Sony - WF-1000XM5

I just went FROM the XM5s to the Buds 3 Pro and honestly, I should've done it before. The Sony never sat well and had to really really push them hard in to the ear canal to get proper ANC. For me as a user who mainly wear during flights/trains and on the go work calls - the Samsung so far is breeze and I like the pinch and swipe functions. Your mileage will vary but totally find the XM5 in ears to be too hyped.

Surprisingly well worth the money but only if you buy something exceptional like the Sony brand, after owning a sony pair of earbuds everything else sounds like a cheap pair even the expensive ones...

The WF-1000XM4 or WF-1000XM5 they are the top end of the sony range but have heard good things about the mid range sonys as well.

The way I see it. If you want the best build and sound quality get wired iems. Not to mention most iems have detachable cables so longevity isn't as much of a concern. So obviously when you look at it this way expensive bluetooth earbuds seem useless and they kind of are. Most people don't buy bluetooth earbuds for quality alone there buying a brand Apple, Samsung, Bose, Sony etcetera. I'm even an example of that I've had Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro, and Sony WF-1000XM5. The most important features for bluetooth earbuds imo are comfort, convenience, and Ambeient/ANC. Because sound quality shouldn't be as much of a concern imo because most situations when you would use a bluetooth earbud sound quality wouldn't matter as much such as working, exercising, or travel. I feel like in all of those instances the three things I mentioned are more important. So in conclusion expensive bluetooth earbuds aren't worth it but if you know why you want a certain model such as Sony or Bose for anc such as for myself. It just comes down to if you're willing to sacrifice longevity for convenience.

I don't know man, I jog 3 times a week with the Perl Pros and never had a problem with the size being an issue. Also own the xm5's, those are better to honest for exercise , so light it feels like I'm not even wearing buds. But the Perl Pros I wear more and stay in just fine. Just my experience.

Small tip, when looking in a physical store check online, often it's cheaper. In store they will match the price normally. Personally I'm not an Apple guy though they are good I've to say. Sony WF-1000XM5 or a bit larger B&W Px7, the latter really impressed me recently on a long haul.

I don’t know, I use iOS and Sony’s WF-XM5 earbuds sounds way more detailed and lively compared to AirPods, both from Qobuz and Apple Music.

Bass and AirPods do not go together. Sony XM5s tick all the boxes. Including bass

JBL Tour, Bose QC, Sony XM4 and XM5, Liberty NC4... They all sound better but like I said, AirPods Pro 2 truly shine with their seamless integration into the Apple Ecosystem, transparent mode, ANC and call quality. You can basically put them on and forget they're there

The ANC and features on the AirPods are going to be the best.. especially if you have an iPhone. The sound quality is good, but nothing to brag about. In that price range you ou could also get Sony XM5s as they sound amazing and have amazing ANC

I usually pair it with the wf-1000xm5.

Soooo you kinda asking for the ultimate hybrid. And they just don't exist. However at the price point you going for you have great options. First if you want in eco system, galaxy buds pro 3 and the easy choice. If you want best sound Sony WF1000XM5 is definitely for audiophiles. If you want something for the gym with good sound, jabra elite8 active gen 2 is the best out there. If you want to spend half those prices and have a great daily driver I'd recommend checking out the nothing ear gen 2.

About 6 months now. No battery problems, still getting me through nearly 10 to 12 hours with ANC or Transparency. I've used the XM4s and LinkBuds before, and I can say that I've had issues with both in terms of connectivity. As for battery, I think that's an issue with earlier models, it should be a lot less prevalent with the XM5s

I'll throw out there that there are literally dozens of different kinds of tips you can get for whatever you buy. I see that someone mentioned custom fit iems, this won't be that good. But it is possible to find good tips for things. I have the newest sony buds, I believe the 5, and they are magnificent.

It's true, the XM5s lack bass all around

I paid 100 dollars for my XM5s. Never buying anything cheaper.

Bass and AirPods do not go together. Sony XM5s tick all the boxes. Including bass

Personally own a pair, one of my greatest investments. Sound is amazing, noise cancelling is among the best on the market.

Since I came across this post yesterday I found a deal on a Sony WF-1000XM5 for $118. I haven't had them long but the fit is really nice and they sound great.

Best buds on the market.

JBL Tour, Bose QC, Sony XM4 and XM5, Liberty NC4... They all sound better but like I said, AirPods Pro 2 truly shine with their seamless integration into the Apple Ecosystem, transparent mode, ANC and call quality. You can basically put them on and forget they're there

Based on all your buds you own are the xm5 the worst or their just middle of the pack? This sucks being that those xm5 at 300.00 retail should be much better

I’ve used AirPod pros, beats fit pro, and now Sony xm5. The xm5 has the best of the 3 imo

Sony WF-1000XM5 is a great pick for balanced sound and strong ANC, even on non-Samsung phones. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is another solid option with top-tier noise cancellation. Have you considered anything from Sennheiser?

