Sony WF-1000XM5 flagship earbuds with ANC, LDAC, and sound upgrades

Sony has just unveiled its latest flagship earbuds, the WF-1000XM5, touted as having industry-leading noise cancellation. Boasting support for LDAC and LC3, 360 Reality Audio, and more compact housing, the WF1000XM5 promises a robust set of features.

Sony boldly claims that the WF-1000XM5 is the “best noise-canceling headphones,” as per comparison with earphones from the top ten companies in terms of market share, according to the fine print. Thanks to the QN2e real-time audio processors and high-performance microphones specially developed for the WF1000XM5, the earbuds are designed to effectively suppress annoying noises in trains, buses, and airplanes.

A newly developed Dynamic Driver X with an 8.4-millimeter diameter is intended to deliver deeper bass, clear vocals, and detailed trebles. The integrated V2 processor can decode 24-bit music, which can be transmitted wirelessly to the earbuds with support for Sony LDAC. Additionally, SBC, AAC, and LC3 are supported, and content transmitted in this manner is “upscaled” via DSEE Extreme.

The Sony WF 1000XM5 earbuds enable virtual 3D sound with head tracking, provided they are connected to a smartphone running Android 13, which also supports this feature. An AI-based algorithm for noise reduction and bone conduction sensors is said to enhance the voice quality of phone calls. The earbuds’ body is a remarkable 25 percent smaller and 20 percent lighter than the WF-1000XM4 (REVIEW), ensuring improved comfort.

The battery still promises an impressive eight hours of runtime with active noise cancellation, or twelve hours without ANC. The charging case can be conveniently charged via USB-C or wirelessly, and it has enough capacity to fully recharge the earbuds twice. Bluetooth multipoint, an IPX4 certification for protection against rain and sweat, and a touch-sensitive surface for playback control round off the impressive set of features.

Sony WF1000XM5 release date and price

The Sony WF-1000XM5 is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, priced at a recommended retail price of $298 / £259. It is offered in Black and Silver color options.