.
Despite my general satisfaction, I do have a few minor gripes about this new model. The glossy plastic finish on the earbuds looks excellent, but it makes them feel a little slippery. I can't help but think it's going to lead to them getting dropped a few times. I've also run into a few bugs when using these earbuds to control Audible playback, especially when connecting to multiple devices at once. I'm hesitant to blame Sony for that, as I've definitely found Audible to be one of the most temperamental apps I use regularly when it comes to playback control, regardless of the device controlling it. Finally, while these do feel more comfortable than the outgoing model, I find it a little harder to get them in and out of my ears than the previous model due to the rounded design and glossy plastic surface. Adjusting how I hold them has helped, but it just doesn't feel as natural as it did with my old pair. Perhaps that's habit more than anything, as I had that pair for almost 3 years. All of these are minor issues, none of which would lead me to choose a different product over these, but I felt compelled to mention them nevertheless.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Excellent noise cancelling, long battery life, great portability
detailedReviews 28: content: Background: I've had the WF-1000XM3s, then the 4's and now I'm onto the 5's. I also own a pair of the WX-1000XM3 over-the-ear cans and Pixel Buds A series. I've been an NYC resident for over 6 years, and one of my biggest reasons for sticking with these Sony buds is because they maintain a stable connection in what is possibly the most crowded RF environment in North America. Granted, I think the wireless earbud space has improved dramatically over the last two years, to the point where even my sub-$100 Pixel Buds don't have any connection issues.
Form factor & comfort: the buds fit very snugly in my ear and is a step up from the XM4's. I think this contributes to better passive noise cancellation. They also weigh less. The case is slightly smaller, which is a welcome change. In this category, the jump from the XM3's to the XM4's was dramatic (the 3's were super kloogy), but is less of a leap going from the XM4's to the XM5's.
Sound quality: The XM5's sound signature is quite similar to the XM4's but there seems to be some more depth in the midrange. Sound quality with ANC on is noticeably better than the XM4. Overall stellar, and in my opinion, superior to my wife's Airpods Pro.
Noise cancellation: This is markedly improved over the XM4s. The passive noise cancellation is probably the best I've ever experienced on any wireless earbuds, to the point where I don't even need to enable the ANC unless I'm riding a noisy city bus or flying on a plane. With ANC on, audio quality takes a significantly lower hit compared to the XM4s.
Software: This is a space where Japanese electronics manufacturers have traditionally struggled, but the Android app is reasonably intuitive. The EQ is a also a legit EQ, which I appreciate. I haven't bothered with the 360 reality or other overlay-type features. I also like the head gestures -- very Apple-esque. I'm surprised the Airpods haven't gotten something like this. Lastly, if you have an Android phone like me, the integration into the OS is pretty tight.
Negatives: My only gripe is with the case lid. For some reason, Sony can't seem to figure out how to make the lid not jostle around a bit. The lid on my XM4s was always wobbly and, while it's more snug on the XM5, it's still not perfect. Also, it should be $50 cheaper ($250 instead of $300).
Conclusion: if you're coming from the XM3s, upgrading is a no-brainer. From non-Sony, non-Apple earbuds, probably worth it in my opinion. From the XM4s, it's a tougher sell especially given the premium price, but probably worth it if you want the superior passive noise cancellation and better audio quality with ANC on.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Stellar sound, improved ANC, reasonable app
detailedReviews 29: content: Great sound and features for the price. Overall, these earbuds have been great. I use these in all sorts of conditions. Work, Gym, Music, Phone calls, etc.
The device does a great job at managing connections and easily connects to more than one device without issue. For example, I can have them paired to my laptop for a teams/zoom call as well as having them connected to my phone for incoming calls or music. The experience is seamless enough that I actually forget its connected to multiple devices.
Call quality on these are fantastic. Both my mic and incoming conversations are very clear and they do a great job of cutting out external noise in my environment for others on the call while also reducing the impact I hear around me with noise cancelling.
The noise cancelling overall is also great. While they are not the quietest I have experienced, they are top tier and have no issue with the noise cancelling they provide. If you have the setting at maximum, you will have trouble understanding someone talking right next to you. These do have a great feature for that though. If enabled you can allow these to cut through the noise cancelling when you begin a conversation with someone, immediately letting the surrounding noise or conversation back into your ears.
Sound quality for music is also great. The equalizer is more than enough for earbuds and the delivered quality sound that was better than I expected for an earbud. That being said... these are not audiophile, wired, over the ear quality sound. But for streaming music on your phone (at a likely lower bitrate than you realize) they are fantastic. When connected to a proper audio source with a high bitrate, they still perform well but wouldn't recommend these as your main set of headphones if that's what you are looking for,
The only downside to these are the ear canal inserts. While they come with multiple sizes, I just find they don't fit as snug as I would like across the range. They are not memory foam so you don't get much play in terms of expansion in your ear. They also get dirty very easily and are hard to clean. Thankfully, the small mesh grate is part of the ear insert and not in the unit itself, but it gets jammed up easily even if you clean your ears regularly. This does impact the sound and you will need to maintain these regularly. The pads themselves are also a bit brittle. The exterior layer is easily scratched off or damaged so its best to use a cleaning solution of some kind.
Overall, great tech.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Great sound, seamless connections, fantastic call quality
detailedReviews 30: content: I bought mine a little over 14 months ago as I needed a smaller alternative to my over the head 1000XM3 which I love still though they are held together with tape now but still sound delicious.
Positives:
The sound is excellent though I do advise you to give them a few hours of play to let them fully settle in and bass become richer. Great balance between the treble, mids and bass, though you might want to use the customizing equaliser (part of the app) to tweak the sound to the way like the balance
With 3 different sizes of ear buds you'll find one that fits correctly for your ear
The software (app) is excellent and very easy to use, I especially use the equalizer function
Charging is fast and convenient and the charge has a pretty long life.
For me, the main selling point is the noise cancelling, which is second to none and as a frequent flyer on long haul flights they have been a saviour of many sleepless nights
Cons:
As a user of Sony headphones for many years XM3 / XM4 / XM5. I have now had the same problem with both my XM4 & XM5 ear buds at the 14 month stage. On both occasions I have lost 90% of volume in the left ear for no apparent reason. Sony after service have helped with many suggestions on how I may reset the ear buds but to no avail. Maybe I have been unlucky to have two pairs that have failed in the same way. As I write this review I'm in the process of talking to Sony about a way forward which will hopefully restore my XM5's to their former glory.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Excellent sound, easy to use app, second to none ANC
detailedReviews 31: content: The sound quality, noise cancelling and battery life are great, as they should be at this price point.
I wore them on a one hour walk conversing with a friend. They locked into my ear and held tight. I never had to touch them once, despite moving my jaw constantly during the conversation. I had the noise cancelling off for most of the walk so I could hear vehicles behind me but easily switched it on with one finger tap while crossing over a loud highway. My companion never noticed any transition and commented after the walk they I had been loud and clear the entire time we talked. (I did go through the software's ear tip fit test, which had me swap into the large ear tips.)
My next test was binging movies on an LDAC blue ray player. They were comfortable for over four hours. As an added bonus, their shape allows comfortable use with my ski and cycling helmets.
As a side sleeper I found them just a bit too bulky for sleep usage, but they did stay in place through the night, and the battery lasted until morning in "connection stability" mode, which makes the most efficient use of the battery.
My next flight will complete my test, but I have no reason to doubt that their tiny case, great noise cancelling and long battery life will make them my go-to choice for air travel.
Overall, they do all the things I need them to do, and they do them well.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Great sound, noise cancelling, and battery life
detailedReviews 32: content: Note: I'm not a fan of consumable foam inserts in general (the EP-NI1010 series replacements seem difficult to find) so I used third-party silicone ones for comfort and longevity.
Physically both the charging case and the buds are smaller. Pairing with multiple Bluetooth devices is more intuitive with the case's physical button. The surfaces of these buds are smoother and slightly more difficult to handle than their matte predecessors.
No need to choose a language with these buds (language prompts replaced with two-toned sound prompt indicating connection with earbuds), plus support for more app services. Sound-pressure readings help listeners keep the volume at a safe, comfortable level.
Location settings allow dynamic noise-canceling to do its job (or remain off) at home or on a bus/train, just like the predecessor earbuds. Sound quality for podcasts is more than adequate.
Overall these earbuds are a marked upgrade from the predecessor WF-1000XM4s and their well-documented battery issue. I look forward to them being supported by more devices with future firmware updates (e.g. GoPro for stereo sound recording).
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Marked upgrade from WF-1000XM4s, better pairing
detailedReviews 33: content: I bought the Sony XM5 earphones because I’ve never really been happy with my AirPods Pro. In many aspects, the XM5 are fantastic and definitely better than the AirPods Pro e.g. fit, comfort, general noise cancelling (although not for airplane noise), sound quality etc. What I haven’t liked as much has been the lack of configuration options / locked-down settings of the Sound Connect app e.g. only certain music apps can be assigned to taps (e.g. Amazon Music, Spotify). Also, the remaining charge of the XM5 case can’t be displayed unless the Sound Connect app is connected and running etc. I realise this latter point is likely an iOS limitation but the former point about lack of configurability / customisation is definitely a Sony issue.
The ANC is generally very good but isn’t as great with airplane background noise.
The biggest advantage the XM5 has is just how comfortable they are in the ears; it’s very easy to forget you’re wearing them! They also don’t fall out easily (very much unlike AirPods Pro) and I have no hesitation wearing them whilst being active. They just don’t fall out.
If I was able to be a decision-maker for Sony, I’d make the Sound Connect app a LOT more customisable and also improve the ANC a bit more.
Overall, I’m quite happy with the XM5.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Fantastic comfort, good ANC, but app needs customization
detailedReviews 34: content: Had two of my Bose Sound sport go bad. It's time for upgrade. Originally I was deciding on Audio-Techinca but decided to spend a little more and get the Sony due to popularity and great reviews. Got my Sony in the mail, first time hearing it was a disappointed, absolutely lack of bass. But then, I went to the Sony app and adjusted the equalizer and sounded better but still not as good as my old Bose Sound Sport. After 3 days of playing the bass got better and better. I guess the speakers needs to break in first for the first time. The noise cancellation is great but I can't wear it for extended time as it gives me headaches from the sensation of pressure in the ears. I searched it up it is know effects for some people using noise cancellation earpiece. There is no actual pressure. Not fault of Sony as it could be any other brands. One thing annoys me a bit is my local gym, lots of teens and pretty much everyone wears headphones and about half of them are using Sony so I get a lot of interference, music cutting on and off or one of the earpiece will have more static than other.
I visited another gym that is farther from my house, older crowds and less headphones usage. My Sony works fine at this gym. Despite these issues I still love my Sony WF-1000XM5
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Great sound, good noise cancellation, some interference
detailedReviews 35: content: I still have my XM4 earbuds but I’m having the same problem as a lot of other users of the XM4 have and that’s one of the earbuds batteries is faulty and now loses it’s charge very fast (mine was about 1 hour from an apparent full charge). So I have now purchased the XM5 earbuds. It took a bit of tweaking in the app to get the sound I wanted and now I can’t quit using them. They are lighter and last for hours. What I did need to do is switch out the foam ear tips for the silicone ones as they work better for my ear type. Everyone’s ears are different and the earbuds need to be tailored to your own ears even if that means changing out the earbuds tips. I love using the 360 reality function. It makes my listening experience much better for those songs recorded in 360. I use my Prime unlimited music account exclusively as they have sets of 360 music that other users suggest are good. As long as these ear buds don't get the same problem as my XM4s. These are expensive earbuds but I find it’s worth it to me.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Great sound, lighter, lasts for hours
detailedReviews 36: content: These Sony IN-Ear headphones come supplied in a very lightweight and smart looking case. They are supplied with a selection of quality earbud tips in various sizes ensuring you can obtain the best possible fit for your ear size and shape. I was impressed with the quality of the design and the finish on these in ear headphones.
I found these in ear headphone to be extremely comfortable when wearing fitting snug in my ear without any pain and they really did feel secure and that it would take a lot for them to fall out (which they didn’t).
These headphones connected instantly and without issue to several of my devices and I downloaded the app (link provided with the headphones) to enable me to fine tune my listening experiences through these headphones. This includes adjustments to the ambient noise levels and also the 360 Reality Auto settings. You can also get the app to survey your ears and adapt for a better individual experience.
I was able to take these headphones away on holiday with me where I was able to see how good they are in a number of different situations. These included on a flight, around a busy hotel pool and walking through busy streets.
I found that the noise cancelling properties were superb allowing the sound of either the music or the audiobooks to come through very clearly, without distraction.
I was able to make and receive calls whilst using these headphones quickly and easily and again the quality of the call was really good.
I found that functionality of these headphones was excellent and intuitive, pausing play, skipping tracks, taking calls etc.
My experience is that the sounds through these headphones was clear and of really good quality, although for me personally I prefer a slightly deeper bass sound in my music that I could find / adjust to through the app. I am still looking within the app to try and make this fine tune adjustment.
