Sony - WF-1000XM5

I have owned both the Bose quietcomfort ultra earbuds, and the Sony 1000XM5 earbuds for over a year now. I prefer the Bose over the Sony for work. I pour and finish large slabs as a commercial concrete finisher, and these earbuds allow me to block out the noise from my coworkers, as well as machines. Whether I’m finishing an elevated deck with iron workers a level above me smashing steel, or if I’m tired of listening to my pendejo amigos, I just pop in my quiet-comfort ultras and my day becomes much better

I’ve used EX, ultra and Sony. EX sound great for music. There really is no active ANC in them. I sold them because of this, as I needed noise cancellation for use at work. Microphone wasn’t very good either. But if you need them just for music, they’re the best. Bose has best noise cancellation and fit. Latest update brought multipoint connection and to my ear, improved sound. They’re a bit slow to connect to other devices, but they’ve worked fine once they connect. Sound is very good, microphone is best of these 3. Sony are good all around if you get a good seal. I discovered this when I got the Sedna Xlastec (?) tips. I felt I bought new earbuds when I tried them with these. I had no idea the fit was so bad prior to getting them. Noise canceling is very good but not better than Bose. Microphone is worse as well. Music is excellent.

Small tip, when looking in a physical store check online, often it's cheaper. In store they will match the price normally. Personally I'm not an Apple guy though they are good I've to say. Sony WF-1000XM5 or a bit larger B&W Px7, the latter really impressed me recently on a long haul.

I usually pair it with the wf-1000xm5.

I would buy them... I like mine... I use them at the gym and cycling every day...Best comfort and anc out there, much better than the Sony xm5 or whatever imo...and good sound quality... Not audiophile quality by any means but still very good... The main issues I have with them is the people behind running and designing the app have got to be mentally handicapped

In my case it was the Sony’s.

I'll throw out there that there are literally dozens of different kinds of tips you can get for whatever you buy. I see that someone mentioned custom fit iems, this won't be that good. But it is possible to find good tips for things. I have the newest sony buds, I believe the 5, and they are magnificent.

Daily-driver buds are all about convenience: something you can throw in a pocket, pop in for calls, gym sessions, or a grocery run, and forget they’re there until you need them. Below are a few models suggestion from my end that tend to rise to the top of tech-forum polls: **1.** **Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)** • Seamless iOS integration, reliable ANC/transparency, and the tiny case make them a no-brainer for iPhone users. • Mic performance is consistently strong for FaceTime or work calls. **2.** **Sony WF-1000XM5** • Class-leading active noise cancellation, customizable EQ, and multipoint Bluetooth. • If you commute on loud trains or value audiophile-grade tuning, these are tough to beat. **3.** **Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro** • Automatic device switching within the Samsung ecosystem, 24-bit audio with supported Galaxy phones, and comfy oval design. • Very pocket-friendly case compared with other premium ANC buds. **4.** **Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds** • The best passive fit + ANC combo on the market; they turn coffee shops into libraries. • Bose’s “Immersive Audio” spatial mode can add a bit of fun for Netflix on the couch. **5.** **Jabra Elite 8 Active** • Rugged IP68 rating and strong ear-lock fit make them ideal gym or outdoor companions. • Jabra’s multi-point lets you jump from laptop to phone without menu diving. **6.** **Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3** • Spacious, hi-fi soundstage and aptX Adaptive codec for Android users. • Case is a little thicker, but battery life compensates. **7.** **Cleer ARC II (open-ear)** • For anyone who dislikes having tips jammed in their ear canal all day, Cleer’s ARC series uses an open-ear “air-conduction” design. You hear your surroundings naturally while still getting surprisingly full mids and highs for music or podcasts. Perfect if you bounce between office chats, street traffic, and quick playlists without wanting total isolation. **Quick decision filter** • iPhone heavy user → AirPods Pro (ease of use) • Loud commute / flights → Sony WF-1000XM5 or Bose QC Ultra • Android hi-res listener → Sennheiser MTW3 • Rugged workouts → Jabra Elite 8 Active • Need situational awareness → Cleer ARC II

I own a pair of XM5 and the sound quality is trash they don't even deserve to be mentioned in this conversation. I even had the XM4 because sony used to make decent sound for a low budget. Now they are just in the toilet when it comes to making quality sounding products. I have heard the Gemini the sound quality is good but they are just overhyped do the cost. Before the Gemini people in these subs were overhyping the Pi8 because they are another 500 plus pair of earbuds which are noticeably louder than the MTW 4s but still lacks in terms of sound stage compared to the MTW 4s.

I have just bought both a couple weeks back and returned the sennheisers. In day to day the wf is just so much nicer. However I did have to spend an additional 4.99 on Amazon for some aftermarket silicone ear tips for the wf as the composite ones are not to my liking but that's a personal preference. The wf have significantly better anc and wind filtering during calls and the sound quality is negligible in day to day use between them. Arguably because the anc is better on the sony. The sound quality is much better than the sennheisers.

I really love my XM5s. I had to get my first set replaced which was concerning. This pair so far so good for about 8 months now. I learned my lesson and made sure I had 2 year warranty

Thumbs up for a great analysis and to a Perl Pro fellow. I went from AirPods Pro 2 to MTW3, then Free Byrd, Status Between 3anc and Pro, Perl Pro, Svanar Wireless, Gemini 2. And had Jlab epic lab, Jabra 85t, 7 elite and 10 elite, MTW4, Sony XM5, Cambridge m100 briefly. Perl Pro is the most comprehensively all around with emphasis of sound quality and stage presence.

If you want I have Sony M5 earbuds for sale. used it like 3 or 4 times only. Still under warranty. Its a solid earbud best in class. The reason I am selling them is that I have Airpods pro and I am deep into the Apple ecosystem.

I'd recommend you sony WF-1000XM5 it's a beast and the sound quality and the ANC is really good of course I don't the price since you in Australia but I highly recommend it

No, they are still too bassy and have a small soundstage, very in your head sound. I've tried alot of earbuds, the best ones sound quality wise have to be the Sennheiser momentum 4 true wireless, Technics AZ80 (or wait for the upcoming AZ100 on the 10th), and airpods pro 2. Bowers and wilkins Pi8 is boring, its your average V shaped sound signature, too much bass and treble.

on sound quality and clarity alone, by a mile. The XM5s are just wasteful on high quality music because of the bloaty bass, alot of clarity thats found in instruments and vocals is lost in the mix. the AZ80s are just much more detailed and pleasing sounding. The AZ80 loses out in anc though. One thing to consider, the AZ100 just got revealed, so it's worth waiting for more comparisons, because those may even beat the AZ80s

Tried both, the Sonys just have a very bassy and dark sound, to my ear the AirPods Pro 2 are much clearer, and instruments are easier to distinguish. The Spatial Audio functionality is also pretty damn good, a lot of the Atmos mixes on Apple Music are impressive. I say keep the AirPods if you have an iPhone/

Basic frequency response graphs do not match this though, Sonys have always been notoriously bass focused

Why are you name calling? Look at the actual frequency response comparison, the Sonys have a HUGE hump from 500 to 50 hz compared to the AirPods Pro 2. It’s very obvious the Sonys are very bass heavy unless you just don’t know how to read a frequency response graph. https://www.soundguys.com/sony-wf-1000xm5-vs-apple-airpods-pro-2-95460/#

Best buds on the market.

Under $100, the Liberty 4 NC is best choice. Btw, the best ANC are the Bose QuietComfort earbuds (not Ultra) and Sony XM5. Don't go for the Ultra model , save money.

Sony WF-1000XM5 is a great pick for balanced sound and strong ANC, even on non-Samsung phones. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is another solid option with top-tier noise cancellation. Have you considered anything from Sennheiser?

Soooo you kinda asking for the ultimate hybrid. And they just don't exist. However at the price point you going for you have great options. First if you want in eco system, galaxy buds pro 3 and the easy choice. If you want best sound Sony WF1000XM5 is definitely for audiophiles. If you want something for the gym with good sound, jabra elite8 active gen 2 is the best out there. If you want to spend half those prices and have a great daily driver I'd recommend checking out the nothing ear gen 2.

Bose qc ultra is a mess. 15db bloated bass ruins all instrumentations. Horrible adaptive eq. You try to decrease bass, treble will increase and become unbearable. Xm5 is miles better but got a bit bloated too after the update. Technics are more refined than these two. I dont have the 100s but have the 80s. I am interested more on jbl tour pro 3 bc of the dual drivers.

JBL Vibe Buds: https://a.co/d/0GdpQik I wear them for many (6+) hours a day without discomfort. Not sure how they compare to other buds performance wise but they're super lightweight and comfy. Tried the Sony WF-1000XM5 but they hurt my ears after one hour.

My Sony WF 1000XM5 have just been stolen and in considering buds instead but don't want to go down on quality of sound AND ANC. Both are top notch imo in the Sony, only downside is the weight and fit for my ears. For the latter I know the stem design fits me better - that's why I'm considering the change but like I said I don't want to compromise sound quality.

My Jabra Elite 10 G2 fell in the ocean, so I bought XM5s. I am happy with the change, not so happy being out almost $200.

After trying a bunch of earbuds over the years, I’ve got to say the Sony WF-1000XM5 are a good option. The sound quality is absolutely insane—deep bass, crisp highs, and super clear mids. The noise cancellation is next-level too; it’s perfect for blocking out distractions whether I’m commuting or just chilling at home. They’re also really comfortable for long listening sessions, and the battery life holds up well (about 8 hours on the buds alone).

Now I feel kinda dumb for buying the WF-1000xm5 I bought they when they were on sale for 200$ but having some regrets after hearing what you said

Based on all your buds you own are the xm5 the worst or their just middle of the pack? This sucks being that those xm5 at 300.00 retail should be much better

Good thing I kept my target receipt, although I will say I don't dislike my Sony xm5 but compared to what I keep hearing about the pearl pros its a big difference

I really like the sony XM5's. Superb instrument seperation/tight,punchy bass/good battery life / good ANC..... And SONY have improved the app. I like em,many do not--horses for courses

The XM5 are incredibly slippy--Agreed

Since I came across this post yesterday I found a deal on a Sony WF-1000XM5 for $118. I haven't had them long but the fit is really nice and they sound great.

I recently bought ear 2 by nothing and well, they're amazing. I stopped using my sony wf-mx 5 and gave them to my mum. The nothing ones are amazing, overall neutral with a nice harman tendency, long lasting, good anc (not as good as sony, but good enough for sure)

First of all, the case is not an argument for me, personally. Of course it could be for some of you and yes, Sony has a better form factor. The reasons I prefer the ear (2) over the xm5 are the following: -I'm working as a mastering engineer and prefer a frequency response in between neutral and Harman, the ear (2) are much closer to that, while the xm5 are what I would call a balanced bathtub. The ear (2) allow for somewhat accurate hearing measurements (and correction) and the app is really, really well made. They offer two lossless and a lossy codec, while the xm5 offer ldac (older version) and a lossy one, but often one or both buds have short connection losses while listening lossless. no issues with the ear (2) at all. Soundstage and comfort are also better for me, although this is a personal thing. Battery life is a bit shorter and anc not as extreme with ear (2),but therfore it's adaptive, making it feel less like this typical anc vacuum, if you know what I mean. I don't use them for calls, can't say a lot more than that both work well, no complaints here. I also never tried the Galaxy buds. Nothing ear (2) sound like improved airpods 2 pro with a better stage and larger frequency response, including a better bass representation.

I have the opposite impression. I was at a Harley Davidson festival on my local main street yesterday, and they really made me feel like there were so many fewer people.

I’ve got the Pi7 s2’s, the WF-1000XM5s, AirPods Pro (latest), and the Denon Perl Pro - and they all have their pros and cons. The Denon Perl Pro are the sleeper though, they look bizarre, but once you run the tuning program they sound as good if not better than the others. Haven’t tried the Pi8’s yet, but love my Px8’s.

Thank you for all the information. I just lost/broke my 3rd pair of Sony WF1000XM5s. Which I absolutely loved (which is why I keep buying them), but I just can't bring myself to buy yet another pair of earbuds... Ordered the CMFs, so we'll see how those work out, and it is much cheaper than my Sonys.

I've had all the ones mentioned here for the last few weeks (ok, not the Technics 100, only the 80) If they fit your ears and you can live with the design, the Denon are the best. Anc is okay here, but the sound is so much better than the others after calibration that I was very surprised. Bowers & Wilkins have the problem that you either like them... Or you don't. There's zero customization. In terms of sound, the Sennheiser Momentum would be number 2 for me. Sony may have the best anc, but I honestly found them underwhelming in terms of sound.

i used to be an apple air pod pro guy, but i cant continue supporting that company so i got the sony WF-1000MX5 recently and I find them very comfortable, they come with four different tips and i never have to readjust them. sound isnt as good but close enough where I can enjoy the music.

WF-1000XM5 together with the WH-1000XM4

The Sony XM5s are amazing, and top of the mainstream heap pretty much when it comes to both sound quality and ANC. I wear them at home when I want to relax with music. That said for out and about and using during work, I absolutely love my Galaxy Buds2 Pro. They sound great, have very good ANC, but what seals the deal for me is that I can't even feel them in my ears. They are so damn comfortable.

I think the XM5s destory the Buds in every single category you've listed. Especially sound quality (since you dont have a Samsung flagship or A73 which supports SSC at 96kHz, while LDAC is widely avaliable) and for gym use, due to the foam eartips that come with the Sonys. I took my Buds3 Pro to the gym once, the left one was slipping like crazy. If you decide on the Buds, foam eartips are a must. For ANC, I'm guessing cause of the different fit, the XM5s for sure have better passive cancelation. And Sony is widely known to have among the best ANC for both headphones & earbuds so you can't go wrong there. My Buds3 are doing a good job tho, I'm not complaining much there. The only thing the Buds3 Pro may be better at is the battery, due to the XM5s age & with the Sonys you'd have to get used to the tapping to control them, so points to Samsung's blade (stem) build. Maybe the fit too, personally I like the Buds fit better. Also, Sony has recently released their new flagship headphones, so I expect them to reveal the WF-1000XM6s anytime soon. Something to keep in mind.

I'm considering too today lost my Jabras 😭 I'm mostly interested in bass and good fit for exercising since i do calisthenics i wonder how they hold in ear

I go sony one they feel great honestly and sounds awesome 👍😎 i use them for sports too , about base part you need to play with equalizer. i saw Jabra as brand they abandoning they products so dunno about future support I'm not trusting them

It very depends on your personal preference i have sony mx5 and they fits perfectly i do calisthenics so lots of movement you need to test earpieces individually

Might I humbly recommend the Sony XM5 earbuds? Goated shit when you pair them with silicone tips - the outside world just fades away. Play with the EQ a bit and you pretty much have a pair of earbuds that sets you up for a good few years. Never looked back from my AirPods Pro 😂

If your using tidal. I will recommend sony cause it has a feature to support rhe sony 360 audio and also LDAC.

Personally have owned both. Returned the Sonys after a good week of break in. They just don’t hang with the comfort to me( subjective I’m sure based off peoples ears being different). Also I’m in the Apple ecosystem, the multi device seamless connectivity “just works” with the apple products.

I hated the Sony with a passion and got AirPods Pro instead and love them. I got the Sennheiser for my partner who love the sound and ease of use. Unfortunately when calling me, the sound I hear is awful, really muffled.

I have similar requirements for earbuds! My ears are also small and sensitive and after much research and review searching, I landed on the Sony wf-1000xm5. They have foam ear tips that conform to the inside of your ears and they DON'T PRESS OUT!! THEY JUST CONFORM AND SEAL AND HOLD THEM IN PLACE!! They are also very smooth and conform well to my ears and don't fall out when I eat or chew gum. They also come with four size ear tips. I used to get ear pain with my old earbuds that were big and chunky, the Sony ones don't have a weird center of gravity that pulls them down and out. And they sit up vs the other types (like JBL and Apple) that have the stick part that goes down, that style I feel would probably sit on the little ear edge and make it sore. They also have highly reviewed (and in my opinion very good) sound quality and noise cancelling. My old headphones were Sennheiser so more of an audiophile brand and these are pretty on par with those.

I have/had several earbuds with silicon or foam tips: AirPods Pro 1&2, various Galaxy Buds, Pixel Buds Pro and the Sony WF-1000XM5. Some of theses are fantastic (especially the Sony XM5). But they all fall out and bother my ear canal. I've tried different sizes tips, Comply and other 3rd party tips nothing works. I wanted higher quality sound, but the AirPods 1 and 2 are the only ones that fit, didn't fall out and bother me. I never tried the AirPods 3, I'll try the 4s and hopefully they work like generations 1/2 did.

IMO, the Sony XM5s are very overrated for sound quality and the fit is poor according to a lot of people including myself. I’ve been testing them against the Nothings and it’s not very close on fit & sound quality. Their build quality is great however. Not worth the $100 more for me.

