Sony WH-1000XM5 Blue

I love taking my Sony WH-1000XM6 with me everywhere. The foldable design makes it easy to fit in my bag. The sound and noise cancelling are very good. I just think it's a shame that it's not waterproof. Foldable design The ear cushions of the XM6 are foldable. This way I make the headphones more compact. The included case is also not very big, so it fits in my backpack without any problems. In this sturdy case I can safely take the headphones with me when I'm not wearing them. I find that the headphones sit comfortably on my head. The headband is wide, so I hardly feel it pressing. I wear the headphones all day without them bothering me. Strong noise cancelling The Sony WH-1000XM headphones are known for their good noise cancelling. The XM6 is no exception. This model has even better noise cancelling than its predecessor. I test the headphones in the kitchen while standing next to the extractor hood. My extractor hood is very loud, but with the noise cancelling switched on I can't hear it at all. I also listen to music in the office with the noise cancelling on. I can't hear my colleagues talking and can focus well on my work. If I want to hear more of my surroundings, I turn on the Ambient Sound Mode. This allows me to hear my ambient sounds extra clearly. I use this in traffic, for example, so that I can hear cars and cyclists approaching. Clear voice I use the headphones for online meetings with colleagues. I always turn off the noise cancelling, so that I can hear my own voice well. The XM6 has 6 microphones that pick up my voice. This makes my voice sound clear and distinct. However, I have to be careful not to turn the sound of the headphones up too loud. If it is too loud, the microphones will pick up the sound of the person I am talking to and create an echo. Powerful sound The sound of the headphones is powerful and detailed, which allows me to fully enjoy the music. The voices of my favorite artists sound clear and I can hear the lyrics well. I also like songs with a lot of bass and I am very enthusiastic about the bass reproduction of the XM6. The heavy tones sound deep. In the Sony Sound Connect app I find an equalizer with which I adjust the sound to my preference. For example, I make the bass even stronger, which I like with dance music.

With the Sony WH-1000XM5, Sony is releasing its new flagship headphones. This model has a new premium design and strongly dampens ambient noise through noise canceling. However, the new design also has drawbacks. New design When unpacking, I immediately notice the new design of the headphones. Thanks to its construction and the materials used, this model looks a lot more premium than its predecessors. I like the design, but it also has drawbacks. This way I don't fold the headphones compactly, so that they don't fit in my bag as easily and I don't put them in my jacket pocket. Great noise canceling When Sony releases a new pair of headphones in the XM line, I always wonder whether the previous model can be surpassed. The previous XM headphones were all king of what they did; muffle ambient noise. That is no different with the XM5, so that it simply knocks its predecessor off the throne. On the train, at the office, in the supermarket. I put on music, switch on noise canceling and I am completely in my own zone. Typical Sony sound With the Sony WH-1000XM5, the low tones are very prominent, just like with the previous XM models. This sound is perfect for me. The bass is powerful and deep, allowing kicks in dance music to come through. Music with more of a focus on the mid and high tones, such as pop and rock, gets me just as excited. Instruments and vocals sound crystal clear and are detailed. Nice smart functions The XM5 has a few smart functions, such as wear detection and speak-to-chat. The wearer detects my music automatically when I take off the headphones. The sensor for wear detection is in the right ear cup and always works. Thanks to the speak-to-chat function, I automatically switch from music to a conversation. When I start talking, the music pauses and ambient noise is amplified.

This was an upgrade from the WH-1000XM3 to the XM5. I have always been very satisfied with the XM3, which is still doing well after 3 years, but is now being used by someone else. The XM5 is even more luxurious than the XM3. The controls work flawlessly. The headphones have sensors that register when you take off your headphones. It's a pricey thing, but if you want rock-solid material, then these are the headphones you want.