I bought XM4 (240$) and XM5(400$) and used them for a week to compare. I returned XM5 and kept XM4. Big downgrade on package and material quality. Similar sound quality. Slightly better features. Huge difference on price. My opinions.
Thanks - I've choosen - for listening to the highest Quality of music - that's why I need new wireless headphones - decided - will buy the XM4 - THANKS!!!!!
it is not a huge difference in price. you got the xm4s on sale. The price diff is not that big of a jump between the two: 348 to 398. The packaging isnt a big issue either. people complained about the hinges breaking on daily use with xm3/xm4 so sony took the folding. the biggest differencs are also technical audio specs too.
A curious question: Are there people over eighty years of age who are very elderly people who own and will use modern smart phones???@@MarkEllisReviews
I'm looking for some decent ones and the XM5 ones looks too weird and looks too feminine to me, it also looks likes pipes on your head, I much prefer the XM4 for looks. I'm also looking at the bose quietcomfort 45, I'm leaning more for the Sony XM4's.
For those getting xm4 and are complaining about boomy muddy bass try the following 1. Switch to ldac. Turn it on under bluetooth. Ldac should show in the app. 2. Switch off the equaliser and dsee extreme and prioritize sound quality 2. In developer options set the bitrate and bit depth to the exact same as the music streaming. In apple music this is clearly shown. This is very important otherwise there are upscale noises which manifest as muddy bass. So don't set it always to 96/32. 4. Set optimise sound quality(990kbps) in developer options. 5. Wired without external DAC sounds awful. Bluetooth is better. Don't listen to this headphone wired without external DAC. The bass issue is completely solved for me. The bass is now just a part of music and it's tight and clear. Eq is unnecessary.
Apple Music does something to EQ music and I didn’t like what they did. It made highs harsh and bass boomy in both my car and on my headphones. I’m just sticking with Spotify. That said if you use Spotify shut off track sound leveling. It’ll limit volume to level which will feel like some songs won’t allow you to get enough volume without getting muddy on the Sonys since at higher levels Sony flattens EQ settings.
@@HeathRS well I’ve been debating on getting the xm4 only because I heard the bass isn’t good and I don’t like the sound of that I love to hear loud music and my question is if I get them and I do the shut off Track sound leveling what does that mean does that mean I’ll hear my music better and bass or what pls help cuz I’m really I’m debating if I should waste 349 bucks for the xm4 cuz I’m tired of using the wired earphones and buying new ones all the time cuz they break if it’s to loud after a while and cuz i like loud bass so I’ll would like your help with my decision.
@@Frankieskorns Did you get the xm4, do you like the bass? Personally I listen A LOT edm type music so bass needs to be there. I ordered the xb910N but still wondering if I should have gone with the premium.
I have been using XM4 for over a year. I’m using it for business meetings at least 2-4 hours a day from Monday to Friday. Sometimes I can be on the phone for 6-8 hours a day. It is fantastic.
I personally prefer the old design. The comfort is my number one criteria for wireless headphones 🎧 and the xm5 case looks ridiculous huge. I will stick with the xm4‘s until they’ll fall apart.
The XM 5 is basically what the xm4 should have been without the software bugs currently but what I liked was that the headset was lighter and the touch surface on the headphone was more responsive but $400 is asking a lot for something that could have been done on the older model
I tried the XM5 but returned them because they had a lot of bugs and issues. They seem slightly more neutral than the XM4 sonically which is good and I liked the new design overall. I may purchase again if they go on sale. I had really noisy creaking XM4 issues but was able to fix by spraying silicone lubricant into the hinges. Now they are quiet again like new headphones.
Thank you so much for mentioning how you fixed the creaking. I’m in the same boat, not because I disliked the XM5’s but I wasn’t a fan of the silver color anymore. There’s XM4’s on sale and I don’t see it as a big downgrade at all. Save some money and now I can possibly fix that creaking issue if it pops up (my OG had creaking and I had to sadly return them).
Bought my XM3s in March 2019 & they are still going strong to this day. I use them everyday at work in the outdoor weather. Honestly love them. XM4s will be my upgrade when the day comes to lay my 3s to rest.
I did a lot of reading of user reviews, and tested both for noise cancelling in the shop. I decided to buy the XM4s. A LOT of users are saying the XM5 noise cancelling is too clever, so at times there are lags of strength and changes. When the XM5s are in the ideal situation, they do have the best cancellation, but when things are changing people prefer the constant amount of blocking on the XM4. The XM4 partially uses white noise, which I personally like. I had to choose between the XM4 and BOSE QC45s in the end, and it was a really hard decision. The QC45 have excellent basic buttons, are lighter, and very comfortable. For people with smaller heads the QC45 may feeel a bit loose. But in the end I felt the noise cancelling in an average office/shop environment was a tiny bit better on the XM4s, but it was a 50/50 call to choose between these two. Again, many users really like the XM4s.
i have a small head and the xm 4s fall off my head; i hoped to bose comfort 45 but you re saying they re even bigger?:( what alternatives do you recommend for me if the xm 4’s are too big?
Yes the Bose QC45s were definitely looser when I tried them. You may have to try other brands, but unfortunately Sony and Bose are the best. There are other Bose models you could try. Good luck😀@@stefaniaandreea8793
This is the third review you've posted this comment in, and yet you seem to be the only person bringing up this issue. I have sensory issues and noise cancelling is massively important so, if true, this would drive me insane. Can you please provide some other references so I can see if this is really a problem? I need headphones to wear out in the city where cancelling is optimal even in loud dynamic environments.
@@ritac9769so here's the thing noise cancelling wise there's no right answers it depends on a ton of different factors actually I can't go into a lot of detail about it but it involves the amount of white noise the canceling algorithm and stuff like that Mike O'Brian has a review that might go into a bit more depth
@@meric12131415 I've been using the XM5s pretty much since writing this comment last year and they are noticably less effective at noise cancelling compared to my old XM3s. I think how they fit on my head and how puffy the ear pads are plays a big part in this though. However, at times, especially on planes or other high white noise environments, you can hear them actively reduce noise cancelling because there isn't enough punctuated noise going on. Overall it's not horrible and audio quality is much clearer, but I would imagine there are better headphones for pure noise cancelling purposes out there.
I'll chime in, as someone who has owned both for a while. The XM4 has really muddy bass - I disagree that it's refined :( The XM5 aren't terribly dynamic, but they are one of the more natural sounding Bluetooth headphones I've tried. I think the XM5 are the better headphone unless you travel a lot and want something that packs down easier. But as you pointed out, audibly, it's a difference you notice when you have both and switch back and forth. In isolation, they're both great.
Snagged the XM4s during prime day for after watching this and a few more reviews. 220 USD before tax during prime day. First set of over ear ANC headphones, always just used earbuds, and I’m loving them. The level of noise cancellation is pretty astonishing coming from the earbud market. Even earbuds with ANC and a proper seal don’t even come close. I’m also super happy with the sound profile on everything I’ve listened to. Little bit of hip hop, hardcore, pop punk, and most everything in between. Very happy with my decision. thanks for the review!
Thanks for the interesting and unbiased video. I own both the xm4 and xm5. My usage is probably not typical of most users. I was perfectly happy with the xm4's and them the xm5's appeared. after a few months I bought the xm5's and was pleased but a bit underwhelmed. I had clocked up about 10.000hrs of use with the xm4 and already replaced the cushions due to wear. So far after about 4000 hrs of usage of the xm5's I think they beat the xm4's in every aspect that matters top me. More comfortable, better sound and call quality. The only thing the xm4 does better is in it's Bluetooth range. My xm5s have developed a random touch pad problem which I hope to fix after I strip them down. As a consequence I find myself switching to the mx4's. Here is the thing that probably makes me different from the average use. I only use them at home and connected to my laptop for signal source, also connected to phone for calls. I typically continuously wear the for 8-12 hrs daily. Touch functions such as stc or pause/play (that is unreliable on the laptop), I don't use or any of the "features". Both models are great ANC phones but I would not rate either (or any other BT phones I have tried) for sound quality. I would rate it as good compared to other competing headphones but just passable compared to decent wired headphones. Yes I know that is not the intended audience for BT ANC headphones. If all you want to do is listen to stuff then get the xm4's, if taking and making calls is important get the xm5's. For travelling I am going to check out Sony's xm earbuds which makes the folding issue obsolete for me.
I've owned a pair of XM3's since they were first introduced and I still use them around the house, but I updated to the XM5's for travel. The noise cancelling and microphone quality are noticeably improved, particularly at the high frequency range. That said, I agree the case size went in the wrong direction. Since I use a slim travel bag the XM3's case (which appears to be identical to the XM4's) never fit well, so I strapped it to the outside of my bag. I continue that strategy with the XM5's. Not that I was expecting any great leaps in portability but I suspect that because Apple got away with such a bulky design for their Airpods Pro it took the pressure off Sony in that regard. I hear what you are saying about the reduced padding on the XM5's but I honestly cannot perceive any reduction in comfort after a month of use. The entire line from XM3 to XM5 are all great headphones so purchase the version that fits your budget, or stick with you existing model if you're waiting for the next technological leap. It's tough to go wrong with any model.
do you hear a noticeable difference in the sound quality between the xm3 and the xm5? i also have the xm3 and want to buy new headphones, the xm5 just seems to be the overall winner in the midrange price segment. would you say its worth it (apart from the anc and mic quality)?