Wow are you me? Have all of those and mostly agree with your list. Need to check out the AZ100. One thing though, the XM5 never really impressed other than case size. It’s a good all rounder but seems a bit nothing special in any metric.

APP are neutral mediocre at best. I have all those and more, the Sony XM5 and Bose can sound better if you have a musical ear with some training. Bose Ultra Immersive mode is newbie to sound mode, they sound impressive for pop but do not stand up to critical listening. The Denon Perl Pro is actually the best sounding if you Can get the calibration correct. It’s not for beginners who think APP are the best you can get lol.

APP has been my daily for years. I’m on Sony XM5 earbuds right now to evaluate. They have slightly better sound quality and battery life, but slightly worse everything else. I give APP the slight edge over the XM5 in ANC and in mic quality for calls. And APP has the significant edge in connectivity (pairing with iPhone/macbook), and in comfort. I’ll go back to APP as soon as the APP3 drops later this year.

I’m personally stoked for APP3. I’ve had APP2 for years and I’m just excited to see an upgrade. Until then, I’m perfectly happy with my XM5.

The biggest weakness of the JBL Tour Pro 3 for me was mic isolation. When i would use them to call people, they could hear me fine but they could also hear a pin drop in the room near me. Also, the case is HUGE. Besides those points, they’re great earbuds. I returned them and got the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra True Wireless. Returned those too, same reason — mic isolation. They were also super buggy, random disconnects and not detecting connections. I returned those and got the Sony WF-1000xm5 and I’m keeping these, for now. The music quality is on par with either the JBL and Bose. Noise cancellation is worse than Bose but better than JBL. Mic isolation is the best of the 3. The fit is the worst of the 3 but I got used to it very quickly. All of this is an experiment to see if there’s better earbuds than AirPod Pro 2. So far, the answer is no. I’d keep my AirPods Pro 2 over any of these. I’m probably going to return these Sony at some point and just hold out for AirPod Pro 3 when they come out.

I’ve tried a lot of high end earbuds, and the only one I consider on par with Airpod pro 2 is the Sony WF-1000XM5. Everything else that I’ve tried was retuned due to some deficiency or other. JBL Tour Pro 3 was close in many ways, but the case was too massive and the mic sucks for calls.

These do not have the same battery problems that plagued the XM4s. They're really nice.

Ahh, bummer. I didn't know that but it's definitely not as widespread as the XM4s.

Nobody knows what is good for you. You have to listen to them. Also it's useful to look into their measurements curve. I didn't listen to the Denon,Jabras and Nothing Ear. Sony are linear but will not amaze you with details and clarity. Same to Technics. Sennheisers sounds just wrong for me with no lows. Bose are ok but initial tuning is too bassy for me. It's like one just increased the bass with eq. I personally have Devialet Gemini 2. Very linear with slight increase of lows and trebles which is easily compensated. Amazing resolution, imaging, separations you name it. But again, just listen to them. I listened to Nobles, B&W, Bang and Olufsen and they did not suite my needs. But maybe they are for you.

Personally for me owning both, the sound maybe is a bit better but it’s minimal and the anc is equal, maybe a bit better transparency but overall everything else was worse. the bulky feel of the xm4 never got in the way or became uncomfy, where as the 5s are slippery to get out of the case, and to hold the bud itself. The biggest difference imo is the 4s feel like solid earbuds where as the 5s feel like normal earplugs that happen to play music

I use the Sony WF1000xm5. The fit can be a bit finicky but once you have a solid seal in your ears they are fantastic. ANC is decent, but not the best. I’ve owned AirPods Pro 2 and MTW4 and the Sonys have the weakest ANC of those three. They have a typical bass heavy sound signature, like all Sony headphones. Good for hiphop, rock, electronic music. The app is very good. They have a tendency to fall out of my ears if I am doing anything other than lifting weights or running on a treadmill but YMMV based on the intensity of your workout.

I tried the xm5 and the microphone quality was really bad especially for the price :/ and yeah they didn't stay in so well

I loved the xm5 as an all rounder too but technics AZ100 took the crown for now as they have higher sound quality , comparable ANC , can connect to three devices , Dolby Atmos works with every track and streaming service .

Technics AZ100 followed by the Sony XM5 earbuds

AZ100 and Sony wf-1000xm5 for music and gym AirPods Pro 2 for zoom calls

By the way the xm5 and the AZ100 still sound better than the AirPods Pro 2 over AAC as the XM5 use the DSEE extreme algorithm to upscale the sound to near high res , don’t forget that AirPods Pro 2 was launched in 2022 so it have older chip , may be this year AirPods pro3 will catch up

xm5s

How is the microphone when walking in public? I've had issues with multiple earbuds now and am trying to find a good fit. Wf-1000xm5, buds 2 pro and original pixel buds pro all had weak microphones to the point were people could hear me on the phone when walking.

The quality of XM is quite good. However, it's a bit bulky and the connectivity issues were atrocious that they outweighed any of the positives.

I have the Sony's and they are just ok. I almost like my pixel buds 2 better, but the Sony's have a better microphone and I spend a ton of time on the phone.

No, not really. I wear them for long periods with minimal discomfort. But they beep when you have from sitting still, to walking, ect and it's annoying AF

I really think there's a big "fit" component to determine ANC effectiveness. My experience with the ones I've tested. Sony WXM4: impressive ANC, but not very comfortable. But ANC on planes was incredible, but after a few hours I had to take them off. Sony WXM5: for me very comfortable but I imagine I could not get the perfect fit to isolate passively so the ANC felt poor (but many reviews praise ANC). I returned them quite fast. Pixel buds pro 1: Very comfortable, more than both the Sony's, but the ANC for me is so poor I can hardly find a difference between having ANC off or on. Airpods pro 2: for me very comfortable and the ANC is really great I think not so much as the WXM4 but still amazing Conclusion all of these have many reviews praising ANC and in my case some of them have not achieved this so it really means that there must be a strong component of how they fit you

How do these compare to the Sony WF XM5s?

Decided to buy them and they compare favourably! I’d recommend them over the xm5s!

Sony WF XM5

I think the "best" is going to depend on each persons use case. As for the ones you listed the XM5 never had the same problems, but the tips dont suit everyone so maybe on paper you could say they are the best bud, AZ80 as others have said must be a contender, one of the best sounding buds by far with ok ANC, but personally and seen a few cases of pressure headaches from them, so sadly not my "best" bud, Airpods same story as XM5, great at everything, best at nothing, on paper you can argue best all round with XM5. But I think if you take one person vs another, lets say me, I wear buds walking, some quiet parks so sound quality is nice, then some busy streets with lots of traffic noise so average ANC wont do and then a gym that sounds like a EDM club. Not to mention, I live in a very rainy area and powerlifting is my thing so weight lifitng chalk everywhere, especially my hands, need that IP rating to be dust and water! So Jabra elite 10 gen 2 or maybe these incoming AKG N5 (have them on order) will be my GOAT for 2024? Take a look at how you use them first, what you need most, then go from there. First call, your device, what codecs it uses and how you use it, is it in a pocket? etc. Then make a shortlist like you have, pros and cons them. Again using me as an example, Samsung S24 Ultra, LDAC or Samsungs SSC for hi res, or I go to a good sounding older codec bud like Jabras or Gemini 2. Do they have dust resistance? The Jabra do, is ANC good? Reported comfy and good for the gym for hours? YES, got my GOAT.

Depends a bit on you, 90% of my gym is power lifting, so they just need to stay in my ears, not a heavy sweater so have some water protection, but also dust for chalk. For those my top 2 are Sony WF1000XM5 and Bose QC Ultra. Samsung buds 3 pro are my favourites, but unless you are die hard in Samsung eco system I wouldnt get those for gym. If you are a sweater, do more olympic movements, cardio, cross training, def get some with wings or some mechanism to keep them in ear. Personally Bose again, stay in for me and great ANC, but boring sounding. Doesnt matter so much as you wont get how perfect sound is in the gym though. I do see some other good suggestions here like the beats ones, but those are just the ones personally I have tried.

Fantastic write up, can I ask why the Gemini II are not your favourite daily if they sound the best? Also why the Elite 10? Currently finger on the trigger to buy a new pair of buds and I own quite a few also, top 3 WF1000XM5, Bose QCII and AZ80s. The Sony are my favourite for ANC though Bose more consitent, the foam tips fit ok, but my left ear unseats them sometimes and the ANC inner mic taps on my ear causing a noise, the AZ80 sound amazing, do everythin else good, but give me headaches (though I may have fixed it with the ANC customise settings) So I kind of want a pair for quiet walks and good sound, or at home, if I need good ANC for the gym I use the Sony

Compared AZ80, Samsung Buds 3 Pro, WF1000XM5, Bose QC2 (the newer buds are a slight improvement) and AKG N5 recently, one of the things I did was sit in a cafe with music paused to test ANC, I found the Bose were the best, not my favourite musically, but for ANC they are king. Voices are unpredictable so you want more isolation than ANC although ANC if done well will try to help, it deals more with predictable constant sounds like air conditioning or engines, Bose have a decent seal on the ear, the Sony WF1000XM5 come quite close with foam tips. As a fellow ADHDer, also autistic, plain earplugs or music ones like Loops for example are also decent. You will never get full silence unless you go industrial over ear level protection, but all the above will take a bit off the top of the volume.

Used them since launch. It actually left me wanting more bass and louder volume so that + ANC would Actually drown out noise. Since I'm in a city setting or in Uni or in a gym setting. But beggars can't be choosers. Not for this price point.

I had those, the left one stopped charging reliably after like a year or so, it had to be perfectly in place and if I jostled the case it would stop

Beoplay eq or ex if your budget stretches. I have the Sony's xm5's as well and they sound great with my Xperia 1 v phone but the Bang and olufsen ex are outstanding especially with acoustic jazz which I listen to a lot.

Have these, they’re very nice. My only problem is I have more earwax than most people and these use pretty nice memory foam tips. Earwax sticks really easily to them.

Am using the Sony WF 1000XM5. They are awesome 😎

I think I have to disagree with most comments as I've found the noise canceling in the Sony pretty terrible. Might be the fit, I don't know. But I've seen some reviewers comment on that too. And Sennheiser was quite decent (but not as good as the AirPods Pro 2). Sound quality Sennheiser all the way. Sony is very compact though and better for commute I guess. But if I were to take them for a plane, I'd pick the Sennheiser.

I have both, and while sound and fit is subjective, this is my experience with both: >\-Great sound (I love good bass and clear audio). Both have great sound. But the B3P slightly edges it out for me, including bass. But I've not played around with XM5's equalizer like I have with the B3P, so XM5 might be just as good if I did. It's subjective. >\-Solid noise cancellation for noisy environments. ANC on XM5 is better >\-Comfortable for long use and won’t fall out during workouts. Both are equally comfortable, though the B3P falls out easier for me - but this is subjective. >\-Decent battery life. Both have decent battery life, but XM5 lasted longer for me. >calls B3P is clearer

Yeah I just got refurbed WF-1000XM5 for 120 shipped and they're brand new as far as I can tell.

I have the XM5s on the way right now. You can get them refurbished from a seriously reputable vendor on ebay for $110 The return/refund policy seems bulletproof, and the customer service is apparently great. Jumped on it right away. I doubt I'm going to be disappointed for ~30% of msrp with tons of reviews saying they seem brand new.

This is probably the most helpful and solid review across the Big 3 I’ve seen. I don’t have experience with the Bose, but your reviews across the Xm5 and 100 feel very, very spot on in my experience, too.

Owned them for over half a year now. I bought them prioritising sound quality but have used them at the gym. I think they’re probably good for running but by no means ideal. If you’re going to be running I get something specifically built for it personally. Yes you can get ear tips that will make the running experience better but you’ll have to factor in that in order to keep a good fit you’ll need to frequently replace those tips.

I’d be giving a stronger look at the Jabras unfortunately there will likely be a point in the life of any given eartip where you’ll be thinking about the chance of the Sony bud falling out. That’s ok for me as a gym user or when bouldering but for a runner I’d feel like it would get annoying. Realistically sound quality means nothing if they can’t stay in your ears whist you’re using them so you should be prioritising a strong fit that requires minimal readjustment in the middle of a run. Also the Jabras appear to be sweatproof too.

Not cheap, but the best , Sony WF-1000XM5.

Sony XM5s are great but they are very uncomfortable to wear.

i got the wf-1000xm5 for 206€ along with azla asmr max earbuds and they totally block every annoying voice in the gym along with loud noises. Music is also damn clean and clear bass. For that price there is nothing better in europe.

also one annoying thing to point out is that their controls are meh, but works out nevertheless. Cos the audio and ANC is next level. I owned the Sennheiser momentum 4 tws for 8 months until they broke. Got refund, so I got this instead. If you are located in EU, then get it from amazon or coolblue. Both have very good warranty system. In case you get issues within the 2 year warranty, they will repair the product or refund your money back.

Ah. I was going to get the elite 10. Cos everyone in reddit was recommending that over the xm5. But I didn't think they were worth 80€ more than the xm5 and took the risk. Thank God I got the xm5.

Out of those I like the XM5 best for everything aside from comfort and NC which I'd give to Bose.  There's plenty of other options outside of the big brand names however. Technics and B&W are worth looking at 

Sony has rampant battery issues though. And their warranty handling hasn't been ideal either. Batteries depleting very fast or dying after a few months/a year.

On just noise canceling I’d go Bose or XM5. However my Technics AZ80 with comply foam beat both of those.

Sorry, I just saw this. The AZ80’s with comply foam and ANC on will block more noise and sound better than the XM5’s or Bose.

I've had two Sony 5. First one lasted 7 months. Second one lasted about a month. Batteries. IMHO Hifiman Svaner. But you need LDAC. No LDAC, no consideration from me. IMHO and YMMV.

Thank you. I think I'll go with the Sony xm5.  iPhone functionality with airpods isn't big concern of mine. Just the sound quality. Up until 3 months ago i used airpods 2 with android so I'm already used to 0 earbuds features.

I just picked up a pair of Sony WF-1000XM5's, and I’m really impressed so far. The ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) hits the perfect balance for me—it blocks out enough noise without feeling too overwhelming—and the audio quality is solid. The fit is excellent, like they were custom-made for my ears. They’re super lightweight, comfortable for all-day wear at work, and they stay in place even when I’m moving around. Plus, they’re really easy to clean, which is always a bonus. The call quality is also fantastic, with way better background noise reduction than my previous earbuds. Before these, I was using the Sennheiser CX True Wireless SE. While the ANC on those wasn’t as effective, the ambient noise mode was definitely better in comparison. I’d even argue that the audio quality was slightly better on the Sennheisers, especially in terms of clarity, despite the lack of bass and the absence of an EQ like Sony's. However, they didn’t fit nearly as well—the weight of the earbuds made them fall out of my ears pretty often, which was frustrating. The call quality also wasn’t great, and they struggled with background noise during calls. On top of that, I had to go through two pairs of them due to random issues—they both died on me within months, even under warranty. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of Sennheiser—I’ve been rocking a pair of Sennheiser HD 600's as my main headphones for a while, and they’ve been incredibly reliable with amazing sound quality. But when it comes to earbuds, I don’t think Sennheiser shines as much. Fingers crossed the Sony's hold up better because so far, they seem like a worthy upgrade.

My XM3's work, my XM4's work, my XM5's work. The older ones are just collecting dust in a drawer as they're basically worthless to resell and still valuable to throw away. Then again I still have every old cell phone down to the Nokia bricks. The Nokia still holds a charge. A Samsung S3, or S4 won't turn on anymore, even after charging.

I have the sonys and they are awesome. Noise canceling is incredible.

XM5 are 1000 times better than the AirPods Pro

WF1000XM5 workout a doubt, I can't fuck with Samsung after they made such a massive downgrade, the Buds 2 Pro was almost perfect (kept slipping out of my ear when I got sweaty) but the Buds 3 Pro look like dollar store Air pods 2

Ok thanks. I also have the xm5 buds and I was curious about the bud 3 pros. It's been months and even after 3rd party tips I'm still not entirely comfortable with how the xm5's fit. I love everything else about them. I know it's different person to person, but how's the buds 3 for you in terms of fit and staying in? Also how does the sound quality compare? Would really appreciate the thoughts given that you also have the xm5s.

The Sony XM5's have some of the best noise cancelling and regularly last me 8+ on a single charge, although they are only advertised as 8 hours. The only thing is I'm not sure how comfortable they would be for sleeping. If you only slept on your back then they'd work.

I use a set of Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless buds which are great for me on Windows / Teams; also had some Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless buds which were fine too but prefer the Sony's myself

The names that come up over and over again are all good. No amount of money is going to get you the best in every category. Just figure out what you prioritize and make a decision. Sound Quality? EAH-AZ80. Noise Cancellation? Airpod Pro 2 (if you're on ios) or Bose QuietComfort. etc. The only thing I will add is after the reliability nightmare that the XM4 was, I do not yet trust the XM5. The fact a lot of people prefer the sound quality of the XM4 is extra helpful in regards to eliminating them from contention.

