I've had quite a few commenters tell me that they received these headphones in only the smaller inner box (that I didn't show on camera) so the packaging I received might have been sent a special version of the packaging for the sake of the review.
Thanks for this very helpful review. I've owned the Sony XM3, XM4, and now the XM5, and found that the sound quality has improved significantly with each new model. I like your EQ settings. One can't expect an ultimate audiophile experience from wireless headphones, but I definitely enjoy using the XM5.
@@PassionforSoundThanks for your review. Ive recently discovered your channel and am not only overwhelmed but equally delighted with the quantity and quality of content that you've been consistently putting out there. My question might seem amateurish but im still hopeful for an honest answer. Here goes: If i were ro use these headphones comnected to my android phone using the SIGMOT DEW4X, would this improve the sound at all ? Thanks in advance. ❤ Shaz
@shazadirani I'm glad you're enjoying the channel! If you use the Sonys wired to the dongle, you might get a slight improvement, but I don't recall if the Sonys need to be switched on for wired connections. If they do, you'll likely hear no benefit. You'll definitely get no benefit of running them wireless because the dongle is outside of that connection.
Thank you so much for being literally the only reviewer i’ve found (and I’ve watched dozens of reviews of these) who mentions the EQ when completely switched off and used passively!! I was dying to know what they sounded like in that scenario and no one else mentioned it.
Great video, thanks. Your EQ settings (with slight adjustments for my ears) have really opened up these cans and widened the sound stage significantly. A lot of similar guides have suggested significantly cutting bass with Clear Bass in the negatives. I much prefer your sound signature. I’ve gone (bass to treble) +4, +5, +7, +3, 0 and clear bass +3, so more similar to your suggestion. 👍
Thanks for the review, Lachlan! Looks like I am keeping my 4-year old WH-1000XM3. Save for the pads which I replaced last year, my XM3 still performs well and has no issues.
Have you tried this is techs??? I don’t want to pay for an eq lol I’m getting these headphones today so I’m browsing for the best eq Any others you recommend?
I have boosted my Xm5 experience by using Wavlet eq.The auto eq makes the music sound so much better wider and overall more "open" Though there are some things that have to be changed in the phones settings/Streaming app also before u start using it otherwise it wont sound good
Great review, covering every single base possible. Love the fact that you have chosen to review a product that is very popular but out of your normal audiophile product range. Acts as a calibration to me when I relate to reviews on these from techies. Also, that box is plainly put stupid big from a sustainability perspective. I'm a logistics professional with previous packaging expertise. It's not just about materials and weight but of course also about volume (and other aspects too).
Thanks Juha. Glad you liked the review. As for the packaging, it seems I might have been sent a special version, maybe for the sake of the video, as many people have received theirs in the smaller, inner box (that I didn't show on camera).
@@PassionforSound Yeah I later saw a couple of comments on smaller packaging. I guess Sony marketing figured "bigger is better" for reviewers but it kinda backfired a tad 😁
The chat to speak feature is nothing short of amazing. It works very well for me. It’s made for short conversations, meaning it’s totally enough to answer someone’s question or to say something quickly . If the conversation is going to last longer, I’m sure a normal person would take off the headphones not to risk looking like a dork !
Yeah I think I won’t be able to get used to it. I was raised to never have something in your ear when talking to someone so even when it’s a small question I still take off my headphones even when I don’t need to. It does work really well tho I tested it out with someone and it’s really clear and cool.
Having them in hand, in direct comparison to the Sennheiser new Momentum 4? The Senns are a better option IMO. From the side by side reviews elsewhere.
Hi Lachlan - Thank you for this thoughtful and considered review of the Sony's. I now understand why so many varied opinions of them have been published. Love your nuanced work! Roger
Thank you for your in depth review, the way you explained the tonality and sound was really understandable which I definitely appreciated. Though I did wanna ask on one of the notes of the review, you mentioned recessed or veiled vocals, to what degree is this prevalent and how much can you retrieve using eq? (I primarily use speakers and my Sennheisser HD58x but need a wireless pair for commuting to college, I’ve had the xm3 in the past but the v shape was a bit much, with how distant the vocals felt. I enjoy a light V shape especially like what Meze does but really dislike when vocals lack any intimacy at all.)
I think you can get slightly better vocals with some EQ, but I also think it's just the character of the drivers or the amplification in the headphones that prevents them from sounding energetic and alive at times. It makes them an easy listen, but can take the engagement out of vocals a little and isn't EQable.