@@BrainRot4Life-j4z The sound quality is improved but I would not make the switch for that reason alone as the xm3s are still excellent. However, the ability to pair with more than a single device in addition to the noise cancelling improvements made it a worthwhile upgrade.
Brilliant job very thorough and detailed, very easy to follow and you answered exactly what I wanted to know. Not overly complicated, but covered everything one should know when in the market for a new set of headphones. Don't have either at the moment, but was seriously contemplating the XM4's due to the price drop and am now convinced the XM5's would be my way to go. Thank you
I found the XM5's have some nice QOL improvements with the firmware such as being faster to connect as well as that the 'mode' button can be customised to not include one mode but also the XM5's actually remember the mode it was in while the XM4's will always go back to ANC when you turn them on.
Now that the XM5 are basically the same price the XM4 were a couple of years ago (277€ as of now), and I am finally financially stable enough to afford them, I just ordered the XM5. I can't wait to get them and try them out! I'm so excited. I have never owned this kind of headphones before.
just got the xm5 recently and i love it so much!! ive never owned the previous older models before so i decided to get the latest one. I love the new design and it feels very comfortable wearing it.
Same! These are my first high end headphones and I absolutely love them. I about to buy the MX4, then 2 weeks later the MX5's were announced so it was a no brainer for me: I pre-ordered. I LIVE in them. I love them, even though I have all apple products and was advised against buying the Sony's over the Apple Pro Max. I regret nothing.
@@prilailiu the price difference just isn’t worth it at all imo. The ANC is fantastic on the 4s, they’re comfortable and I was able to pick the 4s up for $100 less than their current msrp.
@@dabulls1g I agree with you (: but I had already money for the m4 before the price drop and I might as well get the latest edition. I do not regret getting the m5, but I agree that the m4’s are a better deal!
I compared both of them today at Best Buy and found that the sound quality and noise cancellation is very similar. I much preferred the ear cushion of the XM4 since it felt deeper and more cushiony. If I were to buy one of the today it would be the XM4.
You can however simply buy replacement earbuds for the XM5 if that's the only real turn off. Not saying to go with one or the other, just pointing out a solution.
I think I will stay with XM5. Sound of both are excellent and, if you just hear music to relax during work or traveling I think the difference is too small to consider. By other side, I make a lot of calls for friends, have classes or work stuff, so, for this point I pick the XM5, the call quality for me is very important, as I stay for hours during my weeks talking to people. And thank you very much for the video. Is the first I watch from your channel and I really enjoyed the quality of your material. Best whishes from Brazil, Mark.
Hey Leonardo did you use xm5 for 7 months already? I wanted to know how is it with isolation over the time? I checked some used xm5s and there was no clamping force anymore comparing to xm4 used ones.
I have the XM4, 5, Max and some others. The only reason to buy the M5 is the voice quality for phone calls. Otherwise, I feel the XM4 is better built and much better value. By the way, I find the XM5 is too warm to wear for very long. If you have Apple stuff, skip both and buy the Max or stick with your AirPod pros if you do not mind ear buds. If you own Bose, stick with those - not perfect but they are really good and reliable. I also love the fit, feel, build and sound of the Bang & Olufsen HX model. Finally, if someone wants to add a better needed feature, it would be weather resistance on the over ear headphones. They should be made to wear in all sorts of environments. The only offering I know of is from Jabra, but I think they fall short in other ways. As for noise cancelling, all of these do a good enough job.
Amazing review as always. Now, I will probably sell my XM4s and get the XM5. I agree with you on the sound. I prefer the extra bass. But, I do suffer from neck pain, and I live in a city where they honk more than they breath, and also next to a supermarket's warehouse with the beeping of tracks in reverse all day... So the lighter weight and the even better ANC (especially in the high pitch sounds) are ideal for me. Thank you!! It is worth mentioning that I will be selling them in my home country which has stupidly high taxes, and buying the XM5s in the US. So there will be no price difference in the end :D
I went to store today to buy xm4 and until I arrived at the store I did not even know there was an xm5. Tried both and found the xm5 way softer, alot more comfy and seemed to have more room for my ear. Notice cancellation was slightly better on the xm5 in the very noisy store. I purchased the xm5 due to the much better comfort and now am watching a review!
I used my xm4s to sleep as I am a very light sleeper, and when I saw the xm5s, I quickly bought them with the intention to sleep, so comfort was my 1st priority. I tried sleeping with the xm5s and when I woke up the foam seemed to have been flattened and made the headphones really uncomfortable which is a really concerning. The next day I decided to return the xm5s because in 2yrs of using the xm4s I never had any issues, a real waste of money in my opinion as at the moment the xm4s are a lot cheaper and in my opinion A LOT better.
Great comparison! I upgraded my XM4 to XM5 recently, what I would disagree with is the comfort, for me the XM5 is miles ahead, the XM5 'squishier' foam actually is more comfortable acting like pillows whereas the XM4 foam would clamp and heat up. I found I didn't want to take off my XM5, but had to take regular breaks on the XM4. It's like they took the comfort element of Bose and combined it with the exciting sound of Sony. I just knew I had to upgrade. Travel case and foldability I'm not fussed as I'm using mostly at home, sound wise the XM4 does have more bass punch, but if that's your thing then just tweak EQ on XM5. What will Sony do next.....
@@dhruvpatel6604 both have that fun Sony 'wide' soundstage, for me because the XM5 are more comfortable/spacious around the ears , the soundstage appears even wider (if that makes sense). It is noticeable that the XM4 have stronger bass (and I do love bass), but overall the XM5 are just more enjoyable in sound - the increased comfort allows you to 'enjoy' them more over the XM4. It's a no brainer imo.
Xm5 is not more comfortable to me. It has thinner pad and shallower earcups so my ears touch the inside so that my ears get soar after 30 min. I dont have giant ears. So i had to return xm5 and stayed with xm4.
I bought them both. I have to say i like the style of the xm4's more. They look smaller, and they are. The xm5's look huge. The sound of the xm5's is a bit better, but not a lot. The bass of the xm4's os better in my opinion. Most importantly why i returned the xm5'5 is.. they were hurting my head. Yeah, you heard right. I could wear them for an hour before putting them off. With the xm4's i feel lile my head is fine. They feel a lot more comfortable. For me, someone with small ears who like bass, the xm4's is the winner.. plus hey, they are cheaper. (Sorry for my bad english, it's not my first language. I tried to give my own opinion so maybe it helps someone.)
I just bought the XM4's because they are still available. I did what any responsible person does when considering between two products, searching reddit for answers. And answers I found. There is a TON of debate regarding the ANC between the two and the updates that supposedly fixed the XM5's but with that, the great reviews of the ANC on the XM4s and all of the other reasons, I went with the 4's. I bought them specifically because I work either 2am to 10 or 5 to 10 and with 4th of July and my neighbors, they were a necessity. I sincerely hope they work for me because I NEED them to.
I think that the size when in the case is a big deal, I'm gonna get the XM4's rather than the 5's because I will travel a lot with them. Really great comparison, thanks for the video.
Rockin' the XM3s. I love the way they sound and I can wear them for hours on end. Battery life is incredible. I talk on the phone with them sometimes and I have no issues with it.
I finally got xm5’s! Imma be honest, straight out of the box they sounded pretty muffled, Luckily I prepared for this and I knew that I had to EQ them a bit to make them what they are now. -Majestic!
4:25 I actually prefer the custom button on the xm4s compared to the NC/Ambient on the xm5s, because of the simple fact that you can set the custom button to the NC/Ambient sound mode on the xm4s. I believe the button is default set to Siri/Google Assistant/Alexa upon unboxing, but you can access these already by holding one finger on the right headphone (touchpad), while also having your ambient/NC button on custom. This I prefer because noise cancelling can prove to be uncomfortable in certain situations, and personally when I'm at home, I prefer to use ambient sound mode most of the time because of this. Being able to switch between the two with the simple press of a button while having the other options available on a different function seems to be the most convenient option.
The XM5s are around £299 on Amazon UK right now with the XM4s being £248. Has my eyes on xm4 for ages and have not long realised XM5s are a thing. I like the design and the price difference being £40 now is much less than the difference before, so may get some XM5s instead. Would like to compare side by side maybe in a shop first though
@@jenesais I think the case and portability are better on the XM4s and are much better for carrying round considering they’re wireless headphones. As for design, I slightly prefer t here XM5s but not by much. The XM4s were reduced to £215 this Black Friday, which made a more significant price gap. At that range, I think the XM4s are the way to go, but depends on the price
Should I buy the xm5 or the xm4 model? They both cost the same here and I want an overall good headphone for music/studying/gaming/general use. I also want something that is more durable, something that lasts longer. I also don't really travel much. But I do really like ANC/Transparency.
I still use my xm2 (bought Q3 2017) My main usage is during long flights (also for sleeping in nc mode only) and short flights (watch a movie or listen to music). Best purchase, perfect sound, can keep them up complete flight, noise cancelling does a perfect job, headset is really compact. Due to their design change I was even thinking to just buy a pair of xm4’s. (Size it takes in my carry on is important). But i see i even can find new XM3 today, so i still have time. Maybe next gen will have back compact design. But if my xm2 die tomorrow i directly order xm4 even if the price is equal to xm5.
