Latest news with #XM5
Tom's Guide
16-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
I've tested every pair of Sony earbuds — here's the ones I'd buy with my own money
Sony's extensive selection of earbuds starts all the way down at $50, and works its way up to $299 in a range of different earbud options. I've tried every single one in some capacity or other, and after some careful consideration and a lot of chin scratching, I know exactly which pair I'd take to the checkout. Without any further ado, allow me to re-introduce you to the Sony WF-C710N, my pick for the Sony earbuds that you should really buy. Sony's lowest-priced ANC buds are also some of the best around. They outperform options more than double the price, with loads of battery life, a comfortable fit, and excellent noise canceling. The XM5 might be better, but they're not worth nearly triple the price. I'll admit that I'm very lucky — I get to try out some of the most expensive earbuds and headphones on the planet. I love them, I want them, I covet them, yet, I'd never buy them. They're too much, too expensive and too scary. If I'm going to get something that I can happily take on the train, or the bus, or an intercontinental flight, I want something that doesn't cost too much. But, of course, I also want something that sounds good. I still want to use them, after all. The Sony WF-C710N give me close to exactly what I want for something that I'd actually spend money on. They cost $120. That's half the price of the AirPods Pro 2, $180 less than the flagship Sony WF-1000XM5, and $40 less than the LinkBuds Fit. In my eyes, that's the perfect price for something that forever runs the risk of disappearing into a bus seat, falling out of my pocket, or being sat on because the person next to you on the plane didn't look before placing themselves down. If you want the most features, you can opt for the Sony WF-1000XM5. No one would blame you – they're excellent earbuds with loads of stuff going on under the hood to make them that bit more compelling than the rest of the line. But you don't need any of their really fancy features. The package offered by the WF-C710N is a remarkable one for the price, and it solidifies their place at the top of my Sony earbuds buying list. The WF-C710N have everything you could ever need, and the features they do have work very well indeed. Excellent noise canceling to block out that kid at the back of the bus? Check. Great sound so that Benson Boone sounds his Benson Booniest? Also Check. An app so that you can control everything, including a customizable EQ? Check again, we're in "everything you need" territory now. Sure, the constantly shifting and adjusting ANC of more expensive buds is very impressive, and some of the extra fidelity in sound quality is very nice to have. But then it all comes back to price again. The package offered by the WF-C710N is a remarkable one for the price, and it solidifies their place at the top of my Sony earbuds buying list. The Sony WH-1000XM5 last for 8 hours of playback, and their case boosts that up to 24 hours. That's some good battery life. Thanks, Sony, now I can listen to the entirety of Gojira's From Mars to Sirius a grand total of seven times, and then make my way to Unicorn on my eighth listen. The WF-C710N, despite their lower price, last for 8.5 hours on a charge. That means I can now listen to From Mars to Sirius a total of eight times, all the way through. I'm not very good at math, and even I know that's more times. The case is slimmer than both the LinkBuds Fit and the WF-1000XM5, making it easier to slip them into a pocket when I leave the house. The ANC is on par with the LinkBuds Fit, somehow, and the fit is more comfortable thanks to a lack of fitting wings — although the Fit are better for those looking to exercise. OK, so taking my argument to it's logical conclusion that "I want something cheap for the bus that I won't mind breaking or losing", you could easily assume that the even cheaper WF-C510 might be closer to the top of my list. But that's not the crux of my reasoning behind my slightly more expensive choice. The WF-C510 are a great pair of buds. If you're looking to spend a bit less and still get great sound and comfort, they're a solid in-ear option. But I want something that balances a lower price with sound quality and feature set — and, as Anubis places the buds on his scales in the great deserts of the underworld, the heart and features of the WF-C710N measure perfectly against the feather of their price. So. If if I was to spend my actual money on a pair of Sony's earbuds right now, it's not going to be the top of the range kings or the budget heroes — it's the buds that are only middle of the road in terms of price. Because everything else makes them a very tempting in-ear option indeed. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Gizmodo
14-07-2025
- Gizmodo
Sony's Best-in-Class ANC Headphones May Have a Major Design Flaw
