Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Sony WH-1000XM4

With the release of the Sony WH-1000XM5, it may seem the Sony WH-1000XM4 has lost its luster but that’s not necessarily the case. While the WH-1000XM5 active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones are newer, the WH-1000XM4 still stands among the best headphones available. Whether you need a headset for conference calls or for your daily commute, both Sony headphones perform valiantly. We’ve tested each headset in and out of the lab to give you a clear picture of which one is right for you.

What’s it like to use the Sony WH-1000XM5 compared to the Sony WH-1000XM4?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 features a modern design that trades in the notched headband track on the WH-1000XM4 for a friction rod adjustment system. With this new headband mechanism, Sony forgoes the yokes on the older model in favor of a trimmed down, cleaner look. This update offers a more custom fit but it also limits the mobility of the WH-1000XM5: you can only rotate the headphones to lay flat but can’t ball them up, meanwhile, the XM4 can do both.

If you’re reading this and have larger ears, we recommend the WH-1000XM5 for the sake of comfort. Both headsets boast plush memory foam padding wrapped with soft-touch leatherette, but the padding is wider on the WH-1000XM5. No matter which Sony headphones you go with, you can replace the ear pads to extend the life of the headset.

Sony’s headphones are packed with hardware and it carries over the WH-1000XM4 proximity sensor to the fifth-generation model. With this, media immediately pauses when you remove either headset and only resumes when you don the headphones again. Sony sheathes this behind the ear cup mesh on the fifth-gen model, but it’s in plain view on the older headset. If sweat or condensation accumulates on the WH-1000XM4 sensor, this may not work flawlessly. At that point, it’s good to air out and clean your headphones. Not only will this get the sensor to work consistently again but the XM4 lacks any kind of water resistance (along with the XM5). It’s best to avoid moisture where you can.

How do you control the Sony WH-1000XM4 and WH-1000XM5?

For the most part, the WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM4 have the same controls, and the touch panel gestures are identical, including the ability to cup your hand over the right ear cup for ambient mode. This listening mode allows ambient noise to come through the headset for as long as you keep your hand over the ear cup, which is a convenient way to hear your surroundings at a moment’s notice.

The XM5 relabels the “Custom” button of the WH-1000XM4 as “ANC/AMB.” The function remains the same on either button, and it’s how you cycle through ANC on, ANC off, or Ambient sound mode.

How are the features different on the Sony WH-1000XM5 compared to the WH-1000XM4?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 offers the same features as the XM4, including Ambient sound controls, 360 Reality Audio and ANC optimization, speak-to-chat functionality, a custom EQ and EQ presets, and more. What makes the Headphones Connect app (iOS/Android) unique is that it gives you the option to prioritize sound quality or connection stability. If you choose to prioritize sound quality it will default to the highest quality codec available depending on your operating system, and if you choose connection stability, the app may force SBC instead.

Both Sony headsets support Bluetooth multipoint and to enable it, follow these steps:

What Bluetooth codecs does the Sony WH-1000XM4 and Sony WH-1000XM5 support?

Each Sony headset supports the SBC, AAC, and LDAC Bluetooth codecs for high-quality wireless audio to iPhones and Android devices alike. Sony retains the headphone jack on its latest wireless headphones, so you can use a 3.5mm TRS plug on either device for analog playback too. The two differ in Bluetooth versions, with the WH-1000XM4 supporting Bluetooth 5.0 and the XM5 receiving the more modern Bluetooth 5.2 version.

How do you pair these Sony headphones?

When it comes to pairing, you can get started in the Sony Headphones Connect app and follow the prompts there for either headset. Both headsets support Google Fast Pair along with Swift Pair for Windows 10 and up. Alternatively, you can go the old-fashioned route and hold the power on button for a few seconds and wait for either headset to enter pairing mode. (You must do this from a powered-off state.) If you want NFC one-touch pairing, you’ll need to invest in the older WH-1000XM4, since Sony dropped this feature from its fifth-generation flagship.

Does the Sony WH-1000XM5 have better battery life than the Sony WH-1000XM4?

According to our standard testing method, the Sony WH-1000XM4 lasts 19 hours, 59 minutes with ANC on and this falls short of the 30-hour specification. The Sony WH-1000XM5 outdoes this at 31 hours, 53 minutes with ANC on. Both headsets support fast charging with it being more efficient on the newer model. Three minutes of charging the WH-1000XM5 provides 180 minutes of playtime, compared to five minutes of charge yielding 180 minutes of playback. It’s a minor improvement but still an impressive one.

Is noise cancelling better on the Sony WH-1000XM4 or WH-1000XM5?

Sony outdoes itself again with the WH-1000XM5, improving on the already excellent ANC of its fourth-generation headset. If you really want to melt away sub-bass frequencies like a plane engine or subway car’s rumble, it will be easy to justify springing for the XM5 over-ear headphones. The Sony WH-1000XM4 does a very good job with frequencies from 20-100Hz, but the WH-1000XM5 just takes the cake, topping out at 30dB of attenuation at 75Hz.

Isolation is even better this time around on the XM5 thanks to the redesigned ear pads and headband. Frequencies above 1kHz are plainly blocked out by the headset’s ability to create a cogent, physical barrier between your ears and your surroundings. Even if you turn ANC off on the fifth-generation WH-1000X headphones, incidental sounds like nearby chatter and clanging dishware will sound anywhere from one-eighth to one-thirty-second their original perceived loudness. This is bonkers. On its own, the WH-1000XM4 does a great job here too, but it just goes to show just how well the newer headphones perform.

Even though the WH-1000XM5 does an objectively better job with attenuation across the board, the WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM4 both stand as great choices when it comes to noise cancelling headphones.

Does the Sony WH-1000XM5 sound better than the WH-1000XM4?

Cutting to the chase, the WH-1000XM5 sounds more pleasing than the WH-1000XM4 and requires less work in the Headphones Connect app EQ module. Both headsets amplify bass notes relative to the mids, and this can make it hard to hear string instruments and woodwinds during particularly busy choruses.

While neither pair of headphones will knock an audiophile’s socks off, these frequency responses are similar to that of other consumer headsets, with the exception of the 2-10kHz boost on the WH-1000XM4. This treble response is much louder than our target consumer curve suggests and makes poorly mixed songs sound that much worse. The newer WH-1000XM5 has a marked rolloff beyond 10kHz, and addresses the overemphasis heard in the previous generation, meaning less EQ tweaking for many listeners.

Is the Sony WH-1000XM5 microphone better than the Sony WH-1000XM4?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 microphone quality is the best of the entire WH-1000X line, and in terms of noise and wind cancellation, outperforms pretty much any other headset on the market. Listen and compare the demos below. Help other readers and vote on what you think sounds best!

Should you get the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Sony WH-1000XM5?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is unquestionably the better buy for listeners who want the best active noise cancelling. It also has a more pleasing default frequency response that’s easier to equalize than the treble-heavy WH-1000XM4. What’s more, if you often take hands-free calls or rely on your headphones to speak during conference calls, it really doesn’t get much better than the Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones.