Sony's noise reduction flagship headset wh-1000xm4 has been widely recognized in the market after its launch. Today, Sony released its successor - the fifth generation wh-1000xm5 headset. Compared with the previous generation of products, it has a new design and many improvements.
This redesigned headset converts the rotating arm used in xm4 into a single arm. There is a contact point at the earmuff, which is slightly larger than the previous generation, and is designed to reduce the wind noise when going out. The headset weighs 250g (compared with 254g for xm4), and the synthetic leather headband has a clickless slider to help the wearer get the right fit.
Like the previous model, the xm5 can provide up to 30 hours of battery life in a single charge when the active noise reduction function is turned on, 40 hours (10 hours more than xm4) when the ANC is turned off, and the complete charging time of the headset is 3 hours. Xm5 also supports power delivery, which can provide users with 3 hours of playback in only 3 minutes on the charger.
The xm5 has eight microphones (four more than the previous model), which have been moved to a more ideal silencing position - which Sony says allows them to better eliminate high-frequency noise. At the same time, four beamforming microphones are built in to improve the quality of voice calls. An NC / ambient button replaces the "Customize" button on xm4, although the button can be reprogrammed to activate voice assistants including Siri.
A new 30mm driver provides sound quality. The headset uses LDAC to provide high-resolution audio. As long as there is the correct source device, it also supports SBC and AAC, as well as dsee extreme upscaling for compressed audio. Sony's 360 real audio space sound effect is also among them.
Sony abandoned the folding mechanism used on xm4, so Sony provided a larger portable case for xm5. Xm5 is also equipped with a 3.5mm partner jack cable.
Sony's wh-1000xm5 headset costs $399 - $50 higher than the xm4 - in three colors: white, silver and black. They will be purchased online from Amazon and other e-retailers from May 20.