This would be my only negative find (but as stated this is a personal preference) on these otherwise excellent in ear headphones and I would recommend these quality headphones.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Extremely comfortable, superb noise cancelling, good call quality
detailedReviews 37: content: After having my older WF-1000XM4's stolen, the newer model seemed to be the obvious upgrade as a replacement. Sadly I was proved wrong! There's nothing wrong with the audio, they sound great with the exception that the right hand bud would cut out intermittently. This happened when walking around with my iPhone in my pocket, yet taking my phone out and holding it in my hand seemed to resolve the issue. Not ideal! So I returned them for a new pair. Exactly the same problem! Today I walked out using my Sony headphones and there was no issue so sadly I have to conclude that there is a build issue with this particular model. One other minor issue is that the older model had voice instructions such as "noise cancelling off" when these earbuds just played a tone when operating them. Ultimately I returned the second pair for a full refund. There was no issue in doing so, John Lewis were great at dealing with me. I'm now looking at a non-Sony replacement.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Great sound, but intermittent right bud cutting out
detailedReviews 38: content: Having previously owned the previous generation (1000XM4) I kind of knew what to expect with these. I was pleasantly surprised to see, however, that they have managed to improve on an already great set of noise cancelling earbuds. The XM5 model features smaller and lighter earbuds than the previous generation, as well as a slightly smaller case. Sound quality remains excellent, although testing the XM4 and XM5 side by side gives the impression that perhaps Sony cut back just a smidgeon on the low end in the newer model. That's not to say it's necessarily a bad thing unless you like loud thumping bass. Overall the tone is more neutral and even across the spectrum, with none of the harshness on the high end that is typical of lower cost true wireless earbuds. Noise cancellation is excellent but still not quite to class-leading. You'll want well fitting over the ear headphones for that. The box includes four earbud tips in total: extra small, small, medium (on the earbuds right out of the box) and large. I found the large to give me the best fit and noise isolation of all the choices, although they're less comfortable that the mediums due to the tight fit necessary to really get the most out of the canceling effect. Battery life of the earbuds seems improved over the previous generation; listening for about 3 hours yeilds around 70% remaining battery with LDAC (highest quality audio) and full noise cancelling enabled. The charging case looks to be able to charge 2-3 times from near-dead before it needs recharging. If there's one demerit, it's that these earbuds are slick plastic and easy to drop. I had a pretty hard time getting the XM4's out of their case, and they had a matte finish that was easier to grip. The glossy finish on these is even more slick and difficult to hang on to! It's also really easy to repeatedly hit the action buttons while putting the earbuds in, going into and out of noise cancellation (left earbud) and starting and stopping my music (right earbud). Other than that, however, it's been a stellar experience.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Excellent sound, good ANC, improved battery life
detailedReviews 39: content: I've had the WF-1000XM4's for a year and other than the buds wearing out in weeks, they were superb. (£40 to replace official buds, absolute rip off btw!). I decided to upgrade to the XM5's due to their form factor, and that they would fit in my ear better. They do, that and the ANC upgrade makes the purchase adequate. However the battery life is significantly reduced for some reason. On occasions, I fall asleep listening to EMDR, with these new XM5's in my ears. Only to be rudely awakened by them telling me the battery is low. The XM4's lasted long enough for me to wake up naturally.
Both are charged to 100% before the EMDR.
I also don't like the fact you can't turn off the touch sensor chime. Yes, you can turn the functionality off, but the chime still dings every time you touch it, or it is knocked.
Overall, I don't really enjoy these as much as I should due to the lack of battery life and lack of customising sound options (like removing the chime)
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Great sound, but reduced battery life
detailedReviews 40: content: Be sure to start with the largest ear cushion, and work your way down to the smallest; as the product manual dictates. These earbuds have exceptional sound quality, better than my BOSE QC quiet comfort earbuds to say the least. My BOSE QC earbuds have a tendency to completely lose all sound output in one of the earbuds. I have found the Sony WH1000XM5 earbuds have far be/er sound qualitiy than the BOSE QC that i no longer use. Unfortunately my SONY WH1000XM5 earbuds got stollen and no way to locate the. In any regard, with which ever earbud you choose. Be wise by going the extra mile, by putting forth a little effort and time ASAP and register your product. I failed to do this with my SONY wh-1000xm5 earbuds, and now I remain without them, as they have gotten stollen.
Now with the cons or con rather, as I was self explanatory earlier. There is no way to track down who stollen your buddies without registering them, then download a tracking app in hopes that you get lucky enough to vet reunited with you earbuds that you may have spent you hard earned money on.
Oh, one feature that is vital and can be greatly improved on with all earbud types and models, are the QC quiet comfort features. should be greatly improved on. While listening to music (not very loud at all) I was unable to hear my family talking to me. The ambient noise (surrounding noises, mainly someone talking to you) was very hard to hear them or anyone else, without them raising their voice, almost at a point that they was yelling before i could hear them talking. I understand the QC feature is to immerse you into your music or audio book, without disruptions. But at the same time you need to hear people when they open their mouth and speak.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Exceptional sound quality, but ANC could be improved
detailedReviews 41: content: Performance:Feature rich tech, U shaped sound
Product Quality:Good build, but careful with the hinge
Best Feature:Discounted price
The Sony XM5 tws earbuds are still worth it 2 years after its launch. They still offer great sound paired with a feature rich app experience; comparable to many newer tws earbuds to date. And getting them at a discounted price from Pixelplay sure helps sweeten the deal. My only gripe are the foam tips. Theyre great for sound quality. But you would want good aftermarket silicon tips like those from azla if you want sturdier eartips that won't disintegrate on you.
Shipped securely and arrived sealed and in great condition. The 11k price tag for these 2 year old earbuds is very much fair but still is a steal for what youre getting. Thank you so much Pixelplay for another amazing deal. And thank you shopee for making it possible!
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Great sound, feature-rich app, good value
detailedReviews 42: content: Using a new pair of earbuds for the first time, out of the box, after years of using wired headphones is a revelation. I was expecting some discomfort and loose fit, but no. Not once did the ear buds come loose or cause discomfort, indeed after a while I forgot I was wearing ear buds at all. It is obvious how much thought has gone into the design and functionality of these buds that it is hard to find any faults at all. The design is sleek, functional and very compact, they do not look cumbersome in use and store in the compact case well. Sound quality is amazing, I am hearing elements of music I didn't know were there previously! Noise cancelling is excellent, cutting out the sound of running water with one touch of the earbud. Ambient mode is useful when moving around or outdoors to stay informed of what is happening around you. Using the app (iOS and Android) makes using the many features easy and along with the touch controls on the earbuds gives full control at any time. I would recommend downloading the full user manual to access the full range of features of the earbuds. Battery life is good at 5 hours between charging in the storage box which extends this to 24 hours, but a 3 minute charge in the storage box gives around an hour of use. Charging the storage box takes around 2 hours. Battery levels of the individual ear buds and box are shown in the app, very useful. Using the earbuds is very straightforward and simple, especially using the app. The ear buds feel solid and have a little weight to them so I'm sure they will survive regular use and abuse with no problem.
In my mind these earbuds are surprisingly easy to use(even as a 70 yr old), considering the range of features, excellent value for money and I would definitely recommend them to others as a versatile, functional and satisfying product.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Amazing sound, excellent noise cancelling, easy to use
detailedReviews 43: content: Pro:
- Seamless connection to iPhone, immediate connection as soon as the ear bud is removed from the case.
- AMAZING sound quality, very useful ambient sound mode, effective ANC.
- Convenient tap controls on the buds.
- Small, compact charging case.
- Incredibly light and comfortable.
- Great battery life.
- Comfortable memory foam tips - multiple size options.
- EQ settings on Sony’s app - simple, yet very effective custom EQ settings.
Cons:
- Glossy plastic surface can cause the buds to come slightly loose at times - does not include any foam/silicone sleeves to help secure the buds in place.
- Sometimes the ear buds won’t connect to the app - can be resolved by putting the buds back in the case, then taking them out (this is a minor inconvenience).
- Higher price.
Overall:
- Definitely would recommend!
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Seamless connection, amazing sound, great battery life
detailedReviews 44: content: The sound quality and ANC are really good, but the sensors malfunction so much.
The touch sensors (which this has instead of buttons) have a really annoying delay which makes it hard to tell if my press registered, so I try pressing again and it turns out both registered so now I paused then unpaused my song and I sit there looking like an idiot for 30 seconds while someone is trying to talk to me, but I can't take the ear buds out because the wear detectors will detect my fingers so my music will play and pause repeatedly in my other ear. Also if I'm working out and my hair gets sweaty and touches the buds, they think I pressed them so it starts pausing or skipping my song every 10 seconds, and wiping them off doesn't fix it so I just need to end my workout early. And sometimes (maybe sweat got in the microphone?) the ANC in one bud will break and make a constant buzzing sound for a day or two before it goes back to normal.
First impressions were really good, but the little annoyances and design flaws are a death by a thousand paper cuts. They're decent for sitting still at a desk, but incredibly annoying at the gym.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Good sound and ANC, but problematic sensors
detailedReviews 45: content: These are spendy but they work, they FIT, They are multipoint, LDAK is "lossless" for those of us who like to pretend we can tell the difference between high and master settings on TIDAL or other fancy streaming/download services. Not to mention, it is some dark magic that these phones can bump as hard as they do pushing this level of quality sound while having any decent battery life to speak of. Their app is one of, if not THE best of all the smartphone apps, especially among those that the app is required. There is one issue I cover at the end. The 360 Audio is great and not overcooked like so many companies who be like, "We aren't Dolby but, Hey look over there!"
They are light-weight, low profile, have superb noise canceling (not as good as Bose, but Bose's offering in this category is a non-starter for SO many people not just me) and their sound profiles are amazing. Ah-MAZE-ing. They are even water resistant ALMOST as good as Samsung, just one IPX rating lower, and Samsung uses their ruggedness against water and dust as a major, and valid, selling point to make up for their other shortcomings.
If you are in the $300 price range or considering it, Sony's model WFthehecktoolongmodelnumberXM5's
are a lot like that nice, smart, but small and quieter kid who's dad has been teaching them Jiu-jitsu since before they could walk. They are awfully dominant at this premium price point.
I am proud to have these and I am keeping until they fall apart.
Ok, one thing I MUST say is REALLY bad but there is a super quick work around. Here it is:
VERY serious issue. The APP is AMAZING and this won't bother some people but Sony is pretending they need a photo of your ears and head to optimize sound. I am not kidding. In a world where our data and likeness and voice and contacts and photos and on and on are everywhere, asking to take a photo of me in order to have access to use the $300 headphones you sold me is, pardon the pun, about as tone-deaf as a company could ever be. Now the work around is so easy they still get 5 stars. Just stick your hand or something in front of the camera and choose, "take photo manually." Then take two photos of your hand. The odds that there is ANY sound adjustment made between a photo of my fist and a photo of my actual ear is just not passing the smell test. This is so ridiculous it is hard not to call it nefarious but let's not assign malice where incompetence is available, Sony is not Alley-Ex TokTok, after all. They should have just put a photo of some ears and asked me to pick which ones mine most look like. Also their terms and conditions are 10,000 words and you must scroll through all of it. It basically says Sony will collect anything it can via these headphones and do whatever the heck it wants with whatever it can get. But so is everyone else and at least Sony is being honest about it. Once that is out of they way they are great. Really, go get these.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Dominant at premium price point, amazing app
detailedReviews 46: content: Firstly, would like to commend Sony on the packaging, it arrived in a small cardboard box, with no plastic packaging in sight...and there were better things to come once opened.
The case itself is small and light, easy to carry in the smallest of pockets. I also have the WF--SP800N buds which a few years old and that case looks huge in comparison. The case looks super stylish too and feels premium, which is what I would expect from Sony
The earbuds themselves look great aesthetically, are very light to wear, even for longer periods of time. Sony included different size tips in the box, which is a great plus, so most people should be able to find the most fitting and comfortable one for them.
The buds are so light however, that I found myself checking to ensure they have not fallen out. Whilst they are light and comfortable to wear, I would like for them to feel more secure. I took them out on a run and whilst they did not fall out, I felt myself adjusting them all the time. I think for running I will stick with my old WF-SP008N, as they have those little wings to keep them in place, but other than that, these WF-1000XM5 win hands down in every category.
The clarity of sound is amazing. Yes, there could be a bit more bass, but the sound is bright , nuansed and balanced.
The set up via the app is wuick and it's easy to adjust the sound preferrences to your liking.
The touch controls on the buds themselves are very responsive, something I struggled with my older version.
I can see a marked improvement on the noise cancelling, including travelling on the very noisy London Underground system. Another noticeable improvement is the wind noise reduction, which is great when taking calls.
The battery last for ages, I had them for over a week and have not managed to run it down yet.
Overall, I love them. They may not be the top choice if choosing them for an activity like running, but in every other category, they are a marked improvement hands down. Exceptionally light to wear, easy to set up, responsive controls and most importantly, great sound.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Exceptional sound, responsive controls, great noise cancelling
detailedReviews 47: content: I bought these after my XM4 earbuds died, and I don't regret the purchase.
The XM5 buds are smaller, which makes them feel remarkably unintrusive in my ears. The noise cancelling is excellent (I use mine exclusively for music and podcasts while travelling), and the four sizes of bud tips is a great choice all around for accessibility.
I'm not too fond of the shiny black colouring on them, and much prefer the XM4 matte black style, but this doesn't affect the performance of the buds.
While smaller - which I like - the form factor is very different from the XM4 in that I hope you're being careful when replacing the buds back in their case or removing them - don't stand near sewer grates because I can easily imagine them slipping and falling.
Otherwise very, very good! No regrets on this purchase. Easy recommendation.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Smaller buds are unintrusive, excellent noise cancelling
detailedReviews 48: content: You will not be disappointed with the sound, call quality and suite of features. Sony have brought a lot of handy features to these earbuds and the app. Of course, the sound quality is just delightful. One aspect that could be improved are the materials and design. The glossy finish is very slippery both in the ear and hands. I already lost one earbud that fell out. Also I'm not convinced about the foam tips. They certainly boost noise cancellation, but I feel like the foam is not as grippy as silicon, especially when excess wax or sweat is present. The overall fit is okay, but could be improved to make it more secure. Thankfully the earbuds are very light weight and comfortable for long periods of use.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Fantastic soundstage, adequate noise cancelling
detailedReviews 49: content: So these headphnes, I love them and I hate them.
