Sony's Best Headphones Aren't Brand New. It's This Pair That's Over $150 Off
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In This Story
Why It’s a Big Deal
Tech moves fast. Typically, we only want the latest and greatest. But some products, to borrow a bit from Sid Meier, stand the test of time. Few headphones will do this like Sony’s WH-1000XM5. I’ve been using them for years to listen to and even casually control the media I consume, and despite the latest Sony headphones and successor to the WH-1000XM5, the WH-1000XM6, being considered the year’s best in the Men’s Journal Tech Awards, I’ve never felt the need to switch things up.
And currently, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones that I love so much (and use practically daily) are now discounted to one of the lowest prices they’ve ever been offered for, just $248 on Amazon. Meanwhile, the Sony WH-1000XM6 are $458, and I just can’t imagine spending over $200 more when the previous iteration is so perfect.
Sony WH-1000XM5 Over-Ear Headphones, $248 (was $400) on Amazon
Pros
- You can expect one of the best user experiences you’ve ever had with headphones once you get your WH-1000XM5 set up properly
- Top-notch ANC
- Tap-based media controls are intuitive and seamless
- Super long battery life
- Highly comfortable
- Available in four colors for any style
Cons
- Not waterproof
- Some optional features are mildly annoying
What Shoppers Should Know
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 are over-ear headphones with comfortably padded earcups and a headband to match. This means your long usage sessions, because of the dozens-of-hours-long battery life, are going to feel just as good as a short listen while doing the dishes. For the most part, a quick Bluetooth connection and intuitive on-headphone controls make it easy to get engaged with the content you love without a second thought.
Most notably, these headphones have advanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) powered by a combination of eight microphones and intelligent Sony algorithms that can make the world essentially silent except in the most extreme of cases. It helps that the soft foam surrounding the earpads creates a nice physical seal without any boost, and you’ll notice sound dampening from the second you put the headphones on. The WH-1000XM5 also includes a powerful transparency mode to let you hear the world around you in an unmuffled way when necessary.
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My Honest Thoughts
I knew I wanted to buy the Sony WH-1000XM5 shortly after I tried them on in my local Best Buy. It wasn’t when I heard the music, however, that sold me on the headphones. Rather, it was the moment I didn’t hear anything. In the demo, you were able to turn on the impressive ANC with no music (a feature that the WH-1000XM6 demo sadly lacked when I last tried). The moment I did so, the loud store went virtually silent instantly, and I was hooked. As someone who has always had issues with noises coming from my environment, these were life changing.
Wearing the headphones at home, I’ve found them particularly nice for watching movies. In addition to the stereo sound headphones provide, I really love starting and stopping the action via my earcup. A double-tap on my right pauses things instantly as I get up to go to the restroom or grab a snack, and the moment I re-enter my room, another double-tap resumes play. It’s easy and intuitive. Meanwhile, a tap of a button on the left helps me double-check the battery life percentage and toggles the ANC. If you’re out and about, you can hold your fingers over the right earcup to hear your surroundings easily again.
Over the years, I’ve read a few criticisms of the WH-1000XM5 that I’ve never felt quite landed right. For one, some people tend to think that the lack of water resistance will kill them instantly if you use them when you're sweaty, and I’ve just never found this to be the case. Additionally, some people talk about the build quality (the earcups are made of a softer plastic) as if the headphones will take damage easily. I’ve tossed mine on the bed and dropped them a few times to no noticeable damage. I’m overall really satisfied with their construction.
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What has gotten me annoyed from time to time is some of the optional features. For example, there’s one mode that switches to transparency mode when you speak. If you ever talk to yourself or sing along, that can pop in, change the way the sound comes through, and totally break your immersion. I’ve found a few things like this over the ages that I’ve been able to “fix” (i.e., turn off in the settings), and they shouldn’t be dealbreakers for anyone interested. Ultimately, you have a lot of control over what you’re able to do with the headphones.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are down to just $248 right now in an incredible deal that likely won’t last long. For context, I recall paying around $350 for mine in a Black Friday deal. I know that these headphones have been out for a while now, and their successor is out to massive appeal, but I can’t help but be a bit jealous of those getting them now at this price.