I had a choice of buying the XM4 or XM5. The difference was around AUD100. I went for the XM5s. Love the design, NC is better than my Bose 25 and without the cabin pressure , voice is crystal clear for meetings on Teams, connectivity is excellent with seamless dual connections. Initially, I was worried about the foam touching my ear as the cups aren't as deep as my Bose but it's still comfortable enough for me to wear these for hrs on end. The sound quality is great with firm bass and the build quality surprising sturdy when you consider how light these are. The box is a bit bigger than my son's XM4 but not a deal beaker for me.
04:33 The "Custom" button on the XM4 literally does the same thing (switching b/w ANC, Ambient Sound & Ambient Sound off), AND, allows to change the functionality in the app for this button. Not sure if you can change it on the XM5. So IMO, the one on the XM4 makes more sense
I've never owned a pair of Sony Headphones. I'm a Sony fan boy, so I recently bought the XM5. They sound amazing. Especially to what I'm coming from. Unfortunately. I had to send them back.. They absolutely hurt my ears after a couple of hours. By hurt not the sound, my actual ears. I really wanted to love them, but they aren't for me.
Question: did it have something to do with the actual noise cancelling? I'd like to know as I'm looking at a pair of these and I had issues with some previous ANC headphones.
On the ball again Mark. Have just ordered a pair of XM4s have been after these for a while but could not justify the price especially as i already have the sony buds xm4s which are excellent. So glad i watched your video.
The size of the case is more of an issue with people who will primarily use them while traveling like on a plane moreover than someone daily commute. My XM4 are almost never in the case anymore, if I where to travel (plane) I’d certainly look for an xm5 discount . However on a long haul flight I don’t think even with the XM4 that I could wear them without eventually becoming painful , so I will almost certainly take the wh4 or maybe a potential airpod pro 2 with their smaller case . Long haul , load of luggage case size matters.
Thanks! My XM4s are arriving from Amazon today. Got a great Prime Day deal and it’s reassuring that they will certainly meet all my needs for quite some time to come. Good video!
@@balla2828 I wish I remembered! But, I have to share that I ended up returning the Sony’s and chose the Apple Air Pod Pros 2. I’ve been very very happy with those. I’m deep into the Apple ecosystem so that is likely a big reason I enjoy them. Both good products though!
@@balla2828 The over the ear headphones are fantastic... probably the best solution for noise canceling, especially on airplanes. I am traveling more these days. But, they are simply bigger to deal with than ear buds, which you can put the case in your pocket, easy peasy. Ease of lightweight traveling became my personal decision point. And, for the Apple ecosystem, as good as the over the ear headphones from Apple are, they are great, but HUGE and heavier, it seems.
Was really disappointed in the comfort of the XM5. I did the same as many of you where I compared Bose nc700, XM4, QC45 and XM5. I went into it fully expecting to have a clear winner with the xm5 but after 1 day (roughly 8-9 hours) of use and a headache it was a non starter regardless of how much better the call quality and ANC is. XM4 still seems to be the best for my personal use as of now. Hopefully Sony does a redesign soon!
I've just bought the XM4 due to the complains about the "adaptive" sound cancellation. Some people say it is not a great feature on XM5. Also, the confort on the top of the head seens to be an issue.
Exactly the kind of review I wanted. All I want is a really nice set of headphones for music. I don't care one iota about calls on them either so this review was perfect. I'm definitely saving myself a £100 now and getting the 4's. Thank you!
2:20 As an XM4 owner, I’ve literally never even thought about how it creaks and stuff when you put it on your head until now so I don’t see how its an issue at all tbh
The biggest problem I have with my XM4 is a tiny rattling sound when I walk or jog. There's been much criticism of the lack of folding on the XM5, but that was necessary to eradicate the rattling and creaking, as it happens in the hinges. Your the only reviewer I've seen that thinks the XM4 sounds better than the XM5. I feel the XM4 bass can be a touch muddy and boomy. I was just about to get the XM5 when I saw the announcement of Sennheiser's upcoming Momentum Wireless 4. I'll wait and see how they fare.
I don't have that problem. Have you told Sony/looked at online fora? I say this but I have it on the setting for the tiniest head, maybe it happens when they're extended?
i bought the momentum 4 yesterday and i hated them. The clamping force is too much for my head. i could barely use them for 5 mins. and they feel way heavier on my head than the Sonys. i return them today.
I believe the folding issue is made due to the XM4's/XM3's past vulnerability of the horizontal hinge being extremely fragile and breaking within a year for many users, I myself have tried to warranty this issue only to be quoted 220 dollars for something that cost me 300 and when I declined I still had to pay 80 dollars in transport and treatment, (I was not informed of these expenses, not to mention in my country these things are always free, by LAW) it seems the only way to fix this as well is purchase the plastic hinge piece for 30 dollars from others who get them from donor parts or steals them from the factories, currently there is no options of purchasing reinforced or improved versions of this part as well which saddens me greatly. I do not want to be a consumer, especially on a product category that can and should last 30 years. in conclusions id say the xm4 is likely the superior option with only that issue being a thing to consider, amazing product but warranty wont cover the most common wear and tear issue claiming you broke it.
I've had a quick look ( at 1am ) at a couple of videos like this because today I bought a pair of XM4's, from Argos UK for £279. I very nearly spent the extra money on XM5's but my previous experience told me it wouldn't be worth it. I've had them on ( and listened to lots of different music on YT Music, Tidal and watched a few videos ) since around 6:30pm, it's now almost 2am and bedtime. I'm happy with them :)
As expected, no reason to buy the XM5s. I love my blue XM4s, can wear them all day during work and phase everything else out. The only thing that beats them at comfort are my QC35IIs - I like to wear those at night in bed for youtube and watching movies.
the noise cancelling on the xm5's is impressive, also they are very soft and light weight, I did get a little hot in them working out but the balance of the sound is very impressive, I bought both the xm5 and the xm4 in blue. I tried the xm5's at the gym and now im wearing the xm4's listening to music, they are close but I would give the edge to the xm5's
I love the sound from the xm4 and xm5. The problem for me though is the sizing, they are just that bit to big for my head, the band doesn't rest on top of my head. Frustrating.
Good review! I have a pair of XM4's and am delighted with them. I have been a Hi-Fi buff for 50 years and am very choosy about sound quality. The XM4's are great for sound and travel. And folding into that case is sheer genius. All the best, Rob in Switzerland
I got the xm4 for £148 via EE black friday, no regrets so far. The sound isn't far off the B&W P7 S2 & the on headset controls are way easier to use & they fold smaller...
Great review however her in the states least the XM4s which were priced around $250 now have risen to ALMOST $350 avg since the XM5s came out, even on Amazon. Most likely because the difference is really nominal and who would buy the XM5s for almost 400 when the XM4s were a bargain at 250.
I’m very undecided between these two headphones. I love the feel of the xm4 feels snug against my head. I tried on the xm5 in store but because they had been bent out of shape couldn’t get a proper feel for comfort.
To me xm4 is clamping my head, if worn for 10 hours a day I get a migraine. So far I've only tried them in the store but xm5 feel so much lighter and softer
I bought both recently and was looking for decent bass for hardcore music and was pleased with the XM4 so I returned the XM5 due to the sound not given enough Bass. Note I use the Aux cable for my sound still rock the iPod classic. And yes the XM4 still packs a bass bump
@@robbenvanpersie1562 9/10 it’s excellent I used them in a party and I wasn’t able to hear the party music or the people talking. I had the audio at 55% volume. I only give them a 9/10 since Bose QC has the best audio even with no music playing it captures majority of the background.
Thanks! You pretty much confirmed my suspicions. Better, but not enough :) I do notice the light squeak, specially with glasses and the high frequencies seeping in. Not big issues for me. The custom button, i just use to flip ANC, so no difference there The new case and not folding is just a big no for me.
My need for high quality noice cancelling headphones came about concurrently with the announcement of XM5. I bought XM4 and not because of the price difference! And despite the fact that I kind of prefer the XM5s look.
How are the hinges on xm5? I never liked bendable hinges on xm3 or xm4 since they tend to break with time. With unbendable hinge on xm5 is it strong enough to avoid any breakage in future with higher use? i am fine with space that it takes. To be honest headphone are always big brother of ear phones both on matter of space and quality of sound.
I prefer xm5. There are lots of small things that are better. It has more clear bass, overall sound better, better NC, faster bluetooth connection, much faster charging. And yes they don`t make crackling noise when on your head like the xm4 dies, noticable when you are on a pillow or something with them on. Also better microphone and way less wind noise in calls, and when you have NC on. If you can get xm4 for cheap tho, idk if all the small things actually worth it. But also some stores let you get xm5 with new sony smartphones, so definitely a good deal then.
Still torn between grabbing a sweet deal on the Max or a sweet deal on those XM4s! Just got an apple tv (apple got me by the neck and wallet rn) and BOI my air pods pro had a whole new lease of life! Headphones for commuting and a few abroad trips is what I need but apple are always so enticing😂 Great vid Mark! Enjoying the regular content alot mate
xm5s are now only £60 different from the xm4s so i’m going to have to look at both at them and decide. with £259 and £199 being the price jump- very interesting. As i want better noise cancellation I think I’m going to go with the 5s but I will test their sound profiles to fully decide.
the lower claimed clamping force of the XM5s would skew my decision. I own the XM3s and it took a bit to get used to, but I tried some QC35s and those were simply a bit more comfortable over longer periods of time. The XM4s apparently came with more clamping force so I passed on those. The new QC45s no longer allow one to turn off noise canceling, so that puts them out of the running for me as well.
excellent review. i bought an XM4 only because the benefits of the XM4 far outweigh the ones from the XM5. the problem of the XM5 is the existence of the XM4. i wont even bother looking at the ipods cos of this video!