Thanks! Your video came right when a friend asked about these as his first choice. I shared this video and off instinct told him if you really care for audio quality its better to go for a wired set, never hurts to audition them anyway (he's in Singapore). If ANC is important might as well get a cheaper pair for doing that duty while saving up for a desktop (less portable) solution. For him, your video drove that point home. Now he's looking at the SRH1540 and HE-R9 (at the top end of his budget) and the 99 classic or Monoprice 565c if the sound quality step-down isn't too much.
Great EQ tip that feels much better than without it. I add +1-2 clear bass for extra boom for certain tracks but matter of preference. I did not dare EQ "that much" so thanks!
I love the xm3s for their convenience and easy going sound. As a low level listener it really helps to not have a mid forward sound (I had the momentum wireless 2, which fatigued my ears). They do change sound signature massively between ANC on/off, glad to hear this is not the case with the new one 👍 For hifi I’m all speakers, not sure I could handle that through phones..
@@PassionforSoundDo you have pointers to some easy to drive open back headphones with a similar/forgiving tuning (Bluetooth or for use with a small DAP)?! Too much time with closed backs are making my ears itchy 😀
Nicely Done. I appreciate you helping this headphone in the bluetooth mode. I might of mist you talking about the sound/eq settings with bluetooth & ANC. Did your graph change significantly and did you have a chance to offer a eq setting ? Thanks in advance
Glad you liked the review! You probably missed it because it wasn't specified so much as implied. The sound is consistent (essentially identical) in all modes which is pretty cool. So long as the headphone is powered on, you'll get the benefits of the EQ settings I provided and the sound will be basically the same regardless of the mode (USB, Bluetooth, ANC on/off).
I find the Sony EQ app lackluster, thats why I downloaded Fxsound app for PC and android and damn its sounds like a different headphone after tweaking my preffered Eq. I mean the clarity, the mids just about everything on the sound quality drastically improved.
Hi, Lachlan. Your review sums up my experience with them. I bought them because I needed some really good noise cancelling. I had been using the Sennheiser Momentum 3 for over a year and loved their sound. But the noise cancelling was not good enough. Then come the XM5, and although the Momentum 4 was announced, I decided not to wait. I knew that the noise cancelling was going to get nowhere near the Sonys. And for pure sound quality I am happy with other headphones. We'll see in August if I was wrong. But my guess is it will be something like the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2: better sound quality, worse noise cancelling. As a convenience headphone for travelling and commuting (I have 6 plane trips in the next couple of months and I commute a couple of times a week), the XM5 make total sense and they've given me the opportunity to listen to wide dynamic range music such as symphonic music while on a train. Using the LDAC codec, with a Fiio BTA30 Pro, enhances the sound even more. Nowhere near my wired Shure 1540, HD800s, HD650 etc., sure, but enough that I often just take the XM5 instead of better sounding options.
I have Sony XM4 and those are perfect for travels, their ANC is a bliss during flights! So the use case is different from what an audiophile might be looking for. Having said that, I rarely end up taking them out of my bag while at home, I need some open back headphones then.
@@PassionforSound thats wonderful to hear. Look forward to your indepth analysis.. it would be great if you compare it to top tier dongle dacs priced similarly, like the RU6, if possible..😀
FYI: I have received my xm5 in December 2022 and box is seemless cardboard, box basically wrapped around carry case 0 extra space. so they must have listened to your review 🙂
I think it might have actually been that I was sent a special version from the launch or similar as others have reported the same packaging as you and it's wear was inside the large outer box that I received
@@PassionforSound also I got 3 months of tidal for free, set up headphones using your EQ recommendations and it.sounded kind of blunt... Listening to them now. Then I realized that I had Atmos set to music,.as soon as I turned that off headphones started sound very impressive. Figured I will share this with people who might encounter same issue. (Using galaxy s21 ultra)
These are good headphones. They need a parametric EQ (PowerAMP) on an android tablet with LDAC. The Sony tablets are good for this. I setup my wife’s tablet and her XM4s. They sound good, tone the bass down and bring up the mid-band/low treble. Very nice headphones…
I think a lot of people see the price tag and don't make the connection that it's a pair of headphones, BT DAC and headphone amp all in one comfortable stylish package. People start comparing them to £350 headphones with DAC or amp...
