Whether it's working in solitude with music or getting 'in the zone' while you're in the commute, noise-cancelling headphones are the default option these days. We also prefer over-ear headphones for hygienic reasons and well... because they look so good.
Yes, we're huge fans of anything that oozes style and Sony's WH range of headphones are firmly in this league. The XM3 set the standard for noise-cancelling benchmarks and came in an equally stylish, hard-cover case that ensured its longevity. The XM4 was an incremental improvement. It's black and rose gold options were also the perfect match for many a gent who wanted to match it with his pin-striped Loro Piana two-piece.
So what's new with the XM5 that justifies a higher price tag? Well, we tried it out over a few different commutes, at the office and even on a recent flight to see how it compared. Firstly, it’s a totally new design. The new model boasts a thinner headband that features a stepless sliding design and silent joints. The new ear cups can rotate sideways but cannot fold inwards like they did with the previous model. The iconic oval case is now replaced by a rounded triangular case.
From a technical perspective, noise-cancellation is improved with the upgraded Bluetooth chipset. Noise at the mid and higher frequency is cancelled out much better, providing you with more peace when walking outside. The hands-off feature is a welcome addition. Forget about the double-tap any more. Just lift them up and your music is automatically paused. The four microphones, the XM series' original weak-spot is now improved, with new 'beamforming' versions, powered by two QN1 audio processors, coupled with the Precise Voice Pick Up technology. These are designed to pick up your voice more precisely and we were amazed at the improved results during our calls. Your business class flight experience also just got elevated (pun intended) thanks to the Atmospheric Pressure Optimising feature, which ensures that the noise-cancelling feature still works no matter how high up you're 'working'.
Pairing is still super-easy on an Apple or Android device but now, Windows users also get that with the Swift Pair feature. So this bodes well for the XM5's everyday use.
While the audio challenges have been conquered really well, we feel a little dismayed by the new design. Sure, it’s a tad lighter. But we loved how the XM4 felt more robust and looked less flimsy compared to any of its competitors. The new model seems to have regressed to this baseline but hey, aesthetics can be subjective. Unfortunately the four coloured options from the XM4 have also been reduced to two in the XM5. That's another minor disappointment. Black with rose gold detailing still looks great on anything but if you're more of a beige and chinos type of person, the other option of platinum silver creates a suitably matching look.
Overall, this is a huge improvement on the MX4 so we're glad that Sony has made the upgrade so soon. Use your XM4 as a back-up and just grab the XM5. Your productivity is definitely the big winner here.
Battery Charge Time
Approximately 3 Hours (Full charge)
Battery Charge Method
USB
Battery Life (Continuous Playback)
Max 27 hours (NC ON), Max 38 hours (NC OFF)
Battery Life (Waiting time)
Max 30 hours (NC ON), Max 200 hours (NC OFF)
Our Ratings
Functionality: 4 out of 5
Value For Price: 5 out of 5
Boardroom Appeal: 5 out of 5