A word on replacing Sony's foam tips for silicon ones: the protection which covers the tube is NOT on the tube itself, but on the foam tip, so you need to look for silicon tips with the same protection on them, otherwise in time you risk getting the buds filled with all sorts of gunk or earwax.
I just got the Bose. Fortunately I don't hear any left ear hiss and after trying the Sony, I completely disagree about how the Bose is more likely to fall out. These are lodged in my ear, yet, still comfortable. There could be a 10.0 earthquake and these things ain't falling out. Also disagree about the Bass comments.
Hii.. can you please compare bass of these two.. using xm4 for two weeks now.. and i feel bass is not as punchy as bose soundsport which i used for an year. Now planning to go for bose qc2 purely for bass. Is it recommended ??
It's different for everyone. Everyone's ears are shaped differently. For me the sony will not ever fall out I barely ever adjust them. Where the bose I have had one fall out into a bucket of water 2 times now lmao. It's not really opinion based, it's based on your ear shape and size
Had the Bose for 2 weeks and every single phone caller I had told me I sound horrible as if I’m speaking through a paper towel roll and that they are not interested in having a long conversation with me if this was persistent. Which is unfortunate because I use my earbuds for work every day. This video seems to be exactly what the callers on the other end were experiencing with me.
I would have given the XM5 a try if it wasn't for the fact that Sony actively screwed up the XM4s with their firmware. I thought it was just my pair, but apparently multiple people had their $300 earbuds ruined because Sony sent out defective firmware and then tried to pretend they didn't have to replace them despite it being their problem. The firmware actively ruined the battery and actually caused some people's to overheat. I don't know if I trust Sony enough to not mess up another $300 pair of earbuds when the last pair says they aren't that competent when it comes to firmware. They soured me on their products with that one.
Yeah they arent the typical japanese company sadly. I wish Toyota made headphones, sonys are made by idiots in the philipines and other crappy third world countries and all these problems across both brands are common.
+1 also another Sony user here who had their XM4s killed by Sony's firmware update. I also don't know if I can trust Sony again. But it doesn’t look like the Bose is the superior choice so it’s a tough call. If I go down the Sony route, I’ll be taking extended warranty!
*raises hand* Yup, happened to me. They wouldn't replace them for me. Ended up buying new batteries and replacing them only to have a hum appear in the right earbud whenever ANC is on (which apparently has happened to people that have _not_ opened the earbuds up at all as well). I really don't want to give Sony any more money but they seem to be what ticks most boxes for me. I'm more than a little bummed out.
Looks like bose still havent figured out the mic quality thing. Comfortable, light, great anc but awfull call quality (have the qc700s and tested the old version of esrbud). The complaints were that it felt i was moving in and out of a microphone or that it sounded like I was inside an empty water tank
I love the comfort of the Bose over the Sony Foam tips, but the left earbud of the Bose Ultras makes is a constant static and feedback noise that bugs me, especially when listening to calm music in the library (b/c I can hear the static more and it's hard to ignore it once you realise it). Does anyone else have a problem with a static noise in the left earbud of the Bose? Doesn't seem like there is a solution to it.
I've also had the same problem! I've gotten 2 pairs, both had that static hissing noise and it's super disappointing. I'm most likely going to pick up a pair of the sony's.
@@georginagates6553 I tried the Sony xm5 earbuds as well. But, personally they are less comfortable than Bose and a less secure fit. Plus, because of how deep they are inside your ears if you're running or even walking, each footstep makes a bass thud that gets annoying over time. I really wish that Bose didn't have that static sound and I tried very hard to overlook that, but I couldn't get myself to ignore it.
The foam tips on the Sony are a no-go for me which, as stated above are what gives them the edge in the NC results. They were also rather unsecure and uncomfortable for me with the many silicone type tips that I prefer, at least until I found a set of tips that work for me. The NC with all of the silicone tips I tried was nowhere as effective as that of the Bose, which are much more comfortable, secure and effective for NC (I own both). Once I settled on a set of tips that work for me on the Sonys I like them quite well and they sound amazing! However the Bose are my go-to when I want the most effective NC, and sound great to boot.
I agree. Sony's ear tips are garbage. I swapped them out with Airfoams Pro Universal ear tips and they are best combination. Smart having silicone and memory foam together. Too bad they don't make one for Bose.
The biggest problem Sony have with the tips and ANC is not that the tips do all the work, its been tested and they dont, the ANC is superb. BUT. If you dont like the tips so you change them, you lose some ANC, why would you spend that money to lose some of the ANC when the Bose just work? And to me the Bose are more comfy. The most odd thing is that if you switch to other foam tips like the Comply ones, you lose more ANC than you do switching to Silicone like azla... So its not just the foam, but that Sony tuned the ANC to work with their tips so much, switching them out will give very varied results. Source is AREGINA.
I hated the Sony foam tips for the XM4s, just got the XM5 and the foam tips are amazing. I already ordered silicone tips in advance that I don’t need now. No more hurting ears
I've returned 4 sets of these Bose due to charging problems. Often one of the buds will not charge. Sometimes the case doesn't charge. The retailer told me it's a known issue.
The fit was the otherway around for me. The xm5 foam tips dont work for me, with x/xs when my head moves a bit it lets in sound and when the m is in, it kinda uncomfy. So i have to use my extra silicone tips. With the bose, its perfect and doesnt move no matter what i do.
I would say the XM5 would be the winner based on having more features, but I cannot trust Sony after buying the XM4. The battery drain is so horrendous, and the earbuds are literally useless now. I guess they were designed to completely die by the time the XM5 come out which is unacceptable. I recently ordered the Sennheiser momentum 3 so am eager to try those out when they come in
You mentioned crackling sounds at one point in the video, and I've experienced that with my Galaxy Buds Pro recently. It's happened maybe twice, but it is pretty noticeable and sightly annoying. However though, I've just put them in the case and out again and that's fixed it both times :) Anyway, great video! 😂
Zero words on how the Bose QC Ultra is a slot trap 🤦🏽♂️ Instead of providing the software update to all QC 2s, Bose preferred to do it only on those not yet sold, added a coat of silver paint to the earbuds, and wants to make it look like a new product, leaving the previous buyers behind in the process. And the media and youtubers pretend not to know or understand it, it's really nasty.
More than a year with the Bose QC ultras now. A few standout things that I love: HUGE battery life both on the buds and reserve in the case, absolutely crazy ANC, and that they're completely stationary in my ears with the proper eartip & wingtip sizes put in. Pure, pindrop noise cancellation actually does wonders for sound quality. The static soundfloor was annoying at first (when playing nothing but having ANC on) but I honestly forgot about it after a week. What I dont like about the Bose: the case has huge battery reserve but damn is it big and annoying. Pocketable but it sucks, looks like I have a huge detached third nut. And then obviously, the mic pretty much sucks ngl but it gets the job done.
I got mine a week ago. I just started to notice that the white noise is really loud when nothing is playing when in a quiet environment. It’s very noticeable and constant. It’s even worse if you switch to aware mode or lower the ANC. Everything else has been great for the most part. I may return them because of the loud white noise. I compared them to AirPod pro 1, and they have zero white noise when nothing is playing. 🤦♂️ I wish they were quit when nothing is playing. They are perfect in noisy environments.