Sony's WH-1000XM6 headphones might sound great, but that's only if they don't break before you put them on your head. While it's too early to say whether Sony's latest world-class headphones have a widespread issue, the first reports of broken hinges are starting to roll in, and they feel ominously reminiscent of similar problems with the WH-1000XM5. In a Reddit thread that's actually pulled from a Red Note post (sorry for the convolution; that's just the way life is sometimes), one user shows how their Sony XM6 have seemingly snapped at the hinge that holds the headband and earcup/internal speaker components together. Having looked at these pics myself and knowing how much these headphones cost ($450), all I can say is… ouch. As I mentioned, it's obviously too early to tell if this is an issue that XM6 owners should be worried about, but it does feel relevant considering widespread reports of the XM5 hinge, which you need only take a short gander at Reddit to contextualize. I'm also curious how exactly this pair of XM6s broke—specifically how much force was applied. Did they get sat on, or did they just explode after being gently picked up? I used Google Translate on the Red Note post, and the original poster of this hinge failure claims they 'usually use [the headphones] carefully,' but again, it's kind of hard to know for sure what transpired. One thing is for sure, though, and that's if there's a problem, someone at Sony is going to be mighty disappointed. As noted by SoundGuys, the XM6 actually come with a redesigned hinge that's meant to prevent this whole problem from happening. Specifically, there's a redesigned folding mechanism that features a metal hinge inside the plastic housing that is (theoretically, at least) more durable. It's worth noting that in a poll conducted by SoundGuys, 25% of users reported having a broken hinge. That's a lot of angry customers and potentially a lot more first-time AirPods Max owners. Say what you will about Apple's very expensive AirPods Max, but they do have a premium metal build and great sound. For now, we'll just have to see if any more reports of broken hinges start to roll in and hope that Sony's redesign actually solved the problem. If this is actually a widespread issue, Sony XM6 owners may want to be extra cautious with their headphones until Sony either addresses the issue or puts out some kind of recall, though I don't think it'll get that far.
Tom's Guide
08-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
The Sony WH-1000XM6 just got their first Prime Day price drop, but I think you should buy the XM5 instead
If you're someone who likes to have the latest thing, you've probably already got your eye on the Sony Amazon Prime Day deals. After all, those shiny new Sony WH-1000XM6s have just recieved a discount in the sale, and it sure would be nice to get a pair of those on your head. But woah there, stranger, let me tell you why that might not be such a hot plan after all. See, the XM6 are down to $428 at Amazon, only $20 less than MSRP. Instead, you should look at the older model. The WH-1000XM5 are down to $298 at Amazon, thanks to a massive $100 discount. Let me show you why the XM5 are the better buy. The Sony WH-1000XM6 have finally recieved their first discount, but it's not as deep as we might have first hoped. Still, if you want the latest Sony headphones with the best ANC, a more comfortable fit and a brand new hard case, this is the way to go — it'll just cost a bit more. We gave them a 4-star review, so you know you're getting some quality headphones either way. The XM5 are the better buy in the Prime Day sales. They block almost as much noise, have a very similar, more spacious sound, and they look very close indeed. They're also a full $120 less than the XM6. They scored half a star more than the XM6 in their 4.5-star review. I can see exactly why you might want the XM6. They're the latest, hottest headphones, with updates to the headband, improved ANC, a different sound profile, and better call quality. They are an excellent set of headphones — but they're are definitely not worth $120 more than the XM5. If you opt for the older pair you get the same battery, the same looks, sound that will sound better to some people, all for far less financial outlay. At a time when we're all tightening our belts to save even a couple of bucks, anything that costs less is always good. If you insist on getting the latest and newest thing, then the deal on the XM6 does make for their lowest price ever. But, why buy those when you can get something that comes so incredibly close for so much less money? I know where I'd put my money – and it's on the pair that topped our list of the best headphones for many, many months until recently. There are plenty more deals to be had this Prime Day — make sure you check out our Prime Day live blog to make sure you're staying on top of all the latest sales and offers.