I'd don't review a lot of wireless gear these days so I'm not completely across the options. The Kef Mu7 and Sennheiser Momentum 4 are both excellent options too.
I own the XM5s, I have owned the XM4s, and have owned the AirPods Max, all at the same time. I obviously kept the XM5s. My go to phones b4 the the XM5s were the XM4s. My daughter lives with me and has the APM. I was well adapted to the Sony app and how to best use it for my use case which is daily driven either on an iPad Pro or an iPhone. What I heard in Bluetooth as well as wired mode was a much cleaner sounding driver with a much quicker and clearer bass, the mids weren’t nearly as bloated and the treble had a more realistic sounding extension and responded to eq tweaks much better than anything I could get out of the XM4s That’s my story and I’m sticking to it lol….obviously YMMV.
Thanks for sharing that, David! I tried really hard to get a loan pair of APMs as a comparison for this review but couldn't. You've helped to fill that gap - thank you!
My pleasure, David. It's very important to me to always be as transparent and honest as I can. I'll always have opinions and preferences as well as sometimes make mistakes because I'm human. I always aim to be upfront and open about that though. 🙂
Great review Lachlan. I didn't receive the big black box. Instead I received minimal packaging that appears to look like material similar to a carton of eggs, shaped like the carrying case. Inside the outer packaging of course were the carrying case with the headphones, etc. That said I much prefer the packaging of the Sony WH-1000XM4 because it doesn't look so cheap.
It seems I got a special box that might have been from the product launch or for press or something. That egg carton type box was inside the big one I showed on camera. Glad you liked the review!
hey man just got the xm5’s do you recommend i should use your eq settings i mostly listen to trap music or hip hop sometimes rnb or pop would really appreciate your help 🥺
Nice and clear review. ✔️ 1) Did you find any preset which improves the audio (compared to out of box), like Bright, Excited etc.? 2) How we can improve/widen the sound stage through Eq setting, any suggestion?
Thanks Vicky. I wasn't much a fan of the stock presets so I can't help there. As for the soundstage, pulling back a bit around the 1kHz to 4kHz range (called the BBC dip) can help a little.
I just got the edifier stax spirit s3, they're planar magnetic and sound great, but i don't know if its bc of the small hearcups or that im not used to that much detail in songs, it gives me headaches and fatigue me sooo fast... I'm considering getting the mx5 that seems more confortable, and eq it to get balanced sound, but im afraid to be lossing a TON of sound quality.
I'm yet to try the S3 so I can't comment there, but if you're finding the S3s fatiguing then a drop back in resolution might actually be helpful for you.
I dodnt mind the xm5, but coming from the xm3 it didnt feel like a $500 upgrade. It doesnt feel as comfortable to me and the only noticeable upgrade was the mics. Ive now got the Sennheiser momentum 4 but that is full of bugs 😅
@Passion for Sound yes they seem to be perfect after about 3 months so far. Really enjoying them but must note that I also have the Momentum 4 and Panda and the Momentum 4 slightly edges out the XM5 in imaging and treble clarity even with AAC vs my XM5 on LDAC@990. But considering where I use them (gym and loud environment) both are great overall
I was in Sony Centre today .. I'm not audiophile I'm musician.. and I dont know why xm5 premium headphones sounds so bad. Xm4 sounds better but i dont know how my cheap Soundcore Q30 are much better than both Sony models ...
I haven't heard the XM4s (skipped from XM3 to XM5). If you're a musician though, the Sonys aren't a particularly natural sounding headphone without adjustment.
Hi Laclan I am totally lost in this topic. I own an iphone 7 plus and an Hiby R5 Saber and I am not confident wether those machines make them worthwhile. Any piece of advice would be highly appreciated 😉
Hi Jose, the Sony XM5s will be good when working via Bluetooth with the iPhone, but for the Hiby R5, you'll get better overall sound quality with a wired headphone so it depends on whether you want the convenience of wireless or the maximum sound quality.
They aren't, but they sound fan-fucking-tastic for casual listening 🤷♀️ I've got a pair of HD600s for objective listening and loaning to my musician friends so they can mix their music on the road :) I don't need them to be monitors. They remind me of V-Modas. "To hell with audiophiles, just focus on what consumers will happily headbang to" seems to be their MO. And I like it I can't lie. They still seem resolving enough that I can hear a difference between Spotify and Tidal. They might not objectively reflect the quality of a mix but they sound big, crisp, clean, punchy and vibrant.