If battery life is #1 priority with ANC on, from personal experience I don't know if I'd put Sony on the list. My XM4 battery life got cut down to less than three hours with it on, and from what I understand the XM5 isn't much better. Super annoying because once place I need them the most is a 3 hour trip I often take, and just under 3 hours means having to recharge them before the trip is done.

This actually feels like a real consumer list and not something built upon company reputation or metrics that don't equate to real-life usage. The fact that the Technics are number 2 is proof enough of that. The other notable thing being that the XM5s are not up there. In general Sony has had issues with fit since the XM3s and that is something that carries a lot of weight for consumers. Necessitating the need to buy third party earbuds tips for fit and comfort is egregious and that is the story for the XM5s. Though the Linkbuds S not being up there was surprising; for the price, size, and features that along should start the conversation of their value. I also can justify the Bose being that low. While I love them, their lack of high-end codec, connection, and call quality at times versus other premium brands left me concerned about the money I spent on them. I caveat my statements by saying that since 2023 I've been using Pixel phones (7 and 8 pro) and the iPhone 15 pro, prior to, my testing was with Samsung phones (files and ultras). So take that for what you will.

I have yet to hear or see this from anyone. And I'm even including people in audiophile reddit. Having used these and recommending them to others who are pretty critical, not one complaint. I'll never say you're wrong for your opinion but I can't deny that I'm kinda shocked. At best I would have assumed someone could be unimpressed. But they suck? I feel like I need to know your standards for this lol

If you have all apple stuff and don't plan to change that, then go airpods, it still has several downsides, but that's apple for you. Get the xm5 if you will use them with anything other than apple devices (laptop, work computer, game console, etc.)

WF-XM5s... everyone recommending airpods and the cheapest earbuds on the market are hilarious. Nothing cancels out children screams because 1. Active noise canceling isn't very good at canceling out those types of frequencies atm, and 2. You generally want to hear other folks while blocking out everything else. If you want to block out screams/yelling, you want passive noise canceling. Which is best gotten from either some earbuds that seal very well (depends GREATLY on your war shape. Not one person can tell you), or an over the ear headset, I have the headphone set of XM5s as well as the earbud set. The headphones are much better at canceling out baby cries, and both sound beautiful for music. Sometimes the mic quality is lower than I'd like though. Im not even sure why this post was recommended to me because I think apple products suck balls but I am very much into the headphones/buds area and did a big deep dive into this market as well so my wife could try to calmly read in her free time while I handle the pet sperms

I have the first Pixel Buds and SonyXM5s. Use both quite a bit

XM5s are superior when you upgrade to the foam tips (3 for $20 from Comply). I tried these for a week before I settled on the XM5s. This is after 3 years of XM4 ownership, so I may be biased. Regardless, these are good, but nowhere the sound quality of the Sonys. It’s dumb that Sony didn’t provide the correct tips.

It’s foam, just a downgrade from the XM4s

The Bose QC ultras are the best ANC on the market for in ear. Their sound quality definitely isn't adjusted for classical music. The XM5s are about as close as you can get for decent sound plus decent ANC. Everything else is going to be a trade off between ANC and sound quality. If you consider over the ear, you'll have better options.

I've gone through a number of semi expensive earbuds. So far the Sony xm5s are what I'm using until something better comes along. They are a bit heavy on the low end but no where near as much as the QC ultras. I'll admit I don't have the classical music POV. I just like a bit more crisp sounding guitar and high hats.

For me it’s my AirPod Pro 2 or my Sony XM5s

I had issues with both the sony's. No battery issues like many others report, but with connectivity. With multipoint, If i receive a call it disconnects the other device. I have to manually reconnect. Sometimes it also randomly disconnects, not that often tho. Btw from the list you mentioned I have the jabra elite 10 as well. And i prefer them in almost every way to the xm5/4 - The jabra's are a breath of fresh air control wise, with the physical buttons which is such an underrated characterstic - Jabra has ANC on par with the sonys, and I fitted them with foam tips making them arguably better than the sonys. - Jabra has better transparency imo. - More fluid multipoint swithcing on Jabra - Sound is subjective, and is honestly a toss up. Base is punchier on the jabra, mids and highs maybe a nod to the sony's. Hard to hear difference without AB listening. - Jabra elite 10 is currently on sale many places as well as the new gen 2 are coming out and the company is bowing out of the consumer audio category. From the initial reviews the update is miniscule soundquality , ANC/transparency wise. All that said, if you made it to the end, I don't think you will be disappointed with either. They are well rounded in almost all categories, don't get caught up in the details.

My headphones died on my last flight, so I've been exploring an in-ear wireless replacement. While I don't consider myself an audiophile, I am very particular... I'm a classical musician and want high-quality sound. I need great ANC since I travel frequently, and long bike rides introduce lots of wind noise. I'd like them to replace my desktop headset for calls if the mic is good enough, and being able to customize the controls is a must. So far here are the ones I've tried: * **Sennheiser MTW4:** Love the sound (one of the best), controls are customizable enough for me, the fit is amazing right out of the box with max isolation. ANC is excellent and wind reduction is amazing (the best). I was riding about 15 mph into a headwind and it sounded like a weather channel reporter in a hurricane. Turned on wind reduction and if not for feeling the wind, I could've been in a concert hall. App is easy, intuitive, simple, and fast. Unfortunately the mic and call quality are atrocious. * **Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2**: Great sound (not the *best*, but very good (although they do *not* support aptX). Controls are customizable enough for me. I feel like the fit would be amazing if they went just a touch further in. Again, if I could get a better fit, I think the ANC is outstanding. The wind reduction isn't as good as the MTW4, but I suspect that's mostly due to poor isolation: I'd welcome recommendations on replacement ear tips. Call/mic quality is the best. The app is a little confusing, and has some neat features. My first pair was defective--constant static in the left earbud. Customer service was phenomenal and I had a new pair with next day shipping for free. * **B&W Pi8:** Overall sound quality is amazing. I'd consider these the best. ANC is on the better end, but leaves quite a bit to be desired with ambient noise. Wind reduction is pathetic, but this isn't marketed for an active lifestyle. The controls are not very customizable, and there's no way to enable/disable ANC without going through the app (which doesn't help me if I'm listening from a laptop). The app is straightforward, though a little bloated, and it took me three attempts to get them paired with my devices. Mic/call quality is very good. Apart from lacking good wind reduction, my chief complaint--and it would have been enough to send it back regardless of everything else--is the obnoxious (and obnoxiously loud) haptic noises when using the controls. I couldn't figure out how to adjust them, so even when listening at low volume to a quiet section of a song, you get acoustically assaulted by a chime. These were sent back, and I'll add their customer service is horrendous and slow. * **Bose QC Ultra:** Outstanding ANC in the low and low/mid range. Doesn't work as well for intermittent sounds or higher frequencies. Fit is so-so even with the wings, sound quality is what you'd expect from Bose: an inauthentic representation of highs and lows to make the illusion of superior sound. I was sufficiently turned off by the fit, sound, and controls that I didn't test anything else. * **Apple AirPods Pro 2:** Quite honestly, I hate white and was reluctant to even try them. I couldn't get these to fit comfortably any which way, so they went back. I'll confess some of this may be personal bias, so don't write them off on my account. My wife uses hers all the time and I know from being on the receiving end the call/mic quality in noisy environments leaves a lot to be desired--even worse than the MTW4. * **Sony WF-1000XM5:** The default sound really (I mean *really*) emphasizes the lows and highs. For classical music lovers, I'd advice against these. The balance of ANC, wind reduction, and controls makes them all-around a good product. Controls are good, but I couldn't get a great fit that truly isolated the sound and made them feel secure. Since everything else was "good" I didn't bother with other tips and sent them back. * **Denon PerL Pro:** Takes a little bit to personalize the sound, at which point they sound pretty good. Not the best, but they pass my tests across multiple genres. Something feels a little "off" with the default frequency response curve, but I don't have the equipment to test it. Fit is great right out of the box. The wings fit in my ears perfectly and they feel the most secure out of them all. App is straightforward, wind reduction is good; not great, but good enough. Controls are the most customizable of them all. Worth noting: you can also customize whether they pause automatically when one or both earbuds are removed. Call quality hasn't been tested yet. Also, and this is a real annoyance: they're really hard to get out of the case. I have to turn it upside down and shake it to release the earbuds, so one-handed use isn't possible. I'm going to hang on to these a while longer--they definitely make the final cut along with the Jabra and MTW4. * **Technics AZ100:** Out of the box, the sound was... weird. There's definitely some heavy bass, but also a really pronounced high end. This was immediately striking me as a turn-off and would be exhausting to listen to all day. The fit was good--it took a little finagling to get them firmly in place, but once I did, I barely knew they were there. App was pretty buggy for me. Despite supporting multipoint connections, I couldn't control the EQ on the earbuds from my phone while listening from my computer. Controls are highly customizable. ANC works on all frequencies (unlike some others which are more effective on certain frequency ranges). but it's effect isn't as dramatic as Bose or Sennheiser. Haven't tested the mic/call quality or wind reduction yet. What other earbuds should I be considering? (Before anyone jumps on it: yes, both my computer and Qobuz are sending via aptX.) ETA: Updated with description of pros/cons of each.

Bose QC is definitely great ANC, and if I wasn’t a classical music buff and flew a lot but didn’t need any of the other features, it would be my pick. But I feel it works best on low frequency white noise, and does do great with higher frequencies or intermittent ambient sound. The XM5 is still in the running, but definitely heavier on the low frequencies.

For me the sony wf-1000xm5 are one of the best. Excellent quality sound, one of the best noise canceling and extremely comfortable

Bose QC Ultra, had the non ultras and they failed, went to sony XM5 and really don't like the fitment

A few months ago, I tested out a bunch of noise cancelling earbuds, so here are a few I have experience with: - Jabra Elite 10: to my ears these have the best ANC with the lowest noise floor and they're pretty comfortable, however they fall out relatively easily, but it's not that bad either. Jabra also stopped their earbuds division so it won't get new updates anymore. These are the ones I ended up keeping and using the most. - Airpods Pro 2: great noise cancelling and audio quality imo but bad compability (need to borrow an iPhone to enable ANC off otherwise you can only switch between hearthrough and ANC). I kept these too, but use them less than the Jabras. - Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: best for compability with Samsung obviously. However, mine had some sort of whistling/ringing noise with some sounds, like my rubbing against clothing or hair, which I found annoying. ANC was good but not as good at the other two. - Sony WF-1000XM5: great passive noise isolation but very lackluster ANC in my opinion. I really don't get why people are so enthusiastic about it because I could barely hear any difference between ANC on or off. They did fit great in my ears though, and it seems like a lot of people do think the noise cancelling is great, so it might still be worth a try. - Bose QC Ultra: personally I returned these immediately because they have an awful noise floor; unless you're in a pretty loud envirenment you constantly hear white noise and can't even turn off ANC. Idk about the ANC itself anymore because this issue bothered me so much.

ANC is sony & bose. but sony king of ANCs. if you baller can look at WH1000-XM6. If not the XM5s or XM4s are pretty good. Personally for me i prefer richer highs and mids but still want ANCs so i went for Sennheiser M4s. Earbuds same thing. XM5s. or XM4s also can (Do they have XM4s nowadays?)

The Bose ANC is awful compared to Sony. I own both QC ultra and XM5 and work in a very high noise environment and the XM5s make the QC ultras look like a pair of $40 earbuds 

The Ultras ANC is literally garbage. Idk where you use these buds but must be in a quiet environment. Take them out in an environment with constant noise and pitch changes. You’ll be begging for the XM5s. Sony literally destroyed Bose on all aspects but most people use ANC in quiet environments. I work in a very high noise environment and my XM5s are the best at blocking all levels of noise. The Bose are best at blocking low frequencies but can’t handle frequent changes while the Sonys hold a more constant and more solid ANC

Only part I agree on is the ultras suck. But Sony takes the cake in literally aspect over Bose. I own the QC2s, QC ultras and the xm5s and the xm5s make Bose look like a child’s earbud for $10

Sony wf-1000xm5s won’t do you wrong. They’re the best in sound quality, most consistent ANC and best in features. Well with the $300

The XM5s are actually insane with ANC and best Bose in all aspects. Idk what size eartips you were using but obviously the wrong ones. Sony XM5s are the best earbuds on the market by a mile. I have both Bose QC ultra and the XM5s and work in a very high noise environment and the Bose ARE TERRIBLE the XM5s block out just about everything. 

For $140 or less (have been $120), I think the xm5's are unbeatable in value. They've been my daily driver for two years now. Use them for everything but running where I still use my old Buds Plus. The xm5's go to the gym, sit in the sauna for over 30 minutes at a clip, on the train and plane, general walk around use. Someone stole my case, but I got a used one on the bay for $30 and have kept on going. I contemplated getting a backup pair and keep the Secondipity listing on my ebay watch list. With the allstate warranty too, it's really a no Brainer purchase. I'm giving the JLab Epic Lab's a try as they were $99 for prime day. Read good things and figured what the heck. Almost tried the Perl Pro's on the prime day deal but knowing the ANC isn't as good as the Sony, I went the cheaper route with the Lab's.

I guess you got those special Sony buds where the stock foam tips are permanently glued on.

Geez. Right over your head. Considering many users choose not to use stock tips, your recommendation, or lack of one in this case, is a bit meaningless. My stock tips sit in a little bag collecting dust. Last I checked, people's ears are like snowflakes and fit is rather personal. Kinda the reason for the 3rd party market for tips.

I never get why people that don't like stock tips bail and move on. I go back to the icon X and even before. Never once used the stock tips on anything. Couldn't care less how stock tips fit, what they give you and so on. So to just dismiss the Xm5's because of the stock foam tips makes no sense when noise canceling is a major criteria. Even more so when you can pick up refurbs with 2yr warranty from Secondipity/ebay for $115. Also like the DPP's. More detail than the Xm5's. The two have an inverse relationship when comparing sound quality and noise cancellation. But neither are bad. Still taking the Xm5's on the plane. And I do abuse my Xm5's. 2yrs of daily use and they spend about 4hrs a week in the sauna at 175 degrees. Never missed a beat until I dropped the left one in the pool, and it took me a couple to find it. Picked up a new pair for $115 and back in business today. Will sell the old case and right bud on ebay to make some coin back. And with the DPP's at $150, I just can't see the extra $100+ being a worthwhile upgrade over these two. Maybe when refurbs are available under $200 I'll try them.

I use comply sure grip tips for the Samsung buds 2 pro with mine. I wish their case cutout was a little bigger because I'd prefer to have a little bit more of a canal fit but can't fit larger tips and close the case. Wish more mfg's would be less obtuse and realize many use 3rd party tips, and the case cutout shouldn't be the limiting factor to the tips you can actually use. I think they sound a little more detailed than my Sony Xm5's and are a slight step down from my DPP's. Do agree on the app and like how you can fine tune the sound. I go back and forth with the Xm5's and NE24 for the gym. I like the better ANC on the Sony to isolate me from all the people that talk more than they work out. Safe to say the xm5 are my travel buds. I like the NE24 as an easy carry and keep them in my work bag or in a pocket. My DPP live in my gym bag as a backup because they don't isolate as well as the Sony and aren't as portable and comfy as the NE24. The NE24 are the first stalk style buds I can actually live with. Have returned a bunch of pair of stalk buds from the usual suspects. And I've posted a couple times where you can get the Nothing fairly cheap ($55-75). At least in the states.

My personal experience with these is that they fucking suck

Honestly, if I were you, I’d lean toward the Sony WF-1000XM5. They’re awesome if comfort and sound quality are your top priorities. Sony finally made them smaller and way better at blocking out noise—total game-changer if you’re commuting or stuck in loud places. And yeah, pairing them with Android? Super smooth, no weird hiccups. The Nothing Ear buds are another bargain option—kinda fun if you like tweaking EQ settings in their app, though they’re not quite as punchy as the Sonys. Still, if you’re the type who just wants to hit "play" and get lost in the music without overthinking it? Sony’s your MVP here. No contest. Also you can check this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/Earbuds/comments/1i0k6ye/earbuds_for_you/

From my personal experience: 1) Devialet Gemini II 2) Technics AZ80 3) Bowers and Wilkins Pi8 4) Sony XM5 The Gemini II are flat out best sounding buds period to me and I'm yet to find something that out ranks it in the sound department. I have to listen to my planar magnetic wired headphones to get better sound. Looking forward to a comparison between the Gemini II and the AZ100.

returned mine. it was picking up everything. kids from across the house etc.

Just got the WF-1000XM5, and connection lasts 5 seconds maximum. It's unusable, I guess Vita is too old for modern Bluetooth devices, even from Sony

WF are the earbuds, there is no button. I tried both methods: from the app and with the charger button. Both pairing methods succeed, but connection closes continuously

I've got the Sony WF1000XM4's and they've now been replaced by the XM5's but you'll still find them for sale and the ANC is superb, the sound quality is sublime as well. Super comfy in the ears too. My only gripe is the microphone quality for calls

I have found earbuds like JLab Epic Lab, Beats Studio Buds, Sony XM5 buds, Samsung buds, pixel buds are MUCH more comfortable. I can wear them for hours straight without ear fatigue.