Are the charts from 1:02 available anywhere online with all the devices you've tested? They are super helpful (particularly the high-frequency ANC charts) but sometimes I want to compare two devices that might not be compared in the same video. Great content! I have watched a bunch of these to help me narrow down my next purchase.
Brand wise BOSE the way they value their customers you feel like respected I had issues with unequal battery drains of rt earbud in Sony 1000xm4 just after 6m and customer care gave me a nightmare I felt like somehow they were trying to escape from replacement n make profits to their company felt cheated As a customer who paid 300$ for a small pair of ear buds which hardly lasted 1/2 yr as opposed to bose products which easily last a decade real value for money and trust worthy quality For now I will never go back to sony Happy with earbuds 2 pro❤
Well I can honestly say that the snapdragon sound makes a difference . I believe that it makes a big improvement. It can play Aptx adaptive, with the immersion on it sounds sooooo good. Great fit; superior audio quality too. Nice improvement from the QC 2. Compared to B&O E 10 and Bowers & Wilkins PI 72, Momentum 3……..these are contenders!
After owning x Wf4 i thought id try the bose based off good reviews. One day after owning the bose i took them back and exchanged for wf5. The sonys are unmatched. The only thing i liked about the bose was that they are extremely comfortable
My ultras have a lot of white noise in quiet environments when nothing is playing or when listening to videos on low volume. Kinda annoying. Might return them. Do the xm5s also have white noise when nothing is playing?
I heard your comment about the passive noise cancellation. I bought a set of Comply Foam foam tips for my Shure 846's and it was a world of difference. Since the Shure's only rely on passive noise cancellation and bass is dependant on the "seal" these foam tips are night and day with even the Shure foam tips. I tried all of them on all sizes and none could handle movement without breaking the seal. They basically revitalized my headphones and now I want another set for another set of Shure 425's that I have as well. They are supposed to need constant replacement but I feel if I take good care of them (always keep on the case, not squish them but just insert into the canal) they should last me a good while. I wanted to buy the Sony's because I just couldn't get the seal in place and I am going to start traveling more on airplanes for work. I think the passive isolation will be sufficient as I always sleep on plane flights but I test-drove the Sony's at an airport headphone store and I really liked the sound. But I saved quite a bit of money :) and was able to fall in love again with my flagship Shure's.
2:16 yes. absolutely there is a left ear hiss in the Bose QC 2 & ultra. I have replaced mine twice to the same effect, the Left always having the worst issue. Unless you’re in a noisy environment or have constant loud music playing (possibly why the preset volume is pretty high) or have ear damage, I suspect you’ll hear it too. Such a shame.
Why don't earbud testers like yourself test for wind noise cancellation? For anyone that uses audio outdoors I would think wind noise would be the number 1 issue!
@@jbhines From the Bose website under the FAQ: "Yes. The Ultra Earbuds have the Bluetooth multipoint feature allowing them to connect to two source devices at the same time. This is a recent update as of July 2024, so be sure to set up your earbuds with the Bose app to receive software updates."
When I first demoed the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds in The Mall of Dubai in October 2023, it literally changed my life. I bought a pair right then and I have traveled around the world with them two times since. Literally changed my life as an introvert programmer. Now I can walk the busy streets of NYC or The Mall of The Emirates and totally zone out the noise of crowds. Totally life changing for me!
Hi! Which ones will better reduce the noise like footsteps in a room above? Trying to choose one of these for sleeping, would really appreciate any help!
After having the Sonys for only 3 weeks before them becoming nothing more than a paperweight due to “water damage” , I picked up the Bose and find them to be way more comfortable and very very similar sound quality
A lot of people would say that obviously the Bose have FAR superior ANC, but I bought a pair of XM5's a couple of days ago, tested the ANC out with those and compared to the WH-1000XM4's I have, I think they do an awesome job, without the pressure feeling in your ears that you get with Bose.
My personal favorite earbuds right now are the technics AZ 80s for $300 these are overall the best pair of anc earbuds on the market right now they have great anc not as good as bose and sonys but really close and transparency just as good as the airpods pro audiophile quality sound great battery life ldac codec small case really responsive touch controls witch are very customizable 3 way industry leading multipoint so you can connect to any 3 devices at the same time and it works flawlessly and they have wireless charging so overall these are the best and they been my daily drivers and will continue to be my daily drivers for a long time
why would anyone pay close to spny or bose price for a no name chinese brand thats riding on the name of a long defunct company... pfft $300 for junkstore rubbish.
@@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi no name Chinese brand huh let me tell ya technics have been in the game for a very long time now and always make great products and I would say maybe u should give them a shot before u give a negative review without trying them
I’m glad you mentioned that crackling in the left Bose earbud at 2:07! I mentioned this in the comments of your initial Bose review a couple days ago, but I 100% have the exact same experience with mine. I think it’s honestly going to be all of their earbuds. I love everything else about them. Incredible transparency, incredible Immersive sound, and very good bass and all around sound. But I hate that faint crackling.
@@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi My XM4s did not do that, until the battery died in my right one and I replaced it, now it's making noise constantly when the ANC is on. I've seen others mentioning the same thing without opening them up so I'm not quite sure what causes it. It's annoying though as they were basically dead silent before, even with ANC on.
So does the Sony ones work with iphone or are they completely incompatible? Does they Ldac make it incompatible or just less adio quality? How much worse adio quality? Is the app still work?
I just got these. They are amazing, but i have 1 problem. The voice assistant sound feedback, its so low. I press the right earbud to turn on the voice assistant on to make a call but i barely hear the sound. Cant even tell if I activated the voice assistant. Can you please tell me if you are experiencing low sound feedback when you activated voice assistant. Thank you
With the Sony ear buds XM4 and XM5 could you do some basic comparisons with silicon ear tips, im not a fan of foam tips generally but interested to see how well they perform noise cancelling and sound quality wise.
Damn I was ready to buy the Bose (coming from the xm4s of Sony) because I wanted to try something new, but not having a multi point connectivity is a deal breaker. Oh well, I guess I'll wait for the next version
I never tried Bose earbuds but I tried the Sony XM4s and the Linkbuds S, the sound is Clean, Literally, the cleanest I ever heard in any earbud, and I have tried many, the only difference between the XM4 and the Linkbuds S is detail, other than that, like I said, clean!!!
@@Mike335is and here I am after updating my XM4 to latest firmware my battery on my right earbud dies within an hour. Of course I over after a year so no more warranty! This is my 2nd unit of XM4 (same battery issue) so no more Sony for me!
I tried the XM5 but returned them. They need more user customizable options and better single bud operation. I actually prefer my Pixel Buds Pro to the XM5. Trying the Bose next.
Very informative review! I appreciate the time you spent demonstrating the pluses and minuses of each. I’ve had 3 pairs of the Sony XM4s. Great ear buds but I’ve grown weary of Sony after having to replace them 3x in the past two years. Recently the right bud started hissing. I bought the XM5’s and was extremely disappointed. The noise canceling is nearly nonexistence. My father ordered a pair a few days prior. Same issue. No noise canceling. He also had issues with his XM4s. I’ll try the Bose and post my experience.
I must admit I am Bose fan and purchased my first QC headphones for the expressed purpose of air travel. The Bose QC saved my sanity when flying. Based on your review both products are excellent. For me the Bose AC Ultra earbuds would be my purchase choice. Thank you for another well balance and informative review comparison.