Great review Mark. I work in a well known electronics store where I got to buy the XM5 at staff price of 324 aud or 184 pounds thanks to one of the Sony reps who ocassionally visits our store. I still own my XM4 and it works great and I can probably sell it for 224 aud, but I’m scared I wont be satisfied with the XM5 which is why I haven’t unboxed them yet. Should I keep the XM5 and sell the XM4 or vice-versa?
I had a slight accident with my now drowned XM4's . I loved them so much and used them daily. My XM5's arrive today. I'm looking forward to test them, before I make a final decision on whether I revert back to another new pair of XM4. Thank you for the honest review. Very informative.
I found the XM4 subpar, and returned them after 18 hours. Major problems: the noise cancellation pauses at random. Not as the results of speaking or any other sound that may trigger the SPEAK-TO-CHAT, but the problem seems to be correlated with picking up the device that's playing the tracks, and or using the Next Track function on the playing device. I didn't have time to test it - that was Sony's job. The "buttons". The buttons to activate functions like Next/Previous Track, Volume Up/Down, etc, are simply touch pads on the right earpiece. The problem is there's no map on the earpiece indicating where the "touch" zone might be for any particular function, so one ends up hunting around with one's finger. This results in erroneous commands such as Next Track, when one actually meant Volume Up, or Pause, for example. Simply embossing something small onto the zones where the controls are (little dots, for example) would give one's fingers something to map the individual functions by.
I heard that XM4s dropped in price recently so I went searching today to buy some. I mean, who doesn't love a reduced price for high quality headphones? Turns out they upped the price again because the demand for them has increased. I believe they were trending on TikTok for quite some time now, contributing to their selling out. I'm a bit disappointed, but I'll wait for another price drop if it ever comes :(
I don’t usually comment under review videos, but wow this review was perfect! thank you so much now I'm looking forward to buying the xm4 that currently has a discount so it's a win-win :)
I bought the XM5 for only $300, which is honestly why I kept them. If they hadn't been that much of a deal, I'd have traded it for XM4. The new design is a huge miss.
As soon as he said the xm5 dont fold and xm4 do, I no longer need to watch the rest of the vid. I will take travel friendly over anything else. The xm5 case is an actual joke - why is it the size of a mini backpack!!
Hi Mark just managed to buy some new XM4s for £150, they were already down to £179 in Argos but I had a £30 voucher. I have previously owned the XM5s but ended up selling them a while ago since I just felt they did not blow me away. These XM4s feel similar but I find them much more comfortable, also price wise I feel paying what I did feels more justified rather than the near £300 I paid for the XM4s back in the day.
Strongly disagree on comfort. I own both (as well as the XM3) and for some reason the XM4 alone made the top of my head sore upon prolonged wear. The XM5’s light weight and stronger clamp force means next to no pressure on the top of my head. Also sonically, the most drastic difference between the XM5 and the other two is the equally strong, but pleasantly tighter bass that allows more detail to come through. I also notice a wider soundstage on the XM5 for most tracks, in contrast to what’s stated in the video. My big beef with the XM5 is the cheaper, smudgier, more XM3-like plastic compared to the much more premium feel of the surface of the XM4.
I use noise-canceling (NC) headphones for 6-7 hours per day. I used Bose Ultra for almost a year and recently bought a pair of XM5s. The XM5s are very uncomfortable on my ears. After about an hour, they have to come off because the ear cups are so shallow that my ears touch the fabric covering the driver, which is painful. I can wear the Bose Ultras all day and even fall asleep in them without any pain; they are very comfortable. I also have the QC45s, and they are as comfortable as the Ultras. It's a shame because I love everything else about the XM5s. There is no white noise, and the touchpad works very well (I normally hate touch-sensor headphones). I've ordered some aftermarket ear pads from Wicked Cushions, and I'm also trying a set from Dekoni to see if that helps with the comfort without sacrificing noise cancellation. If neither set works for me, I will have to return the XM5s, unfortunately.
These headphones would be better reviewed on Android - A platform that utilizes them to their full potential. With the Sonys you can enjoy High Res audio in Tidal with the LDAC codec. Is their a such codec for the Air Pros on iPhone or are wired headphones still required for High Res audio?
🎧 Even though I really like my Bose 700s, my son’s XM4s are so nice. And I’d love to experience the XM5s, but (and this is where I sound like a broken record) I feel the industry is on the verge of wireless connections that allow lossless audio. So the current Bluetooth tech baked into all our headphone and earbuds could get dated really soon … or maybe not. I’ve added Adele’s song to my Headphones Test playlist that you’ve inspired me to create. Thanks!
From wiki: When the codec is set to 16 bits/44.1kHz at 909 kbps (or 16 bits/48kHz at 990 kbps) LDAC can stream lossless audio that is identical in quality to (or slightly higher than) Audio CD.
@@melissacook5186 it's at least as good as a CD, which is better than an MP3. IF You're playing songs off Spotify then it doesn't matter the source material is not as good as CD quality anyway. If any of this matters in real life is up to you to decide
Thanks Mark, Coming from my beloved but now quite beat up XM3's that have kept me in good stead, I was thinking to jump up two model's to the XM5s but somethign seemed off about them and I'm so glad I watched your review. Definitely going to stick to the XM4s model!
I bought XM4 (240$) and XM5(400$) and used them for a week to compare. I returned XM5 and kept XM4. Big downgrade on package and material quality. Similar sound quality. Slightly better features. Huge difference on price. My opinions.
This comment is priceless. As a consumer you bought both and tested them. Thanks!
what about noise cancelling ?
Thanks - I've choosen - for listening to the highest Quality of music - that's why I need new wireless headphones - decided - will buy the XM4 - THANKS!!!!!
I am getting xm4 ($230) and xm5 ($295). I guess in this scenario Xm5 are better?.
it is not a huge difference in price. you got the xm4s on sale. The price diff is not that big of a jump between the two: 348 to 398. The packaging isnt a big issue either. people complained about the hinges breaking on daily use with xm3/xm4 so sony took the folding. the biggest differencs are also technical audio specs too.
The fact that I watched the whole video says a lot about how wonderfully you explained the differences between the 2 headphones , you really helped ;)
Lovely to hear - thanks!
A curious question: Are there people over eighty years of age who are very elderly people who own and will use modern smart phones???@@MarkEllisReviews
I actually prefer the aesthetic of the XM4! I like that that XM5 is more minimalistic BUT I love the “classic” headphones look of the XM4
XM4 looks kinda boring though, you can't really tell the difference from other brands. Always give props to an innovative design direction
I'm looking for some decent ones and the XM5 ones looks too weird and looks too feminine to me, it also looks likes pipes on your head, I much prefer the XM4 for looks. I'm also looking at the bose quietcomfort 45, I'm leaning more for the Sony XM4's.
@@coolguy1538 "too feminine" ahahwhahababahabaha
Sofia Reyes Go away with ur wokeness
sameee there's just something about that tradition, yk?
For those getting xm4 and are complaining about boomy muddy bass try the following
1. Switch to ldac. Turn it on under bluetooth. Ldac should show in the app.
2. Switch off the equaliser and dsee extreme and prioritize sound quality
2. In developer options set the bitrate and bit depth to the exact same as the music streaming. In apple music this is clearly shown. This is very important otherwise there are upscale noises which manifest as muddy bass. So don't set it always to 96/32.
4. Set optimise sound quality(990kbps) in developer options.
5. Wired without external DAC sounds awful. Bluetooth is better. Don't listen to this headphone wired without external DAC.
The bass issue is completely solved for me. The bass is now just a part of music and it's tight and clear. Eq is unnecessary.
Apple Music does something to EQ music and I didn’t like what they did. It made highs harsh and bass boomy in both my car and on my headphones. I’m just sticking with Spotify. That said if you use Spotify shut off track sound leveling. It’ll limit volume to level which will feel like some songs won’t allow you to get enough volume without getting muddy on the Sonys since at higher levels Sony flattens EQ settings.
@@HeathRS well I’ve been debating on getting the xm4 only because I heard the bass isn’t good and I don’t like the sound of that I love to hear loud music and my question is if I get them and I do the shut off Track sound leveling what does that mean does that mean I’ll hear my music better and bass or what pls help cuz I’m really I’m debating if I should waste 349 bucks for the xm4 cuz I’m tired of using the wired earphones and buying new ones all the time cuz they break if it’s to loud after a while and cuz i like loud bass so I’ll would like your help with my decision.
@@Frankieskorns Did you get the xm4, do you like the bass? Personally I listen A LOT edm type music so bass needs to be there. I ordered the xb910N but still wondering if I should have gone with the premium.
@@teboxi I did get them actually and the bass is not so good I wish there was more bass
@@teboxi the sound is pretty good but the bass not so much
I have been using XM4 for over a year. I’m using it for business meetings at least 2-4 hours a day from Monday to Friday. Sometimes I can be on the phone for 6-8 hours a day. It is fantastic.