I think the Panda is better from a pure sound quality point of view, but there have been some significant quality control problems ☹️ I've also got the Kef Mu7 coming up very soon
It would be unfair to put the XM5 up against the league of real audiophile IEMs/Headphones. The Sony was designed towards a different target consumers and at a very different price range.
Well it's nice that they sound great with cable and a DAC but you buy these for portable use. If you sit at home I see no reason not to spend those money on a pair of passive headphones and a dac. Even using the same money e.g., the Aiyima DAC A5 Max and a pair of AKG K702 will sound way clearer. For portable use though I doubt there are much better ANC headphones out there.
I didn't like the feel of these at all, so I sent them back after a few hours testing. I found the cups too small and the headband applied a lot of pressure. I'm used to Sennheiser cans and prefer the feel. The sound was average in my view.
Comfort is always going to vary from person to person with head shape, ear size and angle, etc. I agree that the sound out of the box is just average. With EQ they can be really nice, but I expect the Sennheisers are too
@@PassionforSound very durable, but can’t say about their new products these days now as Sony is premium prices. Remember the sound bar I wanted to get? I got the LG flagship at 2/3 of Sony’s sound bar. Of course , both have features that’s not exactly the same.
@@PassionforSound I read and watched very different reviews of the Sony System (HT-A7000 Soundbar, SW5 Subwoofer and RS5 wireless surround speakers). Some users actually told me they returned it. As the the LG S95QR, reviews were all consistently praises. Unlike in US or elsewhere, buyers can return when they are unsatisfied with the product, we can’t return unless a product is faulty here in Singapore. Hence, I have to do lots of researches, watched and read reviews before I make any purchase. This is also how I came to become subscriber/patron of your channel.
Glad you did plenty of research as it sounds like you made the right decision. Price (and positioning in the market) doesn't always result in a better product. 🙂
They're OK, but not fantastic. I'd buy the Lef Mu7 if you wanted wired and wireless performance because I think the Sonys need their internal DSP and EQ active to sound their best.
@@PassionforSoundTo be honest, I decided to send it back. If the soundstage and the forwardness of mediums (after eq) are totally my taste, it ended up with the feeling to have microwave ovens on the ears (material used and reduced thickness of the earpads, I guess). Sound is one thing, but if confort is deficient, it's just useless.
TBH my vacuum cleaner doesn't block all the noise... not even close BUT its better, much better and I now am happy to vacuum to my fiancée's happiness.
Tried the EQ you recommended... unfortunately for me it was far too harsh lacking bass but some treble was harsh to the point of painful. But my ears are rubbish at best. Thank you
Unfortunately, we all hear a bit differently in the treble frequencies. You could try raising the Clear Bass slider and see if that balances things out a bit. After that you could try pulling the higher frequency bands down a few clicks one at a time and see which one helps the most.
Sorry. One is wired only and needs a DAC and amp (HD600). The other is wireless via Bluetooth. Generally, wired headphones can provide better sound, but it all depends on the gear they're connected too.
Could you PLEASE stop putting the database segment in the middle of the video, like either move it to the start or finish. I usually listen to videos with my phone in my pocket while walking/cycling, and I have to pull the phone up and manually skip that segment every time because I heard it too many times already. I love your videos but that is really annoying and makes me not want to watch them at all
Thanks for letting me know! I don't put it in all videos, but I'll either do a new, very short one or I'll put it at the very end or something. Please keep in mind that I've already produced the videos into mid September so it will change from there (and not all videos until then have it)
Never buy them even though they sound good. The earpiece detaches from the arch even if they are handled carefully. Sony will not honour the warranty. There is plenty of info on youtube regarding the problem. Poor engineering and Sony will never have my business again.
@@PassionforSound Yes you are right, they are good at what they were designed for. I am just not their customer based on my experience with B&Os and B&Ws
They indeed are for audiophiles... to laugh at. N700NC M2's are often $99 and vastly better. The XM5's have a tonality that aims for nothing besides being inoffensive and thus sound just boring.
I don't think they're laughable (very few products are), but I also think they benefit from some tweaking of the EQ to give them a bit more life and energy in the sound. I haven't tried the N700NC so can't comment on those.
@@PassionforSound Well for the price for which you can get very serious headphones that cannot purposefully be compared. For $100 one can get headphones that are categorically better.
