It’s difficult to follow the benchmark of its kind that is the WH-1000XM4. However, this is the tough mission assigned to the brand new WH-1000XM5, which for the occasion is attempting a design change that is as daring as it is perilous…
It’s difficult not to come away a little disappointed from this experience with the WH-1000XM5, which we thought would once again push the limits established by the benchmark of the genre, the WH-1000XM4. By wanting to take risks by breaking an already almost perfect formula, Sony’s flagship loses its splendor very slightly on certain points. It nonetheless remains an excellent headset considering what is currently on the market, with many qualities. When it comes to choosing, there is no doubt that the WH-1000XM4 is a little more interesting, especially if we consider the significant difference in price positioning between the two.
Strong points
- Rich, consistent, dynamic and impactful sound reproduction.
- Ample, natural and well-defined soundstage.
- Comfort guaranteed, even over long hours of use.
- Excellent active noise reduction (at its maximum isolation level).
- Very good quality and careful manufacturing.
- Solid battery life (and fast charging for 3 hours of listening in 3 minutes).
- Very pleasant, intuitive and complete to use.
Weak points
- Midrange reproduction a little less detailed than on the XM4.
- Automatic optimization of the RBA is not always the most relevant.
- Now non-foldable design.
NB: The reported price drop is calculated by comparing the lowest price of the day with the average of the lowest prices charged by all merchants for the product last month, with security rules to exclude the prices of stores whose the VAT policy is not clear (so-called “gray” stores, typically in the case of imports from China).
Alternatively
We would be hard-pressed to criticize the Sony WH-1000XM4 for its extreme similarity to the WH-1000XM3. The eldest was already extremely close to a certain form of perfection, and with small functional adjustments, often minimal, sometimes notable (the multipoint Bluetooth connection, finally!), the younger one naturally takes over as the benchmark for headsets. wireless noise reduction. The only precaution to take before purchasing: make sure that you will not be inconvenienced by a sound that is certainly remarkably precise and musical, but with a very pronounced inclination towards bass.