The headband is a big change, instead of being designed with a hinge-style where the ear cups can fold up into the headband when packed away, Sony went for a more traditional style fixed-band design. This allows for the ear cups to be rotated flat, and the accompanying hard case is designed the same way obviously. To be honest, I think I preferred the XM4 hinged design only because it takes up less real estate when packed in a bag, but I think the reason for the change is that it created fewer moving points for things to break. Bending always has a downside when it comes to technology. The padding is actually enhanced since the new headband design accommodates more padding along the entirety of the band. It's also a smaller diameter, which initially felt a little less sturdy to me, but it's strong enough - you're going to have some sort of flex with plastics.  

The ear cups themselves have remained similar, with a minimal aesthetic and smooth and sleek design. Like the XM4, the only buttons you'll find on the left ear cup are the power on/off and the noise-canceling buttons. The power button doubles as the Bluetooth pairing switch and we'll walk you through how to set up your new XM5 later in this review. There is also a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a sigh of relief, as some wireless headphone manufacturers are already starting to omit the analog headphone ports (like the Hifiman Ananda BT). On the right ear cup, you'll just find the single USB-C charging port. Don't worry, however, because most of the functionality of the headphones is retained in the Sony app (we'll go over that too in the setup section).

The Sony tuning is great for most genres, and the soundstage is close enough that the XM5 puts you right in the action. It’s not going to replace your open-back planar magnetic cans, but it should be in every music lover’s arsenal as a daily driver or especially for those on the move who want to tune out the world – or tune back in from time to time. Since I'm familiar with the typical sound of Sony headphones, I wanted to strike up something fun and energetic to see how the new drivers respond to the low and high-end boost. "Razzmatazz" by I Don’t Know How But They Found Me is a retro-funk bop that has some great slap and fun vocals. The rhythm of the song is set by the piano, but when the bass and kick enter the song gets really funky. I notice, right off the bat, that the lower registers on the XM5 sound clearer than the previous generation. Not that the XM4 sounded bloated, but there is a touch more control and transparency, likely in part due to the driver redesign and the ear cup material. It still has great energy, which is one of the best reasons I enjoy this headphone, so I don't necessarily notice a big difference in that department.

Of course, I could say things like "oh, you feel like you're in the recording session" blah, blah, blah - but a lot of the actual and perceived fidelity comes from the source audio, resolution, and your connection. The Sony WH-1000XM5 has a 3.5mm unbalanced, single-entry headphone port, so for most high-fidelity cases, you're going to want to use a cable for the best sound quality. It's pretty simple. However, that is not to say that the XM5 does not sound good wireless, because it really, really does. Sony has outfitted the headphone with the latest high-resolution codecs to make sure that you get the best wireless audio quality possible. Bluetooth audio transmission has come a long way since just a few years ago, and some of the high-resolution audio codecs can transmit a large amount of data very efficiently, thus giving you (at least from a data packet perspective) true hires audio wirelessly. Sony's proprietary LDAC codec sounds great and combined with the ANC effectiveness it makes for a very passable and enjoyable high-resolution wireless experience. You also have the standard SBC and AAC codecs available as well. During my time testing, I never experienced dropout or connection issues, and the latest Bluetooth v5.2 pack the newest sound and coding improvements. It's not night and day, and you'll likely find no sonic difference if you're streaming high-resolution music, but the update is nice for future-proofing the headphone.

There is also a sensor inside the headphone that automatically pauses the music when you take them off your head and will turn off after a certain amount of time if not resumed. Sony also incorporates some really great functionality for ambient noise when you want it. Say you’re listening to some music and your coworker comes over to ask a question. Simply place your palm over the earcup and the XM5 will automatically pause the music and activate the exterior microphones, allowing you to hear without having to take off the headphones. Another way is by allowing the speak-to-chat function, where all you have to do is talk, and the headphones will detect your voice and pause the music and activate the ambient sound setting like the flick of a switch.

Battery life is phenomenal at 30 hours with noise canceling. You can sqeeze out about 40 hours of battery life with ANC off. Bluetooth has also been updated to the latest version Bluetooth 5.2 which makes for more stable connections and longer ranges. Phone call quality was clear and noise canceling was incredibly effective at canceling out the ambient noise when I was talking in noisy environments. It’s pretty impressive what the noise reduction tech in phone calls can do now in the headset.

And that’s just the headphone. We haven’t even discussed the features in the app. Let’s take a quick look at how to set up your XM5 headphones with your device.

The new vegan leather padding is great on the XM5. The original XM4 leather breathed better in my opinion, but the XM5 has a tighter seal. The tighter seal is better for sound, but also retains sweat and moisture - which could be especially problematic if you live in a warmer climate. The newer headband also tightens up the clamping force, aiding the tighter seal. Comfort overall is a step up from the previous model.

The biggest improvement other than the styling is the driver design. Sony implemented a new 30mm driver and ear cup materials that make a noticeable sonic difference from the previous generation headphone. Right out of the gate I notice that the low end still retains the signature Sony "slap" but the bass is tighter and more transparent than the XM4. Also the mids and highs are crisper with a touch more top end sparkle, resulting in a sound that is similar enough to the XM4, but improved dynamically. The active noise-cancellation also helps with the better dynamics, since the effectiveness of ANC tech improves year after year.

The Sony Headphones Connect application which controls a lot of the features of the headphone hasn't changed much from the version last year, but it doesn't really need to since the headphones don't necessarily have any additional functionality. The features are basically just more responsive and accurate this year, which in itself is a huge deal. Chat-to-speak is quicker at detecting your voice. The gesture controls are more responsive and as a result I didn't have to keep attempting to swipe if it didn't read my actions. All of these small and subtle improvements make for a dramatically better and more satisfying user experience than the WH-1000XM4 headphones.

For my listening sessions I paired the Sony WH-1000XM5 with both a Silver Dragon and Bronze Dragon Portable Cable. I was surprised at the difference that each cable brought out in the overall sound of the headphone. I would argue that both are great options, but if you’re more of the analytical listening persuasion then the Silver Dragon will bring out a bit more detail and top end sparkle. I think the Black Dragon helps to control the low end weight and tighten it up. Both cables are a big boost over the included factory cable.

Generally, stock audio cables are manufactured with subpar materials, metals with impurities, poor geometries, and an overabundance of layers to make them look and feel like a fire hose. Inconsistency and lack of quality control in stock cables can lead to poor sound quality and a veiled sound vs what the musician intended for you to hear and feel from the music.

Silver Dragon Sound Signature: The Silver Dragon is the original cable. Silver strands clarify instrument separation, increase the soundstage, and find previously lost high and mid-frequency sounds. Transients appear more cohesive and the bass tighter for a more controlled sound. The detail and clarity of the Silver Dragon make it a perfect match for classical music and other genres with many nuanced instruments.

Black Dragon Sound Signature: With a warm presentation, Bronze Dragon strengthens the bottom end without becoming bloated. Bass guitar and cello are full and immersive, creating a musical that's not too lush. The warmth and fullness of the Bronze Dragon create the muscle needed to round out a flat signature. For more information on finding your signature sound, visit our Sound Signature Guide.