First things first. The sound quality is amazing.
They block noise quite well.
They work well. The active noice cancelling as no negative side effects for me and helps (a little.) Which is absolutely not an issue for me.
What really shines is the sound proofing with the foam! So its more like excellent passive noise cancelling rather than electronics - Which I actually like
Whats far more annoying is that they wont hold in my ears and slip out.
dont bother about the digital features. The idea is nice, but they will bust your ears by switching settings to amplifying all environment sound every so often. SUPER annoying, but there is a quick fix: -> switch to manual mode only.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Amazing sound, blocks noise well
detailedReviews 50: content: Great sound when listening to music, excellent call reception, the design itself requires minor improvements.
The headphones look great, but are made of very slippery plastic. This makes it difficult to take them out of the case and it is extremely easy to drop them.
Gesture control leaves a bit to be desired, it is not intuitive and does not quite work in my case.
The case itself, small and very neat, does not give the impression of being solid.
I am also not able to. I like the very firm positioning of the headphones in the ear canal. I cannot achieve such an effect.
I am comparing it with Jabra Elite 8 Active. Sony definitely offers much better sound. Ergonomics of use, solid construction are definitely an advantage of Jabra.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Great sound, but poor handling and fit
detailedReviews 51: content: I previously had Bose quiet comfort 2s and had nothing but blutooth connection issues.
Id got used to that so when i changed to Sony i was amazed at the easy connection every time.
Never failed once in a month!
Only issue for me is there a very little bad shy. Not enough to be returned though. Mind these are ear buds and there is always going to be a limit.
I just feel if a 10 is the max bass any earbuds can do these rate a 7.5
Very well made, brilliant case, better than bose in every way other than slightly shy bass.
Even the app is better. For instance you DO NOT have to enable location gps just for the app to work like Bose. This may mean nothing to you but it's huge to me.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Easy connection, good sound, shy bass
detailedReviews 52: content: Noise reduction is poor, not as good as my Amazon ear buds. Not been able despite using all of the supplied ear tips to get a pass on the fit test in the app. I have completed the request for alternative ear tips in the app but as yet I have had no confirmation of the coming or that the request was made.Phone calls don’t come through to the ear buds if I answer it on my phone, the head nodding feature does bring the call to the buds but takes quite vigorous and multiple nods which is somewhat embarrassing in public. Call quality is poor. Using Alexa requires a loud command which is not acceptable in public. Doesn’t work at all in my motorcycle helmet maybe a tough test but my lost air pods pro worked ok. The talk to mute function is ok and, annoyingly works well in my motorcycle helmet so why not Alexa. Disappointed is the best I can offer
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Poor noise reduction, difficult fit, bad call quality
detailedReviews 53: content: I previously owned the WF-1000XM4s for two years and replaced them with these after sending those in for repairs multiple times. I'd like to echo what other reviewers have said, as well as my own thoughts. First, the smaller buds compared to last gen is an improvement overall. They are lighter and easier to insert, but since I have a big head and ears, I actually slightly preferred the older, larger design. I acknowledge though that the new design is objectively better despite my preference. I also really like that the ear tips have a mesh filter now, as everything stays cleaner. One thing about design I really don't like is the shiny plastic body. Not only do I feel they look cheaper compared to the matte, textured finish of the predecessor, but they make the earbuds slippery and more difficult to handle. They are hard to pinch and pull out of the case, so I have to push them out from the side instead. Also, when I put the XM4s in, I liked to twist them a bit back and forth to get a really snug seal, but the slick plastic of the XM5s makes that difficult and results in a less secure feeling fit (though they haven't fallen out yet). Spund quality seems about on-par with the XM4s. I hope they update them with an option to hear the listening mode read out loud when wearing like on last gen so that it's easier to tell what mode you're currently on. Overall, I think these are a great upgrade for most people, but I admittedly prefer the old design. Still happy with them overall!
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Smaller buds are an improvement, but slippery plastic
detailedReviews 54: content: These earphones are a great upgrade over the xm4 if the size of those earbuds bothered you. However, the xm5 is more difficult to handle because of the glossy black material that makes up most of the body of these earbuds. Make sure your hands are dry after you work out with these, because they will slip between your fingers if there is even a little moisture.
The sound quality is good for my use case. I like the clear and powerful bass and the highs are clear and crisp without being overpowering. Combining that with the great noise cancelation makes these headphones a treat to use in the gym.
The noise cancelation is next level. It is incredible how well these are able to block out sounds, and the transparency mode is excellent.
The app is very easy to use, and there is plenty of useful adjustments that can be made within the app. I like the new custom EQ that lets you determine the equalizer setting based on how you like music to sound. Great little extra feature.
Overall, I like where Sony went with these earbuds. If there is a criticism I have, it is in the choice of material. The smooth material is difficult to work with. It takes some wiggling to get them to sit snuggly in the ear without feeling awkward. There is a very prominent foreign body sensation when they aren't sitting correctly and the sound is obviously distorted as a result. But get the fit right, and you will be pleased with the result.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Good sound, great noise cancellation, easy app
detailedReviews 55: content: Probably pretty nice earbuds but neither myself nor my wife could make them fit and seal properly in either L or R ears. We tried all the ear tip sizes included with the buds, but none would achieve a proper seal according to the included test. Fit is of primary importance to us and includes their stability in the ear, wear comfort, and seal (for correct sound isolation/cancelation). If earbuds don't fit, then all their positive attributes fade into the background.
Thankfully Best Buy allowed us to return them for full credit. So 5 Stars to them.
We have moved on to evaluation of Bose Quite Comfort Ultra Earbuds, also from Best Buy. Evaluation is ongoing.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 2
title: Could not achieve proper fit or seal
detailedReviews 56: content: I have used the Bose QC ultra and enjoyed them but lost them and decided to give these a try. The sound quality feels more clear with vocals and the multi point is the best feature I didn't know I needed.
I can watch YouTube on my Samsung phone and simply pause the video/music and start playing something on my iPad and it switches seamlessly.
I am fairly new to wireless earbuds as I have mostly only used Sennheiser and beyerdynamic. These are so convenient to carry around and they have been very comfortable to me. I worry about them falling out more than the Bose but they have been pretty snug.
The battery life is incredible. I have fallen asleep with these and have woken up 8 hours later with them still charged (Nothing playing with ANC on). this is a big advantage over the Bose. I feel like the ANC is not as good but it's really hard to tell. They are quite similar enough to me that it doesn't matter.
Just a note on the apps between the two. The Bose app almost always fails to connect and requires re-pairing the buds or at least 20+ tries to get the app working to change settings or EQ but the Sony app works flawless and is always ready to go to make adjustments or EQ.
The only issue I have had with these is the touch controls. I wish I could remap them to whatever I want but you can only set them between a couple of predefined profiles(Bose is the same if I am remembering right).
Overall I am really enjoying the Sony XM5 buds
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Clear vocals, best multi-point, flawless app
detailedReviews 57: content: Let me preface with saying I’m an audiophile, and sound engineer. I have focal 906 bookshelves and svs pb3000 in my home, kenwood excelon components and FI subs in my car and Yamaha hs5s with and hs8s sub and Sony MDR 7506 cans in my studio and, so my standards are high. Sony knows how to make headphones, my MDR’s are incredibly neutral and accurate. I had the apple AirPod 2’s as my earbuds prior to these. I tried desperately to like them. For most people that use iOS devices, those will work quite well. For myself, I found them lack in sound quality, especially in the low-mid bass. It’s overdone, and muddy on top of that. I couldn’t find a preset in my iPhone that I could truly enjoy my music on. Not to say they are bad per se, ANC was good, integration within an iOS devices is great, and the “find my” feature is nicer. Despite my efforts to like them for more than just convenience, I couldn’t, and gave them away. I was torn between these, the Bose QC II’s, the B&W’s and the sennheiser momento’s. I had a set of Bose QC 35 cans. The ANC on those is astonishing, they have typical Bose tuning (emphasized bass and bright highs) and are great for when I want that Bose sound. After hours and hours of reading reviews, I boiled it down to the Bose and these. The Bose probably have a tad better ANC, as they should. (They invented the tech after all) but I decided to let sound quality be the deciding factor, as I listen to all kinds of music, and wanted the most neutral and accurate sound possible. The Sonys, to me, are perfect. More comfortable in my ear then the AirPod pro 2’s, more accurate, more robust midrange. I feel like apple and Bose really tune their stuff to just try to squeeze a bit too much bass out of a tiny driver. Ironically, the Sonys have the larger driver of the 3 earbuds. Nice lightweight case, they cold a charge for longer than the AirPods and I couldn’t stand the finish on the AirPod case (scratches so easy). The ONLY area they aren’t flawless in is low bass, but it doesn’t bother me, again, quality over quantity (and I have 2 15” subs on 3500 watts in my car if I want that). I’m really impressed by these earbuds, very happy I gave away the AirPods and picked the xm5’s up.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Neutral and accurate sound, comfortable fit
detailedReviews 58: content: The general performance of these ear buds is good. Sound quality very good when EQ is used. Noise cancelling quite good for ear buds although not up to over the ears headset versions.
However I would rate the handling as very poor .
The buds automatically power up when you remove them from the case. They also automatically start playing the last listened too source ( In theory ) however as you handle them to insert into ears it is impossible to not to keep initiating the tap controls and end up switching noise cancelling on and off, Initiating next track which in case of BBC sounds turns out to be next broadcast or episode which extremely annoying.
Have even had them start randomly playing something on the Spotify app which a hardly ever use . On one occasion even started playing music from my iPad instead of my
Phone.
To increase / decrease volume requires 4 taps on one side of the other. Not easy to tap 4 times in the right spot so often end up jumping to next track or back to start . Instead of changing volume. Same happening you want to resposition in the ears eg in middle of training in gym.
Did anyone actually try these buds out at the design stage
All quite absurd. Badly need a way to disable some of these default tap commands which seems impossible. Also need option not to have them auto play immediately out of the case instead of having to open the app and switch them off.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Good sound, but poor handling and tap controls
detailedReviews 59: content: Feels like Sony told its engineers to go nuts, then those engineers added everything to this headset but they never really tested it outside in real life.
I've had xms since xm2s. They all have been over the ear with the exception of xm4s which I returned because I did not like the size. I have my over the ear xm4s and I will not be separating from them any time soon.
I bought these xm5s because they are the smallest in ear phone made by a reputable company which can also fit inside my helmet.
These are absolute trash.
Left piece keeps cutting out for a split second then connects back immediately. Not sure whats going on with it. It is a random occurrence.
Sometimes the volume peaks for a split second then goes back to previous volume level. This is almost immediate so when it goes normal to high to normal volume levels, the high part feels like someone is blowing to your ears as you are listening.
If you have the ambient sound mode on, when you speak, you still hear the chime sound like it turns on ambient sound mode for chat? Why? I already have it on, why you making me listen to your on and off chime?
If you have the wrong ear pieces on, the sound degrades immensely... and I really mean immensely. I hope these can seal up your ear canals fully because otherwise you might as well listen from a megaphone.
They are worth half their price if even then. So yes, the engineers at Sony created an in ear headset that is packed with features while having one of the smallest form factors available in the general market. The problem it feels like is that none of them ever put them on... All these glitches should've been fixed before release. You are paying a premium price but you are not getting a premium product.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 2
title: Packed with features but has many glitches
detailedReviews 60: content: ANC is top notch, It will take some time to adapt to the fit of the buds, Awesome battery life, Sound quality is decent but not awesome. While comparing the sound quality, ear 2 will be better. The only major con is the poor call quality. While you want to attend/speak a phone in road/crowded place means huge white noise is produced and people at other end won't hear anything we speak clear. It's reducing the surrounding noise along with our vocal voice too. I don't know how a brand like sony...
marketplace: flipkart
source: flipkart
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/flipkart
starRating: 3
title: Top-notch ANC, but poor call quality
detailedReviews 61: content: The sound quality is really good and the ANC is excellent. But the only problem is the fit as it often irritates my ear. Rest everything works like a charm. Better not use while driving or walking
marketplace: flipkart
source: flipkart
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/flipkart
starRating: 4
title: Good sound quality, excellent ANC, fit irritates ear
detailedReviews 62: content: Three months in and im finally ready to review. As a summary, exceptional sound, but poor fit and controls bring it from peak quality to meh.
So the sound is great, i feel like I'm live and in person. Others have expounded upon this point way better than i ever could and they speak truth, its pretty excellent. The connection on these buds is solid even through walls and ive only had it drop out twice which was concerning, but rare enough its hardly even worth mentioning. There is no distortion and the connection is totally stable so in a technical sense its pretty perfect.
One minor problem is with the touch controls on the buds. they are different on each bud (one controls noise canceling, the other does play/pause) which was not ideal for me as i frequently use just one bud at a time, though i know thats a rare case for most people. The companion app allows some control over touch functions but not much. I'm optimistic that they may update the functionality in the future, but no guarantees.
The MAJOR problem is with the fit. I was prepared for this after reading reviews but i didnt realize the extent of the design flaw. First off the tips that come with the earbuds are extremely firm meaning if you go too small, they just fall out, but if you go one size bigger they expand and continuously squeeze out your ear canal. Again, i was prepared to change the ear tips and ended up with some great silicone ones.
While the comfort and fit was better with the new tips, the design and the weight distribution on the bud makes it so that unless you are sitting still and in an upright position, they simply start wobbling out of your ear and eventually work their way out. Coming from the Creative Outlier Air series this was a MASSIVE disappointment as, with those, i could do full on head banging and dance thrashing without ever losing a bud.