It isn't trash you just have a bad fit, for me it cancels everything, also tested with a friend and told me the same. Already tried other earbuds and ANC is Noisy and barely reduces anything

XM5 have a better ANC don't listen you just need a good fit

It is lol, with ANC on I can't hear bus, human voice, train ect.. with off it's still silence but audible, it's the best anc I have passice and active, u can just check test isn't trash you just need a good fit

It is working bro, i can hear the difference lol.

You just got a bad fit so don't tell xm5 have a bad anc

I have them, and in multiple conditions ANC cancel everything, without it is still silence but more audible, even somes body noise are removed I don't know how lol

I saw somes reviews on the net also quiet good but soft suck and ANC make too much noise

the small case is actually what I like most about mine. can fit in any pocket

Just terrible transparency, average ANC if the foam tips don't fit, chunky design and terrible case battery Really in need of an update

They all have compromises so it's just about picking what you prioritise For me I prefer the sound of the XM5 by quite a way The transparency is a million miles better on the AirPods, the ANC works better for me and the call quality is more consistent, most importantly the fit is impeccable for me I prioritise those features when I'm not listening wired so I end up using the AirPods most often The OnePlus buds sit middle of the pack for sound, transparency and fit but have the worst ANC

I really like the XM5's, the new X driver is amazing.

check out AZ80/Denon Perl pro and XM5's. I have had all three and my favorite sound is the XM5, but favorite fit is by far the Perl Pros.

QC ultra. The new sony music connect app greatly reduced the XM5 anc.

I use Sony xm5s with custom inserts i rocked the xm4s till I dropped one in. The toilet

I am surprised the WF-1000XM5 got any love at all looking at the clusterfuck the xm4 went through and which continued to the xm5. Considering the AirPods Pro 2nd Gen i can totally understand why they get recommended that much after going from WF-1000XM4 to AirPods Pro 2nd Gen.

Recently joined the Bose club. I briefly heard the XM5's and they sound really good, but the ANC strength will vary, depending on the tips you use. People seem to be getting the best results with foam tips, but to me these are a lot less convenient since I want to be able to take the buds in and out quickly. The Sony also rely quite heavily on the passive NC from said tips, meaning they act like plugs and transfer noise into your ears from things rubbing on them. I haven't really been able to test them during a workout, so I don't know how well they stay in place. The Bose QC Ultra have silicone eartips that make them super easy to pop in and the passive seal isn't really where the magic happens. They fit snugly, but comfortably and the little wingtip holds them in there perfectly. I was previously using the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC buds and there's a world of difference between them. The ANC is miles better and so is the out of the box sound. I've heard plenty of good things about the Airpod Pro's. But I'm an Android guy and those just don't make sense, but for you it just might. As far as issues with the QC Ultra's, so far, I didn't find any, aside from the sound disappearing sometimes when only having one bud connected. It happened maybe twice. Other than that...nothing. After the buggy mess that are my Sondcores, those things are a godsend. If that's of any concern to you, the AirPods will probably do the best in terms of call quality out of those three, followed by Bose. Spent all day yesterday at the airport plus 2 flights enjoying the silence with my QC Ultra's. The case of the Bose is significantly larger than the other two, but it's relatively flat. Oh yeah, the touch controls are much better on the Bose, compared to the XM5's. You can swipe to change volume and you have to tap 4 times to do that on the Sony's. And one thing that you need to know is that ANC cannot be turned off on the QC Ultra's. You can only switch to awareness or immersive mode.

Yeah and even in the wired days I would have to get new ones almost every year but I used them daily and eventually the wires would pull or get loose. I have the Sony WF-1000XM5 and they have been solid but they won't be a 10 year product

Doesn't look like much but the XM5's case is the best I've ever had, small, fits into every pocket and has a matte surface. This here looks rather bulky (but very nice).

The transparency mode is truly incredible on these. It's so noticeable how natural they feel. I used the pixel bud pros 1 for a long time. I've been using the xm5 buds for awhile now. These outdo both easily.

They feel the same ANC wise. Keep in mind xm5s come with hybrid foam tips. While PB2s come with silicone tips. Possibly with some proper foam tips, PB2s will take the lead. Sound quality wise, XM5s simply because of the LDAC codec.

Almost got the WF-1000XM5s when I thought I had finally lost my WF-C500s for good but have had a few pairs of Sony earbuds now. My Pixel 8 hasn't been cooperating well with my earbuds, if the hardware settings with all Sony earbuds are anything alike. It's generally hard to detect and if mic quality is also a non-negotiable for you, I'm not sure if Sony's earbuds are up to speed with having an audible mic.

i have the sonys and luv them.

Got these from Secondipity a while back. Still rocking. I did get foam tips recently though and they feel nicer and fit better. One of the top hits on Amazon. At this price (cheaper than I paid for refurbs), well worth grabbing nicer tips.

I have the Pi8 and wf-xm5, the latter is an excellent all around earbud with great sound, the Pi8 has a significantly more engaging and enjoyable sound though has shorter run time.

I really enjoy the wf-xm5 and the previous model but the products you listed are all good. Sony and Bose seem to have the best ANC. Bear in mind that it doesn't give you total silence, it substantially reduces noise.

All of the ANC buds will have a somewhat bassy sound, I don't find that the Sony wf-xm5 sound is dominated by bass, it sounds quite a bit different than the previous model, more balanced, leaning slightly more toward neutral. I find that it sounds very good with a wide range of music. I've had zero issues with it, the ANC is very good, as is the ambient mode. Differing opinions on products like this are normal, they sound different to each user because of their unique ear shape and people have their own preferences. You'll see the same product described as having way too much bass as well as having very little bass, some will say that they're not loud enough at max volume, others will find them very loud at less than 50% volume. I find near unanimous praise for a product a little suspicious, other people will find it reassuring and will base they're purchase decision on it.

I ended up buying them too and my lord are they amazing. That noise cancelling is out of this world and the fit is perfect. First, I bought the WF-1000XM5, but my ears hurt after wearing them for a while. Their ANC was also good, but only when you sat still, since they tend to move and loosen when walking or eating.

I have both the B&W Pi8 and the Sony WF-1000XM5 buds and while the Pi8 are amazing and are my daily driver, I recommend the XM5 if battery life and noise cancelling are important a priority to you. They both sound amazing and overall the Pi8 is my top pick but it still has some minor quirks still being worked out for connection.

Correct, for the XM5s, ambient sound control/quick access are one setting and play back control is another and you can pick which bud has those controls but you can't have everything one a singular bud.

WF-1000XM5. Great sound, very good ANC, pairs easily with Steam Deck. I don't like wearing headphones nowadays, much prefer earbuds mostly.

I've never seen the WF XM4 fit properly in anybody's ears except for mine. They always hang outward and look weird. For this reason, I think the XM5 buds are better for most people. Battery issues are another reason, but I'm not 100% ready to rule out that the same won't happen to the XM5 buds. I'm preeeetty convinced that Sony nuked the XM4 batteries so their customers would upgrade to XM5 instead of keeping their XM4. Between WH XM4 and XM5 though, I would say that unless you take calls frequently with the XM5, there's nothing it does substantially better than the XM4 to warrant the extra $50-100. Its ANC is stronger, but only very slightly, and then it also automatically adjusts itself, which is stupid. The soundstage is a bit wider, but the sound itself is colder, and the bass lacks the kick that the XM4 gives you (that being said, the XM4 bass does have a tendency to creep into the mids). They're also less portable, their build is flimsy, and more recent batches are proving notoriously fragile. I would say the XM4 headphones are easily the best *wireless* headphones Sony has made. Once you get into wired then yea it gets left far behind.

Definitely depends on the person, I really like my XM5 earbuds, and my Partner likes them more than her Air Pod Pros, and she has an iPhone, I run android, and I tend to like the non apple products for audio/everything

So they have everything you listed, but the comfort is subjective.. on my XM5 , I did the fitment check they have on the app, and it recommended 2 different sizes, so that might work if you get them and its not comfortable. My battery lasts about 6-7 hrs of continuous usage, I use them all day as i work, I also use them when I go to the gym and just streaming stuff and havent had issues. I listen to Heavy rock or metal and everything pretty much except country and the sound quality is great. My mom has the galaxy ones you're looking at, and she thinks they are fantastic, but I havent used them personally. The battery does charge quickly.

I love my Sonys. They don't harass me and turn on features I never want on. I put them in, and off I go. Former airpod pro 2 user. "Follow Iphone" (head tracking bs) turned on every time I used them. The issue was knows for years but never fixed. Even in settings the switch appeared off. So I would have to turn the setting "on" then back off. Every single time. No official fix for this btw so if you encounter this bug, good luck. The second my airpods were stolen, I never went back. I got the Sonys, put them, and they work. They sound and better than my airpods ever did. Also I almost always had trouble connecting it to something not Apple made. And yet again the Sonys just work with no fuss.

Xm4s are extremely easy to replace batteries on. Would never buy air pods or low repairability buds like xm5s again.

You should be able to repair these products, the xm5s can't be readily repaired. The xm4s and others can. Moral of the story, don't give anti consumer companies your money

It is true that sound quality is subjective everyone is going to give a completely different answer than what you'd hope, so I'm going to try and be as concise and honest as possible. One of my main hobbies is trying and returning earbuds on Amazon, so that I can do my best to help other people find the pair that best suits their needs. It's been close to 200 at this point, I'm sure. So here's an unpopular take, which many may disagree with, and I'm still trying to understand why i seem to be the odd one out. I've tried the status between 3, and the original beteeen pro that I ordered through kickstarter, and I'd put them in the same category as the nuraloop, which i also ordered through kickstarter in 2016. Sadly, the denon perl pro sound pretty much the same to me, which is, dynamic, but completely muddy, and as if a thick theater curtain hides the detail from you in all three pairs. They should all be worth less than 80 dollars for the way they sound, imho. I was very unimpressed. The momentum true wireless 4 have very delicate drivers that are incredibly sensitive to changes in eq, making them distort and crackle on aptx, and I didn't find them to sound that much better than my old galaxy buds 2 Pro, tbh. Similar sound signature. I've tried all of noble Audio's wireless earbuds, and I'd put them in the same category as raycons. Overhyped, oversold, unimpressive sounding, consumer targeted garbage that looks really cool. Sadly, my 20 dollar soundcore a20i sounded miles ahead of the Noble fokus prestige, which are supposed to be the "pinnacle" of true wireless. I don't understand why people like them at all, and I hope their iems sound better. The beoplay ex were very impressive for what they were, but were incredibly uncomfortable due to the plastic seam which held them together. I have yet to try the pi8. The master&dynamic mw08 sport were amazing earbuds, but only after an eq was applied, and then they did the same thing the mtw4 did, crackle and distort due to weak speaker drivers, but they were the best and most realistic I'd ever heard, so maybe put the new mw09 at the top as well? Not sure. The devialet gemini 2 seem to get both positive and negative reviews, so it may be a gamble, haven't heard them myself tbh. Svanar wireless are another I haven't tried, but seem legit. Possibly beyerdynamic's new pair. I would say the mtw4, xm5, az80, and buds 3 pro would probably satisfy most people generally, but I've heard so many earbuds that were impressive and downright atrocious sounding that I'd put those three in the category of "good enough", not something like the prestige category. Comparing those to the beoplay ex would be like comparing caviar to boba, its just not the same. Anyways, at this point I'm rambling and probably not that helpful, sorry. Good luck with your search!

Master & dynamic mw09, sony wf1000xm5 are the only 2 I know of. The first are much more expensive but with anc on last 10+ hrs, and the xm5 will last I think 7 with nc on

Any quality wireless earbud will work great. The AirPod advantage is that it is in the Apple ecosystem, allowing ease of connectivity and certain features they only provide. I have a pair of Sony WF-1000XM5 that I use with my 16 Pro. I also have a pair of the new Audio Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 that I love. The Sonys have the best ANC and work like AirPods with touch controls on the surface. I have had no issues with connectivity or control since I have owned them. They also sound amazing!

There is a way. It's the same as the over ear, for like a week I was walking and riding the bus and every time the bus stopped it would beep and go from transition modes of transportation. It was kind of creepy and it showed the bus icon and then walking icon as if it was bugging between the two. I did eventually figure out how to turn this off. I'll have to dig for a bit lemme see...

I don't own AirPods, but I will just say that the XM5s are probably the best sounding earphones I've ever used, while I'm not a pro reviewer or have tons of experience, I do own professional IEMs that don't have the usable range that the XM5s do. No song I can throw at it sounds weird. Keep in mind, I have absolutely none of the weird 3D or mapping features on and stick to a flat EQ. The only sound related issues are that the upper midrange is a little... I don't want to say muddy, but it's less clean than the highs and the bass. The bass actually feels like theres a larger driver than there's room for in the buds, it feels clean and strong.  It's super apparent Sony knows what they're doing. It's not flat by any means, but they know where in the frequency spectrum to focus their efforts and it shows. I tested the noise canceling this morning and it's top notch. The buds themselves block a LOT of noise, so even with noise canceling off there's a drastic reduction of ambient sound and the buds completely clamp that down when noise canceling is switched on.

I love my Sony Xm5 buds but - and I can’t stress this enough - the bowers and Wilkins Pi8 with the case rebroadcast is an absolute audio game changer. One of my biggest issues with buds (and I’ve been through a lot) is that the audio quality is limited to what can be broadcast over Bluetooth and also Apple Music default broadcasts AAC. When you plug in the Pi8 case to the iPhone it up converts and rebroadcasts the sound at Aptx which is a higher quality codec and the audio difference in all music is incredibly noticeable

The best noise cancellation is the Bose qc ultra, sexond would be the Sony xm5.

Pixel Buds Pro 1 But out of your list I'd go with the sony, they're all around the best, pixel buds pro are seamless and pretty high quality and bose is... well, bose. Overpriced and chonky.

My new xm5's burned thru battery in 6 hours with ANC on. Without, prolly get 7 or 8. The pixel buds pro 2 last 9-10 hours with ANC on and longer with it off. Soundcore A40s last about as long as the pixels and both sound good, but ofc sony sounds better. Same with air pods pro 2, about 6 hours.

Neither. Sony xm5s

When it comes to earbuds, nothing comes close to the Bose QC Ultra's ANC. Except the older QC2: I never had a chance to compare the two side by side but I owned both on separate occasions and felt the ANC was roughly equivalent. The Sony XM5 ANC isn't in the same league, despite what a lot of people say. It's among the best *non-Bose* ANC, but the Bose is miles ahead of that pack. The Technics AZ80 ANC isn't even close, though they are truly excellent earbuds in most characteristics, their ANC is only so-so for a premium set of earbuds. That said, I haven't tried the Comply foam eartips that another commenter suggested. I'm interested in trying those, because improving the AZ80's ANC would make them nearly perfect. But even with improved ANC, I can't imagine they come close to the Bose. I don't have experience with noise cancelling headphones, but I'd be willing to bet Bose is in the lead there too. If I were to guess, I'd assume that your best option is whatever the latest premium Bose over-ear headphone is, and your second best option is the QC Ultra earbuds. But you may want to research the headphone side of things because I'm just extrapolating. For the record, I'm not a Bose fanboy. In fact I don't particularly love my QC Ultras. They do sound good, and if they were my only set of earbuds I wouldn't have much to complain about, but I have other sets that I like much more overall and wear much more often. But if I want the strongest noise cancelling, I reach for the Bose without a second's hesitation.

I prefer the Jabra Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active (especially Gen 2 versions), the Sennheiser MTW4, and the Devialet Gemini 2. All of these have very good ANC (nothing is as good as the Bose ANC though). In general I prefer their sound, comfort, controls, size, style, etc. over the Bose. I don't love the Sony XM5 (less comfortable, less customizable controls, and a sound profile I don't like as much), but they still sound pretty good and have very good ANC. (Again, not Bose-level ANC though). There are other earbuds I prefer for one reason or another, but the ones I listed above are the ones that have good ANC.

I tested all my earbuds in a room full of about 30 musicians warming up and chatting, including a drummer. The Bose ANC is better, by a long shot, than anything else. Sony has very good passive noise cancelling due to the foam eartips sealing your ears like earplugs. In a noisy room, the XM5 resulted in a marginally quieter experience than the Jabra Elite 10 and the Sennheiser MTW4, but the Sony had an uncomfortable muffled, plugged-up sort of effect whereas the Jabra and Sennheiser had a more filtered effect. In terms of dB (SPL) reaching my eardrums, the Sony probably beat the other two slightly, but the other two have more effective technology and I personally prefer their ANC vs. Sony's largely-passive NC. Either way, the Bose blew all three away. Significantly quieter than anything else through the whole frequency spectrum. The only strike against Bose ANC is that occasionally a sudden loud transient will make it through briefly, albeit somewhat muffled. I didn't have my Devialet Gemini 2 or Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 at the time I did this comparison but so far they have both impressed me with their ANC as well. I think the Devialet may even be 2nd place after Bose, pushing Sony down into 3rd place, but I sold my Sony before buying the Devialet so I can no longer compare them side by side.

