If you have made your latest pair of wireless headphones the Sony WH-1000XM5, congratulations – you now own the best-value premium pair on the planet. As you will probably have already experienced, these multi-Award winners offer a class-leading combination of sound performance, features and comfort, and are the most recommendable pair until you get to roughly AirPods Max money.
But as noise-cancelling headphones can do more and more nowadays, with many pairs boasting multiple connectivity functions, various active ANC modes and companion apps, it can be difficult to know whether you are making the most out of everything they can offer. Below we have rustled up some tips and answered FAQs to help you get to know your Sony XM5 a little better...
I have lived with the Sony XM5 since they launched in May 2022. For over two years they have been in my headphone rotation and are my go-to pair for daily work calls and casual travel, so I know them inside out! Below I have answered the internet's FAQ about these wireless Sony flagships in the hope that this article will satisfy any queries you have, help you maximise their use, or even reassure potential buyers that they are indeed great buys.
How to set up the Sony WH-1000XM5 app
To get the most out of the WH-1000XM5, you'll need to install the Sony Headphones Connect companion app on your iOS or Android device.
The app is a gateway to all kinds of features. It lets you, for example, see the headphones' battery life without taking them off; manually select noise-cancelling and ambient aware modes; tweak the sound equaliser; and enable/disable features such as Speak-to-Chat (which automatically pause music and engage aware mode when you start talking) and multi-point connection (which lets you connect to and manage two devices simultaneously).
You can also set up a personalised experience for listening to 360 Reality Audio music, track how you're using your XM5 in an activity log, and match up on-cup touch controls to specific actions.
The app installs firmware updates, too, and there's also a Help section for any problems you might be having.
Are the Sony WH-1000XM5 sweat resistant / waterproof?
No, sadly not. The XM5 are not waterproof, nor are they sweat-resistant. According to the user manual, "if water or foreign matter enters the headset, this can result in burnout or malfunction". That means you should be wary of wearing them out in the rain or during running or exercise where moisture or sweat could leak into the internals.
It is a blot on an otherwise impressive spec sheet, though over-ear headphones tend not to offer much in the way of waterproofness.
Do the Sony WH-1000XM5 connect to the PS5? Are they good for gaming?
Many premium gaming headsets these days offer some form of surround sound in an effort to make your gaming experience more immersive. However, these rarely tend to work well, so it's worth prioritising good, old-fashioned stereo sound quality and considering any surround sound processing (which the Sonys do not have) as a potential bonus.
Sonically, the Sony XM5 are certainly up to the gaming job. There are, however, a few logistical things to consider around connectivity. Despite the PS4 and PS5 being Sony consoles, they don't natively support the Sony XM5 – unlike dedicated Sony gaming headset models like the (very good) PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless Headset and newer Sony InZone headsets. That doesn't mean the XM5 can't be used; you simply need to buy and connect a Bluetooth adapter/transmitter to the console's USB port. It's this adapter that the headphones wirelessly connect to over Bluetooth, rather than the console itself, so you'll just need to make sure it is selected as the 'audio output' in the PlayStation's 'sound' settings. The headphones' mic won't work while connected, though the PlayStation controller has a built-in mic that works well.
If you're finding there is a lag issue over a wireless connection, you can always wire the XM5 to the console by plugging them into the 3.5mm jack at the bottom of the DualSense controller.
Can the Sony WH-1000XM5 be wired?
Yes, the Sony XM5 can be wired for occasions when you need to on a plane, have run out of battery life or simply prefer a wired experience. While some wireless ANC headphones require battery life to even facilitate wired playback as their drivers require power to work, the Sonys do not, meaning you will never be left completely in the lurch if their 30- (with ANC on) or 40- (without ANC) hour battery life expires before you can recharge them.
If you do have battery life left in your Sony XM5, they can be used wired with noise cancellation activated too.
How to connect the Sony WH-1000XM5 to a PC or Mac (and other devices)
To listen wired, you can directly plug the Sony XM5 into the 3.5mm headphone jack of a Mac, laptop, computer or any other device with that headphones output via the 3.5mm audio cable included in the XM5's box.
If you have an Android phone or iPhone that doesn't have a 3.5mm jack (phones with them are rare nowadays, after all), you will need to purchase a USB-C-to-3.5mm or Lightning-to-3.5mm adaptor. While many wireless headphones now offer wired listening through their USB-C port, unfortunately the XM5's USB port is only for charging.
To listen wirelessly over Bluetooth, pairing your Mac* and Sony XM5 requires opening the 'Bluetooth File Exchange' application on your Mac and waiting for the XM5 to appear in the list of available devices. For this to happen, the XM5 need to have charge, be within one metre of the Mac, and be in pairing mode, which can be achieved by holding down the power button (right ear cup) for five seconds until the indicator light flashes blue and a voice inside the XM5 says 'pairing'.