In summary, these are not the buds for a physically active listener. But if you intend to use these sitting down you will definitely get a treat for your ears.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Exceptional sound, but poor fit and controls
detailedReviews 63: content: I really like the WF-1000XM5 which I decided to get as a replacement for my 1st gen Airpods Pro after being impressed with the larger WH-1000XM5, which have served me well for almost a year so far. I definetely can recommend this product.
There are, however, a few minor issues I've faced after setting everything up:
1. The Endel integration can't be set up on two Sony headphones at the same time, while Spotify can; I reached out to Endel with that but it seems like there is nothing they can do to help with it at the moment.
2. The larger WH-1000XM5 doesn't do anything on a single tap for a reason - there can be accidental touches. This device is especially sensitive to them, most of the time when I'm just trying to adjust the fit to my ears, I trigger eaither the play/pause tap or the noise cancellation tap. Adjusting them in the ear requires getting used to after utilising AirPods, because there is no "tail" as a longer bit not sensitive to touch without being hardly pressed on.
3. The multiple tap (4 and more times) is often not recognised at all or mistaken for 2/3 taps gesture; and it's not very convenient overall.
4. The experience of using taps is not very pleasant. Essentially you are hammering the earbud into your ear whenever you do that. Even if one does it very gently, it will still feel like bumping into your ear :( not the most ergonomic solution for controls in my opinion, but apparently it's something that a lot of other companies do, too...
5. I wish the tap gesture presets could be customised by the user!
Anything else you can think of is absolutely amazing on this headphones! I hope Sony listens to the user feedback and will improve. All the issues to do with tap gestures can be easily erradicated by introducing swipes similarly to the larger over-ear headphones. Other manufacturers have already demonstrated that swipes can be implemented in small earbuds.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Amazing sound, but touch controls are problematic
detailedReviews 64: content: First, there are ZERO instructions included and you have to go online to find out anything on how to use these horrible earbuds. Then the directions don't work because the buds don't work as advertised.
These are supposed to be the flagship buds for Sony. I can't tell if they sound good because I can't figure out how to use them. The touch controls for these are absolutely horrible and you can't control them at all without using your device's controls. Every time you touch them something happens that ISN'T what you wanted it to do, like skip forward or back, or turn off the noise cancelling. Just touching them screws up whatever you're listening to. God forbid you try to change something while on the phone because you'll hang up on them. I want real physical buttons. The touch system with random tap controls is not worth the hassle. I will be returning them and getting a regular set of earphones with actual buttons that work - every time.
Oh... I'd like to ask the Sony engineers if they know how LOUD it sounds in your ear to TAP on an earbud several times? Who thought THAT was a good idea??? And then when it doesn't do what you wanted it to (like, every time) you have to TAP on it AGAIN. It is painfully loud and you do it over and over trying to get it to do something.
Totally disappointed in these. And for the price, it's a kick in the gut that they are so bad. I will definitely be returning them.
This website won't let me post this without assigning a star to the "break down" section even though it says it's OPTIONAL, so you get one star for each because your site is as bad as the product, apparently.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 1
title: Horrible touch controls, no instructions, very disappointing
detailedReviews 65: content: Sony has had 5 generations to figure out how to put a mesh filter over their earbud nozzle, instead in typical sony fashion they innovate in a way nobody asked and sell you the solution: we put the mesh on the eartips. Great, but the eartips SUCK. These things slip out of my ears no matter what size im using because Sony didn't design these for human ears. Aftermarket foam tips gave me a better fit and seal, but thats literally an addition to an already steep price tag. Lets talk about where the true problem is, the sound and your lack of options for tuning said sound. I love bass, infact you might say I'm a bass enthusiast, but I HATE the bass on these. Sonys "clear bass" is an audio travesty, an algorithm that "enhances" and blows out the low end just making it muddied, it sounds unnatural and offends my ears. It completely misses out on warmth, lacks in bounce, and offers no depth. Essentialy just makes low end things go thud, incredibly sloppy for a flagship 300 dollar product. "But dont use clear bass" you may say, in which I say if you don't then the bass is flimsy. Absolutely hate this direction on sound tuning, its lazy, the eq options are lackluster at best, and Sony couldn't be bothered to tune them properly out of the box and instead invested in gimmicks on "enhancing" it. Make a good product next time Sony
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 1
title: Hate the bass tuning, lackluster EQ options
detailedReviews 66: content: This is my first noise-cancelling wireless earbud. I already have a Sony XBA-H1 Hi-Res wired earbud and a couple of Sony WH1000XM3 headphones, an Oppo PM3 headphone and a Sony MDR-1A headphones.
The WF1000XM5 has good sonics, decent bass but like my Sony NC headphones, only decent highs. The Sony MDR-1A, XBA-H1 and Oppo PM3 has better detail in the highs, I think this is the nature of NC phones.
Comfort is so-so. I couldn't get a snug fit with any of the supplied buds. They were either too big or too small. I also don't like the new touch sensor controls, to adjust the volume, the four taps is ridiculous. The timing of the taps is critical for it to sense what you want to do. I keep activating the wrong functions. The prior model just had a touch and hold to adjust the volume. The auto turn off feature takes too long to kick in. Battery life really drops when you activate all the features on the earbuds. The ANC does not work as good as NC headphones.
The BT connectivity is inconsistent. It works great with my two newer Walkmans. But the signal constantly drops on the right channel with my older Sony NWZ-A17 Walkman and my iPhone 15 Pro, like every several seconds. It seems to be an antenna issue as there is less dropouts when the device is on the same side as the right earbud. Put the device on the left pocket and the dropouts get pretty severe. It's not the Bluetooth version because the iPhone has BT 5.3, the newer Walkmans have 5.0 (the NWZ-A17 has
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: So-so comfort, inconsistent BT connectivity
detailedReviews 67: content: I loved the sound from these earbuds but hated the ear tips which I found incredibly uncomfortable, even when the app told me the fit was perfect. I also found the textures and shape of the body of the earbuds very difficult to hold well enough to make positioning and removal straightforward and free from the risk of dropping them and damaging them. Getting them out of their charging cradle was not easy either. Very poor physical design in my book. I reached out to Sony for support re the ear tips to get replacements and found that process infuriating. I ordered the buds from Argos and received what Argos sends out re purchases: order confirmation, collection, instruction and collection completion confirmation, and in response got a mail suggesting, though this was not clear that more information was needed! All for a few inexpensive (to Sony) eartips. I'm afraid that did it for me and I returned them for a refund and bought technics az100s.
Frankly, a product may be the ultimate one in the audio lab, but if they don’t fit or are so uncomfortable that you get pain and discomfort in the ear canal, then they might as well be garbage. The technics sound easily as good and are so much easier to grip and fit and as far as comfort is concerned, I hardly know I’m wearing them. (Customer service got back to me but by then I’d got rid of them.)
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Uncomfortable ear tips, poor physical design
detailedReviews 68: content: I was expecting a little better with this product. Although I do find these earbuds are not quite as good as my Technics they do have their good points.
The one area where I find my Technics perform a bit better is in the volume. The volume limitation with these buds is a fair bit lower than that of my Technics. One other area that needs improving for these buds is the connectivity. I am fully aware that BT (Bluetooth) signals can be interfered with by other devices, machinery and even badly earthed car engines but the Techics do have an advantage over the SonyXM5 in that they tend to pick up much less of that interference thus when listening to music I don't get that constant drop out that makes a track appear like a vinyl record that is jumping a lot. Just as a jumping vinyl record one is enjoying the music and the lyrics for it to skip some of that music and lyrics albeit not too badly. To make it even better there are sometimes even a sound like a vinyl scratching which for listening to older tracks of 60s, 70s or 80s gives the authentic effect like listening to an original 45rpm single that is being played with a blunt needle. So, the BT connection between the buds and the phone does need a bit of attention.
However, going back to the good points I do find these earbuds far exceed the performance of my Techics in sound as the latest Sony software with the 360 effect does give the impression that one is emersed in the middle of the action. It's like being on a stage with the drummer and the instrumentalists being seated around oneself with the phone and buds working good enough together to pick up all the background instruments that one normally would not hear.
When making calls these buds are good for eliminating background noises so the audio is crisp and clear so a conversation is as one would experience face to face. The option to block out noise from the wind also works well. The downside is that when one is using the buds for voice calls, with the noise elimination active, some people do complain about feedback and echoing on their phones. That maybe so but I don'y believe it is the buds that cause the feedback or echoing as I believe it is their phones that does it. They do have one thing in common and that is that they are still users of Samsung and Apple phones, which I have been telling them for years that their phones, even the latest models, are the cause of things such as bad reception, echoing, feedback and with Samsungs even making ghost calls (calling numbers in the contacts list randomly and without the user being aware). I find it's a common thing and when they use their samsungs / Apple phones with buds, headphones or using the phone's speaker the call quality is very poor through not only these buds but also through the phone itself when held to the ear. So, in call quality with these is good but sadly there are two brands of mobile phones that simply don't work well when in calls with their competitor's phones. Additionally, this is also an issue when I use my Technic buds so it certainly isn't the buds to blame for poor call quality.
For comfort, these earbuds are comfortable to wear but one must make sure that one tries all the tips that are provided to find the most comfotable and best fitting ones. I made the error of using those with the size that are factory fitted and one did fall out of my ear, which prompted me to do what I should have done immediately I started using these.
With the buds being black they look good, maybe not as good as my silver Technics but I do prefer the black over silver.
When comparing the two sets of earbuds, these Sony ones and my Technics, I do find that these Sony ones do just have the edge and they are both around the same price. However, I did expect these to perform much better with my Sony phones so the development team do need to tweak these a bit to get them working with their own products much better than they do. My Sony phones are high end so should these buds have better BT connectivity that prevents much of the interference in the communication between devices then they will obviously appear to perform even better with competitor's phones if they have the Sony audio software installed.
I have used these buds around the home, when walking, running, travelling and recently on a windy beach and they have been consistent in their performance each time.
Considering the pros and cons with these and even comparing them with my Technics I can recommend these Sony buds as like I have already stated... they "do have the edge" but I would like to have a bit more volume. These are a good quality product that charge easily and for the upper end of the market they are good value but one thing I would really like to see is a LED display on the charging case, rather than the one LED light, so I can see the percentage of charge that is available. If low budget buds that cost a tenner can have a LED display showing the percentage of charge that the case currently has then surely it can't be much to put the same on high end ones.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Volume limitation, connectivity needs attention
detailedReviews 69: content: I've been using the headphones for about a week now and I would not buy them again. The positives are the sound quality and noise cancellation - both are very good. The negatives are the comfort and touch sensors. The headphones are fiddly to put into place and not comfortable to wear for longer periods of time. My ears start to hurt after about an hour of wear; I've tried different earbud sizes but it didn't help. I've also run the test to check the fit and the test result said that the fit is good. Also the touch sensors are very sensitive and not very intuitive. They get activated every time I adjust the fit or if I accidentally touch the sensor with my arm when lifting it. Another negative is that you don't get a notification of the battery level when turning on, and to check the battery level you need to open the app. I feel that the headphones are overpriced and I expected them to be much more comfortable for that price. In terms of the experience of buying directly from Sony, I advise you to buy elsewhere. The customer service is appalling and a simple issue that should have been a three minute phone call took two phone calls, ten emails and nine days to come to a conclusion, and still hasn't been resolved. This whole experience put me off buying Sony products in the future.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 2
title: Fiddly to put in, uncomfortable for long periods
detailedReviews 70: content: If you plan to listen to a lot of music with the XM5, you'll be largely pleased with the sound quality and noise canceling. I bought these after I got my XM4s and when I'm listening to music, I enjoy Sony's sound quality. When I'm at the gym, I'd say I only hear maybe 10-20% of the blaring gym music with noise canceling. The app is decent enough and it's easy to add other Sony hardware. Interestingly, it tracks the music you listen to by time of day but it would be MUCH COOLER if they did it like last.fm. I just wanna know which five albums I listened to the most last month, you know?
If you're planning to use these earbuds to make a lot of phone calls, you might be a little frustrated with them. I certainly am. Despite being indoors in a quiet room, I am frequently told over the phone that I sound very distant to them and therefore they cannot hear me. It's even worse when I'm out on my routes with traffic and sirens going off. It's hit or miss.
One annoying thing with the case is that the earbuds can still get loose despite being magnetically placed. So despite the case being secure, when I'm ready to use it at the gym, one or both buds have no charge. Now I check before I leave for the gym.
Luckily for me, I hate talking on the phone, so I suppose as music earbuds, they're pretty good, but the app could be better and the case is showing some wear. Otherwise, you might be might be rating these as average or fair if you talk on the phone a lot.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Frustrating for phone calls, case shows wear
detailedReviews 71: content: Was looking forward to upgrading to the XM5's after using my XM4's daily for over a year after the right ear bud/battery malfunctioned due to a software update from Sony.
In my experience this "upgrade" was a huge let down.
1. Being advertised as 30% smaller, one would have thought that these would be more comfortable than the XM4 however, it was the opposite. I can't wear these for more than 30 mins without experience pain/discomfort in my right ear (despite trying the 3 included sizes). I constantly find myself repositioning them to get a more comfortable fit but to no avail.
2. The earbuds themselves are extremely slippery, so you have to be careful they don't fall out of your hands when taking them out of the case or even putting them on. Don't know what Sony was thinking when choosing an "extra glossy" texture instead of matte.
3. Sound quality is OK, nothing special. Sub bass and overall volume is disappointing. The XM5 will not "wow" you. I often prefer to use my Galaxy buds pro 2 when im around the house doing gardening as they sound better in my opinion and don't have to worry damaging such expensive ear buds.