Im trying to get new earbuds for work and need help on which one to get bc this video is confusing me bc they both sound good but idk which one is better quality and sound bass
It would be interesting to see how the Sony Inzone Buds would rank in this test :) In my first impression, they could even establish themselves in everyday use.
@@falcongames6465 The ANC quality is not that much different between XM5 and INZONE. I oscillated between these two models, eventually decided to buy the INZONE and returned them the same day and got the XM5 instead. They both have the same drivers, so should sound the same, but INZONE are limited in their connectivity and that's baked in, unlikely to be "fixed" with updates. They come packed with a USB-C adapter which ensures low latency and best possible sound, but without it the use-case is VERY limited. I have a laptop without USB-C, so no adapter, but I still could not connect the buds via BT LE (which is their ONLY BT protocol). Same with two Android phones, which both have BT LE capability, and while in their case I could plug the adapter, I don't see myself using the buds this way. On the plus side is the longer battery life when compared with XM5 (at least as advertised, since I did not spend enough time with them), and the lower audio latency is beneficial in games, BUT some games do compensate for this and I did not notice delays or discrepancies with the XM5. All in all I think the XM5 is a better pick for general use, even if they are a bit more expensive while having somewhat less battery life.
I do hear the hissing in the left hear. Sounds like coil whine or some sort of RF interference. Fine when listening to music but less fine when I they are in without audio playing.
Hey mike, can you help me which one should I buy, I travel everyday 3 to 4 hours to my work where there is a lot of sound from micro and bus horn, I just only need the best active noise cancellation during my commute. I already own a galaxy buds 2 pro and a realme buds 5 Pro, so now I am confused which shall I buy, bose quite comfort ultra or Sony xm5.
Sony for the win, only thing is I don't like how bulky the Sony are. Just wish the Sony were smaller and had the wings like the Beats Fit Pro. One thing that caught my attention with Bose QC Ultra Earbuds mentioned in this review was the crackling or something from the left earpiece at 2:06. I have the Bose QC2 earbuds and that crakling or whatever it is even hurts my ears. If you're like me that likes earbuds to workout DO NOT get the Bose, especially when you're doing activities like working out, jumping, running etc that horrible sound is at its worse. Another thing I hate about the Bose is that it feels cheap like it could break easily. As a comparison I have a pair of Jabra Elite Active 75t and I much prefer those to workout in. Love the physical buttons, fit (except for no wings as well) and the sound is decent.
I’m confused mostly i use for calls i’m crane operator and driver currently using airpods pro 2 but mic is trash specially when background noise is more it keep cutting my voice i have to repeat every time on call my friends always complaining about my voice i had Samsung buds pro before never had this issue
I got both of these also to try em out...Bose more comfortable to have in ear longer but the Sony was better for nose cancellation in a shop environment with an airgun. The Bose tended to make static when using air hose. I also had momentum wireless s3s which had good noise cancelation but less than both of these. And is worse with air gun.
Love me Sony xm5’s, use them for work everyday, sometimes forget to take them out. I found I had to adjust the bass lower than the preset EQs to get a great sound when listening to music, but that wasn’t hard and a personal preference. My XM4s were great too but ended up with the left side button randomly engaging itself after 3 years of wearing daily.
The thing I cant stand about the Sony Xm4s and Xm5s are the foam eartips which is essentially what gives them the leg up on the Bose offerings when it comes to NC . They are too rigid and uncomfortable in my ear and if I take them off in favor of silicone ear tips there is a substantial drop in passive nc and noise cancelling in general. Taking this into consideration, I very MUCH prefer the Bose QC IIs and Ultra (the same thing in my book) which are way more comfortable, have better true ANC without the foam eartips and stay in my ears more securely with their wings.
It depends on the ear. I bought a pair of XM5's the other day and had zero problems. As for ANC, Flossy Carter said in his review of these ear buds that the ANC in those was 'scary quiet' and I have to agree with him. As I said, it depends largely on the ears and what size tips you put on them.
try the Airfoams Pro Universal ear tips. It works because it has both silicone and memory foam so you get that seal and not the rigid and comfortable without the NC drop off.
I’ve just watched your review of these Bose ones as well as the Marshall ones. I’m toying with buying either but having tested both (and recommended both!) which would you go for? Thanks
That bose case is rough at this proce point. It's massive, no extra battery really and no wireless. Also how do they not have multipoint. I have 100$ buds that have multipoint. Not saying they are bad and in a lot of ways they are better but missing some baaic features that many cheaper ones have.😊
Im seeing alot of reviews in th comments saying that the XM4 struggled with battery life in the longrun and that the foam earpieces arent comfortable. I can agree to this. I hate how foam feels over long uses and i currently own a pair of galaxy buds pro. They wree good for a while, but the quality in battery life went down drastically and i feel like the quality of audio went down as well. While I, also on the other hand, own a pair of 1st gen QC bose, they still remain very good in battery life and still have maintained there sound quality. And thanks to this video, i can reliably say that I'll be making the permanent move from Sony to Bose from now on. I will be sacrificing audio quality, but at least I'll have a more comfortable time with them and they'll also stand the test of time
I had a battery drain issue with my sony wf-1000XM4 after an update. The repair store (officially recommend from Sony) had to replace the unit. After that, no more issues
Could anyone that has tried them tell me wich is more suitable for gym workout overall? Also Ive got my doubts on either buying earpods or headphones for the same use. (Dont care much abt the mic quality)
Wow, they really are very different. I just got the sony xm5's for an absolute bargain at only 120$, so I'm really happy about that. I'm also what you'd call a "feature freak", so it seems like the right choice on that part as well. I previously had the Google pixel buds a-series, and I really enjoyed them... until i had to vacuum (which I do as a temp for my father's clinic when their cleaning lady can't show). I also take the bus quite often and boy have I just really needed anc for such a long time! Dang it will be nice to finally get it.
I have both, but if I had to choose one, I would go with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra .The noise cancellation is much better, and the design looks more premium. As for sound quality, I would say they are both pretty good.
I've been waiting for this so that I can decide if I should return the wf1000xm5 or keep them. Thank you. I am still contemplating on getting xm5 headphones or the ultra headphones to upgrade from xm4, which is too amazing to give up. I am seeing a small bit of wear and tear on my xm4 headphones, which would make sense given I got them when they first release, and it depends on how you take care of it as well. I think Sony should add back the ANC Optimizer because I feel they made a huge difference in improving my ANC. I am using the eartips of the Soundcore Liberty 4, which I have misplaced and still trying to find but I always keep all the eartips of the earbuds I buy to try and then return later because then ill be able to have a wide variety of eartips to try out on different earbuds I buy and some fit but some won't because they are not designed for the style of every earbuds. Please, if you have any suggestions, let me know. Thank you.
I returned my XM5s and am keeping the Bose QC Ultras. Probably the biggest reason is the Bose has a more oval eartip shape while the Sony is round. For my ears at least I could never get a good seal with the XM5s leading to crappy noise isolation and audio quality (for others this may not be an issue). With the Sony's I'd have to massage the eartips each time before putting them in, Ultra's can go in instantly. Noise cancelling for me was far superior on the Bose. XM5s and Ultras both have a surround sound option but the XM5s requires special content that is very limited and expensive. The Ultras work with any stereo music (usually great but occasionally not so great). It would be nice if the Ultra's had wireless charging built into the case (available as a sleeve) and multipoint would be nice, but I use my earbuds with three devices and the Sony's only multipoint with two so it didn't help much.