Running some years already with the sony earbuds (wf…..5), never had an issue with them falling out. They come with 3 sizes of silicone, so you can see which ones fits best

Yeah so XM5 is probably the go, and I don’t even think I would be able to make use of the better sound quality of the Sennheiser since I’m using an IPhone 16 Pro (maybe with a Bluetooth dongle? But not sure), thank you for the reply.

Yes, it's worth it. My two favorite earbuds (Bose QC Ultra and Sony XM5) are that price. My all-around earbuds are $200.

I'd recommend you sony WF-1000XM5 it's a beast and the sound quality and the ANC is really good of course I don't the price since you in Australia but I highly recommend it

No, they are still too bassy and have a small soundstage, very in your head sound. I've tried alot of earbuds, the best ones sound quality wise have to be the Sennheiser momentum 4 true wireless, Technics AZ80 (or wait for the upcoming AZ100 on the 10th), and airpods pro 2. Bowers and wilkins Pi8 is boring, its your average V shaped sound signature, too much bass and treble.

First of all, the case is not an argument for me, personally. Of course it could be for some of you and yes, Sony has a better form factor. The reasons I prefer the ear (2) over the xm5 are the following: -I'm working as a mastering engineer and prefer a frequency response in between neutral and Harman, the ear (2) are much closer to that, while the xm5 are what I would call a balanced bathtub. The ear (2) allow for somewhat accurate hearing measurements (and correction) and the app is really, really well made. They offer two lossless and a lossy codec, while the xm5 offer ldac (older version) and a lossy one, but often one or both buds have short connection losses while listening lossless. no issues with the ear (2) at all. Soundstage and comfort are also better for me, although this is a personal thing. Battery life is a bit shorter and anc not as extreme with ear (2),but therfore it's adaptive, making it feel less like this typical anc vacuum, if you know what I mean. I don't use them for calls, can't say a lot more than that both work well, no complaints here. I also never tried the Galaxy buds. Nothing ear (2) sound like improved airpods 2 pro with a better stage and larger frequency response, including a better bass representation.

After trying a bunch of earbuds over the years, I’ve got to say the Sony WF-1000XM5 are a good option. The sound quality is absolutely insane—deep bass, crisp highs, and super clear mids. The noise cancellation is next-level too; it’s perfect for blocking out distractions whether I’m commuting or just chilling at home. They’re also really comfortable for long listening sessions, and the battery life holds up well (about 8 hours on the buds alone).

Totally feel you—one earbud at the gym is torture. And yeah, Powerbeats 2? Overpriced hype. Here are your best bets: Sony WF-1000XM5 – Top-tier noise canceling, killer bass, customizable EQ. Pricey but worth it. Anker Soundcore Liberty 4/5 – Great ANC, solid fit, EQ control, and way more affordable. Pixel Buds Pro – Smooth ANC, EQ options, perfect for Android users. Sony WH-1000XM5 (Headphones) – Over-ear comfort, elite noise canceling, full sound control. On a budget? Donerton earbuds (~$25) get the job done with decent bass and fit. Best combo of value and performance? Go Anker or Sony. Want max comfort? Grab the WH-1000XM5.

on sound quality and clarity alone, by a mile. The XM5s are just wasteful on high quality music because of the bloaty bass, alot of clarity thats found in instruments and vocals is lost in the mix. the AZ80s are just much more detailed and pleasing sounding. The AZ80 loses out in anc though. One thing to consider, the AZ100 just got revealed, so it's worth waiting for more comparisons, because those may even beat the AZ80s

I have abused my wfxm5s daily for an average 8+ hours a day since they released and I've lost a bit of battery life, but they still work great. I hope my new whxm6 hold up as well.

Yeah, the ear(a) sound really good, no complaints about the quality but the ANC is not so good in my opinion, and if I recall correctly the ear 2 are much better in the ANC dep. But the ANC on the Sony buds are by far one of, if not the best out there, the quality should also be comparable or better.

JBL Vibe Buds: https://a.co/d/0GdpQik I wear them for many (6+) hours a day without discomfort. Not sure how they compare to other buds performance wise but they're super lightweight and comfy. Tried the Sony WF-1000XM5 but they hurt my ears after one hour.

If you want I have Sony M5 earbuds for sale. used it like 3 or 4 times only. Still under warranty. Its a solid earbud best in class. The reason I am selling them is that I have Airpods pro and I am deep into the Apple ecosystem.

i just got one last month, after my tws aukey ep k-01 started to run low on battery, after considering some options i decided to buy xm5 for $170 besides i am also an xperia user, so i thought it would be suitable with LDAC feature. for eartip i replaced it with sednaearfit foamax,

Sorry, I should have clarified further. I often have 10 to 12 hour work days. Half the day I'll be playing music with ANC, and the other half with AAC without music, and I usually put them back in the case for 20 or so minutes in the middle. A full charge is usually enough to get me through the day, including that quick charge. Though, on one full charge, you should expect around 7 to 8 hours of playback with ANC or AAC nonetheless.