Since your first criterion is great ANC, I'd take the AZ80 off your list. It's one of the best earbuds out there in nearly every way *except* for its ANC, which is serviceable but not as good as other flagship models. The Sennheiser MTW4 is roughly equivalent to the AZ80 in most ways but has better ANC and some more future-proof technologies like AuraCast. I think the Sennheiser has better sound than the Technics too, but I came to that conclusion only after extensive back and forth testing in which I preferred the Sennheiser roughly 60% of the time, so it's a close call. Overall my favorite is the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2, which is more comfortable and has better controls (physical buttons, all customizable), and roughly equivalent ANC. I'd say the Sennheiser sound is a bit better though. I find the Sony to be uncomfortable and it annoys me that the touch controls only have limited options for customization. The sound is pretty good but I think it's a bit shy of top-tier. The ANC is up there with the Sennheiser and Jabra. I'm not an Apple person so I can't really compare to the AirPods, but AirPods are boring and who wants to be boring?

I bought the xm5s once before and unfortunately they can have the same battery problem.

Yeah the xm5 sucks. The anc is barely noticeable and tons of users have reported this already. (https://www.reddit.com/r/SonyHeadphones/comments/1657scu/noise_canceling_on_the_wf1000xm5_doesnt_seem_to/)

It's entirely subjective, but for my weird ears the ones that seal the best and I can use for a long time are the Sony WF-1000XM5 with the foam tips. I've tried Bose, Airpods, Sennheiser and the Samsung (+Jabra) but for now none fit so well for me as the Sony.

I have both - have the WF-1000XM5 since around launch and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro were basically free when I upgraded from S24U -> S25U. Re the gym, the WF-1000XM5 are not suitable for running, in my experience. I'm sure you can find posts from people who say they run in them no problem, but the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are so much better for running, or anything with bouncing. The Sony's are heavier and their center of mass is farther outside the ear. The Buds 3 pro center of mass is more in the ear, and it has the q-tip design, so it stays in better for running. Re sound quality, the Sony is much better. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are "adequate". If you care about what your music sounds like, the Buds 3 Pro are not a great choice. In the gym, sound quality is not my number one concern, so I tolerate the sound quality of the Buds 3 Pro. But I would never ever reach for them to listen to music. FYI, I also have the WH-1000XM5.

> wf-1000XM5 I've had two of these and both times now after a couple years of usage the left side depletes battery faster (and I mean _very_ fast) than the right by a lot, essentially making them useless. It's very annoying and a known manufacturing issue they just have never resolved. I won't be purchasing another pair once these ones officially go.

Sony WF-1000XM5 Great in-ear headphones with one of the best noise canceling for the commute to work.

I have: - JBL Pro Tour 3 - Galaxy Buds3 Pro - Sony XM5 - Galaxy Buds Fe I rarely use the FE with my phone. I mostly wear it when doing cardio on my bike and have my tablet connected because it's the one least likely to fall off when I'm wiping sweat off lol ANC isn't great but for the price, it's fair JBL Pro Tour 3 are probably my favorite overall. They're comfortable(stem design) and have amazing ANC and most impressively an 8 hour battery life. Also I love how gimmicky that case is. I would switch to them fully if I can get them across phone, laptop and tablet easily, but they only do 2 devices at the same time. Sony XM5 have the best ANC, hands down. But I hate the stemless design and they can get uncomfortable wearing them over a long period. About 5-6 hours of battery life. They're okay. I wear them at work when I want a complete shut out from the environment Buds3 Pro are the ones I use the most because they're just the most comfortable. Also they integrate with my Galaxy laptop and tab easily. ANC is fine. The problem of battery life is real though. I am lucky to get 4 hours, and the case needs to be recharged practically after 2 full uses of the buds. So every 2 days. So the thing is, Buds3 Pro are fairly affordable especially when on sale. They have good sound quality and all. The Sony and JBL are more expensive, by a margin. So ultimately it will depend if you can compromise on battery life. Also, sound quality is better on the more expensive headsets, and Bluetooth connection is more consistent but it's not something the average user would find a problem with imo.

You can find them for $149 regularly. They are worth the price.

$198 currently on Amazon. They go on sales a few times throughout the year. 3 weeks, it's not like you've been sitting and searching for ages. I found some renewed sets for $149, not ideal for me but if they retain the warranty then that wouldn't be so bad. I found them for less than $300 in a matter of seconds after you posted this.

XM5 were absolute trash. I gave mine away and went back to XM4. Then Sony decided to fuck me with a SW induced battery bug.

How are the Steelseries Arctis Gamebuds sound quality and battery life? I'm thinking of getting them, I have the Sony Inzone Buds but the sound quality is not great and somehow they don't sound better than my WF1000XM3. I've played around with the eq so it's a lot better but still don't sound as good as my WF1000XM3 and the WF1000XM5 I borrowed from a friend. Any feedback would be appreciated so I can make my decision. Thank you.

Man I tried some xm5s a month ago and both the buds and case were completely dead after 6 hours of casual listening. Didn't get better over time. Returned them asap. With all that being said, they did sound great tho.

Use these everywhere at work and they're great!

I have had zero complaints from people I talk to. You can use the excellent software to choose what each earbud does when you tap and double tap also. I have the left for answering calls/play and the right for noise cancelling on or off

This status audio is decent company their support good and very responsive. But if we talk about their product between 3anc is very powerful and detailed bud, yes triple driver makes difference in sound quality moreover, its damn so loud, ugly design understanble cuz lack of room for multiple drivets and chip, battery etc. Before try them do not underestimate . My experiences with earbuds listed below from best to good ( i never buy bad;) ) 1- noble audio fokus pro 2- final audio ze8000 mk2 3- status audio between 3ANC 4- bowers & willins pi 7 s2 5- sony wf xm5 6- B&O EX 7- apple airpods pro 2 8- beats fit pro Starus 3anc is more powerful in the list and then noble audio, both triple drivers iem tws , noble audio is more balanced detailed in vocals and sub bass, 3ANC very close to it. In term of sub bass these both are great. For soundstage and seperation final ze8000 mk2 killer, far better so status 3anc is definitely best value for the money compared to other my great buds its half of price . Give a try , if u listen espcially electonic hip Hop rap, ambient chill, lon fi. U will be amazed

Do you have all of those headphones?? Sony has very bad microphone and bad for calls.

Loving my jabra elite 8 active gen 2s! Purchased xm5s first but man are they uncomfortable. Returned them for the jabras and couldn't be happier. Fits like a glove and pretty much indestructible

Same I bought the xm5s first and tried so hard to love them but just couldn't get past the fit. I returned them and got elite 8s and as sson as I put them near my ear they slipped in as if they were made just for my ears. So glad I switched!

Elite 8s are awesome. I bought xm5s first but the fit was too brutal so returned them and got the jabras which fit like a glove

Bose has been making noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds for decades - they also design noise cancelling headphones for aviation pilots. Needless to say, they have been perfecting their ANC algorithms for a LOT longer than other brands. If ANC is key, Bose Quietcomfort ultra is going to be at the top of the list - AS LONG AS you mix/match earbuds and wingtips to find the perfect 'fit' - it could take a few weeks before you get a nice tight seal in the ears. The Sony XM4 earbuds scored quite high on ANC compared to the Bose in real-world testing, but some firmware update from Sony effectively killed the battery life on the XM4 earbuds, and it seems the XM5 also have battery life issues. Jabra has gotten a fair amount of praise as a mid-priced quality earbud. HOWEVER earlier this year Jabra announced they were stepping out of the wireless earbud market - so there is no more hardware or software updates coming from Jabra, and no clue how they'll honor warranty claims if there is one. Sennheiser is really popular all around. The MTW4 are on sale for a good price and perform pretty well. However from my experience with the Momentum Sport earbuds, the ANC works well enough, but not the best I've handled.

For noise cancelling, I like my Bose QC Ultra earbuds. They are also very comfortable to wear and have sufficiently good sound quality (not the best, but good enough). But call quality is not that great. I personally am not a fan. I do not use them for taking calls unless necessary. One thing to keep in mind is that Apple being what Apple is, uses a higher bitrate when streaming AAC to apple-brand products. So even though the Bose has AptX-Adaptive, and Sony has LDAC - an iPhone will stream AAC.... but at half the bitrate you get using any other Apple (or their other internal brand, Beats) brand product (this is intentional to force you to stay within their ecosystem, of course). Fun side note - AptX is open-source and any phone company could use the software to build it into their phones, but they choose not to. I would say that Sony XM5 likely has better sound quality than the Bose Quietcomfort, but the Bose wins on better ANC and better styling (in my opinion), and better comfort (I have worn mine for four hours straight without any issue with comfort or battery life). Apple is..... apple - it has it's pros and cons. I avoid apple in general, but I get why people like them

Bose has a signature sound quality that's rather flat with a bit of bass at the low end but nothing overly powerful. Sony tends to have a bit more 'punch' in the low end. Overall they're pretty close and going to be upper end sound quality. But in a head-to-head, sony is going to win the sound quality point. But in every other way, I feel like Bose-QC wins the points (battery, style, ANC, and comfort)

I'm lucky enough to have both (bought the Sennheisers and won the Sonys in a raffle). The Sennheisers sound WAY better to me. They also have better battery life. However, the Sonys have way better ANC and are slightly more comfortable. My complaint with the Sonys is that they leak a lot of sound. My coworkers can hear my music even at 30-40% volume. This is not a problem with the Sennheisers. Basically, I prefer the Sonys for flights. I prefer the Sennheisers for home, work, and everything else. If you value sound quality most, get the Sennheisers. If you're planning on using these mostly on planes and trains, get the Sonys. On a loud flight, the Sennheisers sound quality doesn't shine through as much and the Sony ANC really pays off. Both are great and you honestly can't go wrong with either from my perspective.

They both sound like bluetooth headphones, not great but clear enough to understand.

No the battery has been pretty good in my experience. Even if I leave it unplugged in my backpack for a few weeks it seems to always have a lot of battery left.

Glad you're cause of death wasnt bose qc ultra earbuds. I hit them up as well and they offered to replace them. But i think ima sell them instead. I just tweaked with the XM5 buds and im blown away with the audio now I switched to LDAC, turned on lossless, and dolby atmos audio, along with spatial on apple music and prioritized audio quality and it's christmas in my head. I'm never cheating on sony again.

Good luck replacing the batteries in the WF-1000XM5. I'm done with Sony earbuds.

Battery life on the XM5 is better too.

Dude, Samsung galaxy buds 2 has a good rating doesn't mean every TWS is better than every wired iems. Compare prices, use logic. For eg i have Letshouer s12 n it sounds better than Airpods or xm5, n it certainly sounds better than Buds3. TWS have other feature like Noise Cancellation, bluetooth, battery, ambient mode etc.. but dont compare them for sound quality. Because most of them have small drivers. I knw Crinacle is legend n i have bought some of my gear based on his videos but still i would beg to differ atleast for my set of ears.

Apple airpods pro and technics az80 are very good with voice calls and I use them daily. Airpods pro is very good in noisy and wind environments. Noice cancellation is also very good. I use AZ80 for my office zoom and teams meetings.

Buds Pro 2 currently, but I still have and use Buds 2 and A, depending on what I'm doing and where I'm at. My kids have the Buds Pro and the Sony as well. We all agree that musically speaking you can really dial the Sony's in, to where they're the best sounding for most music, but overall we say the Buds Pro 2 are the best. Size, battery life and fit for sure.

Same here. Perfect for sleeping too. Not too tight and I got mine for 20% off around black friday. The noise cancelling is insane and so is the sound quality.

In my experience, with a proper fit they don't fall out no matter how much you move around, which is definitely great for running

I own the Sony's I couldn't in good conscience. Recommend them. I wear them often to the gym. One day some sweat got into them and the right one stopped working. Sony refused to honor the warranty of the product because it was not a manufacturer defect. Needless to say I will never buy another Sony product again.

In terms of the best, most balanced sound out of the box, yes, these are the best. In terms of pure ANC performance, Bose is better. The Sony XM5 rely a lot on their default tips for passive NC. The active part of ANC is actually pretty weak with the Sony. If you replace the tips with regular off the shelf tips (like I did, because the original tips were hurting my ears), then a lot of the NC diminishes.

I've tried a few models and found the Sony WF-1000XM5 really stands out. The noise cancellation is effective even in busy settings, and the sound quality meets my expectations for long listening sessions.

I've experimented with a few models, and my personal favorite turned out to be the Sony WF-1000XM5.

I've played around with a couple of models recently, and I think the Sony wf-1000xm5 really impressed me with its sound balance and ANC performance.

AirPods pod 2 is not fantastic mic quality. It has a lot of artifacts and robotic sound. The AirPods Pro 2 also do very poorly with background noise. The XM5 are way better in that regard. XM5 completely blocks out mic sound of running a sink or flushing a toilet. I haven’t tried the AZ100.

Side note: avoid the Sony WF-1000XM5. The noise cancelling works great but I have constant software and battery issues.

On the high end, I have the Sony XM5 and Huawei Freebuds Pro 4. These days, I find myself reaching for the Huawei Freebuds Pro 4 so often that it's now my de facto buds. Sound: Super balanced—I'm on the "Balanced" preset and never had to tweak the EQ. I mostly listen to indie rock, pop, folk and soul. Hated the sound at first, as they were muddy, but all it took was to increase the volume to a 7/10 and it just unleashed the soundstage. I'd say it's def better than the Airpods Pro 2, but won't beat the Sony XM5. Comfort: Very comfortable. No complaints. Aside from clip type earbuds, these are the only in-ear buds I'll gladly wear all day. Battery: 4-5 hours on LDAC with ANC on (I'm always on LDAC). Probably longer on when using AAC. ANC: Amazing. I like the ANC on the XM5 better (I grew up with Sony's ANC ever since the NW-S705F so it's very hard to get rid of the preference), but this FBP4 comes very, very close, and on par to the Sony's when using the foam tips. I sometimes just use the ANC just to block noise. Mic quality: The best call quality, bar none. I took a call at the gym where it was extremely noisy with loud music pumping. People tell me my voice sounds natural as if I was using my phone's mic. In these conditions, my voice will sound "robotic" or intelligible on other buds. That silly commercial Huawei made where a guy took a business call at a concert wasn't farfetched. Controls: Versatile, and more importantly responsive — touch, pinch, swipe. The bad: lacks spatial audio which I personally do not use.

I owned a xm5 unit. If you care about anc don't buy it. Anc it's trash. Apart from that it's quite good. One of the best. Not I have Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. Also one of the best. Very small, good anc. This is my thoughts on both items

I tried a lot of Earbuds, Google Pixel Buds 2, Samsung buds pro 2, Bose qc ultra, jabra elite 10, one plus... Everyone of this add a good anc. Sony don't. And I even tried 3 xm5 units. If you tried anc on and off its the same thing. No difference what so ever. That's my experience. And I love sony products. I own xm5 headphones for example

Hey, I was looking at the xm5s recently to replace my xm4. The battery went to crap after the update. Do your have that issue? 

You're using the xm5s or xm4? It's bad enough I don't think I'd go back to sony if this is the case on the 5s

Ok, so i ordered some refurb'd xm5s, i have a big trip in a couple months, i'll update you on how that goes

I'd stick to third party solution if I were using both iOS and AndroidSony WF 10000XM5 still a solid choice (though mic could be better). Or their new offerings on the Linkbuds also a solid choice IMO Or mid budget option like OnePlus Buds 3 / 3 Pro, CMF Buds, is already sufficient choice. Obviously it all depends on the budget - but personally, I think it's a good start.

I have these and they're good. But soundwise I prefer the Sony wf xm5 and Technics AZ80. Out of the three I use the Technics most frequently. They're all very good options though.

The only thing that I don’t like about the XM5s is that the noise cancellation sucks in wind

I have the XM5s, they are fantastic but the only downside is the noise cancellation sucks in wind, so if you live in a windy area or you’re planning to run with them in, you may be better off with the AirPod Pros. Both are great, I think the XM5s were better and cheaper for me.

The JBL tp3 are my favorites as well. With a little tweaking in the app it's almost as good as my xm5 but way more comfortable and way better on phone calls. I daily a pair of aero clips because I haven't found a transparency mode that doesn't confuse me. So for open ears, it's aeroclips. Excellent sound for open and excellent phone call quality. Not relevant but just throwing it out there. I greatly prefer the JBL over the xm5, it's like a minor difference in ANC and everything else is just as good, plus better for calls and much more comfortable, however not as secure as the xm5, I use to hit the gym with the xm5 and they're great, the JBL generally has a more relaxed fit and I wouldn't trust it to stay in my ears for exercise. Glad someone talks about the tp3, everyone is always talking about the top 4 (xm5, qcu, az100, pi8), the JBL is kind of iykyk type of product.