How is your call quality experience? Will the other party complain about the call quality?
@@rahulan5026 doubt it I own them myself and it went through just fine no complaints from the other side of the phone call
I personally prefer the old design. The comfort is my number one criteria for wireless headphones 🎧 and the xm5 case looks ridiculous huge. I will stick with the xm4‘s until they’ll fall apart.
they shud hav stick to foldable & rotating both side as xm3 & xm4
I tried both of these headphones on and honestly, the xm5s felt like I even had no headphones on, whereas I felt a pressure with the xm4
spoiler, they will literally fall apart eventually
They say if you look close enough the xm5 case looks like a toilet seat
The XM 5 is basically what the xm4 should have been without the software bugs currently but what I liked was that the headset was lighter and the touch surface on the headphone was more responsive but $400 is asking a lot for something that could have been done on the older model
have the software bugs been fixed?
I'm also curious if tge bugs have been fixed?
which one has the software bugs? Xm4 or Xm5?
I tried the XM5 but returned them because they had a lot of bugs and issues. They seem slightly more neutral than the XM4 sonically which is good and I liked the new design overall. I may purchase again if they go on sale. I had really noisy creaking XM4 issues but was able to fix by spraying silicone lubricant into the hinges. Now they are quiet again like new headphones.
Thank you so much for mentioning how you fixed the creaking. I’m in the same boat, not because I disliked the XM5’s but I wasn’t a fan of the silver color anymore. There’s XM4’s on sale and I don’t see it as a big downgrade at all. Save some money and now I can possibly fix that creaking issue if it pops up (my OG had creaking and I had to sadly return them).
Is Sony gonna release Sony wh-1000xm5 earbuds
@@antes4586 Yes, but they will be called SONY WTF-42069XZM5v2.0R2023
Same for me
@@PushyPawn hahahaha
I just got the XM4. I like the way they fold flat along with the discount on the older model
Bought my XM3s in March 2019 & they are still going strong to this day. I use them everyday at work in the outdoor weather. Honestly love them. XM4s will be my upgrade when the day comes to lay my 3s to rest.
Do you exercise with your headphones on? How do they take the sweat?
I did a lot of reading of user reviews, and tested both for noise cancelling in the shop. I decided to buy the XM4s. A LOT of users are saying the XM5 noise cancelling is too clever, so at times there are lags of strength and changes. When the XM5s are in the ideal situation, they do have the best cancellation, but when things are changing people prefer the constant amount of blocking on the XM4. The XM4 partially uses white noise, which I personally like. I had to choose between the XM4 and BOSE QC45s in the end, and it was a really hard decision. The QC45 have excellent basic buttons, are lighter, and very comfortable. For people with smaller heads the QC45 may feeel a bit loose. But in the end I felt the noise cancelling in an average office/shop environment was a tiny bit better on the XM4s, but it was a 50/50 call to choose between these two. Again, many users really like the XM4s.
i have a small head and the xm 4s fall off my head; i hoped to bose comfort 45 but you re saying they re even bigger?:( what alternatives do you recommend for me if the xm 4’s are too big?
Yes the Bose QC45s were definitely looser when I tried them. You may have to try other brands, but unfortunately Sony and Bose are the best. There are other Bose models you could try. Good luck😀@@stefaniaandreea8793
This is the third review you've posted this comment in, and yet you seem to be the only person bringing up this issue. I have sensory issues and noise cancelling is massively important so, if true, this would drive me insane. Can you please provide some other references so I can see if this is really a problem? I need headphones to wear out in the city where cancelling is optimal even in loud dynamic environments.
@@ritac9769so here's the thing noise cancelling wise there's no right answers it depends on a ton of different factors actually I can't go into a lot of detail about it but it involves the amount of white noise the canceling algorithm and stuff like that Mike O'Brian has a review that might go into a bit more depth
@@meric12131415 I've been using the XM5s pretty much since writing this comment last year and they are noticably less effective at noise cancelling compared to my old XM3s. I think how they fit on my head and how puffy the ear pads are plays a big part in this though. However, at times, especially on planes or other high white noise environments, you can hear them actively reduce noise cancelling because there isn't enough punctuated noise going on. Overall it's not horrible and audio quality is much clearer, but I would imagine there are better headphones for pure noise cancelling purposes out there.
Bro I had to pause a minute in, to say your voice/audio quality is spot on!! got a sub from me!
Nice - thanks!
I'll chime in, as someone who has owned both for a while. The XM4 has really muddy bass - I disagree that it's refined :( The XM5 aren't terribly dynamic, but they are one of the more natural sounding Bluetooth headphones I've tried. I think the XM5 are the better headphone unless you travel a lot and want something that packs down easier. But as you pointed out, audibly, it's a difference you notice when you have both and switch back and forth. In isolation, they're both great.
Snagged the XM4s during prime day for after watching this and a few more reviews. 220 USD before tax during prime day. First set of over ear ANC headphones, always just used earbuds, and I’m loving them. The level of noise cancellation is pretty astonishing coming from the earbud market. Even earbuds with ANC and a proper seal don’t even come close. I’m also super happy with the sound profile on everything I’ve listened to. Little bit of hip hop, hardcore, pop punk, and most everything in between. Very happy with my decision. thanks for the review!
Thanks for the interesting and unbiased video. I own both the xm4 and xm5. My usage is probably not typical of most users. I was perfectly happy with the xm4's and them the xm5's appeared. after a few months I bought the xm5's and was pleased but a bit underwhelmed. I had clocked up about 10.000hrs of use with the xm4 and already replaced the cushions due to wear. So far after about 4000 hrs of usage of the xm5's I think they beat the xm4's in every aspect that matters top me. More comfortable, better sound and call quality. The only thing the xm4 does better is in it's Bluetooth range.
My xm5s have developed a random touch pad problem which I hope to fix after I strip them down. As a consequence I find myself switching to the mx4's. Here is the thing that probably makes me different from the average use. I only use them at home and connected to my laptop for signal source, also connected to phone for calls. I typically continuously wear the for 8-12 hrs daily. Touch functions such as stc or pause/play (that is unreliable on the laptop), I don't use or any of the "features". Both models are great ANC phones but I would not rate either (or any other BT phones I have tried) for sound quality. I would rate it as good compared to other competing headphones but just passable compared to decent wired headphones. Yes I know that is not the intended audience for BT ANC headphones. If all you want to do is listen to stuff then get the xm4's, if taking and making calls is important get the xm5's.
For travelling I am going to check out Sony's xm earbuds which makes the folding issue obsolete for me.
I've owned a pair of XM3's since they were first introduced and I still use them around the house, but I updated to the XM5's for travel. The noise cancelling and microphone quality are noticeably improved, particularly at the high frequency range.
That said, I agree the case size went in the wrong direction. Since I use a slim travel bag the XM3's case (which appears to be identical to the XM4's) never fit well, so I strapped it to the outside of my bag. I continue that strategy with the XM5's. Not that I was expecting any great leaps in portability but I suspect that because Apple got away with such a bulky design for their Airpods Pro it took the pressure off Sony in that regard.
I hear what you are saying about the reduced padding on the XM5's but I honestly cannot perceive any reduction in comfort after a month of use. The entire line from XM3 to XM5 are all great headphones so purchase the version that fits your budget, or stick with you existing model if you're waiting for the next technological leap. It's tough to go wrong with any model.
do you hear a noticeable difference in the sound quality between the xm3 and the xm5? i also have the xm3 and want to buy new headphones, the xm5 just seems to be the overall winner in the midrange price segment. would you say its worth it (apart from the anc and mic quality)?
@@BrainRot4Life-j4z The sound quality is improved but I would not make the switch for that reason alone as the xm3s are still excellent. However, the ability to pair with more than a single device in addition to the noise cancelling improvements made it a worthwhile upgrade.
Brilliant job very thorough and detailed, very easy to follow and you answered exactly what I wanted to know. Not overly complicated, but covered everything one should know when in the market for a new set of headphones. Don't have either at the moment, but was seriously contemplating the XM4's due to the price drop and am now convinced the XM5's would be my way to go. Thank you
No problem - thanks for such a lovely comment!
I found the XM5's have some nice QOL improvements with the firmware such as being faster to connect as well as that the 'mode' button can be customised to not include one mode but also the XM5's actually remember the mode it was in while the XM4's will always go back to ANC when you turn them on.
that's good to know, seems like I will be waiting for the XM5s to go on a sale then
No worrys, just bought the xm4's.. they are really nice. :)
A great and fair review Mark, thanks. I still love my XM4s and do not feel any need to upgrade.
Good to hear!
Now that the XM5 are basically the same price the XM4 were a couple of years ago (277€ as of now), and I am finally financially stable enough to afford them, I just ordered the XM5. I can't wait to get them and try them out! I'm so excited. I have never owned this kind of headphones before.
just got the xm5 recently and i love it so much!! ive never owned the previous older models before so i decided to get the latest one. I love the new design and it feels very comfortable wearing it.
Same! These are my first high end headphones and I absolutely love them. I about to buy the MX4, then 2 weeks later the MX5's were announced so it was a no brainer for me: I pre-ordered.
I LIVE in them. I love them, even though I have all apple products and was advised against buying the Sony's over the Apple Pro Max. I regret nothing.