Tom's Guide
07-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Save $150 on the Sony WH-1000XM4 — these are the ANC headphones to buy this Prime Day
Is it Prime Day yet? No. Has that stopped some of the coolest headphones around from dropping in price? Also no. Latest to recieve a large discount are the excellent Sony WH-1000XM4. They've just got a $150 discount at Amazon, bringing them down to just $194. That's a pretty impressive saving, and makes them a great option if you're looking for some new headphones this Prime Day. They might not be the newest headphones on the block, but they've got it where it counts. They earned a 4.5 star review when we tested them, thanks to the game-changing ANC and very good sound quality. Their case is better than both the newer options in the family, and they're potentially more comfortable as well. This $150 saving is one of the biggest they've ever recieved. The Sony WH-1000XM4 are not as new as their more recently released cousins, but they're still a great pair of headphones. They really put Sony on the ANC map, laying out the groundwork that the XM5 and XM6 headphones have run with for the last few years. In some ways, they might even be a better pair of cans than their newer compatriots. They feature similarly excellent ANC, for example, but they cost a whole lot less thanks to their age. Battery life is good with 30 hours on tap (the same as the XM5 and the XM6), and 10 minutes of charging brings you 5 hours of extra staying power in a pinch. They're comfortable too, thanks to a thick headband and some very nice ear cushions to keep them moulded around your ears. Sound is very good, as you might expect, with an emphasis on the low end that many will appreciate. They're a very solid pair of headphones at full price, let alone when there's a $150 discount at the table. If you're looking for a new pair of headphones over Prime Day, you should probably just skip the XM5 and the XM6, unless they receive truly unreasonable discounts. This is a great pair of headphones at an excellent price, and they're no less excellent than they were when they were first released.
Tom's Guide
07-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Save $100 off Sony's flagship ANC headphones in this epic pre-Prime Day deal
The deals are already in full swing this week, and we've not even seen Prime Day begin properly. One of the best deals I've seen on headphones so far is this massive saving on Sony's last pair of flagship cans — the Sony WH-1000XM5. You'll find $100 off the XM5 if you head over to Amazon right now, bringing them down to $299. That's only a few dollars off their previous lowest price, making them a great way to get some great cans in your backpack before the school year begins again this September. This is a big deal. The Sony WH-1000XM5 were our favorite headphones for a long time, thanks to their excellent ANC, solid comfort and battery life, and then it's all topped off by some very good sound quality. They earned every star of their 4.5-star review, and even after the new version has been released, they're still well worth picking up. Despite the recent launch of the Sony WH-1000XM6, I'd say that the older XM5 actually make a better case for your money. Even when full price, they're less expensive than the newer model, and they look almost identical — unless you know to look out for a folding hinge. At this price, it's almost an audio no-brainer. For a massive $150 less than the newer alternative, you retain the class and style and get the same battery life. You lose out on a new hard case and the folding mechanism, but I'm not entirely sure they're worth the same price as a pair of mid-range earbuds. The WH-1000XM5 pack in a whole load of features. Their noise canceling is top-notch, and ranks them amongst the best noise-canceling headphones. It can change depending on your location, thanks to GPS, as well, which is always pretty cool. Sound is good, with great soundstage and loads of bass. They're comfortable too, and they'll last you all day thanks to their 30-hour battery life. The case is protective, and even squishes slightly when you put them in your backpack. At this price they're a great deal — I don't think we'll see the extra $20 come off for them to reach their lowest price ever, so don't miss out on this massive savings on some of the greatest, and most popular, headphones around right now.