I dont understand why every time bass is talked about, it's always QUANTITY, but never QUALITY! The bass on the XM5's are not good. Muddy, not tight. Just "there". Bose has tighter base, and yes, more of it, which I had to eq down when I tried them. Sound quality alone though I'd prefer the Galaxy buds 2 pro, but the passive NC is not as good as the Sonys or Bose.
I had the dreaded battery drainage issue after firmaware update with my Sony WF1000XM4 and I figured never Sony again. Well, I couldn't resists picking up the XM5 a couple of days ago and I love them to bits. I was first disappointed with the sound as I was with the XM4's but realized the problem was the same - I was using too small tips. The mic is very much improved also when making phone calls.
Just bought the Bose QC Ultra earbuds and I love them. The only thing I don't like about them is that they're hard to get out of the case. If anyone has any tips or tricks to getting them out of the case easier it would be much appreciated. Oh, also the case is pretty massive compared to any other earbuds I've owned, wtf is the case so big? For some reason i haven't had good luck with Sony earbuds. I have had 3 pairs, the WF-1000XM4s and two pairs of Linkbuds S's and for some reason all three pairs would randomly connect and disconnect from my phone whenever I walked or jogged with them. This happened with both my S22 Ultra and my current Pixel 8 pro, i have no idea why they do that but the Bose earbuds haven't done it yet. Also why does Bose and Sony not have a dark mode for either of their apps?
I can hear that noise on the left ear, it's wierd i thought it was just me. Also the Bose after putting it in the case, it's still connected to my phone. I'll have to wait for 5-10 minutes for it to disconnect. I returned the Bose and got the Sony. It's a bummer because i have Bose speakers and their headphones both works well, but their earbuds are horrible. My other Bose quiet comfort earbuds wont even connect, keeps flashing red and white.....
Sony sound like they'd suit me more. How would they go with a S23 ultra? I've been looking at the samsung earbuds, as well. You can track them if you lose them and they make a noise if you walk away from them.
I just bought these and while the right side Buds Pro wanted to fall out on me while chewing, the Bose are locked in, no matter what I'm doing. The sound quality in great and the Immersion Mode is slightly mindblowing.
Your comment at the 2:10 mark about the sound you hear in the left bud when there is nothing playing...I had that in my left bud as well. I took them back. To me, it sounds like Morse code.
When buying earbuds I personally only care about sound quality and noise cancellation. IMO the BOSE kill the Sony's overall in sound quality and noise cancellation, both in full and aware modes on the BOSE.
I've still got my xmf3 and they're fine. Maybe you had a duff battery. I haven't tried but it's possible to replace the xmf3 battery. Better still are Shure's bluetooth earhooks. They connect to Shure's mmcx detachable earbuds, which also attach to cables (3.5mm, lightning, usb C). I've had my Shure earbuds for 10 years now (only had the shure earhooks for 2 years). Also means that when Shure produce aptx lossless earhooks I can carry on using my top notch earbuds.
Sony wins but FIX THE FIT SONY! and with that, I'll go with the Bose. Fit and comfort wins for me. I wanna relax and listen. Not worrying whether the damn thing's gonna fall out due to sweat/wax and ear fatigues
The sonys are so comfortable for me that I forget I'm wearing them every time. I had to try each tip for a whole day to find the right one, but it fits so well now. I wear them for work, and will have them on the whole time I'm working, so maybe there is a break-in.
![Best Premium Headphones 2024 [Tested & Compared!] - AirPods Max vs Bose vs Sony vs Sennheiser..](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/l5qootmFQx0/mqdefault.jpg)
A word on replacing Sony's foam tips for silicon ones: the protection which covers the tube is NOT on the tube itself, but on the foam tip, so you need to look for silicon tips with the same protection on them, otherwise in time you risk getting the buds filled with all sorts of gunk or earwax.
Sony is Asian company and Asians have dry ear wax. so they dont really think that through....
Did u find any such eartips ?
@@evolution5052 I did not look for such tips.
Which will probably void the warranty. Not that the warranty is that long but still.
I just got the Bose. Fortunately I don't hear any left ear hiss and after trying the Sony, I completely disagree about how the Bose is more likely to fall out. These are lodged in my ear, yet, still comfortable. There could be a 10.0 earthquake and these things ain't falling out. Also disagree about the Bass comments.
Hii.. can you please compare bass of these two.. using xm4 for two weeks now.. and i feel bass is not as punchy as bose soundsport which i used for an year. Now planning to go for bose qc2 purely for bass. Is it recommended ??
Have both and can confirm that bose are better at everything except call quality!!
@@LZephirox thanks a ton !
The hiss/squeal/buzz in the left earbud is a total deal breaker for me. They were returned.
It's different for everyone. Everyone's ears are shaped differently. For me the sony will not ever fall out I barely ever adjust them. Where the bose I have had one fall out into a bucket of water 2 times now lmao. It's not really opinion based, it's based on your ear shape and size
Really appreciate the different noisy conditions testing. Most reviewers seem to treat noise cancellation as just one thing.
Had the Bose for 2 weeks and every single phone caller I had told me I sound horrible as if I’m speaking through a paper towel roll and that they are not interested in having a long conversation with me if this was persistent. Which is unfortunate because I use my earbuds for work every day. This video seems to be exactly what the callers on the other end were experiencing with me.
Buddy domt get either if you want phone calls quality. They both suck
I would have given the XM5 a try if it wasn't for the fact that Sony actively screwed up the XM4s with their firmware. I thought it was just my pair, but apparently multiple people had their $300 earbuds ruined because Sony sent out defective firmware and then tried to pretend they didn't have to replace them despite it being their problem. The firmware actively ruined the battery and actually caused some people's to overheat.
I don't know if I trust Sony enough to not mess up another $300 pair of earbuds when the last pair says they aren't that competent when it comes to firmware. They soured me on their products with that one.
Yeah they arent the typical japanese company sadly. I wish Toyota made headphones, sonys are made by idiots in the philipines and other crappy third world countries and all these problems across both brands are common.
+1 also another Sony user here who had their XM4s killed by Sony's firmware update. I also don't know if I can trust Sony again. But it doesn’t look like the Bose is the superior choice so it’s a tough call. If I go down the Sony route, I’ll be taking extended warranty!
I had to replace the right battery on my XM4s. I believe the firmware update did it.
*raises hand* Yup, happened to me. They wouldn't replace them for me. Ended up buying new batteries and replacing them only to have a hum appear in the right earbud whenever ANC is on (which apparently has happened to people that have _not_ opened the earbuds up at all as well). I really don't want to give Sony any more money but they seem to be what ticks most boxes for me. I'm more than a little bummed out.
Totally agree! SONY NEVER AGAIN
Looks like bose still havent figured out the mic quality thing. Comfortable, light, great anc but awfull call quality (have the qc700s and tested the old version of esrbud). The complaints were that it felt i was moving in and out of a microphone or that it sounded like I was inside an empty water tank
I love the comfort of the Bose over the Sony Foam tips, but the left earbud of the Bose Ultras makes is a constant static and feedback noise that bugs me, especially when listening to calm music in the library (b/c I can hear the static more and it's hard to ignore it once you realise it).
Does anyone else have a problem with a static noise in the left earbud of the Bose? Doesn't seem like there is a solution to it.