@@prilailiu the price difference just isn’t worth it at all imo. The ANC is fantastic on the 4s, they’re comfortable and I was able to pick the 4s up for $100 less than their current msrp.
@@dabulls1g I agree with you (: but I had already money for the m4 before the price drop and I might as well get the latest edition. I do not regret getting the m5, but I agree that the m4’s are a better deal!
@@dabulls1g for me the deal breaker is both price and design, I absolutely despise the new "modern" look.
do they have ANC problems i have read about the auto adjustment ANC which can be annoying
I compared both of them today at Best Buy and found that the sound quality and noise cancellation is very similar. I much preferred the ear cushion of the XM4 since it felt deeper and more cushiony. If I were to buy one of the today it would be the XM4.
You can however simply buy replacement earbuds for the XM5 if that's the only real turn off. Not saying to go with one or the other, just pointing out a solution.
@mojipsxxm3 > both
No @@Bhullarsaab92
I was hesitating between the 2, i went for the XM4. Thanks for your very useful review.
Try Bose ultra quiet comfort you will never going back to Sony X4 or 5.
I think I will stay with XM5. Sound of both are excellent and, if you just hear music to relax during work or traveling I think the difference is too small to consider. By other side, I make a lot of calls for friends, have classes or work stuff, so, for this point I pick the XM5, the call quality for me is very important, as I stay for hours during my weeks talking to people. And thank you very much for the video. Is the first I watch from your channel and I really enjoyed the quality of your material. Best whishes from Brazil, Mark.
Hey Leonardo did you use xm5 for 7 months already? I wanted to know how is it with isolation over the time? I checked some used xm5s and there was no clamping force anymore comparing to xm4 used ones.
I've heard some people complaining that the ANC will reduce itself arbitrarily if it deems that things "aren't loud enough", is this an issue?
I have the XM4, 5, Max and some others. The only reason to buy the M5 is the voice quality for phone calls. Otherwise, I feel the XM4 is better built and much better value. By the way, I find the XM5 is too warm to wear for very long. If you have Apple stuff, skip both and buy the Max or stick with your AirPod pros if you do not mind ear buds. If you own Bose, stick with those - not perfect but they are really good and reliable. I also love the fit, feel, build and sound of the Bang & Olufsen HX model. Finally, if someone wants to add a better needed feature, it would be weather resistance on the over ear headphones. They should be made to wear in all sorts of environments. The only offering I know of is from Jabra, but I think they fall short in other ways. As for noise cancelling, all of these do a good enough job.
Great input, Bruce - thanks!
Amazing review as always. Now, I will probably sell my XM4s and get the XM5. I agree with you on the sound. I prefer the extra bass. But, I do suffer from neck pain, and I live in a city where they honk more than they breath, and also next to a supermarket's warehouse with the beeping of tracks in reverse all day... So the lighter weight and the even better ANC (especially in the high pitch sounds) are ideal for me. Thank you!! It is worth mentioning that I will be selling them in my home country which has stupidly high taxes, and buying the XM5s in the US. So there will be no price difference in the end :D
Which has the better bass? I'm thinking of getting the XM4 or XM5.
@@vijzon3223 Xm4 has slightly better bass
I went to store today to buy xm4 and until I arrived at the store I did not even know there was an xm5. Tried both and found the xm5 way softer, alot more comfy and seemed to have more room for my ear. Notice cancellation was slightly better on the xm5 in the very noisy store. I purchased the xm5 due to the much better comfort and now am watching a review!
I used my xm4s to sleep as I am a very light sleeper, and when I saw the xm5s, I quickly bought them with the intention to sleep, so comfort was my 1st priority. I tried sleeping with the xm5s and when I woke up the foam seemed to have been flattened and made the headphones really uncomfortable which is a really concerning. The next day I decided to return the xm5s because in 2yrs of using the xm4s I never had any issues, a real waste of money in my opinion as at the moment the xm4s are a lot cheaper and in my opinion A LOT better.
@@Fili288 nose qc 45 would be more comfortable to sleep with than Sony, no?
Yeah same I tried on both and xm5 is more comfy but many ppl in comment said xm4 is more comfy. Idk…
@@Fili288how do you sleep with in your head ? You have to stay all the night on your back ?
Been wanting to upgrade headphones… just ordered some XM4s so I’m pumped
XM4’s look better!
No they dont
@@BLANKX362 they def do. XM5 kinda big and ugly
XM5s look like something I'd buy my wife 😂
omg I agree so much
@@BLANKX362i agree I like the look of the 5s better
Great comparison! I upgraded my XM4 to XM5 recently, what I would disagree with is the comfort, for me the XM5 is miles ahead, the XM5 'squishier' foam actually is more comfortable acting like pillows whereas the XM4 foam would clamp and heat up. I found I didn't want to take off my XM5, but had to take regular breaks on the XM4. It's like they took the comfort element of Bose and combined it with the exciting sound of Sony. I just knew I had to upgrade. Travel case and foldability I'm not fussed as I'm using mostly at home, sound wise the XM4 does have more bass punch, but if that's your thing then just tweak EQ on XM5. What will Sony do next.....
Well, people have different heads and ears. So it makes sense why comfort is subjective.
@@froglover3145 that’s right. Which is why I started the sentence with ‘for me’.
Hey I am planning for a pair, what would you say about sound signature, XM5 > XM4?
@@dhruvpatel6604 both have that fun Sony 'wide' soundstage, for me because the XM5 are more comfortable/spacious around the ears , the soundstage appears even wider (if that makes sense). It is noticeable that the XM4 have stronger bass (and I do love bass), but overall the XM5 are just more enjoyable in sound - the increased comfort allows you to 'enjoy' them more over the XM4. It's a no brainer imo.
Xm5 is not more comfortable to me. It has thinner pad and shallower earcups so my ears touch the inside so that my ears get soar after 30 min. I dont have giant ears. So i had to return xm5 and stayed with xm4.
I bought them both. I have to say i like the style of the xm4's more. They look smaller, and they are. The xm5's look huge. The sound of the xm5's is a bit better, but not a lot. The bass of the xm4's os better in my opinion.
Most importantly why i returned the xm5'5 is.. they were hurting my head. Yeah, you heard right. I could wear them for an hour before putting them off. With the xm4's i feel lile my head is fine. They feel a lot more comfortable. For me, someone with small ears who like bass, the xm4's is the winner.. plus hey, they are cheaper. (Sorry for my bad english, it's not my first language. I tried to give my own opinion so maybe it helps someone.)
I just bought the XM4's because they are still available. I did what any responsible person does when considering between two products, searching reddit for answers. And answers I found. There is a TON of debate regarding the ANC between the two and the updates that supposedly fixed the XM5's but with that, the great reviews of the ANC on the XM4s and all of the other reasons, I went with the 4's. I bought them specifically because I work either 2am to 10 or 5 to 10 and with 4th of July and my neighbors, they were a necessity. I sincerely hope they work for me because I NEED them to.
I think that the size when in the case is a big deal, I'm gonna get the XM4's rather than the 5's because I will travel a lot with them. Really great comparison, thanks for the video.
Rockin' the XM3s. I love the way they sound and I can wear them for hours on end. Battery life is incredible. I talk on the phone with them sometimes and I have no issues with it.
I finally got xm5’s! Imma be honest, straight out of the box they sounded pretty muffled, Luckily I prepared for this and I knew that I had to EQ them a bit to make them what they are now.
-Majestic!
Can u PLEASE share me your eq settings?
@@shauryaparasrampuria6217 If you join "This is tech today" on yt you'' find his eq setting
4:25 I actually prefer the custom button on the xm4s compared to the NC/Ambient on the xm5s, because of the simple fact that you can set the custom button to the NC/Ambient sound mode on the xm4s. I believe the button is default set to Siri/Google Assistant/Alexa upon unboxing, but you can access these already by holding one finger on the right headphone (touchpad), while also having your ambient/NC button on custom. This I prefer because noise cancelling can prove to be uncomfortable in certain situations, and personally when I'm at home, I prefer to use ambient sound mode most of the time because of this. Being able to switch between the two with the simple press of a button while having the other options available on a different function seems to be the most convenient option.
The XM5s are around £299 on Amazon UK right now with the XM4s being £248. Has my eyes on xm4 for ages and have not long realised XM5s are a thing. I like the design and the price difference being £40 now is much less than the difference before, so may get some XM5s instead. Would like to compare side by side maybe in a shop first though
which ones were better in your opinion
@@jenesais I think the case and portability are better on the XM4s and are much better for carrying round considering they’re wireless headphones. As for design, I slightly prefer t here XM5s but not by much. The XM4s were reduced to £215 this Black Friday, which made a more significant price gap. At that range, I think the XM4s are the way to go, but depends on the price
@@euanjones7117 thank you, I think I'll get the xm4s
Should I buy the xm5 or the xm4 model? They both cost the same here and I want an overall good headphone for music/studying/gaming/general use.
I also want something that is more durable, something that lasts longer. I also don't really travel much. But I do really like ANC/Transparency.
I still use my xm2 (bought Q3 2017)
My main usage is during long flights (also for sleeping in nc mode only) and short flights (watch a movie or listen to music).
Best purchase, perfect sound, can keep them up complete flight, noise cancelling does a perfect job, headset is really compact.