Best sound - Denon PerL Pro https://amzn.to/3UDbDyV Best ANC - Bose https://amzn.to/3UElULs Best combo - Sony https://amzn.to/40x2fAG To me, Sony doesn't sound as good as the Denon and Bose beats it on the ANC side, but it's a great total package.

I've got sony wf-1000XM5. Had for a year, I use them every day. Sound quality is good, the in ear bit need replacing every couple of months but they mould to the ear so I find them much comfier than the hard plastic ones. Once you know which size fits your ear you can find places that sell a bunch on the same sized replacements. I got mine from sonicfoam, though i think you can only get that through amazon. They offer ones for a range of different earphones so make sure your getting the right one and that it fits in the case with the size you need. They do fall out from time to time, and I have never taken them running, I sometimes wear a beanie just to keep them securely in. I often fall asleep with one side in. I don't know how long they last battery wise, but like I said, I use them all day. The only issue I have is that the automatic setting is ambient sound rather than noise cancelling, but it's easily correctable in the app (sound connect).

You will see the Denon Perl Pros spoken of favorably again and again. This is for a reason. They are sort of large, they can be tough finding your fit, they require some playing around with initially (for both the fit and the APP Personalization). But the sound experience is totally worth it especially since these hit a low price of $179 recently and likely will again. I've got Sony wf1000xm5's which I still like very much, but the Denon's are my favorite with regard to the sound experience. I probably should just add that ANC isn't a big thing for me personally. I usually turn it off for "purer" sound. The Denon ANC is perfectly fine (for me when I use it) but the Sony canceling is maybe slightly more effective if thats your thing.

The XM5s are great also !

Nah, go ahead - break the bank. Get the BUDS you want. You'll thank yourself later when you've lived with them a bit and more fully appreciate the life changing joy you seek. Denon PerL Pros - not for everyone perhaps but these DELIVER if you take the time to "tune" them. They also have been on sale with some regularity these days typically btwn $149 - 199 Sony XM5's - very good also. Probably better ANC than the Denon's (if that's important for you). Also frequently on sale These two suggestions are ones I own.

I get it, it's a different league though. Do you personally own a pair? I am definitely interested but really wondering how much of an upgrade they are in comparison to the sub 300 category. Currently trying out 4 different ones... The xm5/Momentum 4/Amiron 300 and tour pro 3

So my elite 10 right earbud doesn't charge anymore (same happened with my elite 7 sport) and decided to go on a small shopping spree to find a replacement. Ordered the Sennheiser Momentum 4 , Sony 1000mx5 and the Beyerdynamic Amiron 300. I like a solid bass and comfort cause I wear them 4 to 6 hours a day. In terms of sound quality, the sennheiser wins followed by the Beyers. They both lack a deep bass though and their ANC was disappointing. The Sony has a great bass and awesome ANC, BUT mid and high tones are not as sexy in comparison. The fit of the Sony is also a point of concern... I've to order third party tips to get them to fit properly I think... All in all, I am still on the market... Does anyone have a recommendation? I dont want to spend more than €300.

How would you compare these to Sony Wf 1000xm5s? I lost 1 of them and was wondering if it's worth replacing.

Interesting. I went from xm4 to xm5 and the size down was a welcome. ANC and the ambient sound was improved a decent amount too. I might look into getting the pixel buds pro 2.

The main reason why I have bought power Beats Pro 2 and I have been using them since day 1 of the launch, is for gym. I have AirPods Pro 2 how ever they don’t stay in my ears when I run or do strength training. Keeps falling off. I tried beats fit pro for sometime but that didn’t work well as my ears started hurting a little from the wing tip that stays inside of your ears unlike power Beats Pro 2. I tried Sony wf1000xm5, I am not sure if the earbuds I received had an issue or it is generally like that( I have seen quite a number reviews of what I experienced ) noise cancellation was pathetic. Then finally Powerbeats pro 2 launched and I purchased it. Happy with the purchase no regrets. It is great fit for gym and running outdoor with noise cancellation close to AirPods Pro 2 with right fit ear tips and transparency mode for outdoor use. You get sizes xs to xl which is great. Sound is not very bass heavy as it used to be in beats and no sound leakage with right sized ear tip. If your primary use is for workout and running this is best especially you use iPhone which works seamlessly with Apple. Purchase from an Apple Store as i don’t think it will be on sale anytime soon and if you not happy with the purchase atleast you can return them. I hope you will find it enjoyable.

Sony hands down, they are pricey but worth it.

My experience with the XM5'S hasn't been the best. Unlike others, I don't rate them great. So I'll be getting the buds 3 pro.

Anc wasn't great, they drain lot. When I pop then into the case, one earphone would stay on and drain. Sound has been slowly losing bass. I could go on.. I've swapped them out and same issue.

I had both, and I liked both. Sony has the slightly better noise canceling and Sennheiser has the slightly better audio quality. I find, that the sennheiser respond better to eq. I stayed with the mtw4 because they fit me better and I just love the case. The fabric can't get scratched up. Mtw4 is the bigger bud tho so keep that in mind.

Sony XM5 easy

Sony WFXM5 easy top quality all around

Sony is truly better all around Technics are great but ANC is not as good decent if anything

Especially for my daily commute Excellent ANC is a must The EQ customization is great in the Sony app

I've had the Sony XM5 for a little over a year. If ANC is what you're looking for, the Sony's are very overrated. It's terrible. I have quite a few other gripes about them as well. I had the XM4s before and IMO, they were better earbuds overall. From your list, I would go with the Bose Quiet Comfort. In my quest to replace my XM5s I'm currently trying out the Technics AZ80s and Bowers and Wilkins Pi8. If ANC is what you're after, I definitely look into the Technics as well. Noise cancellation is pretty fantastic. They don't touch B&W from a sound quality perspective, but ANC is great.

I've been a bit disappointed with the wf-1000xm5 noise cancelling. I need to try different ear tips before giving up on them. My old xm3 seem better than the xm5 Denon Perl Pro, also not that impressed with. Maybe they are too sealed and don't like the feeling and sound quality hasn't clicked for me with personalisation on or off. Soundcore 4 NC, are ok at most things but wouldn't be rushing to use them Moondrop space travel look nice in case, sound pretty good for the price, fit isn't the most comfortable My items not on the list. Most impressed with the soundpeats opera 5, weird fit but great sound, my original Samsung bud pro for convenience and solid performance and the Sony wf-1000xm3 bulky but great noise cancelling

I have both on s25u Xm5 pro: sound warm and natural with balanced bass, at the gym they are perfect because don't slip away and they have tap controls (not on the stems), better ANC, better battery life, the app has a tons of function but is not very intuitive. Sounds is great of you equalize them on wavelet and they never tired you. Is a premium sound with identity . They have multipoint, game changer for me in some situation. Xm5 con: after a few hours they could be uncomfortable because of the pressure of the memory foam tips, microphone just is ok but nothing special, Buds3pro pro: you could forget to have them on because they are very comfortable, better microphone, vocal controls, they sound very good but with some difference, for me is a cold sound, maybe they lack of personality. When I use the xm5 I feel at home, the buds3 pro are technically excellent but they need equalization if you want a warm and comfortable and balanced sound Buds3pro con: They slip away at the gym, squeeze control are worse than simple tap especially at the gym, they have massive bass but if you want a balanced sounds you have to necessary equalize them with wavelet app. No multipoint, is a shame for this..they want to emulate apple even in the bad things

Very happy with the Sony WF-XM5s, the noise cancellation's actually a bit worse than last gen for me (still better than airpods imo) but they're way more comfortable. Good sound quality, long battery life, and a lot of useful features in the app too. Have had them for maybe 6 months so far with no issues.

Haha, I'd completely forgotten about this comment! 1. Still holding up great right now, had a couple of firmware updates that seem to have improved the NC quality for me considerably. Getting a good fit with the foam tips also matters a lot. No sign of the battery issues which led to the untimely demise of my XM4s. 2. Call quality is good by Bluetooth standards, much better than last gen, but still can't touch wired buds. It's perfectly serviceable though. 3. I was using an Android initially but have now entered the Apple ecosystem - experience is great on both, but I do miss the seamless transitions between Apple devices that AirPods offer. Would still pick these over AirPods though.

The buds themselves are super light and don't cause any problems, but the foam tips are somewhat of an acquired taste; there's a specific way you need to insert them and some people find them uncomfortable. You can always swap them for some silicone tips if you have a problem with that, though - you just lose a bit of NC efficacy. Personally, I can wear them for hours with the foam tips without discomfort.

Great! The XM5s should be perfect for you then :) Good luck with your eventual purchase!

Comfort/fit isn’t the same thing. I tried on a pair of Sony WF-1000XM5’s last week for a few days, they ‘fit’ great because of the foam eartips, but they were not comfortable at all. Felt like I had full on earplugs in and the plastic casing which is very large touches parts of the ear and overtime makes your ear sore. All of the comfort/fit stuff is subjective of course, but to say that they’re 9.2 on average for comfort might mislead others as the vast majority of posts and rankings I see about the WF-1000XM5’s say that they’re aren’t very comfortable. I know you say it’s based on personal experience, but still. I also didnt think they sounded good but I wont bother even getting into that.

Currently experiencing this now. This month, I’ve tried - EAH-AZ100, Sony XM5, Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2, Jabra Elite 8 Gen 2, Pixel Buds Pro 2, OnePlus Buds Pro 3, Nothing Buds. I could not agree more. I’m currently testing the EAH-AZ100s against the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 and Nothing Buds, and was going to make a post about it myself. I’m not sure what to think. The hype and price almost ‘ruin’ the AZ100’s. They’re just nowhere near as mind blowing as people make out, especially when you compare them to buds 1/2 or 1/3 of the price. As you said, If you put a gun to my head and asked me to pick, yes, I’d probably say the EAH-AZ100s are probably ‘best’ for the average person, but do I think they’re always the most enjoyable or best, absolutely not. I’d honestly say if I listened to 10 songs, maybe 4 of them sound best on the EAZ-AZ100s, 4 on the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, and 2 on the Nothings, and the difference between the Nothing Buds having 2 points and 4, is as you said, literally, literally like 5%. I found it very hard to decide between buds, it was one of the reasons I ended up testing so many. Similarly, I thought the XM5’s were literally the worst of all the ones I mentioned above, despite being near the top in their perceived premium’ness’. I genuinely would pick the Nothing Buds 10/10 times over them. That said, I am hoping to learn how to get more out of these EAZ-AZ100’s with the EQ, I’ve tried playing around with them but not really hearing this ‘mind blowing’ ‘blow your head off’ ‘rip your head in half’ quality tbh.

I've got the m5 and the touch sucks, too. I just want buttons.

Sony’s

1000xm’s latest versions? used to remember when audio junkies on yt used to show them as superior to airpods

I have the AZ80's coming in Tuesday. I also need major noise cancellation. I have iPods pro 2's and Sony XM5's. My old 4's died. I have tried 10 different manufacturers tips with the XM5's. If I get a comfortable set, little to no noise cancellation. The Sonic Foam are very uncomfortable, but have superb sound quality and great noise cancellation. Anything on the XM4's canceled sound way better than the 5's. The AirPods Pro 2's are really good for most of my noise at work, but deep rumble comes in depending on the job. The good news, I have some Comply tips for the XM5's that are comfortable and fairly decent for noise cancellation that may be great when the AZ80's come in. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Yes, I sent back the Bose. They definitely had great noise cancelling for steady noise, but introduce a sudden load noise and they were abysmal! They would let the load noise through and then take several seconds to recover, thus letting in the steady load noises for those few seconds. I have iPods pro 2 and they are good most of the time. I also have the XM 5's, but quite unhappy with them. I cannot get ear tip replacements that work for me. Anything comfortable and not enough noise cancellation despite having a good seal. I do have one manufacturer that works extremely well for noise cancellation and sound quality, but quite uncomfortable. I've tried 10 different manufacturer replacements and not found anything suitable. I broke down yesterday and ordered the AZ80's. Will be arriving tomorrow. The sound quality of the XM5's is head and shoulders above the AirPods Pro 2's. I hope I have a good experience with the Technics.

hey, nice review. can you update me on how anc and baterylife are? i got a pair at launch after the recall period, tested them for a month but had to return thrm because the anc at the high end was horrible. anc also had a hissing noise and every 60 seconds or so it shrieked for a couple of seconds in an electric staticy kinda way. so yeah, i returned them and got the sony wf1000xm5 and never looked back (they are just amazing, better in all aspects but they are less comfortable and have worse microphones) untill now, when the foam eartips started fraying and probably need replacing in a couple more months. so, tangent aside: do you experience any weirdness with the anc? are they improved in any way now, after half a year since you reviewed them? is the battery better/worse with one ui 7? is there anything else updated/improved? how's the durability in general? thanks for reading this and thanks more if you answer!

I do Like the Technics AZ80 and Sony WF-1000XM5. They work really good in my opinion

So far I am loving my XM5’s. I was VERY NERVOUS about getting them after my 4’s had the battery failure. I did love them. Had the 5’s for 672 hours use so far and am Loving them.

The Sony WF1000XM5s are the best earbuds on the market

Hey, I'm looking for the best true wireless earbuds that I can take on my long walks (usually 8-10 miles 3-4 times per week). My. main purpose is to listen to music and podcasts and make calls (often work calls). I need great mic quality (as great as it can be on truly wireless earbuds). Fit is important since I don't want to constantly fiddle around with them on longer walks. Sweatproof or sweat resistant is a must. I live in the humid South - and will definitely be sweating during these long walks. What I've Tried Already Sony XM4 and XM5 - XM4s were too big. XM5s were a good size, but I feel like they didn't get loud enough and the bass wasn't strong enough - that mattered more before when I was running with the more. Now I mostly walk, so super strong bass isn't needed. The foam tips were good, but I don't know if I could wear them for long periods of time. Nothing Ear(a) - I really wanted to like these, but they just didn't stay in my ear well when sweating. Linkbuds S - I was a big fan of these - but I kept having a recurring issue with these that has been reported online in that the left ear bud would drain exponentially faster than the right earbud. I swapped it out once and still had the same issue. Call and mic quality were good and the sound was really good and the compact size was awesome - but that persistent battery drain issue was a big buzzkill. OnePlus Buds 3 - That's my current driver. Got it to pair with my OnePlus Open (no longer have that) and really like the bass and how loud they get. However, I'm starting to notice on my longer walks that I constantly have to re-adjust the stems because they move around - and when I do that it'll accidentally pause tracks or even hang up calls. I'd appreciate any recommendations. I'd like to keep it under $100 (I'm okay with buying refurbished from sellers like Secondipity on eBay (what I've done before)) and I'd want them to have a great mic and call quality along with great sound. Being sweat-resistant and/or sweatproof would be awesome - and the fit is crucial.

Maybe even the az60. Xm5 are just better sounding than midrange earbuds. Nothing else.

Technics: best all round. Sony: with those foam tips there is no way i can recommend them as a good "all round".

I had the Sony XM3 and 4. Tried the XM5 and I recall it needing a "better seal" for ANC to work as well as the XM4. I sent them back after a month for the Apple AP2 because airpod pro2 has great ANC and also the best mic for calls. I agree with the other post rating Bose, Sony then slightly behind those, Apple. Bose and Sony have terrible mics.

Mine haven't, I hardly charge nine and they can be left un podded and always last at least 2 days

I have both and the sonys blow them away. i have an iphone and have never had any issues with pairing and they have better mic quality. keep the sonys.

What ever you do, don’t buy the Sony WF-1000XM5s. I bought them in the same mindset. The noice cancellation is barely present at all. The base is almost non existent. They don’t even get that loud really. If you want better ANC or base, look at the other options. Something is up with Sony’s earbuds because some people praise it alot and by my personal experience has been dogshit. My 80$ Freebuds are better in almost every way from the Sony’s. Tested my friends Airpods Pro 2nd gen and was genuinely blown away how better they are than XM5s.

I have both. They're both really good but if I had to give a set a way it would be the buds 3 pro. To me the sound quality, battery life and ANC are all better on the XM5. I love the look of the galaxies and they're definitely good don't get me wrong I just prefer the XM5. I use s25 ultra btw

I love my sony wf-1000xm5. They’re not necessarily “sport” headphones but I’ve run hundreds of miles in them and i love them.

People will disagree but I think Sony WF-1000XM5 are the best. Some say that they’re not made for running but I’ve put thousands of miles on mine. Zero issue with sweat. Never move. Super comfortable. And the best sound

In that case, I’d check out the [Sony WF-1000XM5](https://amzn.to/4dNMIkQ). They’re stemless, sit comfortably in the ear, and the ANC is honestly some of the best out there. Voice isolation during calls is strong too thanks to the AI-based mic setup.

I tried many earbuds. Currently I'm using the wf-1000xm5 and the WH-1000xm5.

