Audio review
Sony WF-1000XM5 Review: The Microphone Is the Weak Point
Two labs that tested calls came away unimpressed, one scoring them 5.1 out of 10. The noise cancelling, meanwhile, is measured at over 30 dB and is genuinely class-leading.
By Paulo GerchonPublished 2 min read
Sony
Sony WF-1000XM5
Good · researched from 3 sources
The noise cancelling is measurably the best thing about them and the reason to buy. Calls are the one thing two independent testers came away disappointed by, so if your earbuds spend their day on meetings, look elsewhere.
- Buy if
- Flights and commuting, where over 30 dB of low-frequency attenuation earns its keep · Anyone with an LDAC-capable Android source · Long listening sessions, on the measured battery figures
- Skip if
- People who take a lot of calls on earbuds · Hard training or wet conditions, given IPX4 · Anyone who wants a flat signature straight out of the box
We don’t list prices, because Amazon’s change hourly.
The number that justifies the price
SoundGuys measured over 30 dB of attenuation below 1 kHz. The previous generation managed about 28.
Two decibels sounds like nothing and is not. Attenuation is logarithmic, and at these levels every couple of decibels is a meaningful reduction in what an aircraft cabin does to your ears over four hours.
TechGearLab scored the category 8.6 and added the honest qualification: much of what you experience is the passive seal rather than the electronics, and in an actual office or aeroplane the result is less dramatic than the number implies. SoundGuys' own figures support that, with the seal alone worth up to 15 dB in the low end and as much as 50 dB above 1 kHz.
And the number that undercuts it
TechGearLab scored call quality 5.1 out of 10.
That is the lowest score in their breakdown by a wide margin, and their description is specific: bone-conduction sensing and noise separation underperform, voice quality degrades under background noise, and the volume level is inconsistent even in a quiet room.
SoundGuys reaches the same conclusion more gently, noting the six microphones do not hold a candle to those in Sony's over-ear model.
Recording Now disagrees and rates the microphone as a strength. One dissent against two testers is worth reporting and not worth building a purchase on.
Battery, from two directions
SoundGuys, cancelling on: 9 hours 32 minutes, against Sony's claim of 8.
TechGearLab, cancelling off at 75 percent volume: 14 hours, with the case adding two more charges for about 42 hours total.
Both beat the stated figures, which is unusual enough to be worth saying plainly. Three minutes on the charger returns roughly an hour.
Nobody agrees about the sound
SoundGuys measured a clear emphasis between 30 and 300 Hz and calls the default too bassy.
TechGearLab scored sound 7.4 and complained the opposite way, that the profile lacks bass power for EDM and hip-hop, with a soundstage that feels confined and occasionally cluttered.
Recording Now describes it as warm, smooth and audiophile-friendly and treats it as the main appeal.
Three careful listeners, three different characterisations. What that usually means is a tuning that is neither obviously wrong nor obviously right, and the app contains a full equaliser for exactly this reason.
The parts that wear out
The foam tips. TechGearLab rates them more comfortable than silicone and then lists them degrading quickly as a drawback. Recording Now calls them average, notes they need deliberate insertion and can work loose over a long session, and suggests aftermarket replacements improve both comfort and sound.
Four sizes come in the box. Treat them as a consumable.
The other build note is small but real: SoundGuys finds the glossy finish slippery, and the rating is IPX4, which covers rain and sweat and nothing more.
How it scored
The overall 7.6 is the weighted average of these five criteria — we never adjust it by hand.
Sound quality
TechGearLab scored sound 7.4 and found the soundstage confined. SoundGuys measured a clear emphasis between 30 and 300 Hz and calls the default too bassy.
Value
TechGearLab ranked them eighth of 23 and listed the price among the drawbacks. SoundGuys scored 8.3 out of 10 while calling the price premium.
Build quality
IPX4 only, and SoundGuys finds the glossy finish slippery. TechGearLab reports the foam ear tips degrading quickly with use.
Ease of use
TechGearLab scored app features 8.8, the highest in their breakdown. Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint, LDAC and head-tracked spatial audio.
Noise cancelling
SoundGuys measured over 30 dB of attenuation below 1 kHz, better than the XM4. TechGearLab scored the category 8.6 while noting passive isolation does much of the work.
Pros and cons
What we liked
- SoundGuys measured over 30 dB of low-frequency attenuation, up from about 28 on the XM4
- SoundGuys measured 9 hours 32 minutes with noise cancelling on, above Sony's own claim
- TechGearLab measured 14 hours with cancelling off and scored app features 8.8
- 25 percent smaller and 20 percent lighter than the XM4 per SoundGuys
- LDAC, multipoint and head-tracked spatial audio
- Three minutes of charging returns about an hour of playback
What we didn’t
- TechGearLab scored call quality 5.1 out of 10, their lowest mark for these
- SoundGuys says the microphones do not compare to those in the over-ear WH-1000XM5
- SoundGuys measured a bass emphasis between 30 and 300 Hz and calls the default too bassy
- TechGearLab reports the foam ear tips degrading quickly
- IPX4 only, so rain and sweat are the limit
- TechGearLab found the cancelling less effective in offices and aircraft than the score suggests
Specifications
| Noise cancelling | Over 30 dB below 1 kHz per SoundGuys; up to 15 dB passive in the low end and up to 50 dB above 1 kHz |
|---|---|
| Battery with ANC | 9 h 32 m measured by SoundGuys against Sony's 8 hour claim |
| Battery without ANC | 14 hours at 75 percent volume per TechGearLab |
| With case | 24 hours claimed; about 42 hours per TechGearLab |
| Fast charge | Three minutes for about one hour of playback |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC and LDAC; no aptX |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 with multipoint |
| Water resistance | IPX4 |
| Microphones | Six, three per earbud, behind a mesh cover |
| Size | 25 percent smaller and 20 percent lighter than the XM4 per SoundGuys |
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How we researched this
We have not had this unit on the bench. This review synthesises the manufacturer’s published specifications, independent measurements and owner reports listed below. Every figure on this page comes from one of those sources rather than our own measurement.
3
sources reviewed
SoundGuys supplies the measured noise cancelling attenuation, the measured battery with cancelling on, the frequency response finding and the codec list, and is the only source that measured on a test fixture. TechGearLab tested them against 22 other earbuds and supplies the category scores, the ranking, the second battery measurement and the call quality finding. Recording Now is a long-use account and dissents on the microphone, which the FAQ reports rather than resolving. The three describe the sound differently enough that all three characterisations are given rather than averaged.
What we read
Common questions
Are the Sony WF-1000XM5 good for calls?
How good is the noise cancelling?
How long does the battery last?
Do they sound good out of the box?
Do the ear tips last?
The bottom line on the Sony WF-1000XM5
The noise cancelling is measurably the best thing about them and the reason to buy. Calls are the one thing two independent testers came away disappointed by, so if your earbuds spend their day on meetings, look elsewhere.
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