I don't necessarily think that they do overcharge. AirPods are excellent. I've had a pair of AirPods Pro for six years, and AirPods Pro 2 for three. I also had Sony WF-1000XM4s and XM5s, which have better noise cancellation than those, but are significantly more expensive. Apparently the AirPods Pro 3 have even better noise cancellation than the Sonys. If you're someone with an iPhone, MacBook or iPad, the AirPods are even better. If you don't use any Apple products, I wouldn't even consider them.

I recently bought ear 2 by nothing and well, they're amazing. I stopped using my sony wf-mx 5 and gave them to my mum. The nothing ones are amazing, overall neutral with a nice harman tendency, long lasting, good anc (not as good as sony, but good enough for sure)

Now I feel kinda dumb for buying the WF-1000xm5 I bought they when they were on sale for 200$ but having some regrets after hearing what you said

Daily-driver buds are all about convenience: something you can throw in a pocket, pop in for calls, gym sessions, or a grocery run, and forget they’re there until you need them. Below are a few models suggestion from my end that tend to rise to the top of tech-forum polls: **1.** **Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)** • Seamless iOS integration, reliable ANC/transparency, and the tiny case make them a no-brainer for iPhone users. • Mic performance is consistently strong for FaceTime or work calls. **2.** **Sony WF-1000XM5** • Class-leading active noise cancellation, customizable EQ, and multipoint Bluetooth. • If you commute on loud trains or value audiophile-grade tuning, these are tough to beat. **3.** **Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro** • Automatic device switching within the Samsung ecosystem, 24-bit audio with supported Galaxy phones, and comfy oval design. • Very pocket-friendly case compared with other premium ANC buds. **4.** **Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds** • The best passive fit + ANC combo on the market; they turn coffee shops into libraries. • Bose’s “Immersive Audio” spatial mode can add a bit of fun for Netflix on the couch. **5.** **Jabra Elite 8 Active** • Rugged IP68 rating and strong ear-lock fit make them ideal gym or outdoor companions. • Jabra’s multi-point lets you jump from laptop to phone without menu diving. **6.** **Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3** • Spacious, hi-fi soundstage and aptX Adaptive codec for Android users. • Case is a little thicker, but battery life compensates. **7.** **Cleer ARC II (open-ear)** • For anyone who dislikes having tips jammed in their ear canal all day, Cleer’s ARC series uses an open-ear “air-conduction” design. You hear your surroundings naturally while still getting surprisingly full mids and highs for music or podcasts. Perfect if you bounce between office chats, street traffic, and quick playlists without wanting total isolation. **Quick decision filter** • iPhone heavy user ? AirPods Pro (ease of use) • Loud commute / flights ? Sony WF-1000XM5 or Bose QC Ultra • Android hi-res listener ? Sennheiser MTW3 • Rugged workouts ? Jabra Elite 8 Active • Need situational awareness ? Cleer ARC II

Sony WF-1000XM5 are some of the best out there. I would also recommend the nothing ear 2 or the more budget nothing ear(a) which I personally use and they probably have the best audio quality in that price range. Tho I have absolutely no idea why you would spend 500$ for earbuds and if earbuds priced at that range exist, but all of these are 300$ or and below(ear 2 are 150$ and ear a should be about 90$).

Under $100, the Liberty 4 NC is best choice. Btw, the best ANC are the Bose QuietComfort earbuds (not Ultra) and Sony XM5. Don't go for the Ultra model , save money.

They can be worth it if you value them. IMO, I can't trust anything less than $100 USD. I've bought a few pairs to try to convince me otherwise but end up going back to my expensive earbuds. The lowest pair I own are the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, JBL Tour Pro 3, Apple Airpods Pro 2, Google Pixel Buds Pro, and Soundscore Liberty 3 Pro. My preferred earbuds are the Bose Quietcomfort Ultra and Sony WF-1000XM5. I want to try more expensive earbuds, but at that point, over the ear are better.

Bose qc ultra is a mess. 15db bloated bass ruins all instrumentations. Horrible adaptive eq. You try to decrease bass, treble will increase and become unbearable. Xm5 is miles better but got a bit bloated too after the update. Technics are more refined than these two. I dont have the 100s but have the 80s. I am interested more on jbl tour pro 3 bc of the dual drivers.

Good thing I kept my target receipt, although I will say I don't dislike my Sony xm5 but compared to what I keep hearing about the pearl pros its a big difference

The ANC and features on the AirPods are going to be the best.. especially if you have an iPhone. The sound quality is good, but nothing to brag about. In that price range you ou could also get Sony XM5s as they sound amazing and have amazing ANC

My Jabra Elite 10 G2 fell in the ocean, so I bought XM5s. I am happy with the change, not so happy being out almost $200.

No problem. You'll def some decent ones at that price point that's have anc but you'll have to bump that music all the way up to block out the sound. If you got anything there it's usually just a shit load of features only Sony xm5 Bose an airpods got you on anc

Just go with the Sony WF-1000XM5 or the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, they’ll literally make the world disappera like you asked. If you have a budget, you can peek at [this list](https://linktr.ee/thebestearbuds) of other ANC options too, but I wouldn’t be shocked if you still end up with one of those two, lol