Hey everyone! Thanks for your comments. Interesting to see the commentary around the voice quality for calls. Quiet, yeah, but also the voice itself sounds pretty compressed. Weird thing is, I tested them on an actual call to another phone - not just recording using the voice memo app as we did for this video - and it doesn’t sound that bad. Not amazing, but not that bad, either. Regardless, I think these headphones will be a big hit. It’s the package. Other headphones do this or that better, but the package deal is the real selling point IMO. Thanks for watching!
@@ducminh88 The Carbon Edition are fun and I enjoyed testing them, but I can tell you the XM5 or XM4 will be in my bag when I travel. I’ll make a final call on which after an upcoming trip at the end of this month.
Caleb Denison is always spot on in reviewing the call quality as well on headphones and earbuds. Always appreciate the scholarly reviews from the best! As a 1000XM3 owner I wish Sony took care of this back then but I'm glad they fixed the call quality problems with the XM5! I see a pair in my future for sure 👌👏👍
@@BridgeTROLL777 XM5s are slightly better, only slightly. They are also less punchy and more sophisticated, which personally I'm not a fan of, I'd rather take the punchy sound of the XM4.
@@BridgeTROLL777 Umm....I wasn't talking about the audio quality. When I said "these sound even better" I meant they seem to be an even better overall package. Sound= seems like.
@@humm6155 you must have peculiar hearing then . I've had the XM4s for about two years and have used them quite frequently. The sound quality has been excellent
But I understand why they have done it. People were complaining about the headband becoming damaged. So they clearly opted to make the headband stronger and more durable at the expense of folding
@@Sabundy My XM1 is still in perfect condition after 5 years of regular used. Some peoples abuse their headphones and expect everything is durable are ridiculous.
@@JOHNLEXXX I break things quite easily but after 6000+ hours with the xm4s I can honestly say they are in great condition the earcushions just need replacing
@@Sabundy I use my XM3's every day for work since i got them in 2019 and they still work perfectly and are in great condition. Battery life has declined a little as expected with any battery but still great.
I thought this review - much like most of your other reviews - was solid. You share just the right amount of technical information, without getting to "geeky..." Well done...and I would like to see you do a comparison on the Sony 1000/4 vs 5 headphones.
for call quality, the XM5 was amazing in cancelling the outside noise, however, your voice quality was a bit poor and sounded like it was peaking a bit. So not sure if that can be tweaked within the settings or not
There's not much you can do with voice quality unfortunately. Bluetooth voice calls are always going to be pretty bad, and this is already optimizing the hell out of it
@@hundvd_7 That is true. I think he was referring to the voice quality relative to other high-end ANC headsets though. Other headsets seem to manage a smoother voice despite the bluetooth compression. Slightly off topic, wasn't BT 5 supposed to increase the theoretical BT max data rate? I was hoping we could start getting better call quality with it...
Digital audio waveforms are lossy-noise-cancelling algorithms can take away the background but those removed frequencies are also in your voice and are removed too. Unless AI is somehow implemented to understand your voice and ‘replace’ the frequencies the NC algorithm removes in real-time, there’s no way around it: the noisier your environment, the worse your voice will sound, on any set of headphones.
Fortunately I bought the XM4's a few mths back for 280 over here, less than 200 US. I like the design more on the 4 so happy I didn't wait. Nice vid Caleb.✌️
Wow! Thanks for the speedy review! Will wait for your 5 vs 4 comparison before deciding if I'll buy the value option or the costlier performance option.
@@Caleb_Denison Please combare with the Bose 700 as well! I dont think the XM5 difference will be better enough to justify the near $200 price difference most likely for some people, but I am curious how the XM5 compares for comfort and song quality with the more comfy and neutral sounding Bose 700 (I like bass, but the Xm4 has way too much in my opinion and EQ doesn't really solve driver level sound characteristics)
Caleb, what happened to my question to you? It was a very sincere question and now I don’t see it. If you had an issue with it somehow, couldn’t you have responded to me directly and addressed the issue so I could fix whatever seemed to bother you?
Hi Caleb, I came across your channel while searching for XM4 and XM5. Just want to comment that I like your video format. You and your video are so pleasant to watch and I am well informed. Awesome job! Your fan and subscriber from Sydney, Australia
very impressed with the call quality and ANC for calls. i do own the XM4s so for now I think I'll hold off. the portability and folding is still useful for XM4s and that factors for me so not happy if I got this for the bigger case. XM6s maybe if they do this again but adding back the folding
@@MegaUnavailableusern Yes, I mainly use mine for travel and I always store them in the case. Otherwise, all the other stuff I constantly throw in my hand luggage would kill them :-)
My biggest gripe with these headphones is the size of the case. Im currently using bose quiet comfort II, and i use them alot at work and in the gym. So i have them in my backpack alot because of the travel involved in that. And the xm5's seem to take up alot more space since they dont fold in on themself when in the case. Plus im not sure if i really like the new design, but that might grow on me over time, who knows.
Just a heads up for the people that watch this before purchase. Multipoint is well and truly broken on these headphones when connecting to a phone and PC simultaneously. When connecting to both and playing audio from the windows PC, the headphones glich, loudly play a single note for five seconds, and crash/turn off. This happens every few minutes making the headphones completely useless. Both the headphones and PC have up to date firmware and it still happens despite my changing the bluetooth adaptor in my PC. DO NOT BUY THESE IF YOU INTEND TO USE MULTIPOINT WITH A WINDOWS PC. This issue popped up on my first set and also on the second set I recently receivied (that I received under warranty). I now plan to return these for a different (non-Sony) model entirely. Sony customer support is literally non-existent, initially ignoring my contact requests and then responding to simply tell me that I should initialise the headphones (despite stating in the complaint that I had initialised both pairs multiple times). The only communication from Sony is to do something that provably DOES NOT WORK. It is a Sony firmware issue (as the issue doesn't occur with my multipoint earbuds from Senheiser) but they refuse to acknowledge this.
The ambient noise cancelling worked great but your voice sound duplicated and somewhat "canny" (as in speaking into a can), metallic, compressed, I can't quite explain. It's not natural, but it'll get the job done that's for sure. Great video! I'll be on my corner with my WH-CH700N for now XD
I have the XM4 and will say that the noise cancelling is outstanding, I compared them to my wife's Bose headphones noise cancelling and found no difference other than the higher price on the Bose. The cool features like auto pause, dual connections and phone use are very good, where it lacked was the sound. I didn't notice how bad the audio when listening to music or watching a movie was until I compared them to the ear buds version. The earbuds version had everything but the dual connection and the audio sound is soooooo much better. The downside to the earbuds is that they may not fit you well which will cause your ears to hurt after a little while (less than 20 minutes) or at least they do for me. XM4 vs WF XM4 is a no brainer, WF XM4 if they fit your ear shape, if you are an audio head and like good sound, unless the XM5 have made a huge leap in their audio quality, I wouldn't spend $399 on them. Try before you buy.
Yes there's a pair of headphones that can out do the XM5 for calls. It's the Technics EAH 800. Also 8 mics, 50 hours of battery and they sound better. Think they also look cooler.
The New XM5s Seem To Sound Even Better With Movies Than My XM3s Do . With Music The Bass Does Not Thump Exactly Like My XM3s Do But I Still Like The Sound . With The XM4s I Ended Up Returning Them After 1 Week Because The Bass Was Subdued Conpared To My XM3s. THE XM5s ANC IS AweSomeNess PerSoNiFied . Im Leaning Toward Keeping The XM5s The More I Test Them .
Great review and cool you are in Portland, have the XM4's have to think about them but still lv my XM4's as I travel a lot for work and the sony's take very little volume to listen with out having to push the upper limits of the volume control , keep up the great reviews !!
I had 3 issues with xm4 did they fix them? 1. Noticeable hiss from ANC when no music. 2. Sound is just aweful. Compared to $8 Panasonic earbuds. 3. When I move my head I can hear the pads scratching around my ears very irritating. Did they fix those on xm5?
Idk what this guy is on, but did he say Bose 700 have better ANC than Airpods? I own the 700s and tried the Airpods Max, the airpods ANC is definitely better. Even between my xm4 and 700, I think the XM4 ANC is better in most situations.
I had a set of the xm5 headphones and they were good for about a year and then they broke!!! I liked them because of there call quality and also the fact that they didn’t fold. I have no idea why that is so important to some people. What I found when I examined my broken headphones was all the plastic inside them. The xm5 headphones may be better because of the improved call quality and that they don’t fold, but the overall build quality is still an issue for me.
Hello. I just received sony wh-1000xm5 headphones yesterday. I wanted to understand one of it's functionalities. When I remove the headphones from my ears, the ANC button and the touch functions do not respond anymore. I again had to switch off the power button of the headphones, wear them again, switch on the power button, for the ANC and touch functions to respond again. Why does this happen?