4. Noise isolation is decent.
I am sure I will not be purchasing another XM product from Sony in the future. A regretful purchase.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 1
title: Huge let down, uncomfortable, slippery, disappointing bass
detailedReviews 72: content: I rate earbuds on 5 things, Noise Canceling, Sound, Voice Calling, Controls & Ear Fit.
Many professional reviews on these expensive earbuds or over-ear headsets are never helpful and accurate.
Noise Canceling: Bose noise canceling is great (10), better than close comparison Sony - WF1000XM5 (9). Sennheiser Momentum closely matches up well with Bose (10).
Sound: Bose Sound is great, gives you a good spatial audio with bass and just has good depth (9.5), The Sony - WF1000XM5 sound is seriously not great, very mundane in my view, good treble (8). Sennheiser Momentum sound doesn’t have as much base to the Bose, but overall sound is better than the Bose (10).
Voice Calling: Most of this are ok with voice calling. I would say the Bose is a 9, Sony - WF1000XM5 is a 7 and Sennheiser Momentum 8.5
Controls: Bose controls are easier 10, Sony - WF1000XM5 packaging doesn’t even show the controls, have to research it (8) and Sennheiser Momentum 10.
Ear Fit (working out, not running): Bose fits well and stays (10). Sony - WF1000XM5 with the different tips do not stay in ear well (8). Sennheiser Momentum fits and stays well (10)
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: ANC is good, but not class-leading
detailedReviews 73: content: I have had my earbuds for a couple of weeks now. The xm5s are to replace my xm3s, of which the battery life is starting to deteriorate. They are companions to my xm4 over ear headphones as well.
My aging sausage fingers find it hard to pick them out of the case and to orient them in my ears as well as my xm3s. I'm always dropping them. I am finding it harder to insert them in my ears without noise leakage too. With the small bulbous main body I feel they arent as intuitive to fit.
I wanted a replacement set that would fit comfortably when using my motorcycle helmet so I can hear my navigator when travelling. I thought the xm5s, being smaller, would achieve this. Athough being smaller, they still stick out a bit, so not as comfortable as I had hoped and they tend to dislodge and drop when I remove my helmet.
I have had some strange state of charge readings after removing them from the case at times too, where instead of the buds being fully charged I am finding significant difference between left and right buds. At this point, I can only put this down to not returning them to the case properly, but will monitor. My aging eyesight might be a factor here too. It would be good if the L and R markings were a bit larger due to this as well.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Hard to pick out, dislodge when removing helmet
detailedReviews 74: content: Work well, good ambient noise cancellation - but you need to ensure you have the correct earbud size for each ear.
Sadly disappointed with Sony. Received an email 4 weeks after purchase offering one additional year warranty providing I email in the products serial number. Unfortunately the serial number is not on the earbuds or their case - its only on the packaging the earbuds came in... which, of coures, I threw away a couple of weeks earlier. Bit of a scam huh?
Emailed Sony, no reply. Tried their headphone support line on their web site and it took me through to the playstation support line who couldn't help with headphones. Really disappointing for a supposedly premium company and worrying in case a problem does develop with them in future.
Earbuds are smooth surfaced - can be a struggle getting them out of the charging case.
The Sony app supporting the earbuds would benifit from a left/right fader. I am partially deaf in one ear so need to use another app to balance the sound louder to my deaf ear.
Would benefit from real buttons. Tapping left earbud 4 times to increase the volume is pretty silly and can be deafaning... and if you miss the 'sensitive spot' on one of thise taps you get a completely different function.
Apart from that - pretty good and good sound quality.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Slippery surfaces, difficult touch controls
detailedReviews 75: content: I don't use the phone feature. I do use the noise cancellation - I found Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 earbuds much better. With Sony XM5 I could hear my treadmill. With B&W, I cannot hear my treadmill. The Sony XM5 has mediocre sound. I'm not sure why all the rave reviews about they sound great. They sound flat on both high and lows. Not impressed at all. The B&W Pi8 are amazing sounding - as if you are in the room with the band. If you are really picky about sound (and your ears) the B&W Pi8 are simply amazing for a pair of earbuds (totally worth the extra $100.00). When sweating Sony XM5 fall out of my ears way too many times during a 50-minute treadmill routine - they have a rounded body and slip off the ear easily. The foam pads don't help. The B&W Pi8 are well engineered with a bit of a ledge (flat) edge and rest comfortably on the ear cartlidge, this keeps them more in place & secure than the rounded XM5 - and their silicone pads fit securely even when I'm sweating. Get the B&W Pi8 if you can swing it financially. There really is no comparison.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Mediocre sound, fall out during treadmill routine
detailedReviews 76: content: Owned these for over 1 year.
Negatives:
Often the headphones are flat because they haven't made 'perfect' contact with the charging pins inside the case (even after checking they're in). So expect to arrive at the gym with dead headphones. Also, 50% of the time, only the left bud will connect to your device and play music with the right bud needing to be placed back in the case, then removed to connect properly.
If you're looking to upgrade from the Sony XM3+ these are an overall downgrade. Bought these to replace my XM3 as they were denting my skull from 8+ hours a day use. The battery life and quality is just no where near as good.
The Unique Foam bud tips become crusty after a month, and don't function after a year. Finding replacement bud tips is extremely hard. Also, the silver model earbuds look gross after a week. Get the black model.
I still have to carry my AirPods with me everywhere as the battery life on these barely lasts 4 hours at 50% volume and I can't trust they're even charged to begin with.
Microphone quality is shocking for calls, everyone complains they can't hear me, or sounds like a tin can.
Positives:
Sound cancelling beats the AirPods Pro 3 (USB-C) hands down. I can't hear a thing with the Sony's and theres no annoying "hum" that the AirPods have. I love them for this.
App works perfectly. The EQ is the only thing keeping these in my rotation. Set Bass at 10+ and noise cancelling at max. Makes House, Rap, etc sound amazing.
Overall:
Sony needs to seriously re-engineer the entire user experience of the buds, case, tips and connection issues. I love Sony, but this will be my last buy from them for a while.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 2
title: Shocking microphone quality, case issues, battery life poor
detailedReviews 77: content: After owning these earbuds for about 13 months, the left earbud suddenly stopped working (and I have been extremely careful not to damage them in any way). The volume dropped to almost nothing (even at max), switching to ambient sound mode causes static noise, and the usual sound feedback for touch controls disappeared. Noise cancelling still works, but overall the earbud is useless.
Since it was just outside the 1-year warranty, Best Buy wouldn’t service it. Sony support redirected me to their third-party repair partner who doesn’t handle out-of-warranty products. After several calls with their partner, I was told it would cost $143.95 to replace just one earbud.
At that price, it makes more sense to buy a brand-new pair of Beats or Apple earbuds. For a premium product at this price-point, I expected better long-term reliability and customer support. Based on this experience, I don’t plan to buy Sony audio products again - or any of their other products.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 1
title: Left earbud stopped working, poor customer support
detailedReviews 78: content: Awful, digusting in less then a day, nasty gross fabric like nub. 🤢 SLOW omgg you tap to pause and you might as well make yourself a snack to wait for your music to stop because it takes forever for it to process a skip or ANYTHING. App it forces you to download is USELESS The noise canceling sucks. BTW you CANT clean these buds (yeah the ones you should keep clean to put in your ears daily?) they WILL RIP and fall apart. No absolutely not awful awful headphones you might as well by some cheapo headphones and I'm sure you'd have less problems. Less then a year and these things can hardly hold a charge (if they charge at all because most of the time they just refuse to) They literally drain THEMSELVES you would close the case with them in there and they will STILL connect to your phone I have had to turn off my blue tooth several times because of this. And you could say "Oh you didn't put them back right" I shouldn't have to perform brain surgery every time I put these stupid things away they're supposed to snap right in like LITERALLY EVERY OTHER HEADPHONE EVER. Yeah anyway don't buy these
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 1
title: Awful, disgusting fabric, slow processing, useless app
detailedReviews 79: content: I would encourage to try them in-store first... The sound quality is good in a controlled environment, but for activities and plane travel not so good in my opinion. I bought these after using the Sony WH-1000XM5 over-ear headphones. I wanted a more portable option. Unfortunately these will not fit my ears well. At home I tried all ear cup options that came with it, and also bought an after market version. After finding the best fit and wearing them at home (still concerned with them falling out), I traveled with them. On the plane they kept falling out after 15-20 minutes. Then touching them causes the controls to kick-in. I finally disabled the touch controls, and had to keep pushing them in. Even with tight fit after pushing in, the noise canceling is not near the quality of the Sony WH-1000XM5. I know it won't match an over-the ear style, but was quite disappointed overall. For plane travel now I will only use the Sony WH-1000XM5.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: ANC not as good as over-ear headphones
detailedReviews 80: content: I want to give these 5 stars but there are so many little issues that make them unusable. First, the ear tips. NICE IDEA! It's a silicone foam hybrid. However, they tear easily. the outer layers come off. They are impossible to clean. If you use any alcohol at all or any type of cleaning solution, it eats away at the product. That makes them disposable, unless you don't clean your ear tips. Silicone is the only option, so you have to go after market. Then, good luck getting a good clean fit with aftermarket ear buds. I can't find anything that works perfectly. Once you get a good fit from shoving them in your ear as far as you can, the noise canceling is phenomal, but dies out with any gym movement. Great noise cancelation technology is defeated by a poor fit. Next, connection issues. Using these with my phone at the gym, the right ear regularly loses connection for a short section. Nothing bad, but enough to miss a note in a song. Enough to be annoying. It reconnects in less than a second, but it is frustrating. The phone connection is great, it's a newer model android with the most recent update. The bluetooth has no other issues with any other external speakers, so it's just these. the phone is on the elliptical machine right in front of my face or it is in my pocket as i'm lifting weights. It's constantly the right ear. These sound fantastic and have great noise canceling and may work perfectly with different ear shapes. If you cant put up with the deteriorating ear tips or find a good after market. The dropping connection 20 times in an hour is awful.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Deteriorating ear tips, dropping connection is awful
detailedReviews 81: content: The Sony headphones' active noise cancellation is one of the worst I've ever heard. It still allows voices and all noise to come through. I find it very uncomfortable with the foam tip earbuds. I find that it lets too much sound in. I've tried all the tips, and it doesn't get a good seal, so it doesn't block sound as well.
The functionality of volume controls and not being able to change things to suit the needs of the user is very limiting as well. Using one ear — which I often do — doesn't give me any options to skip songs or use volume controls. Putting everything all on one earbud isn’t possible. It only allows one earbud to act independently with one set of commands, and not two sets of commands. I find it very limiting.
And the software adaptation is very ridiculous. The way that the app is set up — it constantly asks too many questions, with too many varieties of confusing things.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Worst ANC, uncomfortable foam tips, limiting controls
detailedReviews 82: content: I recently purchased these to use while working out at the gym. I bought the silver color which is actually more of a taupe color and looks great. The sound is outstanding and the earbuds look upscale. However, I could not get a good fit with any of the supplied earbud tips (might just be the shape of my ears, I don't know). As a result, I could never achieve the promised noise cancellation and the earbuds frequently slipped out of my ears. I would give these 5 stars for sound quality and finish, but in my case only 1 star for good fit (hence the overall 3 star rating). Also, the Sony app seemed somewhat cumbersome when pairing the buds to my phone. I also don't know how well the foam tips hold up compared to the silicone tips that most earbuds seem to have. I'm sorry to say that I had to return these and will try another brand. Hopefully your fit will be better because the sound quality really is exceptional. Top rated earbuds per Consumer Reports.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Could not get a good fit, earbuds slipped out
detailedReviews 83: content: these are pretty good, but i ended up returning them and i will explain why:
I got both these and the Bose - QuietComfort Ultra, and as a BB total member, had some time to make the decision between the two. Went on 4 flights and compared overall performance between the two options, and the Sony fell a bit short on some key features for me:
1. Active Noise Cancellation: The Bose are way better in the ANC feature, especially in a flight, but even overall in a noisy environment, with high volume conversations in the background, The Sony were good, but in my opinion not even remotely close to the Bose.
2. Comfort in the ear: the Sony hve this foam like material that expands in the ear, which on the positive adds some more blocked noise cancellation, but on the negative after a while you start feeling in in your ear.
3. Sound wuality: I think the Bose are a better sound overall, both on phone calls and on music. Watched several TV shows and a Movie with both, and the sound coming from the Bose was more crisp and rich but the sound from the Sony was more bass and deep, so i guess it's a matter of individual preference.
4. App: having both apps, i can definitely say they both suck, but the Bose app sucks a bit less. I had some connectivity issues with the Sony on both my Samsung S24 Ultra and my Lenovo Laptop - maybe it was a local problem with the pair i had, but the BT kept disconnecting from the earbuds perspective once every couple of hours.
The only definitive advantage i found with the Sony earbuds was the microphone. the mic on the Sony is way better when having a phone call when compared to the Bose. the Bose have this echo resonance in the background but the Sony sounds good and clean. Verified with several calls to people and getting their feedback on how they heard the conversation from their perspective.
Overall, these are great, but for my individual needs the Bose were just a bit better (higher need for flights ANC).
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: ANC not as good as Bose, comfort issues
detailedReviews 84: content: I bought these to replace my WF1000XM4 which no longer held enough charge to be of any use. The WF1000XM4 were great earbuds with only a few areas that needed improvement. Therefore I held high hopes for the XM5. Needless to say I have been left somewhat disappointed by the "upgraded" model. While the sound quality is marginally better, the smaller form is nice and the touch response is improved, they have dropped the ball in other areas. Overall the battery life is decreased when compared to the WF1000XM4 at full capacity. I could get a full work day of usage out of the XM4 when they were brand new, the XM5 will be depleted maybe an hour earlier. The XM5 is also has intermittent drop outs, even with the linked device on my person. One of the buds will drop out for a few milliseconds a few times a day.
