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Sony’s 1000X series have been around since 2016, improving on the previous iteration to eventually land on the Sony WH-1000XM6 , the best over-ear headphones for audio quality currently on the market. But not everyone can (or needs to) drop nearly half a grand on headphones. The WH-1000XM5 are a generation older and were the best headphones for audio quality up until this year, when they were succeeded. They’re currently $248 (originally $399.99), their lowest price they’ve ever been during the early Black Friday sale , according to price-tracking tools . To put how good this deal is into perspective, the WH-1000XM4 are $100 more right now.
I have been a loyal customer of the 1000X line for many years; they’re my go-to headphones for most activities. The WH-1000XM5 came out in May of 2022 to an “outstanding” review from PCMag for their top-notch audio quality, but also for their exceptional audio when using its best-in-class active noise-canceling (most headphones lose their audio quality when using ANC). The headphones are also well-designed to be comfortable for long sessions.
The ear controls use tapping and swiping, which aren’t my favorite, but it’s what all the modern headphones are moving toward. There’s an app that comes with the headphones that lets you adjust your EQ settings to your liking, including what the swiping and tapping functions do on your headphones.
A great touch on these headphones that is often neglected is a Stereo 3.5mm connection, perfect for those who want to use a wired cable without worrying about battery life. Speaking of battery life, Sony says you can expect about 30 hours, but it will vary depending on your usage of ANC. They are compatible with AAC, LDAC and SBC codecs and have multipoint connection (you can pair them with more than one device at the same time).
If you’re looking for the best headphones for audio quality with ANC you can buy right now, consider the WH-1000XM5.
