How do you improve upon the already best-in-class noise-canceling earbud? I don't know, but Sony sure has found a way. The new WF-1000XM5 noise-canceling earbuds from Sony are completely redesigned this year, offering a smaller, smart-looking chassis and even more tech thrown inside. It's an impressive feat, to say the least, but let's take a look at what's new and just how much is improved.

I'll say that the ambient noise settings sound more transparent than on the XM4 - the previous iteration just sounded like a thin door opening to the work around you. The XM5's ambient setting sounds more perceptively open-sounding as if it were temporarily an open-back headphone. It doesn’t take away from the music listening, but I felt as though it gave me a better sense of my surroundings as well. I could see this especially helpful in high-traffic areas on work commutes or during runs, etc. The ear tips do a great job of sealing out the outside naturally on their own without the help of the ANC, so having a clearer "picture" of your surroundings is quite nice.

Obviously, it's a different fit than the full-sized WH-1000XM5, but I dare say that the active noise-cancellation is on par with the over-ear performance. Needless to say, from an ANC perspective I'm impressed.

The WF-1000XM5 is designed with Sony's Dynamic Driver X - which is aptly named - because it is a single dynamic driver in each earbud. The Dynamic Driver X is able to reproduce lower frequencies thanks in part to a new dome-edge separation structure. This new design combines different materials which supposedly allows for a more accurate generation of cancellation waves in lower frequencies. This is huge because I personally always gave kudos to Bose for their lower frequency cancellation - which was especially effective when traveling in a plane. The effectiveness of cutting out the engine noise was the true test for me and Bose always did an outstanding job in this regard. It was primarily the only reason I held onto them. Upon some simulation testing I did, I have no reason to hold onto my Bose headphones. The WF-1000XM5 does an effective job now in canceling out these problem frequencies. Now, more than ever, Sony reigns as ANC king.

For my testing setup I paired the WF-1000XM5 with the NW-A306 DAP from Sony. Keeping buds like this in the Sony ecosystem really pays off with the proprietary sound enhancements, and it also shows off the real value of the NW-A306 as a standalone portable music player. Not only does the combo sound great, it's affordable and highly recommended.

As I said previously, the seal and the fit of the earbud make an impact on the sound quality that you'll get. Lots of times people just stick a bud in and expect it to sound great - and sometimes it does. But if your fit isn't sealing properly then try a new tip. The tip is supposed to fit just inside the canal and provide just enough room to provide a seal to isolate the outside noise as well as provide just enough pressure to keep it stabilized in your ear. If the seal is too loose then you'll lack a lot of the bass response. If the ear tip is too big then you'll experience a lot of pressure in your ear and get fatigued rather quickly, resulting in short and unenjoyable listening sessions. Fit is key with earbuds. Feel free to reach out to us for other great tips to try out - there are literally thousands of options out there if you don't like the stock tips and we'll be more than happy to help. The tips can make or break the ear bud or IEM.

Sony does a lot of things well when it comes to making a product that serves a lot of genres and represents them well. That is in part why the V-shaped sound signature is so popular. The XM5 buds do a great job with Rock, Alternative, and Metal due to the energy of the dynamic drivers. The wall of sound they provide can't be beat for this price range of earbuds. Classical and Jazz sound intimate and articulate - which is saying a lot coming from the last generation in my opinion. It even handles Rap and R&B with ease - the lower frequencies are well-defined and they carry the weight in these genres. The dynamic driver is tuned extremely well - and it's certainly the best in class for ANC and sound quality for an earbud in this price range.

The Best Truly Wireless Noise Cancellation: The WF-1000XM5 reduces external noise over a wide bandwidth, from low to high frequencies. It contains two proprietary processors that cancel more external noise than ever, a new high-performance driver unit Dynamic Driver X, dual feedback microphones, and innovative Noise Isolation Earbud Tips for a more stable fit. Real-time noise-canceling processing can be optimized to provide the best performance for your environment so you will hear a big difference, especially in airplanes, trains, or buses.

Multi Noise Sensor technology: Three microphones on each earbud, including dual feedback mics improve low-frequency cancellation performance. This is our biggest step forward in noise canceling, resulting in ambient sound captured even more accurately so you can enjoy one of our purest sounds.

Noise Cancelation technology: Exclusively developed by Sony, the Integrated Processor V2 unlocks the full potential of our HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN2e. The unique combination of technology controls the six microphones, across both ears, to deliver unprecedented noise-canceling quality that can be adapted to provide the best performance for your environment.

Enjoy High-Resolution Audio: The WF-1000XM5 supports High-Resolution Audio Wireless, thanks to LDAC, over industry-adopted audio coding technology. LDAC transmits approximately three times more data than conventional Bluetooth audio for exceptional High-Resolution Audio quality that is closer than ever to studio recording.

AI technology for precision sound: Using Edge-AI, DSEE Extreme upscales compressed digital music files in real-time, including those from popular streaming services. It dynamically recognizes each song’s instrumentation, musical genre, and individual elements, and restores high-range sound lost in compression.

Head tracking function: Head tracking ensures a realistic and compelling listening experience by automatically adjusting sound fields to compensate for your head movement. Sounds are precisely aligned with your smartphone screen, even as you move, to completely involve you in your viewing by connecting to compatible smartphones/services.

Spatial sound with 360 Reality Audio: With 360 Reality Audio headphones and the Sony Headphones Connect app, an advanced personal optimization algorithm gives you an even greater sense of sound space, distance, and height, allowing you to become even more immersed in the music. It’s as if you are at a live concert, or with your favorite artist in a recording studio. With 360 Reality Audio, music has never been so immersive and so real.

Additional Features:

Why Dragon Cables?
You’ve heard the saying that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, right? Well, the same applies to your brand-new audiophile-grade headphone or other audio components. The weakest link, in this case, is your stock cable or the cheap interconnects the manufacturer threw in the box just to get you up and running. Why is the cable always an afterthought, when it’s just as important as the rest of your system? At Moon Audio, we use the best raw materials in our cables to unveil your music. We believe the materials matter and your audio cables should have the same care and craftsmanship that manufacturers put into their audio components and headphones. Audio cables are ultimately the connection to your music. The fact remains that cabling is often considered the last priority to that of the main product and a means to cut down the overall production costs. It’s as simple as that.