I've also had the same problem! I've gotten 2 pairs, both had that static hissing noise and it's super disappointing. I'm most likely going to pick up a pair of the sony's.
@@georginagates6553 I tried the Sony xm5 earbuds as well. But, personally they are less comfortable than Bose and a less secure fit. Plus, because of how deep they are inside your ears if you're running or even walking, each footstep makes a bass thud that gets annoying over time.
I really wish that Bose didn't have that static sound and I tried very hard to overlook that, but I couldn't get myself to ignore it.
The foam tips on the Sony are a no-go for me which, as stated above are what gives them the edge in the NC results. They were also rather unsecure and uncomfortable for me with the many silicone type tips that I prefer, at least until I found a set of tips that work for me. The NC with all of the silicone tips I tried was nowhere as effective as that of the Bose, which are much more comfortable, secure and effective for NC (I own both). Once I settled on a set of tips that work for me on the Sonys I like them quite well and they sound amazing! However the Bose are my go-to when I want the most effective NC, and sound great to boot.
I agree. Sony's ear tips are garbage. I swapped them out with Airfoams Pro Universal ear tips and they are best combination. Smart having silicone and memory foam together. Too bad they don't make one for Bose.
The biggest problem Sony have with the tips and ANC is not that the tips do all the work, its been tested and they dont, the ANC is superb. BUT. If you dont like the tips so you change them, you lose some ANC, why would you spend that money to lose some of the ANC when the Bose just work? And to me the Bose are more comfy. The most odd thing is that if you switch to other foam tips like the Comply ones, you lose more ANC than you do switching to Silicone like azla... So its not just the foam, but that Sony tuned the ANC to work with their tips so much, switching them out will give very varied results. Source is AREGINA.
@@BishieBishie Until a year in your Bose stops working for no goddam reason.
I hated the Sony foam tips for the XM4s, just got the XM5 and the foam tips are amazing. I already ordered silicone tips in advance that I don’t need now. No more hurting ears
Foam tips arent for noise canceling theyre for frequency response, specially mid bass
I've returned 4 sets of these Bose due to charging problems. Often one of the buds will not charge. Sometimes the case doesn't charge. The retailer told me it's a known issue.
The fit was the otherway around for me. The xm5 foam tips dont work for me, with x/xs when my head moves a bit it lets in sound and when the m is in, it kinda uncomfy. So i have to use my extra silicone tips. With the bose, its perfect and doesnt move no matter what i do.
You can just tap 4 times and hold to increase the volume more with the Sony. I think its funny how many people miss this detail.
I would say the XM5 would be the winner based on having more features, but I cannot trust Sony after buying the XM4. The battery drain is so horrendous, and the earbuds are literally useless now. I guess they were designed to completely die by the time the XM5 come out which is unacceptable. I recently ordered the Sennheiser momentum 3 so am eager to try those out when they come in
I have a pair of Momentum 3's, yr 1/2 old and the right bud doesn't charge anymore. Zero customer service, so good luck.
@@davidbrooks8061exactly this. I am a huge sennheiser fan but this was the last pair. Now i am looking dor something different.
I'm taking out my Sony wf-1000xm3s as I returned my wf-1000xm4s due to battery drain issues
Had my xm4 2 yrs still get good battery life
You mentioned crackling sounds at one point in the video, and I've experienced that with my Galaxy Buds Pro recently. It's happened maybe twice, but it is pretty noticeable and sightly annoying. However though, I've just put them in the case and out again and that's fixed it both times :)
Anyway, great video! 😂
Bose are so comfortable! I’m just not a fan of buds that require deeper insertion to get a good seal.
See there new open earbuds ??
That’s what she said
Zero words on how the Bose QC Ultra is a slot trap 🤦🏽♂️
Instead of providing the software update to all QC 2s, Bose preferred to do it only on those not yet sold, added a coat of silver paint to the earbuds, and wants to make it look like a new product, leaving the previous buyers behind in the process.
And the media and youtubers pretend not to know or understand it, it's really nasty.
I was honest on my review and I’m getting slaughtered by the NPC😅
I agree with you.
I know right. Not a single reviewer is talking a out this.
More than a year with the Bose QC ultras now. A few standout things that I love: HUGE battery life both on the buds and reserve in the case, absolutely crazy ANC, and that they're completely stationary in my ears with the proper eartip & wingtip sizes put in. Pure, pindrop noise cancellation actually does wonders for sound quality. The static soundfloor was annoying at first (when playing nothing but having ANC on) but I honestly forgot about it after a week. What I dont like about the Bose: the case has huge battery reserve but damn is it big and annoying. Pocketable but it sucks, looks like I have a huge detached third nut. And then obviously, the mic pretty much sucks ngl but it gets the job done.
I got mine a week ago. I just started to notice that the white noise is really loud when nothing is playing when in a quiet environment. It’s very noticeable and constant. It’s even worse if you switch to aware mode or lower the ANC. Everything else has been great for the most part. I may return them because of the loud white noise. I compared them to AirPod pro 1, and they have zero white noise when nothing is playing. 🤦♂️ I wish they were quit when nothing is playing. They are perfect in noisy environments.
Are the charts from 1:02 available anywhere online with all the devices you've tested? They are super helpful (particularly the high-frequency ANC charts) but sometimes I want to compare two devices that might not be compared in the same video.
Great content! I have watched a bunch of these to help me narrow down my next purchase.
Brand wise BOSE the way they value their customers you feel like respected
I had issues with unequal battery drains of rt earbud in Sony 1000xm4 just after 6m and customer care gave me a nightmare I felt like somehow they were trying to escape from replacement n make profits to their company felt cheated
As a customer who paid 300$ for a small pair of ear buds which hardly lasted 1/2 yr as opposed to bose products which easily last a decade real value for money and trust worthy quality
For now I will never go back to sony
Happy with earbuds 2 pro❤
Well I can honestly say that the snapdragon sound makes a difference . I believe that it makes a big improvement. It can play Aptx adaptive, with the immersion on it sounds sooooo good. Great fit; superior audio quality too. Nice improvement from the QC 2. Compared to B&O E 10 and Bowers & Wilkins PI 72, Momentum 3……..these are contenders!
Is snapdragon a setting in the app for the Bose? And what’s the best sounding earbud you heard
02
hm for ie600 ve3 mext owners yes new anv will make them unusable, gr11 prob wont
After owning x
Wf4 i thought id try the bose based off good reviews. One day after owning the bose i took them back and exchanged for wf5. The sonys are unmatched. The only thing i liked about the bose was that they are extremely comfortable
Nah Galaxy Buds pro 2 are better than Sony.
My ultras have a lot of white noise in quiet environments when nothing is playing or when listening to videos on low volume. Kinda annoying. Might return them. Do the xm5s also have white noise when nothing is playing?
I heard your comment about the passive noise cancellation. I bought a set of Comply Foam foam tips for my Shure 846's and it was a world of difference. Since the Shure's only rely on passive noise cancellation and bass is dependant on the "seal" these foam tips are night and day with even the Shure foam tips. I tried all of them on all sizes and none could handle movement without breaking the seal. They basically revitalized my headphones and now I want another set for another set of Shure 425's that I have as well. They are supposed to need constant replacement but I feel if I take good care of them (always keep on the case, not squish them but just insert into the canal) they should last me a good while. I wanted to buy the Sony's because I just couldn't get the seal in place and I am going to start traveling more on airplanes for work. I think the passive isolation will be sufficient as I always sleep on plane flights but I test-drove the Sony's at an airport headphone store and I really liked the sound. But I saved quite a bit of money :) and was able to fall in love again with my flagship Shure's.