I am really curious about side by side comparison, even with third version of this headphones line up. Yesterday I saw a review where the recommendation was as follows: if 3 is still available go for it, otherwise pick 5 gen. What matches in both reviews is that the phone calls are on another level. But the noise cancellation, not so much
I preferred the WH-1000XM3 over the 1000XM4. I use mine for late-night TV viewing on my A90J. I mention the A90J because using Bluetooth on it connected to the Sony WH-1000XM3 and up is fantastic and so much better than a standard Bluetooth connection. I will be hanging onto my 3's.
Great review! Is there another headphone that cancels out the background noise as shown on this video when you are on a phone call? I own several noise cancelling headphones (Bose NC700 and QC, Apple AirPods Max, Jabra 85H) but I am not sure any of them do this as shown in this review?
Hello you are doing really great. Just had one question- Is sony wh1000-xm5 comfortable with spectacles/eye-glasses?? Does it hurt our ears ?? Thank you
Looks like these are better than XM4's in all aspects but one. I wish it folded and had a compact case. I will be happy with my XM4's for a while at least.
That's not saying much. He is an Apple shill. Literally. He has a deal with Apple. He is literally paid by them to say anything they make is inherently better. So how can anyone take what he says seriously? If he says that I am pretty sure it's bull💩 given his track record of smearing other brands while always creaming his pants over everything Apple.
Caleb...i am searching for over ear headphones to watch a full length movie 2-3 hours on my tv. Airpods max vs xm5s comfortability is one of the final points for me to make my purchase...also sound quality and cost play a factor, but i may be willing to pay more for the best sound quality and comfortability. I have an apple 4ktv and a sony a80j tv so both headsets could be A+ for ease of use...thoughts- especially on the comfortability?
@Digital Trends - please test bluetooth range and various interferences with XM5. I have had XM3's and XM4's and still dont get very good range with either one. Love everything else about them... just wish they were better for using with bluetooth to my Firestick. Could just be the firestick but others might be interested to know ranges and interference tolerances as well. TIA... and thanks for the video on these!
I've been using the WH-1000XM5:s at the office now for a few days and I've noticed they are noticably worse than both the XM4:s and XM3:s when it comes to cancelling out actual voices. I must say I'm a bit surprised and quite a bit annoyed considering all the hubub around how much better they're supposed to be.
I'm using both iOs an Android. With my iPHone, I'm using my AirPods Max, and wow! they sound great, have a really good ANC function. With my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, I'm using the Sony WH-1000XM3, and they are really the best headphones for a Android phone, if you ask me. But I'm thinking to get the newest Sony WH-1000XM5, so it will be a pleasure to enjoy music on my Android phone ❤
@@synshandicappedesteknik9149 ---- They restrict links in RU-vid comments so. Just search for "Sony WH-1000XM5 review hear the difference vs AirPods Max"
Caleb, your videos are just so freaking engaging. I find myself just leaving them on, and you have just processed your voice so that it is great to hear for the whole video length. Loved the review. You are a fan, of course, but not a fanboy. You see the challenges but seem to give some good buying decision input. I think the XM5s seem great - the problem is that I would have expected something which was trying to push the envelope somewhere - nothing doing. They are marginally (but noticeably) better in many departments - a little less portable but not less portable than the iPods MAx or Bose and they have all the bells and whistles that we have become accustomed to for Sony headphones - which, as many say - offer the best 'package' of features, especially if you are NOT an apple user. I was looking for something to make them stand out, and I can't see it. The XM4s would get you most of the way there for a little less dough. It is so little thought that it might be worth the extra to have the best you are spending anyway. Confusingly - if you spend more - you get less portability than if you spend less. Still, you get about the same comfort, sound quality and noise-cancelling...taking into account that you would be wearing them in noisy environments, the quality of what you are heating would not be perfect anyway. I need to get them on my head and have a listen. Thanks for the review - keep doing what you do - we need it, and you are FAB at it! The review we need is XM4 vs XM5 vs Bose 700 vs B&O H95 vs iPods Max ... There seems to be nothing else really for travel. I have this Sennheiser 550II and the Momentum3 and until they replace these - they are no real competition other than ins sound quality. Given when travelling you are usually in noising environments - the sound quality thing just does not stack up if the noise cancelling is not up to par. Sorry, Sennheiser. Bowers and Wilkins, Masters and Dynamic etc. What do you thik?
Nice detailed review! A real shame the case got so big because they don't fold anymore. For travel, I would probably ditch the case and use a thin cloth bag.