Due to their design change I was even thinking to just buy a pair of xm4’s. (Size it takes in my carry on is important).
But i see i even can find new XM3 today, so i still have time.
Maybe next gen will have back compact design.
But if my xm2 die tomorrow i directly order xm4 even if the price is equal to xm5.
Great review. I've just bought the xm4's and couldn't be happier with them. Smaller case and 100 quid cheaper.
I had a choice of buying the XM4 or XM5. The difference was around AUD100. I went for the XM5s. Love the design, NC is better than my Bose 25 and without the cabin pressure , voice is crystal clear for meetings on Teams, connectivity is excellent with seamless dual connections.
Initially, I was worried about the foam touching my ear as the cups aren't as deep as my Bose but it's still comfortable enough for me to wear these for hrs on end. The sound quality is great with firm bass and the build quality surprising sturdy when you consider how light these are.
The box is a bit bigger than my son's XM4 but not a deal beaker for me.
04:33 The "Custom" button on the XM4 literally does the same thing (switching b/w ANC, Ambient Sound & Ambient Sound off), AND, allows to change the functionality in the app for this button. Not sure if you can change it on the XM5. So IMO, the one on the XM4 makes more sense
The xm5's big case is a no-go as I don't have much space in my backpack when traveling. Thank you very much for pointing that out. Will keep my xm4.
I've never owned a pair of Sony Headphones. I'm a Sony fan boy, so I recently bought the XM5. They sound amazing. Especially to what I'm coming from. Unfortunately. I had to send them back.. They absolutely hurt my ears after a couple of hours. By hurt not the sound, my actual ears. I really wanted to love them, but they aren't for me.
Ah, that's a shame :(
Question: did it have something to do with the actual noise cancelling? I'd like to know as I'm looking at a pair of these and I had issues with some previous ANC headphones.
On the ball again Mark. Have just ordered a pair of XM4s have been after these for a while but could not justify the price especially as i already have the sony buds xm4s which are excellent. So glad i watched your video.
Happy to help!
The size of the case is more of an issue with people who will primarily use them while traveling like on a plane moreover than someone daily commute. My XM4 are almost never in the case anymore, if I where to travel (plane) I’d certainly look for an xm5 discount . However on a long haul flight I don’t think even with the XM4 that I could wear them without eventually becoming painful , so I will almost certainly take the wh4 or maybe a potential airpod pro 2 with their smaller case . Long haul , load of luggage case size matters.
Thanks! My XM4s are arriving from Amazon today. Got a great Prime Day deal and it’s reassuring that they will certainly meet all my needs for quite some time to come. Good video!
How much of a discount did you get for Prime Day?
@@balla2828 I wish I remembered! But, I have to share that I ended up returning the Sony’s and chose the Apple Air Pod Pros 2. I’ve been very very happy with those. I’m deep into the Apple ecosystem so that is likely a big reason I enjoy them. Both good products though!
@@larryhessmusic so you wanted ear buds as opposed to over-the-head headphones?
@@balla2828 The over the ear headphones are fantastic... probably the best solution for noise canceling, especially on airplanes. I am traveling more these days. But, they are simply bigger to deal with than ear buds, which you can put the case in your pocket, easy peasy. Ease of lightweight traveling became my personal decision point. And, for the Apple ecosystem, as good as the over the ear headphones from Apple are, they are great, but HUGE and heavier, it seems.
Was really disappointed in the comfort of the XM5. I did the same as many of you where I compared Bose nc700, XM4, QC45 and XM5. I went into it fully expecting to have a clear winner with the xm5 but after 1 day (roughly 8-9 hours) of use and a headache it was a non starter regardless of how much better the call quality and ANC is. XM4 still seems to be the best for my personal use as of now. Hopefully Sony does a redesign soon!
I've just bought the XM4 due to the complains about the "adaptive" sound cancellation. Some people say it is not a great feature on XM5. Also, the confort on the top of the head seens to be an issue.
Exactly the kind of review I wanted. All I want is a really nice set of headphones for music. I don't care one iota about calls on them either so this review was perfect. I'm definitely saving myself a £100 now and getting the 4's. Thank you!
Glad to be of service!
2:20 As an XM4 owner, I’ve literally never even thought about how it creaks and stuff when you put it on your head until now so I don’t see how its an issue at all tbh
The biggest problem I have with my XM4 is a tiny rattling sound when I walk or jog. There's been much criticism of the lack of folding on the XM5, but that was necessary to eradicate the rattling and creaking, as it happens in the hinges. Your the only reviewer I've seen that thinks the XM4 sounds better than the XM5. I feel the XM4 bass can be a touch muddy and boomy.
I was just about to get the XM5 when I saw the announcement of Sennheiser's upcoming Momentum Wireless 4. I'll wait and see how they fare.
I don't have that problem. Have you told Sony/looked at online fora? I say this but I have it on the setting for the tiniest head, maybe it happens when they're extended?
who jogs with an overear headphones though. your sweat will destroy the ear pads.
@@sleepdeprived9181 lots of people still do it
i bought the momentum 4 yesterday and i hated them. The clamping force is too much for my head. i could barely use them for 5 mins. and they feel way heavier on my head than the Sonys. i return them today.
@@cybertroy2 did you get the XM5 instead? Were they better?
Final Verdict: XM4 are by far superior to XM5. I ordered mine today for 279€ (The XM5 cost 359€). Thanks for the great comparison video.
I believe the folding issue is made due to the XM4's/XM3's past vulnerability of the horizontal hinge being extremely fragile and breaking within a year for many users, I myself have tried to warranty this issue only to be quoted 220 dollars for something that cost me 300 and when I declined I still had to pay 80 dollars in transport and treatment, (I was not informed of these expenses, not to mention in my country these things are always free, by LAW)
it seems the only way to fix this as well is purchase the plastic hinge piece for 30 dollars from others who get them from donor parts or steals them from the factories, currently there is no options of purchasing reinforced or improved versions of this part as well which saddens me greatly. I do not want to be a consumer, especially on a product category that can and should last 30 years.
in conclusions id say the xm4 is likely the superior option with only that issue being a thing to consider, amazing product but warranty wont cover the most common wear and tear issue claiming you broke it.
Just got xm4 yesterday. Amazing!!! Best headphones that have ever been on my head by a mile
Great review, been watching several and this is the most clear and well made, thanks
That means a lot - thanks!
I've had a quick look ( at 1am ) at a couple of videos like this because today I bought a pair of XM4's, from Argos UK for £279. I very nearly spent the extra money on XM5's but my previous experience told me it wouldn't be worth it. I've had them on ( and listened to lots of different music on YT Music, Tidal and watched a few videos ) since around 6:30pm, it's now almost 2am and bedtime. I'm happy with them :)
Great to hear!
As expected, no reason to buy the XM5s. I love my blue XM4s, can wear them all day during work and phase everything else out. The only thing that beats them at comfort are my QC35IIs - I like to wear those at night in bed for youtube and watching movies.
Yeah the qc35ii’s are classic. Wish they didn’t make the logo look cheaper on qc45. Sticking to my qc35ii
the noise cancelling on the xm5's is impressive, also they are very soft and light weight, I did get a little hot in them working out but the balance of the sound is very impressive, I bought both the xm5 and the xm4 in blue. I tried the xm5's at the gym and now im wearing the xm4's listening to music, they are close but I would give the edge to the xm5's
I love the sound from the xm4 and xm5. The problem for me though is the sizing, they are just that bit to big for my head, the band doesn't rest on top of my head. Frustrating.
Good review! I have a pair of XM4's and am delighted with them. I have been a Hi-Fi buff for 50 years and am very choosy about sound quality. The XM4's are great for sound and travel. And folding into that case is sheer genius. All the best, Rob in Switzerland
There is a black Friday offer for the XM4 (189€). My 5 year old XM3 are pretty much done, should I buy the XM4?
BUY THEM NOOOOWWWW!!!!
@yinsomniac4128 thank you
I got the xm4 for £148 via EE black friday, no regrets so far. The sound isn't far off the B&W P7 S2 & the on headset controls are way easier to use & they fold smaller...
Thanks Mark. I have decided to go with the XM4's, I just don't like the look of the XM5's.
Good choice!
Happy with my XM4! Hope you are enjoying new family life!🧸
Great stuff! And I am indeed - thanks!
I’m still rocking the XM3 I have no reason to upgrade you can’t tell them apart from the XM4s and they still sound great no need to spend the money.
Totally fair enough!
Great review however her in the states least the XM4s which were priced around $250 now have risen to ALMOST $350 avg since the XM5s came out, even on Amazon. Most likely because the difference is really nominal and who would buy the XM5s for almost 400 when the XM4s were a bargain at 250.
I’m very undecided between these two headphones. I love the feel of the xm4 feels snug against my head. I tried on the xm5 in store but because they had been bent out of shape couldn’t get a proper feel for comfort.
Get XM4 … not much difference… and wait for XM6 when they upgrade the QE1 chip … main chip inside the headphones
To me xm4 is clamping my head, if worn for 10 hours a day I get a migraine.
So far I've only tried them in the store but xm5 feel so much lighter and softer
XM5 is clear
I've stumbled across your channel while watching XM4 videos and I must say your videos are pretty well done!