You saved yourself a lot of money as well. My passive wired buds block more noise than the Sonys with the ANC on!
2:16 yes. absolutely there is a left ear hiss in the Bose QC 2 & ultra. I have replaced mine twice to the same effect, the Left always having the worst issue. Unless you’re in a noisy environment or have constant loud music playing (possibly why the preset volume is pretty high) or have ear damage, I suspect you’ll hear it too.
Such a shame.
Its the ghost of your wallet. Haunting you for paying $300 for earbuds.
damn that sounds like a problem,but i`m not finding the sonys comfortable
Why don't earbud testers like yourself test for wind noise cancellation? For anyone that uses audio outdoors I would think wind noise would be the number 1 issue!
Just to let you know, Bose has added multi-point Bluetooth connectivity.
They did, with this unit? That’s the only thing I don’t care for in my QC.
@@jbhines From the Bose website under the FAQ: "Yes. The Ultra Earbuds have the Bluetooth multipoint feature allowing them to connect to two source devices at the same time. This is a recent update as of July 2024, so be sure to set up your earbuds with the Bose app to receive software updates."
When I first demoed the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds in The Mall of Dubai in October 2023, it literally changed my life. I bought a pair right then and I have traveled around the world with them two times since. Literally changed my life as an introvert programmer. Now I can walk the busy streets of NYC or The Mall of The Emirates and totally zone out the noise of crowds. Totally life changing for me!
Loved the way you started this video right from a comparison. Very engaging.
Hi! Which ones will better reduce the noise like footsteps in a room above? Trying to choose one of these for sleeping, would really appreciate any help!
Good question
After having the Sonys for only 3 weeks before them becoming nothing more than a paperweight due to “water damage” , I picked up the Bose and find them to be way more comfortable and very very similar sound quality
A lot of people would say that obviously the Bose have FAR superior ANC, but I bought a pair of XM5's a couple of days ago, tested the ANC out with those and compared to the WH-1000XM4's I have, I think they do an awesome job, without the pressure feeling in your ears that you get with Bose.
Strange I feel no pressure with the Bose, maybe our ear shapes are different.
@@brwa5176I felt the obvious pressure with Bose-quite annoying.
Same here no pressure from the Bose @@brwa5176
Just bought the xm5 and am so disappointed with NC to the point it seams non existent!
My personal favorite earbuds right now are the technics AZ 80s for $300 these are overall the best pair of anc earbuds on the market right now they have great anc not as good as bose and sonys but really close and transparency just as good as the airpods pro audiophile quality sound great battery life ldac codec small case really responsive touch controls witch are very customizable 3 way industry leading multipoint so you can connect to any 3 devices at the same time and it works flawlessly and they have wireless charging so overall these are the best and they been my daily drivers and will continue to be my daily drivers for a long time
why would anyone pay close to spny or bose price for a no name chinese brand thats riding on the name of a long defunct company... pfft $300 for junkstore rubbish.
@@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi no name Chinese brand huh let me tell ya technics have been in the game for a very long time now and always make great products and I would say maybe u should give them a shot before u give a negative review without trying them
100 percentage. Agreed. The best buds on the market right now
@@Steve211Ucdhihifvshiyou do know that technics is a japanese company right?? Wow u are seriously uneducated
@@donaldmaynortechnics are japanese and the previous commenter is just uneducated
I’m glad you mentioned that crackling in the left Bose earbud at 2:07! I mentioned this in the comments of your initial Bose review a couple days ago, but I 100% have the exact same experience with mine. I think it’s honestly going to be all of their earbuds.
I love everything else about them. Incredible transparency, incredible Immersive sound, and very good bass and all around sound. But I hate that faint crackling.
My Bose Ultra's left earbud is crackling all the time. Sigh 🥲
Sonys over ear xm3 xm4 and xm4 alllll do the same. its due to diferences in pressure. and the membrane of the actual speaker.
Airpods Pro 2 does not have this annoying crackling sound. @@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi
i get the same - its like a BT connection loss - pretty sure mine are going back and ill get the B&O EX
@@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi My XM4s did not do that, until the battery died in my right one and I replaced it, now it's making noise constantly when the ANC is on. I've seen others mentioning the same thing without opening them up so I'm not quite sure what causes it. It's annoying though as they were basically dead silent before, even with ANC on.
So does the Sony ones work with iphone or are they completely incompatible? Does they Ldac make it incompatible or just less adio quality? How much worse adio quality? Is the app still work?
I just got these. They are amazing, but i have 1 problem. The voice assistant sound feedback, its so low. I press the right earbud to turn on the voice assistant on to make a call but i barely hear the sound. Cant even tell if I activated the voice assistant. Can you please tell me if you are experiencing low sound feedback when you activated voice assistant. Thank you
Are you going to do a review or comparison for Bose quiet comfort ultra headphones possibly vs the Sony headphones? You make the best tech reviews!
With the Sony ear buds XM4 and XM5 could you do some basic comparisons with silicon ear tips, im not a fan of foam tips generally but interested to see how well they perform noise cancelling and sound quality wise.
Damn I was ready to buy the Bose (coming from the xm4s of Sony) because I wanted to try something new, but not having a multi point connectivity is a deal breaker. Oh well, I guess I'll wait for the next version
Not sure if you heard yet but they released an update allowing multipoint
I never tried Bose earbuds but I tried the Sony XM4s and the Linkbuds S, the sound is Clean, Literally, the cleanest I ever heard in any earbud, and I have tried many, the only difference between the XM4 and the Linkbuds S is detail, other than that, like I said, clean!!!
Still using the XM4 earbuds and I think it's so good that upgrade can wait for several years. Thanks for the video review!
I absolutely love my xm4s... However, the battery over time is horrible... They're dead after about 4 hours... Where it used to be about 8 hrs...
@@Mike335is that's the downside of the XM4. I use it everyday for calls and it only last for around 2 hrs.
@@Mike335is and here I am after updating my XM4 to latest firmware my battery on my right earbud dies within an hour. Of course I over after a year so no more warranty! This is my 2nd unit of XM4 (same battery issue) so no more Sony for me!
I tried the XM5 but returned them. They need more user customizable options and better single bud operation. I actually prefer my Pixel Buds Pro to the XM5. Trying the Bose next.
Pixel buds pro....... 🤣🤣🤣🤣
pixels buds pro? lmao
pixel bud? 🤣🤣
Very informative review! I appreciate the time you spent demonstrating the pluses and minuses of each. I’ve had 3 pairs of the Sony XM4s. Great ear buds but I’ve grown weary of Sony after having to replace them 3x in the past two years. Recently the right bud started hissing. I bought the XM5’s and was extremely disappointed. The noise canceling is nearly nonexistence. My father ordered a pair a few days prior. Same issue. No noise canceling. He also had issues with his XM4s. I’ll try the Bose and post my experience.
I must admit I am Bose fan and purchased my first QC headphones for the expressed purpose of air travel. The Bose QC saved my sanity when flying. Based on your review both products are excellent. For me the Bose AC Ultra earbuds would be my purchase choice. Thank you for another well balance and informative review comparison.