I use the earbuds mostly for the gym, at home or outside if the weather is warm. Spring+Summer. The headphones are for the cold seasons like autumn and winter. Or if I am at home. Both are great. I use the OnePlus 13+Tidal. So I can enjoy Hi-Res music with LDAC. The software from Sony is a godsend. The way you can mess with the equalizer, dynamic headtracking, Atmos, LE-Audio or use the earbuds/headphones with two devices simultaneously. Even if you have no experience you can just use the "find your equalizer" to optimize your listening experiences. Can't wait for both XM6's this year. I just hope they improved them by a lot this time. The sound is also very rich. Clear midrange, high and lows. The bass is also decent. And the ANC is in my opinion better than the Bose's.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 is an excellent choice! The noise cancellation is top-notch, and they deliver amazing sound quality. They’re perfect for blocking out distractions when studying or working, plus they’re comfortable for long sessions.

If I may... I use the Sony WF-1000XM5 buds and they have been amazing in every aspect. Sound is great. Fit is comfortable. Noise canceling and ambient bypass is great. Connecting BT is solid and I am usually connected to my iPhone and Macbook at once, especially when traveling, and have no issues switching from one to the other.

In my experience, the Sony WF-1000XM5 stand out. They offer excellent sound, top-tier noise cancellation, and impressive battery life.

I've been testing a few models over the last few months, and my go-to has been the Sony WF-1000XM5.

I've tested the Sony WF-1000XM5 and found their noise cancellation and sound quality really impressive.

Not for me personally. I prefer the pros 2. I had both and returned the Sonys. Everybody’s taste is different though

I can help answer. The denon pearl pro are the best sounding in that list, and also now on sale for $150. I had the sony wh-1000xm5 and returned them. The bass rolled over into the mids too much and instrument separation was terrible. I had momemtum 2 and 3s, had two pairs or 2, and one pair of the 3, all had the same battery failure. I'm sure the momemtum 4 sound good but I'm not wasting my time or money again on sennheiser. So far the denon are the best sounding earbuds I've listened to. The closest thing I've found that sounds like my open back headphones

For pure sound quality, the Technics AZ80 offers detailed, balanced audio with strong bass, while the Sony WF-1000XM5 builds on the great soundstage of the XM4s. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 and Denon Perl Pro are also excellent for immersive, audiophile-grade sound. For wired, consider Moondrop Blessing 2

My earwax is really runny and it clogs the foam, I have to pull it out and soak it in alcohol every few months

The Sony WF-1000XM5 and JBL tour pro 3 are solid contenders for ANC when compared to the Bose QC ultra. Also the Jabra elite 8 Gen 2 (but these are mainly good for ANC because they have a superb fit I have yet to find on any other pair, but the fit could be different for others)

Microphone better than the pixels? I have the Sony's and everyone I call says they can't understand a thing I'm saying. It's paired to my pixel 8, this is concerning to me, do you reckon mine are faulty then? I had just reconciled myself with the idea that the microphone was just bad on them in general but you seem to say the opposite exactly..

I changed the foam tips on my XM5s and run absolutely easily with them.

I have XM5, and my wife has Buds 3 Pro. Cannot say that the sound on the buds is better, quite the opposite

okay so DON'T DO THIS, I bought Buds 3 Pro and the sound is worse and the ANC in the them is TERRIBLE I had the volume at 90% and ANC on and I could literally hear the water running in the tap. I already managed to sell the Buds 3 Pro and buy back the XM5's and it was the best thing I could do. So I wholeheartedly tell you not to sell XM5's for Buds 3 Pro or for any other earbuds.

My dad and my friend have Buds 3 Pro, and they said the same thing. Just comparing Samsung buds to Sony's, they're just okay. Sony is much better. And yes, the sound in the B3P is awesome, just like Sony's, but the ANC in Sony is much, much better.

Because on Samsungs sound is slightly worse. Yeah I know but it's not only my feelings about it

The XM5 is the best all rounder but not the best sounding.

Using the Denon PerL Pro is a unique experience for me. It feels like listening to music in 3D while everything else sounds like 2D. However, for traveling or exercising, I prefer the WF-1000MX5 because it offers better battery life and ANC. I was fortunate to set up an excellent profile with the Denon PerL Pro, but I haven't been able to replicate it since. I didn't realize that your jaw position could affect the personalization. I'll have to try adjusting it a few more times.

The ANC is just average, not the buds to get if care about ANC.

Sony WF1000-XM5 or Sennheiser Momentum TWS 4 if you don't mind spending a lot of money. I don't prefer TWS earpods anymore because of the fact that these have miniscule batteries that undergoe insane number of charging cycles if used regularly within a short period. From my experience, I see that its very easy for those tiny batteries to not last longer enough after reasonable usage, making the earpods not practical. And fixing these is a pain. At the same time, if you spend the same money on a very good pair of Headphones, those will last for years with much better ANC and excellent audio quality. Sony WH-1000XM5, Bose Quiet Comfort, Bose 700 or Sennheiser Momentum 4 are a few to choose from. None of these is a wrong choice really.

I've tested Samsung Buds, AirPods, Jabra (from 75t which are my favorites to the newer Jabra Elite 10 Gen1), Redmi Buds 4 Pro, Xiaomi Buds, Sony XM5, Pixel Buds Pro, Technics AZ60M2EK... My choice was Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3, as they fit every checkbox (Technics had the best audio quality but suffered from leakage, all the office can hear what I'm listening to, same for Pixel Buds).

Ive had both the XM3 and XM5 and the sound is so good. Battery and comfort is awesome but the touch features are lacking. You used to be able to customize them in any way you wanted but they removed that for some reason. I also lost the ability to automatically start playing music when i put in the buds.

I wear shokz outside and have had various models for a decade. No thump. I wear Sony WF100XM5 on the treadmill. No thump. AirPods pro, Powerbeats pro? Thump.

My wife sounds like Charlie brown with these. She's giving up on them because the mic quality is so terrible. I have a useless pair of buds pro that fall out of my ears every 20 seconds. I can not recommend the sonys for calls. I'm pretty disappointed in expensive ear buds at this point

I was given a pair of Sony WF-1000XM5 by my employer, I had to give them to my wife. People thought I was ignoring them. I wasn't, just could hear ANYTHING. Fantastic noise cancellation.

I just bought both the Sony XM-5 and the QuietComfort the other day. The Sonys are better, they offer better ANC than the Bose, I want them to use while 3D printing in my office, and the Sonys totally block out the sound of them, but the Bose did not. I also like the ear tips on the Sony better, they seem to fit better in my ears.

The airpods 2 is great, but yes the Sony WF-100XM5 is a beast also

If u don't have a budget go for Sony WF-1000XM5, they work great

The WF-1000XM5 is not the same as the WH-1000XM5. OP bought the buds (WF)

XM5 maybe, definitely not XM4

Sony's or Bose's top option. Sony's have better ANC Bose are more comfortable

I've had the c500 and they were great, I tried the c700n and returned them because the anc was literally pathetic. Fast forward, grabbed the linkbuds S last month as they were on offer £118 new amazon UK and Sony were offering an extended 2 year warranty. These buds are extraordinary! The anc is better than the xm5 buds (tried and returned) in my opinion, sound terrific and the fit is just perfect, these buds are so so light weight, you literally don't know you're wearing them. Battery drain on the buds is literally identical, after 5 hour anc on, aac, 70 %volume they both said 37%! I wasn't prepared to spend the usual £180 but at £118 with the extra warranty (applied for and confirmed by Sony) I know I'm covered. If you have the extra cash? It's worth it.

If you're on a budget the liberty 4 nc from soundcore have excellent anc for the price point. I recently bought the Sony linkbuds s for £120 on amazon and they're sound and anc is incredible. I've had the xm5 buds and sent them back, the linkbuds s have better anc than the xm5! True story..... Another great pair on a budget is the galaxy buds FE, especially if you have a Samsung device so you can use their ssc codec.

I can't speak for the buds3 pro but so far the reviews on here for them seem really encouraging. I've had and returned the xm5 and bose ultra earbuds. Xm5, all you get in the box is 3 sizes of sponge tips! I hate sponge tips and for £300 there should be silicone options in the box, totally unacceptable. The buds themselves are tiny and have a shiny /glass like finish and you just can't keep a grip on them, then add the anc being very poor (compared to the ultra) not good. Bose ultra earbuds, fit is exceptional, best fit I have ever known. The sound is mediocre with just sbc aac available unless you have a device with the latest aptx adaptive codec (qualcomm aptx doesn't count) check your Bluetooth list on your device. Anc is best in class, xm5 is insignificant in comparison. Now the bad! And it's a game changer I'm afraid. The bluetooth connection repeatedly drops meaning you have to put them back in the case and out again to reset, I was in town without my case when this happened and I was musicless until I got home. The app is glitchy as hell and is constantly disconnecting then trying to reconnect which kills the connection. Only solution to this is to set up the buds then uninstall the app to stop it from messing with your connection, at £300 this is definitely not acceptable This is my "personal experience" with these 2 buds. I finally bought the linkbuds s, these beat the xm5 and ultra in my opinion because they basically just work and do exactly what they say on the tin!

I use my AirPods 2 Pro for my Apple stuff. Pixel Buds Pro for gym since I don't care whatsoever about those buds. And when I want to listen to music I actually use Sony XM5s.

\+1 to this. Although I changed the foam tips to silicone and comfort level skyrocketed.

I tried both and ended up keeping the Sony's. Although sound quality wasn't as good as the TW4s, for me the user experience in the XM5s was miles ahead and ended up keeping them. Happy to elaborate if you have any questions.

Nope, last time I left them unused for a week and they had almost the same charge level when I picked them back up (only 1 or 2% difference) and I haven't had them long enough to determine if there is any battery issue on the earbuds themselves. FWIW I didn't have any case battery draining issues with the XM4s either but I did experience the battery drain issue on the left earbud with two separate pairs. But I heard that they resolved that issue on their side with the XM5s as the issues with the XM4s was related with a battery supply chain issue due to covid.

For the XM5s? The XM4s definitely had them but so far I haven't read much from the XM5s having the same issue (I hope they don't).

MTW 3 went dead within 6 months swap them out for Sony xm5 and never looked back

Unfortunately there are NO "one size fits all" and there are NO "best wireless earbuds" at rhe moment. Sound, ANC, fit & comfort are very much dependant on how they fit you. Eartips FROM Azla, Spinfit and Comply also enhance the experience with better grip and comfort. I've had all the buds on your list. I see Sonys mentioned a lot in this thread. They are awful imo. Very small footprint makes them loose in my ears. Terrible hybrid foam tips which are too small and have no grip. It's ANC gives a bad thudding body noise when ur exercising or when there's a loud noise near u. Turn anc off and it's gone. Call quality very average and poor in noise environments. They also have battery issues which u can read with a quick Google. Technics AZ80 have very good sound quality and decent battery life but they didn't stay in properly for me. ANC is average at best. The customisation and app is one of the best out there. Jabra Elite 10 are solid. Esp when paired with Azla eartips. Good anc, good sound good call quality. Bose QC Ultra have good sound, best in class anc but they also have a thudding noise when anc is on, although not as bad as the Sonys. Call quality is average and bad in noise environments. App control and connection and stability are not great. Sennheiser MTW4 are what I stuck with. Good sound (esp when personalised and tweaked), good comfortable fit for me, good anc, good battery. Call quality is average. Good app and customisation.

Jabra Elite 10 don't give this thump. I've had a few sets. Try Azla eartips on them to improve the sound and stability. Sennheiser MTW4 don't have this thud either. Bose QC Ultra do have the issue. Sony XM5 do have the issue. Technics AZ80 don't have the issue.

I went from the XM4 to XM5 and 8 months in I couldn’t be happier. I too had the battery issue with the XM4 but the XM5 has been just fine so far.

The xm5s are solid. My xm4s had the battery issue, but I’ve had the 5s for a few years and no issues.

They sound good but suck for running - when they get sweat on them the touch controls stop working. Also battery life with ANC is a little over 5 hours.

better sound but the touch controls suck when wet

I got Soundcore x20s and they lasted about 6 hours ANC on during my marathon and have better bass and stay in better than my sony XM5s

My xm5 earbuds are goated. Surprised they not on here

I love my xm5's tbh

I got a used pair of Soundcore Liberty 4 NC for $60. Compared side by side with Sony WF-1000XM5s and I'd say sound quality and ANC are extremely comparable. ANC may be better on the Sony's on paper, but in real world use, I could never tell. That ANC and sound quality only got better with Comply foam tips. The Sony's just have more features in their app, better call quality, smaller profile case and earbuds, and better multipoint.

Never slept with them but I feel like I could. It'll depend on your ears. The 4NCs are really good at passively sitting in my ear and I don't have to push them in for them to stay secure. The stems are pretty long compared to other buds so that's the only thing that might keep you from sleeping and that's really only if you sleep on your side. Sleeping on your back should be fine though. However I don't think the mic is good enough to take calls. Too many instances where people have told me they can't understand/hear what I'm saying

sony xm5

Not sport earbuds, but I'm using the Sony wf1000-xm5 for the last 1.5 years, and I can't even want anything else. Great battery life, great quality, the tips just never get accidentally out of my ears, and the transparency mode is a blessing for running.

Putting in my 2 cents regarding the XM5 which I love everything about it except the comfort during prolonged use like in flight or transit use. I have the galaxy buds 2 and oneplus buds pro 2 which definitely are a couple notches lower than the xm5 but those two I can wear 4hrs+ straight without feeling soreness/strain in my ears. I have already tried other highly rated tip covers but the XM5 are still uncomfortable.

My go to earbud for morning/evening jog is Jabra Elite 8 (1st gen) as it really fits into your ear without fail and it just felt right. Sound quality is top notch as well. Battery life is something that I have to point out. Been using it on a daily basis for one full week (daily about 1 to 1.5 hours usage) and I still have my case at about 70% and both the earpiece at 100%! Meanwhile for the earbud I use for sleeping, I go with Jabra Elite 10 (1st gen). The feeling when you put the earbud into your ears are just magnificent and super soft to a point that you might not even realize there's something in your ear! Sound quality, you don't have to ask. Magnifique! Then for my daily routine in the office, my go to earbud is my Sony WF-1000XM5 which is offering a great and beautiful voice while I'm listening to my music or answering phone call.

Sound core liberty pro 3s or Sony XM5s I’ve had both sets currently the XM5s are my favorite, you hardly notice they are in your ears after a few minutes and the sounds quality 👌🏻

This will depend a lot on your ear shape etc. I have both and for me the airpods are more comfortable and out of the box sound slightly better than the sony's but they both sound really good tbh (and the sony gets better with some EQ).

I own both airpods pro 2 and sony xm5’s. Sony’s are clearly inferior in terms of ANC as well as usability. For me that it. I didn’t pay anything for either of them (got them from work) but i’d be pissed if I spent money on these. I like how they look but that’s it. Airpods pro 2 all the way.

For added context: I have comply foam eartips for both of them and use them generally in an office setting. APP 2’s let me have calls uninterrupted, XM5’s I can’t do this. I can hear close by voices easily. APP 2’s I can use for jogging, XM5’s I can due to how they a designed, they don’t hold inside my ear. Sound-wise, I think Sony’s are a bit better but the difference is not noticeable. APP 2’s hear through is much better and more clear than XM5’s. Connecticity is better with APP 2’s I really don’t understand why ppl think XM5’s are a good piece of equipment based on the factors I’ve just listed. At least compared to APP 2’s.

Me (and at least one other person here) have the same issue - every minute or so the sound makes a warbling noise with my Sony XM5s. Doesn't happen with any of my other boxes (Shield, Chromecast with Google TV, etc). It's really annoying.

Great for playing while on the train. The ANC is really good.

Got these refurbished for like $150. Great earbuds much more comfortable than previous generations. I find my issue is I don’t quite make it to 8 hours at the end of the day and have to charge them midday. I have sensitive ears and these are probably some of the more comfortable earbuds I’ve worn so far. I can probably wear them for 3 hours before having to take a break. The call quality is acceptable. I think the airpods sound much better over the phone. Sony app is good and you can mess with the sound quite a bit in there.

Twice I had the right ear bud degrade way faster than the left. I haven’t had issues otherwise. It’s only been 8 months though. I sort of remember looking into that and it seemed like people still had that issue but not nearly as bad as the previous gen. Earbuds are tough. They’re a pain to do any work in so you have to send them out.

1 year. Sony WF1000XM5 YES!

Did you mean the wf-XM5s, I ask because those would be a more direct comparison. I have the wf-XM5s and I thought that these were on-par or better, especially with the adaptive ANC.

After a little testing. I agree the Sonys sounds amazing when you get them just right.

After a couple hours of testing I agree. The Sonys an amazing if you get the in your ear perfect. The AirPods aren’t that far off but work better with an iPhone. No fault of the Sonys.

The foam ear tips aren’t the worst. You have to try different sizes until they are sealed right. Overall they are pretty solid and don’t seem like they would fall out. They go deep in the ear. It’s different to the air pods for sure.

I found the Sonys annoying to get in my ear. And every little touch such as adjusting them in my ear would trigger some action.