I bought both recently and was looking for decent bass for hardcore music and was pleased with the XM4 so I returned the XM5 due to the sound not given enough Bass. Note I use the Aux cable for my sound still rock the iPod classic. And yes the XM4 still packs a bass bump
How is xm4 anc?
@@robbenvanpersie1562 9/10 it’s excellent I used them in a party and I wasn’t able to hear the party music or the people talking. I had the audio at 55% volume. I only give them a 9/10 since Bose QC has the best audio even with no music playing it captures majority of the background.
Thanks!
You pretty much confirmed my suspicions. Better, but not enough :)
I do notice the light squeak, specially with glasses and the high frequencies seeping in. Not big issues for me.
The custom button, i just use to flip ANC, so no difference there
The new case and not folding is just a big no for me.
My need for high quality noice cancelling headphones came about concurrently with the announcement of XM5. I bought XM4 and not because of the price difference! And despite the fact that I kind of prefer the XM5s look.
the xm5 don't fold. they just jiggle jiggle
But your wallet won’t jiggle jiggle, after buying
Thx for the review. Thanks to this and other comparisons I just bought the XM4’s as the additional features do not justify the higher extra costs.
How are the hinges on xm5? I never liked bendable hinges on xm3 or xm4 since they tend to break with time. With unbendable hinge on xm5 is it strong enough to avoid any breakage in future with higher use? i am fine with space that it takes. To be honest headphone are always big brother of ear phones both on matter of space and quality of sound.
I prefer xm5. There are lots of small things that are better.
It has more clear bass, overall sound better, better NC, faster bluetooth connection, much faster charging. And yes they don`t make crackling noise when on your head like the xm4 dies, noticable when you are on a pillow or something with them on.
Also better microphone and way less wind noise in calls, and when you have NC on.
If you can get xm4 for cheap tho, idk if all the small things actually worth it. But also some stores let you get xm5 with new sony smartphones, so definitely a good deal then.
Still torn between grabbing a sweet deal on the Max or a sweet deal on those XM4s! Just got an apple tv (apple got me by the neck and wallet rn) and BOI my air pods pro had a whole new lease of life! Headphones for commuting and a few abroad trips is what I need but apple are always so enticing😂 Great vid Mark! Enjoying the regular content alot mate
Thank you!
xm5s are now only £60 different from the xm4s so i’m going to have to look at both at them and decide. with £259 and £199 being the price jump- very interesting. As i want better noise cancellation I think I’m going to go with the 5s but I will test their sound profiles to fully decide.
the lower claimed clamping force of the XM5s would skew my decision. I own the XM3s and it took a bit to get used to, but I tried some QC35s and those were simply a bit more comfortable over longer periods of time. The XM4s apparently came with more clamping force so I passed on those. The new QC45s no longer allow one to turn off noise canceling, so that puts them out of the running for me as well.
excellent review. i bought an XM4 only because the benefits of the XM4 far outweigh the ones from the XM5. the problem of the XM5 is the existence of the XM4. i wont even bother looking at the ipods cos of this video!
Great review Mark. I work in a well known electronics store where I got to buy the XM5 at staff price of 324 aud or 184 pounds thanks to one of the Sony reps who ocassionally visits our store. I still own my XM4 and it works great and I can probably sell it for 224 aud, but I’m scared I wont be satisfied with the XM5 which is why I haven’t unboxed them yet.
Should I keep the XM5 and sell the XM4 or vice-versa?
Keep them packaged, sell the XM5
I had a slight accident with my now drowned XM4's . I loved them so much and used them daily. My XM5's arrive today. I'm looking forward to test them, before I make a final decision on whether I revert back to another new pair of XM4.
Thank you for the honest review. Very informative.
Xm4 ou xm5? Qual melhor?
What if the difference is only £50 would you still pick the XM4?
Yes!
I found the XM4 subpar, and returned them after 18 hours. Major problems: the noise cancellation pauses at random. Not as the results of speaking or any other sound that may trigger the SPEAK-TO-CHAT, but the problem seems to be correlated with picking up the device that's playing the tracks, and or using the Next Track function on the playing device. I didn't have time to test it - that was Sony's job. The "buttons". The buttons to activate functions like Next/Previous Track, Volume Up/Down, etc, are simply touch pads on the right earpiece. The problem is there's no map on the earpiece indicating where the "touch" zone might be for any particular function, so one ends up hunting around with one's finger. This results in erroneous commands such as Next Track, when one actually meant Volume Up, or Pause, for example. Simply embossing something small onto the zones where the controls are (little dots, for example) would give one's fingers something to map the individual functions by.
I heard that XM4s dropped in price recently so I went searching today to buy some. I mean, who doesn't love a reduced price for high quality headphones? Turns out they upped the price again because the demand for them has increased. I believe they were trending on TikTok for quite some time now, contributing to their selling out. I'm a bit disappointed, but I'll wait for another price drop if it ever comes :(
They now on 260 euros here
They’re on sale for Black Friday right now in the U.S and U.K.!
I don’t usually comment under review videos, but wow this review was perfect! thank you so much now I'm looking forward to buying the xm4 that currently has a discount so it's a win-win :)
Strangely enough the XM5 are not even an option for me, because you cannot fold them. They are stay-at-home-headphones to me...
The XM4 look so much better. I also prefer the sound and comfort. I sent the XM5 back.
Just picked up some refurb xm3s in like new condition for £90 on eBay, best value ever!
Bargain!
Congrats on 1m views! 🙌🏼
I bought the XM5 for only $300, which is honestly why I kept them. If they hadn't been that much of a deal, I'd have traded it for XM4. The new design is a huge miss.
Where did you get that for $300?
@@TamerlaneLM10i just got the xm5 for 280 on black friday
Great review. Straightforward but thorough and to the point.
Glad you enjoyed it!
As soon as he said the xm5 dont fold and xm4 do, I no longer need to watch the rest of the vid. I will take travel friendly over anything else. The xm5 case is an actual joke - why is it the size of a mini backpack!!
Hi Mark just managed to buy some new XM4s for £150, they were already down to £179 in Argos but I had a £30 voucher.
I have previously owned the XM5s but ended up selling them a while ago since I just felt they did not blow me away. These XM4s feel similar but I find them much more comfortable, also price wise I feel paying what I did feels more justified rather than the near £300 I paid for the XM4s back in the day.
Strongly disagree on comfort. I own both (as well as the XM3) and for some reason the XM4 alone made the top of my head sore upon prolonged wear. The XM5’s light weight and stronger clamp force means next to no pressure on the top of my head.
Also sonically, the most drastic difference between the XM5 and the other two is the equally strong, but pleasantly tighter bass that allows more detail to come through. I also notice a wider soundstage on the XM5 for most tracks, in contrast to what’s stated in the video.
My big beef with the XM5 is the cheaper, smudgier, more XM3-like plastic compared to the much more premium feel of the surface of the XM4.
That’s ok - it’s fine to disagree :)
I use noise-canceling (NC) headphones for 6-7 hours per day. I used Bose Ultra for almost a year and recently bought a pair of XM5s. The XM5s are very uncomfortable on my ears. After about an hour, they have to come off because the ear cups are so shallow that my ears touch the fabric covering the driver, which is painful. I can wear the Bose Ultras all day and even fall asleep in them without any pain; they are very comfortable. I also have the QC45s, and they are as comfortable as the Ultras.
It's a shame because I love everything else about the XM5s. There is no white noise, and the touchpad works very well (I normally hate touch-sensor headphones).
I've ordered some aftermarket ear pads from Wicked Cushions, and I'm also trying a set from Dekoni to see if that helps with the comfort without sacrificing noise cancellation. If neither set works for me, I will have to return the XM5s, unfortunately.
These headphones would be better reviewed on Android - A platform that utilizes them to their full potential. With the Sonys you can enjoy High Res audio in Tidal with the LDAC codec. Is their a such codec for the Air Pros on iPhone or are wired headphones still required for High Res audio?
exactly. I use them with that setup. high res audio quality makes a significant difference.
Hi Mark, where did you buy the nice white headphone stand from please? great review by the way.
Thanks, Steve! It's from Benks (link in description!).
🎧 Even though I really like my Bose 700s, my son’s XM4s are so nice. And I’d love to experience the XM5s, but (and this is where I sound like a broken record) I feel the industry is on the verge of wireless connections that allow lossless audio. So the current Bluetooth tech baked into all our headphone and earbuds could get dated really soon … or maybe not.
I’ve added Adele’s song to my Headphones Test playlist that you’ve inspired me to create. Thanks!
I thought LDAC was lossless, it's not?
From wiki:
When the codec is set to 16 bits/44.1kHz at 909 kbps (or 16 bits/48kHz at 990 kbps) LDAC can stream lossless audio that is identical in quality to (or slightly higher than) Audio CD.
@@snaporatz could you please translate that into English? Are these settings a non-engineer could change?
Thanks.
@@melissacook5186 it's at least as good as a CD, which is better than an MP3. IF You're playing songs off Spotify then it doesn't matter the source material is not as good as CD quality anyway. If any of this matters in real life is up to you to decide
Thanks Mark, Coming from my beloved but now quite beat up XM3's that have kept me in good stead, I was thinking to jump up two model's to the XM5s but somethign seemed off about them and I'm so glad I watched your review. Definitely going to stick to the XM4s model!
Prime Day is coming next month so we could expect some discounts on these! Unfortunately, I’ll be flying away before Prime Day.
Great point!