So if you've owned the previous model I would suggest lowering your expectations for this one.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Marginally better sound, but decreased battery life
detailedReviews 85: content: These headphones had very good reviews both here and on tech/audio websites, so I was enthusiastic about trying them. After 4 months I am actually quite disappointed by this purchase. Why? Because I just couldn't get the Sony earbud tips to fit comfortably and firmly in my ears. Without a good fit they constantly fell out and the sound quality and the noise cancelling functions were suboptimal. So, I tried some non-Sony tips and they either did not fit or the materials and design compromised the sound or noise cancelling function of the headphones. There were several other small issues that I could have lived with including a slippery surface of the earbuds, making them difficult to remove from or return to the case without dropping them and fidgety touch controls. I wanted to give them a good try so I kept them past the time limit for returns. In the end I'm sorry I did as I would have returned them if I could have.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 2
title: Failed in multiple areas, returned for refund
detailedReviews 86: content: I think the design team did a great job on the hardware, but the software is mediocre.
You have to max out the EQ to get a good sound, and the volume is rather limited. The noise canceling makes up for it though.
The buds connect to my phone seamlessly, but I have to reset them every time I want to connect them to another device.
You can connect to 2 devices at a time, but you can only have one active at a time.
You can not modify call mode behavior, you have to do it on your linked device, not an option with phones.
Touch functions are not programmable. Repeat tap to change volume is hot garbage, meanwhile holding does nothing on the right side, and cuts your volume in half on the left until you lift your finger? It's a joke.
These should be a great all rounder, but it feels like they hired a 3rd party to do the software. They are obsessed with muting your volume so you can take a call, but the mic isn't even good? Not understanding the market on this one SONY.
Got carried by the hardware for sure.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Mediocre software, difficult touch functions, limited volume
detailedReviews 87: content: Absolutely great when they work! Noise cancelling is fantastic, great audio quality, and user friendly. The ear buds themselves can be a little uncomfortable to start with but once I got used to them they were fine, although I considered buying aftermarket silicone ear plugs for more comfort.
However, within 3 months of ownership the active noise cancelling stopped working in the left ear bud and had to be returned for warranty which was easy and shipping paid for by Sony.
3 weeks after I get them back it had stopped working again. Off to be repaired again, at this point I was annoyed because for the price point I expected a flagship product and while it was easy enough, I'd been without my earbuds for 2 out of the 6 months I'd owned them. I asked for either a refund or a new set but instead they went in for repair, and returned with the note "could not identify fault" and were returned to me exactly how I had sent them in. Not only that but when they returned to me, the case no longer charged when plugged in and so now they don't work at all.
I wouldn't recommend buying these earbuds.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 1
title: ANC stopped working twice, poor repair service
detailedReviews 88: content: Yes yes, the sound quality is quite nice and the ANC is top notch.
These are nice buds - when they work. Here are the issues:
From day 1 - using these at the gym were not fun. Running on the treadmill impacts the sound quality significantly. I can hear STOMPS on my music. I think the ANC doesn't understand what is going on so it allows the noise through ? It is absolutely annoying. The fit is very snug and the buds never fell out or became unstable - this is a plus.
After a year and 7 months of light use, the case is beginning to show issues. It is no longer charging the right ear bud. I tried to clean the contacts on the case and the buds to no avail. This situation drains the batteries on the case and the bud and also causes it to connect to my phone randomly throughout the day while the buds are inside and the case is closed. This is absolutely unaceptable.
The buds are also no longer pairing through the case or the buds themselves. I have to use the app to pair the buds.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 2
title: Case not charging right earbud, pairing issues
detailedReviews 89: content: First off, the sound is great and the noise cancellation is pretty good. The foam tip earbuds are very comfortable and seal pretty well. Battery life is top notch. Ive tried the “AI” features and gone through the accompanying app for them. Don’t really care for the voice assistant that comes with them. It tries to listen to every word ans interrupts the music every few seconds when turned on. I definitely wouldn’t recommend these forntge gym especially if you’re planning on breaking a sweat. They fall out or the sweat messes with the seal on the earbuds. When it senses that the seal in your ears is broken then it pauses. They are not water resistant by any means. Every time i break a sweat with them on they start to glitch and perform random actions. They’re grwat for just listening to music but dont use them if youre very active or have the “smart” functions turned on. Probably wouldn’t buy these again if I had to.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Not recommended for the gym, fall out easily
detailedReviews 90: content: I had purchased this one expecting for high end sound quality and features. All was perfectly working for about two months and thereafter I started noticing mic problems and connectivity problems with the earbuds. It was quite disappointing when the buds started randomly disconnecting both buds during playback. Initially I thought it was the stereo effect and paid no attention for this issue. Thereafter when I listened to the same genres with my AirPods I noticed that there is something wrong with the buds then I started monitoring. Thereafter during calls based on my experience and the feedback from the receiver, the mic was found faulty. So I decided to send ot for repair but I got it repaired almost waiting for 1 month and again the issue wasn’t fixed. I again sent them for repairs and waiting. It’s not worth wait this much.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 2
title: Mic problems, connectivity issues, repair not fixed
detailedReviews 91: content: Pros: Sound reproduction is very good and I found a good fit with the cushions that were already on the buds when opening the charging holder, although this took a little effort to get a snug enough fit each time I tried using these earbuds. I tried using the other sized cushions, 3 different sizes, and none of them fit better. The Sony app was already installed on my phone as I already own the XM4 over-the-ear headphones, so it was no effort to add this device and choose settings.
Cons: After wearing these for awhile, even with very comfortable cushions on the earbud tips, they began to hurt my ear canals. Same thing with wearing them to bed and trying to sleep on my side with them in which was mainly what I wanted to find out: Since I am a side sleeper, would these be comfortable enough to wear with my head turned either to the right or left on the pillow? They aren't. I could not find a comfortable position as, protruding out the ear, these are too bulky. (The Apple Air Pods 2 look like they might be better suited for this purpose and they'll be what I might try next.) Also, with these earbuds, the controls set up in both buds are difficult to master. I found myself having difficulty finding the exact right spot to tap and, of course, as one is adjusting them to fit better, you may be activating some of those controls inadvertently which I was doing often. The over-the-ear headphones are much more user-friendly as far as controls such as advancing to the next song or raising the volume. With these earbuds, however, it is much more of a challenge with their telling you to tap 1, 2, or 3 times. Of course, they allow you to custom control which earbud has which functions for people who are more right or left hand dominant but that mattered little to me when weighed against everything else.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Hurt ear canals, bulky for side sleeping
detailedReviews 92: content: I bought this in Dec 2024. Struggled with finding the right tips to use. The biggest pair provide optimal results but pressure on my ears are not comfortable. It's not easy to insert them into my ears. I have to make them smaller with my fingers before inserting them. Sound quality is decent after adjusting with equaliser. ANC is decent on playback. Definitely not the best in the market. My older $60 Taotronics is better. When making calls in a noisy environment like inside a bus, or standing outside a stationary bus, the other party on the call could hardly hear me. I could hear them. In both situations, there was constant humming noise from the vehicle engine. Strangely, the voice recordings taken in such situations sounded clear on playback. The reseller provided tips on troubleshooting. I even sent the buds back to them for testing. They said the results were expected.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Pressure on ears, poor call quality in noise
detailedReviews 93: content: I drive long distances in a loud cargo van, so need to reduce vehicle and tire noise. Had been wearing the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, but they are uncomfortable. For listening to music, the sound on the Sony WF-1000XM5 is stellar, but the noise cancelling is a joke and they don't stay in no matter how many difference size tips I tried. The earbuds produce a hiss that does not exist when I don't have them inserted, then when I turn the noise cancelling on, all it does is eliminate the hiss. No reduction of the vehicle and tire noise. In addition, the only thing silver about these is the lettering on the case and the microphone. They are gray.
The sound on the Bose is not stellar (no highs, no lows....), but the noise cancelling very effectively eliminates the vehicle and tire noise. They are uncomfortable for my small ears, but they do stay in.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 1
title: ANC is a joke, don't stay in
detailedReviews 94: content: I normally do not like earphones and prefer headphones any day of the week, however in a work environment (at least mine) it's not always as convenient. Mostly due to comfort, ear irritation or generally much better sound from an overhead headphone.
It is so important to have the proper size ear tip in these, it can't be said enough. The videos make it seam so easy of popping them in with a slight twist, however that's where I deduct a star as I have to twist back and forth to get good seal. With noise cancelling feature turned on, man you can hear almost feel when it's a proper seal tho, it's amazing. Normally most earphones irritate me after a couple hours of wear, but these are not the easiest to set inside your ear but once they are set they are good. They are not fitness buds, so any activity I'm sure will cause them to fall out but they are pretty snug.
Sony's Noise cancelling is one of the best according to the experts and I believe it. I know Apple's is good too, however the sound quality is much much better on Sony's.
There are two choices for ambient sound control
Ambient sound (passthrough)
Or noise cancelling( on)
However, in the app, you can turn on another option that basically is (ambient sound control off)
It says its supposed to save battery life quite a bit, (it does) and once again to my previous point, IF YOU HAVE A PROPER SEAL, it's basically noise cancelling ON due to the tight seal but you are saving battery. You do hear slight noises you wouldn't hear with NC on vs Off, like tapping your finger on desk, or basically echo's through your body, but it's pretty good
I found heavy use, ( NC ON, volume+%80, constant pausing, skipping to last +- 4hrs before one side having low battery. However when the setting for ambient sound off, no NC is selected, I did an 8 hr day and around %40 battery left per side. Definitely worth checking out that option, remember it's not perfect but battery life is impressive
Sony sounds great , with ear tips were easier to fit, but I guess you get a great seal. I bet these are amazing when traveling on plane cancelling out all the wind noise
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Ear tips are difficult to fit, controls are awkward
detailedReviews 95: content: Pros: Lots of sound in a small packag. Cons: Don't seem to have the same level of ANC as the xm4s but really close. Still don't have location feature. I wasn't going to buy these after my XM4s suffered the dreaded battery issue, but for some reason my local Best Buys didnt have any of the Sennheiers in stock and were at least two weeks out on having them shipped to me. That said, reading numerours reviews gave me the impression that the XM5s still hold the top spot for ANC in this price range even if it is slightly less than the XM4s. I can sit in a loud room with the ANC on, and as long as i have music or something else playing, even at a low level, i really have to try hard to hear nosie from the room. As far as the talk to pause feature goes, it still sucks, a cough, sigh, heavy breath still activates it, if you stop talking to listen to someone else talk, it will start playing whatever you are listing to causing you to interrupt them while hitting pause or speaking to pause again. I am no audiophile by any means but the sound these produce is great, very clear sound, and the bass is crazy (definitely need to make sure you have the right tips for your ears though, they'll still sound good but the bass falls off). Others did complain about how difficult these were to setup, i didnt really find the setup difficult, just a little to much seemed like it tool an hour to due but in realitywas probablyabout 15mins. Definitely more setup options than i remember the xm4s having. Should you buy if you have working XM4s? I would say no, unless you have comfort issues, there's just not that many differences other than the size. If you are coming from the XM4s or others brands that have had issues effecting their use i would recommend the extended warranty if you can swing it, i got it this go around just in case.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Talk to pause feature still sucks, battery issue concern
detailedReviews 96: content: Over all, they sound good. I upgraded when I was having battery issues with the xm4 model. The battery life here is stellar. This model has similar memory foam ear tips, which I like, and the touch sensors are a little better. The noise canceling is no different to me than just having it turned off, the ear tips block out enough sound that noise cancelation is useless and just uses battery. If you just turn the sound setting to "off" they isolate you without using extra battery, so for the money, the sound cancelation is kind of a let down. Ambient sound mode isn't as good as the previous model so if you're only using one ear bud, you still feel like your ear is plugged up, even with ambient sound turnned up to 20. When I switch between ambient and off, they stop my music. Same thing happens if you use temporary awareness mode. The left ear bud has begun having connectivity issues and the right bud's having some bugs with the touch sensor not working for playback unless you change the function to something else and then switch it back. They no longer make a tone to signify that they are turned on and connected, on either bud when used alone or together. Sometimes they have random functionality issues when the app is active. I really like the way they sound, fit, and the app is ok, they're just very disappointing especially having so many issues in the past with Sony. I'll probably see if I can get them replaced under warranty, as they're less than 6 months old. I want to be clear, this is at no fault of Best Buy. I've not tried other equal models, but I'm leaning toward that. If the connectivity and other bugs weren't an issue, I'd be able to look past the inherent flaws they have with noise cancelation.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 2
title: Connectivity issues, disappointing for the price
detailedReviews 97: content: I'd had the Bose QC earbuds (2 years old) and one died so I tried new options - I thought the Sony would be a good direction - heard good things about sound and noise cancelling. I will admit that the sound was excellent, but noise cancelling was so-so. These have to be burrowed into your ear to work correctly, and (on me, at least) they kept working their way out. They never fell out, but I could tell the seal wasn't complete and it was an annoyance. I bought a pair of the new Bose QC Ultra, and they're MUCH better - ear seal is great and stays put. Sound is so similar I can't tell the difference between the Sony and Bose. Noise cancelling (if that's important to you) is a step-change better with Bose. The Sony earbuds were fine, but noise cancelling was lacking and having to fit them deep into my ear each time wasn't ideal. I'm returning the Sony and sticking with the new Bose.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: ANC lacking, had to fit deep into ear
detailedReviews 98: content: since purchasing these headphones I've used them in a variety of environments and, although the sound quality is excellent, the noise cancelling function is very poor, bordering on completely ineffective. In comparison with the Sony MDR1000X over ear headphones, which have very good noise cancelling, they pale into insignificance. This is disappointing from a product which is Sony's flagship in ear headphones.