I read that bose ultra does support wireless charging,, is that true?
No, it doesnt support it
Im trying to get new earbuds for work and need help on which one to get bc this video is confusing me bc they both sound good but idk which one is better quality and sound bass
What happens if you put the Sony XM5 eartips on the Bose earbuds? Will that improve the NC even more? 🤔
You can usually get foam tips for most earbuds on the market by a 3rd party seller.
Sony's are round and Bose are oval, but maybe third party. NC in the Ultra's is better in my opinion.
I tried. The ear tips are different shape and Bose connection is also different. I got great results with my XM5 and Airfoams Pro Universal ear tips
It would be interesting to see how the Sony Inzone Buds would rank in this test :)
In my first impression, they could even establish themselves in everyday use.
I heard that the ANC on them is bad? Is that true?
@@falcongames6465 The ANC quality is not that much different between XM5 and INZONE. I oscillated between these two models, eventually decided to buy the INZONE and returned them the same day and got the XM5 instead. They both have the same drivers, so should sound the same, but INZONE are limited in their connectivity and that's baked in, unlikely to be "fixed" with updates.
They come packed with a USB-C adapter which ensures low latency and best possible sound, but without it the use-case is VERY limited. I have a laptop without USB-C, so no adapter, but I still could not connect the buds via BT LE (which is their ONLY BT protocol). Same with two Android phones, which both have BT LE capability, and while in their case I could plug the adapter, I don't see myself using the buds this way.
On the plus side is the longer battery life when compared with XM5 (at least as advertised, since I did not spend enough time with them), and the lower audio latency is beneficial in games, BUT some games do compensate for this and I did not notice delays or discrepancies with the XM5.
All in all I think the XM5 is a better pick for general use, even if they are a bit more expensive while having somewhat less battery life.
I do hear the hissing in the left hear. Sounds like coil whine or some sort of RF interference. Fine when listening to music but less fine when I they are in without audio playing.
for sony xm5's can you use only 1 earbud (either left OR right) for calls and music?
Hey mike, can you help me which one should I buy, I travel everyday 3 to 4 hours to my work where there is a lot of sound from micro and bus horn, I just only need the best active noise cancellation during my commute. I already own a galaxy buds 2 pro and a realme buds 5 Pro, so now I am confused which shall I buy, bose quite comfort ultra or Sony xm5.
Sony for the win, only thing is I don't like how bulky the Sony are. Just wish the Sony were smaller and had the wings like the Beats Fit Pro. One thing that caught my attention with Bose QC Ultra Earbuds mentioned in this review was the crackling or something from the left earpiece at 2:06. I have the Bose QC2 earbuds and that crakling or whatever it is even hurts my ears. If you're like me that likes earbuds to workout DO NOT get the Bose, especially when you're doing activities like working out, jumping, running etc that horrible sound is at its worse. Another thing I hate about the Bose is that it feels cheap like it could break easily. As a comparison I have a pair of Jabra Elite Active 75t and I much prefer those to workout in. Love the physical buttons, fit (except for no wings as well) and the sound is decent.
Sony doesn’t stay in ur ear to workout in them. Bose don’t move.
I’m confused mostly i use for calls i’m crane operator and driver currently using airpods pro 2 but mic is trash specially when background noise is more it keep cutting my voice i have to repeat every time on call my friends always complaining about my voice i had Samsung buds pro before never had this issue
I got both of these also to try em out...Bose more comfortable to have in ear longer but the Sony was better for nose cancellation in a shop environment with an airgun. The Bose tended to make static when using air hose. I also had momentum wireless s3s which had good noise cancelation but less than both of these. And is worse with air gun.
Where does the SENNHEISER MTW3 fall between these? Loking for a good set 250-300. Any advice. Android user.
Love me Sony xm5’s, use them for work everyday, sometimes forget to take them out. I found I had to adjust the bass lower than the preset EQs to get a great sound when listening to music, but that wasn’t hard and a personal preference. My XM4s were great too but ended up with the left side button randomly engaging itself after 3 years of wearing daily.
The thing I cant stand about the Sony Xm4s and Xm5s are the foam eartips which is essentially what gives them the leg up on the Bose offerings when it comes to NC . They are too rigid and uncomfortable in my ear and if I take them off in favor of silicone ear tips there is a substantial drop in passive nc and noise cancelling in general. Taking this into consideration, I very MUCH prefer the Bose QC IIs and Ultra (the same thing in my book) which are way more comfortable, have better true ANC without the foam eartips and stay in my ears more securely with their wings.
It depends on the ear. I bought a pair of XM5's the other day and had zero problems. As for ANC, Flossy Carter said in his review of these ear buds that the ANC in those was 'scary quiet' and I have to agree with him. As I said, it depends largely on the ears and what size tips you put on them.
try the Airfoams Pro Universal ear tips. It works because it has both silicone and memory foam so you get that seal and not the rigid and comfortable without the NC drop off.
I’ve just watched your review of these Bose ones as well as the Marshall ones. I’m toying with buying either but having tested both (and recommended both!) which would you go for? Thanks
I have samsung S24 ultra mobile which ear phone should I buy which suitable with this mobile? Should I go for samsung earbuds pro 2 or Sony or bose?
@Mike O'Brien: thanks for this. Why did you not include Jabra Elite and Active buds in your comparison?
That bose case is rough at this proce point. It's massive, no extra battery really and no wireless. Also how do they not have multipoint. I have 100$ buds that have multipoint. Not saying they are bad and in a lot of ways they are better but missing some baaic features that many cheaper ones have.😊
Hit the nail on the head
Unrelated, but have the checked out the made in India Sonic Lamb headphones? With a hybrid driver apparently
I like the nod or shake your head to answer and cancel calls on the sony. Great when your at work and your hands aren’t free.
I wanted to know if you were going to do a test on the Jabra Elite 10.
the what lol
Could these work with a full face helmet? Taking calls and listening to music while riding motorcycle is what I want
No, cardo or sena are the options
I don’t buy premium earbuds for phone call quality but sound and ANC. I don’t remember the last time I used them on for phone calls.
Im seeing alot of reviews in th comments saying that the XM4 struggled with battery life in the longrun and that the foam earpieces arent comfortable. I can agree to this. I hate how foam feels over long uses and i currently own a pair of galaxy buds pro. They wree good for a while, but the quality in battery life went down drastically and i feel like the quality of audio went down as well. While I, also on the other hand, own a pair of 1st gen QC bose, they still remain very good in battery life and still have maintained there sound quality. And thanks to this video, i can reliably say that I'll be making the permanent move from Sony to Bose from now on. I will be sacrificing audio quality, but at least I'll have a more comfortable time with them and they'll also stand the test of time
I had a battery drain issue with my sony wf-1000XM4 after an update. The repair store (officially recommend from Sony) had to replace the unit. After that, no more issues
Which handles wind noise cancellation better?
I wonder which earbuds would block the background music and noise in a gym....
Yeah the left ear bud does have noise or crackling on mine as well
I just returned my ultra to Bose, the Audio during phone calls was extremely low, tried everything with tech support but nothing
samething that happened to me during a call they sounded very low where I can't barely hear them and plus they pick up to much background noise.
@@xxgodsxx4618and is working normal again?