Once a pairing between the XM5 and the device has been established, they will then automatically connect when the XM5 are turned on and within distance.
*For other devices, simply open their Bluetooth settings menu and follow the subsequent pairing steps.
Do the Sony WH-1000XM5 work with iPhone?
Yes, you can use the WH-1000XM5 with any iPhone. To connect the two devices together wirelessly over Bluetooth, power on the XM5 and put them in pairing mode (hold down the power button on the right earcup for five seconds until the indicator light flashes blue and a voice inside the XM5 says 'pairing'), then open your iPhone's Bluetooth menu (in Settings) and click on the 'Sony WH-1000XM5' that appears within it to establish a connection.
They will connect using the AAC Bluetooth codec – one of the 'standard' codecs – as supported by the XM5 and all iPhones. It is lower in transmission quality than the more efficient LDAC codec that the XM5 also support, but iPhones do not support LDAC and therefore it cannot be used.
You can also connect the XM5 and an iPhone wired, via a cable. If you have an iPhone 15 or iPhone 16, which have a USB-C port, you will need a USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter, to which you can plug in the XM5's supplied 3.5mm audio cable. If you have an older iPhone with a Lightning port instead, you will need a Lightning-to-3.5mm adaptor.
Can the Sony WH-1000XM5 connect to multiple devices?
Yes, the XM5 have Bluetooth Multipoint, allowing you to connect the headphones to two devices simultaneously. It can come in extremely handy if, for example, you are listening to audio from your laptop but need to be connected to your phone so that you don’t miss any calls. If a call comes in, you can seamlessly switch over to your phone without having to faff around unpairing your laptop, repairing your phone... and inevitably missing your call!
Having this ability can be a godsend and it works seamlessly enough, once you have enabled the feature in the Sony Headphones app.
While previously you couldn't use this multi-connect feature at the same time as streaming music over the LDAC Bluetooth codec, Sony released an update in 2023 that made this possible.
Are the Sony WH-1000XM5 worth it?
In short, yes – the Sony XM5 are worth it, particularly now that their original launch price of £380 / $399 / AU$550 has come down significantly in the past year or so. Compared to their closest rivals, including five-star pairs from Bose and Sennheiser, we think they are the best-value wireless headphones on the market, as is represented by their What Hi-Fi? Best Buy awards over the past two years.
In 2024, they won our 'Best wireless headphones over £200' Award and are our 'Best Overall' pick in our wireless headphones buying guide.
They set the benchmark for performance-per-pound (or dollar) value at this premium end of the market, although you can get superior sound quality if you are prepared to spend more for, for example, the AirPods Max, Bowers & Wilkins Px8 and Focal Bathys. Noise-cancelling is slightly better in the pricier Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, too. And if you find the regularly discounted Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are significantly less than the Sony XM5, they are worthy alternatives.
Sound quality aside, the Sony XM5 boast a decent spread of connectivity and usability features that make them a dream to own, and build and comfort don't let them down either. They're a solid all-round package, which you can read more about in our comprehensive Sony WH-1000XM5 review.
Where to buy the Sony WH-1000XM5
Most, if not all, consumer electronics stores (physical and online) should stock the Sony XM5, such as Amazon worldwide, John Lewis, Currys and Argos in the UK, Best Buy, Walmart and Crutchfield in the US, and The Good Guys, JB Hi-Fi and Dick Smith in Australia. Sony also sells them directly in each of those countries via its webstore.
Sony's WH-1000XM models have been some of the most popular over-ear headphones for years now so are widely stocked and don't tend to have stock issues. You can see the best XM5 deal prices currently available online...
Sony WH-1000XM5 vs XM4? What are the differences?
While the WH-1000XM5 are the latest and greatest pair of premium wireless noise-cancelling headphones from Sony, the older WH-1000XM4 are just about still available to buy – and, due to their age, at a more affordable price point. You can expect there to be roughly £100/$100/AU$150 between them as the final XM4 stock begins to leave shelves. Bargains are bound to be had on both pairs in the Black Friday sales.
For those who cannot stretch their budget to the XM5, we actually consider the XM4 the next-best option in the wireless headphones market. They offer many of the XM5's attributes and are still pretty competitive next to newer Bose and Sennheiser rivals.
But what would you be missing out on exactly? We have stringently compared the two Sony models in the specification, design and sound quality departments so you can decide which pair is best for you, the Sony WH-1000XM5 or WH-1000XM4.
MORE:
Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review
Our expert pick of the best wireless headphones you can buy