In use the bluetooth connection has dropped out on more than one occasion, for no apparent reason on one of the channels requiring the headphones to be reconnected - very frustrating.
Also, I find the tap function awkward and generally non responsive most of the time.
As a professional sound engineer/recordist (retired) I've used Sony headphones all my working life and have great respect for their quality and detailed sound reproduction however this particular product I find does not measure up to their usual standards, which considering their rather high cost, is not what I expected to find.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 2
title: Poor noise cancelling, frustrating Bluetooth drops
detailedReviews 99: content: I only write this review in hopes that it helps inform people of how these headphones, despite their excellent reviews - which from initial use alone are warranted - have a trojan horse in them. Their batteries are short lived. Full transparency, I own the previous versions, bought from Best Buy, and they were my favorite headphones ever: the sound quality was exceptional, as was ANC. The fit and comfort truly depends on the individual, but for me they were great and I could wear them for hours on end (even full cross country lights) without feeling discomfort.
HOWEVER, all this said, within a year, I started noticing differences in battery life between the left and right buds (the left would drain much faster), and the degradation happened accelerated to the point where now I won't get a full hour from the left side, and the right side would drop 40-50% within an hour. And note that these were not headphones that I just kept on. I use airpods for my ipad and a pair of Old samsungs for my daily workouts (which btw still has a healthy battery). I find it utterly unacceptable for such premium and expensive headphones to have such AUTROTIOUS battery health.
Be warned that while you may be initially blown away by its quality, Sony's earbuds have the life line of a moth. Check reddit and you will see that I am not the only one who experienced this. If anything get geek squad protection. At least you can have something you can feel comfortable will live for 2 years.
I am never again purchasing a pair of earbuds from Sony. I have great love for Sony, but this is truly a disappointment. Exceptional that dies in a year, is utter crap. So 1 star
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 1
title: Batteries are short lived, utter crap
detailedReviews 100: content: This is my second pair in a year. Sony does not have good support so $600 in a year for headphones kind of sucks. I did buy the best buy warrenty this time so that wont happen again.
These headphones are so good for work. The mircophone is unbeatable which is why I had to stick with this brand even though they are not my favorite. I work from home and these are needed for my meetings.
They do fall out of my ears sometimes regardless of what size bud i put on them. The sound connect between my phone and computer also makes things hard. If i get one notification on either while listening to the other it switches over so i have to turn the bluetooth off of one because the app is hard to navigate and i cant find the auto connect to turn it off.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Second pair in a year, fall out sometimes
detailedReviews 101: content: So i upgraded from the XM3 straight to the 5. I had the 3s for several years with no dramas, even left them outside once in the rain and ran fine still no worries. Never had a set of any other earbuds, pods, wired whatever that sounded so great and were so robust so to me it made sense to go the sonys again. Sound quality is still fantastic but like other reviews ive read it seems to lack a little bass. I love the fact that the case is significantly smaller than the 3's. Id read the shape and size of the buds were a problem and i have to agree. theyre smaller which is fine but i find the shape is a bit funny to get into your ear and especially get out. the touch buttons are also in the way when trying to get them in and out and the gloss feel makes them very slippery so im incredibly worried ill slip and drop them.
battery life seems great, havent had to charge them yet so definitely an improvement.
Looks like the internal speaker now has a metal grate vs the foam inside to stop wax from getting in which is good. The rubber buds are harder though which i dont like, i liked the 3s softer ones (maybe i can get alternative ones or something)
I do feel theyre over priced. When they came out (im sure) jb had them a little cheaperm they went on sale then went up to 419, then black friday sales came on (when i purchased mine) and they came down to 375ish. the sales ended and they sorta stayed the same price which was an irk, i have a feeling theyll come cheaper again with boxing day sales so keep that in mind price wise.
Overall, i really like them but dont love them but if im honest, i may just have overhyped myself from the 3's and expected too much. Would i reccomend them? definitely but id also reccomend trying other products to find what works for you.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Lacks a little bass, funny shape to get in/out
detailedReviews 102: content: Unlike most users, I maximize my earbuds for work, all-day use, focused on calls. Ever since Jabra left the US market, i had been on a hunt for a proper replacement. Unfortunately Sony doesn’t have a solution. Pros: Sound Quality, both for music and calls. Noise Cancellation, Hear-Through is world class. Battery Life, gets me through the day. Surrounding Noise Sensors are world class. Cons: Janky Sony App, feels like it was created by kids. Haptic Touch Buttons, rarely works. No Voice Confirmation for actions. No Mute for Calls (dealbreaker). Overall, if you want the best sound, clearest phone conversations, and best sensory technology, these are the best in the business. Just the cons outweigh the pros for me.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Janky app, rarely works haptic touch buttons
detailedReviews 103: content: They kinda suck! I really wanted to like these. Ive bought Apple airpods like 3 times and I decided to switch bc they arent that comfortable after a while and they never last me more than a year before glitching. These are really lightweight and comfortable. Unfortunately what makes them so comfortable is that the bud is similar to an ear plug. So you need to put them in like ear plugs and get that “suction to seal”. The problem with that is that with one use they get full of ear wax, its really nasty to look at and I hate it, I swear I dont have dirty ears, these just go deep into your ear. Cleaning them isnt easy, the material like keeps the ear wax stuck to them. If you’re not careful when cleaning it deteriorates the material. The noise canceling isnt too great, I have to have my music pretty loud for them to noise cancel well. Forget about noise cancellation if theyre low volume or off. The app is also pretty difficult to use, I dont find it intuitive at all, and its overcomplicated. Ive had them for a few months now and I thought it was just a learning curve but I still hate using the app. I gotta say im pretty disappointed for the price and it being sony that they arent that good. I cant say I know better earbuds though, as I havent tried any except Bose (uncomfortable af but work great) and Apple. I wish I would have returned these but I really wanted to like them and it took me a while to decide how I feel about them. Oh and they’re always disconnecting from my bluetooth randomly.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 2
title: Ear wax buildup, difficult app, random disconnecting
detailedReviews 104: content: I was an early adopter of the XM3 and a day one buyer of the XM4 and of these.
Audio quality: indistinguishable from the XM4, although never did side-by-side tests. I think only experienced audiophiles with impeccable streaming sources will notice a difference.
Fitment/weight: supremely more comfortable. I don't usually have issues with the XM4 (the complaints about them being large are valid, but apparently I have large enough ears) and never did with the XM5. But the fitment has downsides too, see the next section.
Noise canceling: minor improvements, except (1) certain frequencies that did come through could have a computer-y, processed quality to them, and (2) because these earbuds are smaller, wind or air could rush in around the buds and be heard (noticeable while running). For the same reason, they were slightly more prone to jostle especially when talking or opening your mouth, leading to gaps in noise canceling and overall sound quality. Overall the larger XM4 feel more stable in my ear.
The smooth finish to the buds and case was actually annoying to get used to. I think the matte finish of the XM4 makes them easier to handle.
The redesigned tips are a plus. They have a mesh guard separating the ear from the speaker channel- great addition for cleanliness. But the foam is different, softer and less thick, I prefer the previous foam's tighter fit.
The Bluetooth pairing method is more annoying. I experienced minor connectivity
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Smooth finish is annoying, foam is softer
detailedReviews 105: content: Absolutely stunning headphones. I've owned the Sony WH-1000XM3 for a number of years and these are almost en par with the experience you get with those overhead headphones.
The biggest disappointment - the ear tips - they are fiddly, delicate and are NOT covered on warranty irrelevant of when they break and whether it's down to poor manufacturing (which mine did after 31 days).
It takes a few attempts (days) to finally get them comfortably in place and it takes a while for the memory foam to really loosen up and sit nicely in the ear canal. The earbuds could maybe do with an XL size as I wear an L size but I feel it's not quite snug in one ear.
And, as mentioned above, my L size ear tip split on day 31 - 1 day after retailer returns - and they advised I contact Sony repair centre to seek a replacement without the need to send the whole unit back for repair. Unfortunately, Sony repair explained that ear tips are not covered under warranty, so it would be up to the retailer to take back which of course mine couldn't. The problem now is that Sony sent me away on the hunt for a replacement ear tip (in the notion that I can't return) and they are impossible to get a hold of. Not only that, but after forking out £260, I think it's ridiculous I'm having to buy a replacement set of tips after a month due to bad manufacturing, maybe adding another 10-15% to the cost. I've never had any problems with any other ear tips lasting years.
I understand memory foam ear tips are perishable over time, but this is ridiculous, and I can't imagine it being costly to Sony. Disappointing service.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Fiddly, delicate ear tips, not covered under warranty
detailedReviews 106: content: Bought these a month ago to replace my five year old AirPods Pros. Choice between the new generation AirPods or these, but went for the reviews suggesting superior sound.
First impressions: case and buds look great, but stupidly fiddly to get out of the case and feel they could slip between fingers at any moment.
Not the greatest fit in my ears and not particularly comfortable. Have tried all the supplied ear bud sizes, but my left ear is sore after an hour. If I try a size down, it just falls out. I'm constantly having to 'wiggle' them as they feel like they're going to fall out - this then activates different commands which is annoying.
Sound quality is night and day different to my 1st gen AirPods. There is so much 'space' between bass, mids, and treble. Detail is astounding. Incredible sound from such small devices.
Noise cancelling is exceptional. However, listening to conversations is difficult compared to the AirPods with ANC off. I have to stop the track to talk or turn volume down very low.
Press commands are a bit of a faff and easily activated when trying to stop these from falling out. The press command alert sound is very quiet, so it's difficult to tell how many presses have actually activated. Pressing four times to activate volume control for example is, frankly, a ball ache. The buds typically get confused by three presses and then just play the current track from the beginning again. I think with more practice I could get better, but it's not particularly intuitive.
The supplied app has a host of extra features which are worth spending some time on. They're generally easy to understand and useful.
Overall, stunning sound quality on a different level to 1st gen AirPods. However, the fit isn't great and actually uncomfortable - for me at least - and the controls activation needs refining. I'll be going back to AirPods when these die I think
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Fiddly to get out, not comfortable, controls are a faff
detailedReviews 107: content: I had high hopes for this purchase, but the earbuds failed in multiple areas, so they were returned. I currently own wired Bose noise cancelling earbuds and wife has Apple Air Pods 2, so I have good reference points.
Positives:
Good, not great ANC, but this could be due to fit. From a few technical reviews, Apple Air Pods 2 (10 dB ANC reduction), Sony & Bose QC II (~ 30 dB ANC reduction) at 1000 Hz and below (e.g., airplane engine drone).
Bad:
(1) The main body of the earbud is mounted above the ear canal (see the stock pictures) without support below the ear canal. Talking or chewing causes the earbuds to loosen, sometimes fall out, and affects ANC quality.
(2) I have been professionally fitted for earplugs and know the size of my ear canals. Most earbuds fit out of the box (average size). I had to use the super small (SS) plugs to get a reasonable fit without being uncomfortable and ear canal hurting after 15 minutes.
(3) Fully charged the battery lasted 4 hours and 22 minutes on a cross country flight with ANC turned on. The literature says 6 hours max (ANC) and 7 hours (w/o ANC).
(4) I have Apple products. Sony uses USB-C but does not provide the charging cable.
I purchased Bose QC II earbuds for the flight home, A huge improvement compared to the new Sony earbuds. Bose's ANC was slightly better, they stayed in place even while eating, were comfortable, and lasted 5 hours 45 minutes (ANC on) before receiving a low battery alert. Bose's technical specification is a 6 hour battery life.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 2
title: Failed in multiple areas, returned for refund
detailedReviews 108: content: I got those after using Sony WH-1000XM4 for 3 years. I switched because I needed something more portable without losing much on sound quality and noise cancellation. After a thoughtful checks on reviews and technical specs it looked like it'll be enough more my needs.
After using for 8 months and comparing those with Airpods pro 2 and very basic akg in-ear headphones I can comfortable say that Product definetely doesn't fulfill it's promises;
- It's definetely not comfortable: It's designed to keep it's center of gravity slighly above the plugs which makes it transfer all it's load to ear, most likely it's done like that to keep the headphones in however after 1-2 hours of listening session the cheap spongy plugs becomes hot and slippery then headphones starts to slip out anyway. If you use smaller earplug sizes then you're giving up from the noise cancelling.
- Sound quality is super poor: Based on the product's technical data it should be able to provide deep and wide spectrum of tones and actually it should be able to retain more details when used with LDAC connection while listening higher quality tracks or using the DSEE extreme engine while listening lower quality or regular tracks (etc ones that streamed via online service). However both ways are failure, earphones cannot provide any depth under neither condition which makes this product a player of lower level segment.
- Noise cancellation is enough for most conditions but can be disturbing: Even thought noise cancellation was worse then the other products I compared with it was satifying for most of the time. However under some circumstances I found it uncomfortable because as I understand, active noise cancellation wasn't able to filter all spectrums at the same level, it filters some tones of the same noise sources better then the other's which is disturbing and confusing.
Of course all those finding can vary from person to person mostly based on your ear profile and hearing capabilities. My review is based on past experiences with other headphones such as Airpods 4, Airpods pro 2, basic akg in-ear, beats in-ear, jbl everest 300, sony wh-1000XM4, sony wh-1000XM5 and sony ULT wear
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 1
title: Not comfortable, poor sound quality, disturbing ANC
detailedReviews 109: content: Superb
marketplace: flipkart
source: flipkart
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/flipkart
starRating: 5
title: Superb
detailedReviews 110: content: Good
marketplace: flipkart
source: flipkart
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/flipkart
starRating: 4
title: Good
detailedReviews 111: content: I previously had Bose quiet comfort 2s and had nothing but blutooth connection issues.