@@alirodriguezm it just happen randomly i wear 1 earbuds but the sound come out very low idk y
Could anyone that has tried them tell me wich is more suitable for gym workout overall? Also Ive got my doubts on either buying earpods or headphones for the same use. (Dont care much abt the mic quality)
Wow, they really are very different. I just got the sony xm5's for an absolute bargain at only 120$, so I'm really happy about that. I'm also what you'd call a "feature freak", so it seems like the right choice on that part as well. I previously had the Google pixel buds a-series, and I really enjoyed them... until i had to vacuum (which I do as a temp for my father's clinic when their cleaning lady can't show). I also take the bus quite often and boy have I just really needed anc for such a long time! Dang it will be nice to finally get it.
Battery life? or did i miss it?
I have both, but if I had to choose one, I would go with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra .The noise cancellation is much better, and the design looks more premium. As for sound quality, I would say they are both pretty good.
I've been waiting for this so that I can decide if I should return the wf1000xm5 or keep them. Thank you. I am still contemplating on getting xm5 headphones or the ultra headphones to upgrade from xm4, which is too amazing to give up. I am seeing a small bit of wear and tear on my xm4 headphones, which would make sense given I got them when they first release, and it depends on how you take care of it as well. I think Sony should add back the ANC Optimizer because I feel they made a huge difference in improving my ANC. I am using the eartips of the Soundcore Liberty 4, which I have misplaced and still trying to find but I always keep all the eartips of the earbuds I buy to try and then return later because then ill be able to have a wide variety of eartips to try out on different earbuds I buy and some fit but some won't because they are not designed for the style of every earbuds. Please, if you have any suggestions, let me know. Thank you.
Does Sony allow you to return the xm5s? I know Bose has a risk free trial, but didn't think Sony did
@krisgostynski9018 Yes, I think they have a 30-day free return period, but please check their website to confirm.
I’m returning my Sony xm5 and getting the Bose tomorrow. My Sonys keep losing connection which is annoying.
I returned my XM5s and am keeping the Bose QC Ultras. Probably the biggest reason is the Bose has a more oval eartip shape while the Sony is round. For my ears at least I could never get a good seal with the XM5s leading to crappy noise isolation and audio quality (for others this may not be an issue). With the Sony's I'd have to massage the eartips each time before putting them in, Ultra's can go in instantly. Noise cancelling for me was far superior on the Bose. XM5s and Ultras both have a surround sound option but the XM5s requires special content that is very limited and expensive. The Ultras work with any stereo music (usually great but occasionally not so great). It would be nice if the Ultra's had wireless charging built into the case (available as a sleeve) and multipoint would be nice, but I use my earbuds with three devices and the Sony's only multipoint with two so it didn't help much.
I dont understand why every time bass is talked about, it's always QUANTITY, but never QUALITY! The bass on the XM5's are not good. Muddy, not tight. Just "there". Bose has tighter base, and yes, more of it, which I had to eq down when I tried them.
Sound quality alone though I'd prefer the Galaxy buds 2 pro, but the passive NC is not as good as the Sonys or Bose.
Just bought the Bose QC Ultra and after owning many different comparable brands I have to say these are the best in every aspect.
Do not forget about Sony being infested by the batter issues. Battery in X4 died out on two pairs that I used to own. Think twice before you buy.
I had the dreaded battery drainage issue after firmaware update with my Sony WF1000XM4 and I figured never Sony again. Well, I couldn't resists picking up the XM5 a couple of days ago and I love them to bits. I was first disappointed with the sound as I was with the XM4's but realized the problem was the same - I was using too small tips. The mic is very much improved also when making phone calls.
Just bought the Bose QC Ultra earbuds and I love them. The only thing I don't like about them is that they're hard to get out of the case. If anyone has any tips or tricks to getting them out of the case easier it would be much appreciated. Oh, also the case is pretty massive compared to any other earbuds I've owned, wtf is the case so big? For some reason i haven't had good luck with Sony earbuds. I have had 3 pairs, the WF-1000XM4s and two pairs of Linkbuds S's and for some reason all three pairs would randomly connect and disconnect from my phone whenever I walked or jogged with them. This happened with both my S22 Ultra and my current Pixel 8 pro, i have no idea why they do that but the Bose earbuds haven't done it yet. Also why does Bose and Sony not have a dark mode for either of their apps?
Can you do a review on the Noble Audio Fokus Prestige True Wireless IEMs
Can the Bose earbuds be used with just one earbud at a time?
Yes
I can hear that noise on the left ear, it's wierd i thought it was just me. Also the Bose after putting it in the case, it's still connected to my phone. I'll have to wait for 5-10 minutes for it to disconnect. I returned the Bose and got the Sony.
It's a bummer because i have Bose speakers and their headphones both works well, but their earbuds are horrible. My other Bose quiet comfort earbuds wont even connect, keeps flashing red and white.....
Sony sound like they'd suit me more. How would they go with a S23 ultra? I've been looking at the samsung earbuds, as well. You can track them if you lose them and they make a noise if you walk away from them.
I just bought these and while the right side Buds Pro wanted to fall out on me while chewing, the Bose are locked in, no matter what I'm doing. The sound quality in great and the Immersion Mode is slightly mindblowing.
Your comment at the 2:10 mark about the sound you hear in the left bud when there is nothing playing...I had that in my left bud as well. I took them back. To me, it sounds like Morse code.
When buying earbuds I personally only care about sound quality and noise cancellation.
IMO the BOSE kill the Sony's overall in sound quality and noise cancellation, both in full and aware modes on the BOSE.
Which one is better for motorcycle drivers?
I had the XM4s and the battery didn’t last 3 years. Replacing with Bose.
I've still got my xmf3 and they're fine. Maybe you had a duff battery. I haven't tried but it's possible to replace the xmf3 battery.
Better still are Shure's bluetooth earhooks. They connect to Shure's mmcx detachable earbuds, which also attach to cables (3.5mm, lightning, usb C). I've had my Shure earbuds for 10 years now (only had the shure earhooks for 2 years). Also means that when Shure produce aptx lossless earhooks I can carry on using my top notch earbuds.
Now the Bose option also does multi-point connect and you can get the QC Ultra for $250 USD
Sony wins but FIX THE FIT SONY! and with that, I'll go with the Bose. Fit and comfort wins for me. I wanna relax and listen. Not worrying whether the damn thing's gonna fall out due to sweat/wax and ear fatigues
The sonys are so comfortable for me that I forget I'm wearing them every time. I had to try each tip for a whole day to find the right one, but it fits so well now. I wear them for work, and will have them on the whole time I'm working, so maybe there is a break-in.
Have you noticed that you had to speak louder on the bose in order for people to hear you when in crowds?
Would love the Bose for the ANC, but no multipoint for a $300 pair of earbuds in 2023? Just baffling in my opinion.
The ANC tech is the best of its kind, you're always going to pay up for that.
The ANC is out of this world. I've demoed them both, and this blew the Sony XM5 out of the water.
Please try the hifiman svanar wireless, they are better than every ear bud you've ever reviewed in terms of sound quality.
Hey Mike, are you gonna try the Pixel Buds Pro with the latest update? It would be interesting to see it your rankings with the rest.
They are not close in the same league. Unfortunately, Google didn't include a high quality codec. Very disappointing.
You are wrong. Both qc 2 and ultra have same performance in anc. Bose didnt change anything except in sound.
Which has the better battery life?
What about that little nipple on the Sony left hand bud that sticks in people's ears? Have you noticed that?