When it comes to premium headphones, one of the best brands to get your gear from is Sony. From its impressive design to the company’s dedication to top-shelf sound quality and noise-canceling technology, if you’re buying your cans from Sony, you know you’re in good hands. In fact, two of our favorite pairs of headphones are the Sony WH-1000XM5 and their predecessor, the SonyWH-1000XM4. For a while, the latter was one of the best sets in town, but since Sony introduced the XM5 model, the XM4 has got some good competition.
However, interestingly, Sony never intended to “replace” the XM4 with the XM5. That being said, if you’re interested in either pair, you’re probably wondering what features set them apart, whether those differences are notable, and whether it’s worth spending the extra money on the latest XM5. That’s why we’ve compared both models side-by-side to help inform your purchasing decision.
Packaging, Cases, Accessories
xm4 Come in premium packaging, giving buyers the same sense of pride in ownership that one sees when spending over $300 on a piece of technology. However there’s nothing about the XM4 packaging that screams “I’m not earth friendly”. xm5 The packaging was clearly designed with sustainability and recyclability in mind. There’s not even a gram of plastic here, and when you peel off the outer cardboard casing, what you’re left with is a very plain Jane box that’s apparently made from recycled materials and is itself recyclable . In the end, when it’s all going to be in the trash anyway, it makes sense to let function outweigh form.
As soon as we examine the headphone cases, the differences become very apparent. The XM5 case is larger and U-shaped, while the XM4 comes in a more compact case. The XM5 case is larger due to the fact that the XM5 does not collapse down like the XM4. This means the XM5 will take up more space in your pack, whether you use a case or not. Luckily, there are fewer moving parts and it’s easy to store the XM5 in its case.
Looking inside the XM5 case, we see something new and something missing. A new magnetic flap reveals a storage compartment for the USB-A to USB-C charging cable and 3.5mm headphone cable. What is missing is the airline adapter that traditionally shipped with the XM4 and earlier versions. However, will this remnant of the adapter really be “missed”? Most airplanes in service no longer use dual-style jacks, if any jacks are provided.
Save on everything from laptops and tablets to coffee makers and smart home essentials like air purifiers and the Amazon Echo.
One final note: the included USB charging cable remains inexplicably short.
the winner: tie
design, fit, comfort
Moving on from the previous accessories, we take a look at the headphones. The XM5 may not be as curved as previous models, but they offer sleek lines and a fresh look. Too bad the model name hasn’t been given a similar refresh.
However, the most noticeable difference is with the XM5’s lighter weight. You can feel the difference by hanging each pair of headphones in your hands. It’s a difference you feel as soon as you put them on your head, and continue to appreciate for as long as they’re worn. The new synthetic leather also increases comfort when worn for long periods of time. In fact, we believe the XM5 are one of the most comfortable headphones you can buy. For some people, this comfort upgrade may be reason enough to pay a premium for the XM5.
the winner: WH-1oooXM5
Battery life and charging
The XM5 will still give you about 30 hours of music listening performance (or 20 hours of talk time) with active noise cancellation (ANC) on – the same as the XM4. However, the quick-charging capability of the XM5 has been improved. You’ll get three hours of performance from just three minutes of charging, but there’s a catch: To get that kind of quick charge, you’ll need a USB Power Delivery-enabled charging block. Otherwise, the quick charge is identical to the XM4, with 10 minutes of charging providing about 5 hours of music listening with ANC on.
Where battery life and charging are concerned, the practical difference is likely to be negligible for most users.
the winner: tie
anc demonstration
The XM5 has better noise-canceling performance than the XM4. They cut off more high mid and treble frequencies than the XM4. In fact, we believe the XM5 offer the best noise-canceling you can get from any consumer headphones available on the market. The performance improvement here can be attributed to the addition of a second audio processor and doubling the onboard microphones.
With that improvement mentioned, it’s worth pointing out that the XM4 offers noise-canceling that’s more than enough for most users. Frankly, with both models, once you start playing movies or music, that’s basically all you’ll hear. However, if you’re just looking for the solace of silence, the XM5 will drown out the noise around you, including the loud sound of a person’s voice or the rushing sound of a fast-moving wind. In fact, the XM5 are much better at handling the wind.
The XM5 automatically optimizes noise-cancellation based on environmental measurements using its onboard microphone, while the optimization on the XM4 requires repeated use of Sony’s headphone app for calibration.
the winner: WH-1oooXM5
call quality
No doubt, the XM5 offers far better call quality. If you spend a lot of time on the phone or Zoom calls and you can’t always get to a quiet place, trust that the XM5 will seamlessly erase any background noise going on. Barking dogs, a jackhammer, the hustle and bustle of baristas in a coffee shop – no noise equals the XM5, which will make you feel as if you’re alone in a room, even if you’re in the middle of a construction zone. Yes, they are really good.
As far as sound quality goes? Well, you’re not going to record a podcast with these – they’re not He Okay – but for phone calls and video meetings, they do the job well. Only the AirPods Max offer better sound fidelity in this price range.
the winner: WH-1oooXM5
sound quality
Given that sound quality is a very subjective matter, we think the XM5 sounds slightly better than the XM4, although the differences are subtle. The most obvious difference in sound quality is in the bass performance, where the XM5’s sound slightly more “refined”. This doesn’t mean that the XM5 have significantly less bass, but they are a little less bass-forward than the XM4, with a little less punch in the mid-bass.
If you’re into the bigger bass, the better camp, we think you’ll love the XM4. If you like a little more balance, but still like plenty of bass, the XM5 may be better for you. Otherwise, the soundstage, instrument separation and overall timbre between the XM5 and XM4 are so close that they are difficult to mention.
the winner: Tie, because it depends on your preference
extra features
Both the XM5 and XM4 models offer some unique add-ons that may not get as much attention as some of the headphones’ calling card features. For example, did you know that both the XM5 and XM4 support Bluetooth Multipoint? By default, this feature is actually disabled, but you can turn it on using the Sony Headphones Connect app (for iOS and Android devices). When you open the app, go to System Tab over and turn on the toggle that says Connect to two devices simultaneously,
You’ll also be able to use the Headphones Connect app to automatically calibrate noise cancellation and ambient listening based on your location. This is a feature called Adaptive Noise Cancellation, and it is available on both the XM5 and XM4. Oh, and we can’t forget the amazing quick focus mode (also available on both models). When you place your hand on the right ear cup of the headphones, whatever music or podcast you’re listening to will automatically turn down and the onboard mic will let environmental sound in.
the winner: tie
takeaway
If you want the best possible noise cancellation, get the best call quality with a pair of headphones, and the most comfortable full-featured cans available, the XM5 is the ticket. However, if your needs are less demanding or specialized, the XM4 is better value overall and one of the best sets of full-featured cans you can buy. It’s just that… the XM5 is next level awesomeness.
Overall Winner: WH-1oooXM5