Id got used to that so when i changed to Sony i was amazed at the easy connection every time.
Never failed once in a month!
Only issue for me is there a very little bad shy. Not enough to be returned though. Mind these are ear buds and there is always going to be a limit.
I just feel if a 10 is the max bass any earbuds can do these rate a 7.5
Very well made, brilliant case, better than bose in every way other than slightly shy bass.
Even the app is better. For instance you DO NOT have to enable location gps just for the app to work like Bose. This may mean nothing to you but it's huge to me.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Easy connection, good sound, shy bass
detailedReviews 112: content: Noise reduction is poor, not as good as my Amazon ear buds. Not been able despite using all of the supplied ear tips to get a pass on the fit test in the app. I have completed the request for alternative ear tips in the app but as yet I have had no confirmation of the coming or that the request was made.Phone calls don’t come through to the ear buds if I answer it on my phone, the head nodding feature does bring the call to the buds but takes quite vigorous and multiple nods which is somewhat embarrassing in public. Call quality is poor. Using Alexa requires a loud command which is not acceptable in public. Doesn’t work at all in my motorcycle helmet maybe a tough test but my lost air pods pro worked ok. The talk to mute function is ok and, annoyingly works well in my motorcycle helmet so why not Alexa. Disappointed is the best I can offer
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Poor noise reduction, difficult fit, bad call quality
detailedReviews 113: content: I previously owned the WF-1000XM4s for two years and replaced them with these after sending those in for repairs multiple times. I'd like to echo what other reviewers have said, as well as my own thoughts. First, the smaller buds compared to last gen is an improvement overall. They are lighter and easier to insert, but since I have a big head and ears, I actually slightly preferred the older, larger design. I acknowledge though that the new design is objectively better despite my preference. I also really like that the ear tips have a mesh filter now, as everything stays cleaner. One thing about design I really don't like is the shiny plastic body. Not only do I feel they look cheaper compared to the matte, textured finish of the predecessor, but they make the earbuds slippery and more difficult to handle. They are hard to pinch and pull out of the case, so I have to push them out from the side instead. Also, when I put the XM4s in, I liked to twist them a bit back and forth to get a really snug seal, but the slick plastic of the XM5s makes that difficult and results in a less secure feeling fit (though they haven't fallen out yet). Spund quality seems about on-par with the XM4s. I hope they update them with an option to hear the listening mode read out loud when wearing like on last gen so that it's easier to tell what mode you're currently on. Overall, I think these are a great upgrade for most people, but I admittedly prefer the old design. Still happy with them overall!
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Smaller buds are an improvement, but slippery plastic
detailedReviews 114: content: I had high hopes for this purchase, but the earbuds failed in multiple areas, so they were returned. I currently own wired Bose noise cancelling earbuds and wife has Apple Air Pods 2, so I have good reference points.
Positives:
Good, not great ANC, but this could be due to fit. From a few technical reviews, Apple Air Pods 2 (10 dB ANC reduction), Sony & Bose QC II (~ 30 dB ANC reduction) at 1000 Hz and below (e.g., airplane engine drone).
Bad:
(1) The main body of the earbud is mounted above the ear canal (see the stock pictures) without support below the ear canal. Talking or chewing causes the earbuds to loosen, sometimes fall out, and affects ANC quality.
(2) I have been professionally fitted for earplugs and know the size of my ear canals. Most earbuds fit out of the box (average size). I had to use the super small (SS) plugs to get a reasonable fit without being uncomfortable and ear canal hurting after 15 minutes.
(3) Fully charged the battery lasted 4 hours and 22 minutes on a cross country flight with ANC turned on. The literature says 6 hours max (ANC) and 7 hours (w/o ANC).
(4) I have Apple products. Sony uses USB-C but does not provide the charging cable.
I purchased Bose QC II earbuds for the flight home, A huge improvement compared to the new Sony earbuds. Bose's ANC was slightly better, they stayed in place even while eating, were comfortable, and lasted 5 hours 45 minutes (ANC on) before receiving a low battery alert. Bose's technical specification is a 6 hour battery life.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 2
title: Failed in multiple areas, returned for refund
detailedReviews 115: content: These earphones are a great upgrade over the xm4 if the size of those earbuds bothered you. However, the xm5 is more difficult to handle because of the glossy black material that makes up most of the body of these earbuds. Make sure your hands are dry after you work out with these, because they will slip between your fingers if there is even a little moisture.
The sound quality is good for my use case. I like the clear and powerful bass and the highs are clear and crisp without being overpowering. Combining that with the great noise cancelation makes these headphones a treat to use in the gym.
The noise cancelation is next level. It is incredible how well these are able to block out sounds, and the transparency mode is excellent.
The app is very easy to use, and there is plenty of useful adjustments that can be made within the app. I like the new custom EQ that lets you determine the equalizer setting based on how you like music to sound. Great little extra feature.
Overall, I like where Sony went with these earbuds. If there is a criticism I have, it is in the choice of material. The smooth material is difficult to work with. It takes some wiggling to get them to sit snuggly in the ear without feeling awkward. There is a very prominent foreign body sensation when they aren't sitting correctly and the sound is obviously distorted as a result. But get the fit right, and you will be pleased with the result.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: Good sound, great noise cancellation, easy app
detailedReviews 116: content: Probably pretty nice earbuds but neither myself nor my wife could make them fit and seal properly in either L or R ears. We tried all the ear tip sizes included with the buds, but none would achieve a proper seal according to the included test. Fit is of primary importance to us and includes their stability in the ear, wear comfort, and seal (for correct sound isolation/cancelation). If earbuds don't fit, then all their positive attributes fade into the background.
Thankfully Best Buy allowed us to return them for full credit. So 5 Stars to them.
We have moved on to evaluation of Bose Quite Comfort Ultra Earbuds, also from Best Buy. Evaluation is ongoing.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 2
title: Could not achieve proper fit or seal
detailedReviews 117: content: I have used the Bose QC ultra and enjoyed them but lost them and decided to give these a try. The sound quality feels more clear with vocals and the multi point is the best feature I didn't know I needed.
I can watch YouTube on my Samsung phone and simply pause the video/music and start playing something on my iPad and it switches seamlessly.
I am fairly new to wireless earbuds as I have mostly only used Sennheiser and beyerdynamic. These are so convenient to carry around and they have been very comfortable to me. I worry about them falling out more than the Bose but they have been pretty snug.
The battery life is incredible. I have fallen asleep with these and have woken up 8 hours later with them still charged (Nothing playing with ANC on). this is a big advantage over the Bose. I feel like the ANC is not as good but it's really hard to tell. They are quite similar enough to me that it doesn't matter.
Just a note on the apps between the two. The Bose app almost always fails to connect and requires re-pairing the buds or at least 20+ tries to get the app working to change settings or EQ but the Sony app works flawless and is always ready to go to make adjustments or EQ.
The only issue I have had with these is the touch controls. I wish I could remap them to whatever I want but you can only set them between a couple of predefined profiles(Bose is the same if I am remembering right).
Overall I am really enjoying the Sony XM5 buds
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Clear vocals, best multi-point, flawless app
detailedReviews 118: content: Let me preface with saying I’m an audiophile, and sound engineer. I have focal 906 bookshelves and svs pb3000 in my home, kenwood excelon components and FI subs in my car and Yamaha hs5s with and hs8s sub and Sony MDR 7506 cans in my studio and, so my standards are high. Sony knows how to make headphones, my MDR’s are incredibly neutral and accurate. I had the apple AirPod 2’s as my earbuds prior to these. I tried desperately to like them. For most people that use iOS devices, those will work quite well. For myself, I found them lack in sound quality, especially in the low-mid bass. It’s overdone, and muddy on top of that. I couldn’t find a preset in my iPhone that I could truly enjoy my music on. Not to say they are bad per se, ANC was good, integration within an iOS devices is great, and the “find my” feature is nicer. Despite my efforts to like them for more than just convenience, I couldn’t, and gave them away. I was torn between these, the Bose QC II’s, the B&W’s and the sennheiser momento’s. I had a set of Bose QC 35 cans. The ANC on those is astonishing, they have typical Bose tuning (emphasized bass and bright highs) and are great for when I want that Bose sound. After hours and hours of reading reviews, I boiled it down to the Bose and these. The Bose probably have a tad better ANC, as they should. (They invented the tech after all) but I decided to let sound quality be the deciding factor, as I listen to all kinds of music, and wanted the most neutral and accurate sound possible. The Sonys, to me, are perfect. More comfortable in my ear then the AirPod pro 2’s, more accurate, more robust midrange. I feel like apple and Bose really tune their stuff to just try to squeeze a bit too much bass out of a tiny driver. Ironically, the Sonys have the larger driver of the 3 earbuds. Nice lightweight case, they cold a charge for longer than the AirPods and I couldn’t stand the finish on the AirPod case (scratches so easy). The ONLY area they aren’t flawless in is low bass, but it doesn’t bother me, again, quality over quantity (and I have 2 15” subs on 3500 watts in my car if I want that). I’m really impressed by these earbuds, very happy I gave away the AirPods and picked the xm5’s up.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Neutral and accurate sound, comfortable fit
detailedReviews 119: content: The general performance of these ear buds is good. Sound quality very good when EQ is used. Noise cancelling quite good for ear buds although not up to over the ears headset versions.
However I would rate the handling as very poor .
The buds automatically power up when you remove them from the case. They also automatically start playing the last listened too source ( In theory ) however as you handle them to insert into ears it is impossible to not to keep initiating the tap controls and end up switching noise cancelling on and off, Initiating next track which in case of BBC sounds turns out to be next broadcast or episode which extremely annoying.
Have even had them start randomly playing something on the Spotify app which a hardly ever use . On one occasion even started playing music from my iPad instead of my
Phone.
To increase / decrease volume requires 4 taps on one side of the other. Not easy to tap 4 times in the right spot so often end up jumping to next track or back to start . Instead of changing volume. Same happening you want to resposition in the ears eg in middle of training in gym.
Did anyone actually try these buds out at the design stage
All quite absurd. Badly need a way to disable some of these default tap commands which seems impossible. Also need option not to have them auto play immediately out of the case instead of having to open the app and switch them off.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Good sound, but poor handling and tap controls
detailedReviews 120: content: Feels like Sony told its engineers to go nuts, then those engineers added everything to this headset but they never really tested it outside in real life.
I've had xms since xm2s. They all have been over the ear with the exception of xm4s which I returned because I did not like the size. I have my over the ear xm4s and I will not be separating from them any time soon.
I bought these xm5s because they are the smallest in ear phone made by a reputable company which can also fit inside my helmet.
These are absolute trash.
Left piece keeps cutting out for a split second then connects back immediately. Not sure whats going on with it. It is a random occurrence.
Sometimes the volume peaks for a split second then goes back to previous volume level. This is almost immediate so when it goes normal to high to normal volume levels, the high part feels like someone is blowing to your ears as you are listening.
If you have the ambient sound mode on, when you speak, you still hear the chime sound like it turns on ambient sound mode for chat? Why? I already have it on, why you making me listen to your on and off chime?
If you have the wrong ear pieces on, the sound degrades immensely... and I really mean immensely. I hope these can seal up your ear canals fully because otherwise you might as well listen from a megaphone.
They are worth half their price if even then. So yes, the engineers at Sony created an in ear headset that is packed with features while having one of the smallest form factors available in the general market. The problem it feels like is that none of them ever put them on... All these glitches should've been fixed before release. You are paying a premium price but you are not getting a premium product.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 2
title: Packed with features but has many glitches
detailedReviews 121: content: I got those after using Sony WH-1000XM4 for 3 years. I switched because I needed something more portable without losing much on sound quality and noise cancellation. After a thoughtful checks on reviews and technical specs it looked like it'll be enough more my needs.
After using for 8 months and comparing those with Airpods pro 2 and very basic akg in-ear headphones I can comfortable say that Product definetely doesn't fulfill it's promises;
- It's definetely not comfortable: It's designed to keep it's center of gravity slighly above the plugs which makes it transfer all it's load to ear, most likely it's done like that to keep the headphones in however after 1-2 hours of listening session the cheap spongy plugs becomes hot and slippery then headphones starts to slip out anyway. If you use smaller earplug sizes then you're giving up from the noise cancelling.
- Sound quality is super poor: Based on the product's technical data it should be able to provide deep and wide spectrum of tones and actually it should be able to retain more details when used with LDAC connection while listening higher quality tracks or using the DSEE extreme engine while listening lower quality or regular tracks (etc ones that streamed via online service). However both ways are failure, earphones cannot provide any depth under neither condition which makes this product a player of lower level segment.
- Noise cancellation is enough for most conditions but can be disturbing: Even thought noise cancellation was worse then the other products I compared with it was satifying for most of the time. However under some circumstances I found it uncomfortable because as I understand, active noise cancellation wasn't able to filter all spectrums at the same level, it filters some tones of the same noise sources better then the other's which is disturbing and confusing.
Of course all those finding can vary from person to person mostly based on your ear profile and hearing capabilities. My review is based on past experiences with other headphones such as Airpods 4, Airpods pro 2, basic akg in-ear, beats in-ear, jbl everest 300, sony wh-1000XM4, sony wh-1000XM5 and sony ULT wear
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 1
title: Not comfortable, poor sound quality, disturbing ANC
detailedReviews 122: content: Superb
marketplace: flipkart
source: flipkart
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/flipkart
starRating: 5
title: Superb
detailedReviews 123: content: Good
marketplace: flipkart
source: flipkart
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/flipkart
starRating: 4
title: Good
