The Sony WH-1000XM5 cans were already officially our pick as the best wireless headphones you can buy, and that’s before we take into account the fact they’ve now hit their lowest price ever at Amazon with a fantastic Black Friday deal.
If you’re in the market for a premium set of cans with excellent sound quality and superb noise cancelling, the XM5s are an incredible pick at $151 off their MSRP.
This Black Friday deal won’t last forever though, so if you’re tempted you won’t want to leave it too long to snap up a pair.
Sony WH-1000XM5: was $399.99 now $248 at Amazon
The best for most people
For those of you who are well-informed in the headphone game, you’ll know the XM5s aren’t Sony’s very latest flagship cans – those would be the WH-1000XM6, which we also reviewed highly.
The newer XM6 do offer better audio and ANC, but there’s a steeper price to pay, although they are also discounted currently. If you’re after the very best sound quality in a pair of wireless headphones then the extra cost could be worth it – but we’d recommend the XM5s for the non-audiophiles amongst you.
As we said in our WH-1000XM5 review, these previous generation are “the best all-around noise canceling cans for most people. Because when it comes to sound quality, comfort, call quality, ANC, and battery life — the essential ingredients we want from these devices — the XM5 are still outstanding.”
You will still get a top-notch sonic experience, as our reviewer Simon expertly explains: “There’s no question in my mind that the XM5 exhibit greater subtlety and finer details, and the frequencies are beautifully balanced.
“At the same time, bass response is expertly managed, with a low end that does what low ends should do: Provide the thump, groove, and resonance that completes the musical picture, without dominating the other frequencies.
“The soundstage is open and airy and has the kind of precision that lets you build a map of the players and their instruments in your mind’s eye.”
It’s also about what you can’t hear
The noise cancellation is another strong point of the XM5, and if you’ve not had a premium set of ANC headphones before, prepare to be amazed by how much of the outside world you can’t hear when you pop these on.
They have the ability to transform busy train journeys, long plane rides, noisy workplaces and crowded streets into your own private, quiet oasis.
I’ve spent considerable time with the XM5’s predecessors – the XM4 (see what Sony is doing with its naming?) – which are already highly impressive, and from my brief time with the XM5s and Simon’s excellent review, I feel confident recommending them. The only small frustration for me is that they don’t fold up as small and neatly – but it really is a minor point.
Sony WH-1000XM5: was $399.99 now $248 at Amazon