I’ve tried a variety of buds to cope with a noisy colleague at work who talks loudly and types even louder. And the winner is the BoseQC Ultra hands down. Once I put it on I’m in my special space. The NC is far stronger than the next best Sony WF1000xm5.

Replace The Battery It's the same battery as Mark 4. I've replaced the batteries twice now on those. Work like brand new.

I agree strongly. I own the following earbuds: XM5, Buds 3 Pro, Liberty 4 NC, and the Bose QC Ultra. I took all of the earbuds and my Bose QC 45 headphones on a flight recently. I wanted to finally see if any of these earbuds can compete with my Bose QC 45's. I got tired of all these claims of this is better than this. I wanted to see what to MY ears provided the best ANC. I find earbuds more comfortable anyways because of my glassses. I found Bose QC Ultra earbuds easily rivaled the Bose QC 45's! I was shocked. I don't know what king of magic or voodoo they are doing but they are my main ANC audio gear for flying. I am contemplating on buying a 2nd pair or just bring one of my other earbuds as a backup to circumvent the battery limitations on long duration flights. Carrying 2 cases of earbuds is a lot smaller and easier to pack than headphones too.

I own some apple airpods & sony wf (1000xm3-5 series). for me the best for running is sony 1000xm5. but for your budget, trust me when i say this realme buds hav the most similar sound quality to those rm1000+ earbuds. almost perfect for running got noise cancelling etc https://preview.redd.it/t7sfdciy831e1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=22535fe8d76bdca41cf299d28fdca6da3a97006f

If you have an iPhone the AirPods Pro's 2. For over ear non ear buds Sony xm4s. Just what I've had that I really like. I've tried skull candy method 360s and the Sony wf-1000xm5s and though they were really good they just weren't built for Apple devices. The best ones I've tried are the WH-1000xm4s and I also use glasses and they don't hurt at all very comfortable, as for ear buds air pod pros 2.

The Sony are great for music and noise cancelling but not for calls. Fyi on Teams you can turn on voice isolation or background noise canceling. But I still recommend a certified headset.

Buy a new Airpods Pro 2. I used XM4 1 years ago, after that I switched to Pro 2 and have been using it till last week. Last week I bought XM5 and after 1 week, I returned it and switched back to Pro 2. Yes, the Pro 2 sound is not as good as XM5, but other than that, the comfortable, the connection is good and I don't have to think about what EQ i should use, DSEE etc.

The XM5 were good. I didn't quite like the fit of them, but could definitely have lived with it if they were that much better. The noise canceling, to me, was not quite as good as the air pro 4's, and the only thing I can attribute that to was the fit that I didn't quite like. Of note, the new Earfuns are bluetooth 5.4 and they are the only ones out of the list I own that were, so I'm going to stop out on a ledge and say that makes the connection quite a bit more viable. I did try some connection testing and distance/penetrative through walls etc. by leaving my phone upstairs in the bedroom and walking around my house, going downstairs, out into my garage and then down the driveway. The Earfun went the farthest by getting me out into the driveway, only by about 8-10 ft keep in mind, but still were the farthest. The Jabras were second as they got me to the exterior door of my garage, and the rest all lost connection as soon as I stepped into my garage. Interestingly enough, the ones I wanted to work out the most were the active 8 gen 2's. They fit perfect, the size was great, and I liked the material on them. But the app connectivity wasn't on point and the call quality just wasn't there, even though all the reviews I read said they were the best. The xm5 poked out of my head just a bit too much, but again, I likely could have lived with them if they fit better, and maybe that would have helped with the ANC. I didn't care for the shiny/slick surface on them really, but that is definitely subjective to an individual user. All in all, for everything I read about the xm5 that was so positive, I just didn't have the same experience with them. Not in sound quality, not in functionality/connectivity and not in call quality. Also of note, I tried all of these with stock tips, comply tips, some bamboo tip that I was recommended (they are clear with green internals) and jvc spiral dots. I've always been a spiral dot fan for some reason, for whatever that may be worth to you. What it ultimately boiled down to for me was call quality and how quickly the buds paired up to my phone and the earfun air pro 4 were hands down better than the rest at these two aspects. And the sound quality, to me, was more than acceptable considering how good everything else was for me. If I'm really after just kicking back and listening to music, that's what I have my FH7 for, as those COMPLETELY blow all of the buds out of the water. But they should, they are IEMs. And great IEMs to boot. If the xm5 end up fitting you well, I do believe you will like them, as long as you are OK with the caveats I've mentioned.

I’ve tried a few myself, and for running, Sony WF-1000XM4 are hands down my favorite. I also tried the XM5s, which are more comfortable and still solid, but the XM4 is what I’d stick with for the best balance of fit and performance.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds had the best ANC overall. On a plane, they blocked out engine noise almost completely, and even in noisy cafés, they handled voices really well. Sony WF-1000XM5 were a close second. Great at blocking low-frequency sounds like fans, traffic, or office hum. They let a bit more high-pitched noise through (like sharp voices), but still very quiet overall. Technics EAH-AZ80 had decent noise cancelling — enough for a train ride or a coffee shop, but I noticed more background sound slipping through compared to Bose and Sony.

I’ve tried a bunch too—if you want louder with great sound and bass, Sony WF-1000XM5 are the way to go. I think they’re noticeably louder than the Soundcore or Huawei buds, super detailed, and handle rock/funk really well. Foam tips fit fine, and the EQ in the app lets you tweak it perfectly. Pricey, but worth it if volume and quality matter.

Sony for me. I had two different sets of AirPods and my ear canals were too small for both sets.

Sony WF-1000XM5. They sound fantastic using the LDAC codec.

If you are thinking about using them without playing music just for mere noice isolation keep in mind that most anc earbuds produce more or less slight white noice. I use anc earbuds for meditation as a dad of toddlers and that white noice is a dealbreaker for me. Bose qc earbuds II/ultra have the most of this white noise I ever experienced, while having undeniably the most effective anc on the market these days. I can recommend the Sony linkbuds s for the best balance between effective noice isolation and the least white noice from it. The xm5 also don’t have a lot of white noice, but the foam tips are pretty uncomfortable to wear. If that doesn’t bother you, I’d recommend these too.

But be aware that you can’t even update them via android, you should have access to an iPad or so at least to do that. Not being in the apple ecosystem makes them less compelling and the xm5 are the next best option in my opinion, if you can deal with foam tips. The Samsung buds fe offer incredible value and should work fine with your device, mb consider them too so.

It’s important you buy from a retailer with good return policies, because earbuds are incredibly subjective. You need to wear them for a while and you have no risk then. If you can tolerate the foam tips, the wf1000xm5 are great earbuds with one of the most effective anc and fantastic sound, IF… you have to try it yourself. Keeping AirPods up to date with a MacBook should work, I never tried it myself because they date up clandestinely in the background when connected to my iPhone. There are new Sonys about to be released later this month, the linkbuds fit, but there is no review so far so we can’t tell about their quality. Since I like the linkbuds s a lot, I am very interested in these.

The best sounding earbuds I’ve tested so far are the status between 3 anc and the Sennheiser Momentum true wireless 4. From your list the xm5 are the clear winner IMO, but keep in mind that sound is pretty subjective. I asked many YouTube reviewers for the best sounding earbuds at all and many mentioned the bowers and Wilkins pi7 s2. I can’t say anything about them though since I didn’t test them myself(too expensive while heaving many downsides besides the sound).

Well both is better on the xm5… but comfort, fit, controls and integration in the apple eco system are way better with the AirPods Pro. That what lets me grab them before any other earbuds most of the time.

I prefer earbuds for travel. Sony WF1000XM5 are spot on in noise cancellation. But the main appeal is size. You get great ANC in a package that fits in my pocket. I hate carrying those large over the ear headphones while traveling. Even worse is the inability to sleep with the big headphone one. I can rest comfortably with my head on the side while wearing the earbuds and enjoying a quiet cabin. I'll also add that I've tried Bose QC buds and headphones and didn't find them any better. And none of the other brands have the compact size of the Sony for side sleeping. I can get them practically new from Secondipity for under $130.

No they haven't. Scroll down to see the frequency graph Mr Apple Fan https://www.soundguys.com/sony-wf-1000xm5-review-95465/

You're right you don't know how to read it. You can clearly see the Airpods reach higher on the graph around the 20hz-50hz (that means more bass at that frequency) rolls off more than the Sony's towards the mids, but also doesnt peak as high as the Sony's at the 5k. So whilst the Sonys may carry +db bass between 50hz to 500hz, its only marginal when compared to the Airpods. But the airpods dont peak as much as the Sonys in the highs. So you cant say "Sony is notorious bass focused" when the airpods do pretty much the same. Here is a top notch sony headphone, please look at the sound curve and stop your generalization. [https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/sony-mdr-z1r-headphone-review.47776/](https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/sony-mdr-z1r-headphone-review.47776/)

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I picked up the Sony WF-1000XM5. 1. The setup was annoying even registering with Sony took three tries. For a moment I was regretting it. 2. The sound feels quality nice. Noise cancelling really good. 3. The fit feels OK No regrets so far.

I have no idea what they sound like, but they ARE gorgeous! I've just got the Sony WF 1000 XM5 (ridiculous name), they sound great but the case looks like someone carelessly threw a pebble on my desk.

Ye they are comfortably small. Please if you have the XM5s: mine are driving em crazy with the touch sensitivity. I have the sound connect app and I can’t find how I can switch off all input from touch sensor on earbuds themselves. Could you help?

If you don't care about all the features of airpods, the. Definitely keep the xm5. Xm5 has way better sound quality. The only better thing that airpods have are the features for the apple.

Just get the Sony XM5 if you're an Android user. AirPods are never for any Android.

XM5 hurt my ears and thump while running. ANC is overrated and number of glitches while using LDAC is enormous. Indeed, they sound great, best anomg other earbuds, but usability is very very bad.

XM5 buds , best for music. Call quality not the best however I don't see any cheaper alternatives offerring anything better

I've been in the same boat for a week or so. I decided to grab the xm5s since they are supposed to be a bit more bass friendly. The upper range of earbuds have so many features, I guess you just gotta decide on the most important thing to you.

Lol since I left this comment 8 days ago, I returned the Xm5s and took a chance on the Jabra elite 10s. I couldn't be happier with the decision. The Sony were very uncomfortable for me, after like 15 mins of listening, my head felt like a balloon. Also the Sonys bass leave room for improvement, the Jabras bass on the other hand are 👍👍

I would say the Sony xm5’s have better ANC compared to the az80’s.

Dont get the airpods pro. I was in a similar position to you 3 months ago and got them. I was severely underwhelmed. I love bass too and these just dont have what you are looking for. I took it upon myself to find the best bass and anc wireless earbuds on the market and have owned/tested 10 in the past 3 months. Best ANC? Bose QC buds. These are top of the line ANC. Second would be Sony xm5’s. Bose have a warmer sound but bass still doesn’t satisfy my needs. Best Bass? Denon Perl Pro’s. These are out of your price range but man do they pack a punch. If you love bass, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear with the Immersion mode turned up. Overall, these sound incredible as well. Everyone here loves the Technics AZ80. I actually have them on now and own them. Overall their sound is phenomenal, significantly better than the Air Pod pros, but they lack the sub bass I want even on their “superbass” setting. Both the Technics and Denon dont have the best ANC compared to Bose/Sony. The Sony XM5’s are a great middle ground. They have a warm or bass-y sound with great ANC. I thought I’d keep these until I tried the Denon’s. The Airpods Pro 2ms arent bad by any means. Their connectivity is amazing for an iphone user. They sound good too, but I needed more bass. Just my 2 cents.

I’ve tried all but the jabras on your list. You are overlooking the Denon Perl Pros. The Technics and the Denon’s are in their own tier for sound quality followed by the Sonys. So keep that in mind.

Compare with others using Flac files and LDAC mode. Then, you will notice the advantages of the XM5s

Love my Sonys.

Sony XM5

Yes. They work great.

I own the galaxy buds 3 and Sony wf 1000 xm3 and wh sony1000xm5 over the ear the over the ear ones come first then Sony xm3 galaxy bud3 come last noise cancellation on the Sony is better xm3 is old but the sound cancellation is excellent

Apple functionality isn’t that much more incredible, it’s just more streamlined and seamless. I prefer the Sonys even on an iPhone. The form factor alone is a good enough reason to not get AirPods. The dangling bit is pointless and gets caught on everything.

I have an iPhone, found the AirPods a lot easier to use, more comfy, less buggy, and the sound was good enough compared to the Sony. I just can’t get used to the foam tips, even when switching to aftermarket silicone ones on the Sony the ANC and sound quality changed.

Sony wf1000 XM5's. Switched the tips to a silicon foam hybrid cause the stock would hurt my ears, and the passive NC is so good that I can turn off active NC and have pretty much the same level of noise cancelling while retaining awesome battery life. Plus the sound is just perfect.

I have the Sony xm5s, I did have the xm4s but when they developed a fault I sent them back to Sony (after over a year) and they sent me out the newer model! Pretty nice. Plus they sound great and etc.

Have all three; qc ultra > xm5 = AirPods Pro 2. But my GOD, do not get bose. They have so many problems, like connectivity, random disconnects, 5db buzzing in one earbud… the list goes on (mind you, I’ve gotten two replacements). Not to MENTION there’s no setting in the app to disable the pause function...

I have the Sony's and the Jabra's , While the Jabra's have the best fit I've ever had in a pair of earbuds ( the Jabra elite 8 active have the same fit and better sound). I found the call quality of the 7's massively below par, and my Sony's stopped making calls about a week after they ran out of warranty. I still use the Sony's for music though I find the touchpads are hugely oversensitive and my hair touching activates them.The other good thing about the Jabra's are the excellent touch/press controls. I'm finding the new Technic 100s to be a much more reliable all-rounder at the moment. Good sound, fit and great call quality.

Edifier pro 2! Under $150 Huawei freebuds pro 3! Over $150 I am not sure but I don't think it's a coincidence. That Huawei & Edifier only but a few tws models that have 4 mics or 8 total p. Premium / budget use 2/3 mic. the stem design or lack of one. Obviously makes a big difference to the overall call quality. Sony link buds S & 1more Evo are exception. Say this because if anyone tried to use the Sony WF - XM5 for calls outside your office🤮Senn M3/M4 even worse then the Sony. Recently Samsung announced the Galaxy PRO 3 w/ major design change. They are going to a stem like 🍎. If you have ever tried use the GBPRO 2 in dynamic environments whether windy or loud. These buds are some worst on call mic period. I am an android Galaxy Ultra eco system guy. Samsung realized that 🍎 had it right. Call mic quality is important today. If u are hesitant to answering or make calls on your earbuds. They really are not convenient anymore for most now. That is why Samsung is changing there design in my opinion

Some Sony WFXM-5 (to abbreviate) Although it's not the max compatibility between the S24 ultra and the earbuds, it has the LDAC codec that sounds so much better than the Samsung one, and the earbuds sounds better overall Also, I only use them for calls and videos on the samsung because I use a DAP for the music, so I have my pair of IEM's that sound so much better. I have the Sony more for convenience, allowing me to connect them to the samsung, the DAP, and my laptop at the same time in the street or in transport without errors (only on the dap, but it has a Linux based OS so I give him points when it stays connected xd)

It's all about personal choice for fit, price and comfort in my humble opinion. My various include low , med and high price ones. Nothing One ear buds, Sony wfxm5's and Bang and O Ex's. All are great in their own way. If I had to choose I'd say the Sony due to great all round performance, especially with anc.

I've got [Bose QuietComfort Ultra](https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/bose-quietcomfort-ultra-noise-cancelling-headphones-black) which are over-ears, and [Sony WF-1000XM5](https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/sony-wf-1000xm5-true-wireless-noise-cancelling-earbuds-platinum-silver) which are in-ears. Both are expensive, but very good quality 👌 😀.

6 months later with my Sony xm5 and the bass is still punchy as week 1 (after they got burned in) been playing bass boosted songs the whole time as well, works well with hip hop and even rock

Thought that was odd too. My xm5s are in my ears waaay more than I'd like to admit

I rock the xm5s and chose to return my qc2. They just feel like a better all around pair. Fit can be an issue but they fit me well

Bose qc2/ultra probably win, but the negatives outweigh the positive, so I went with the xm5 and love them

The fit was finicky at first, but I've grown to love it. There have been battery issues with them for some people but I've never had a problem. This was my first pair with foam tips too, got used to them very quickly and now prefer them (also the toys will need to be replaced a few times a year)

You can definitely replace them with spin fit tips but it'll negatively effect ANC

This is the correct answer and I'd go xm5 over bose strictly for bose connection issues

Bose invented ANC. But their ANC Earbuds are not that great either. ANC is very highly overrated in general. Bose invented it specifically for reducing airplane engine noise to make air travel more comfortable, and that's where ANC excels - it's good at cancelling out repeating long wavelength sound patterns. These days though, ANC is being marketed as blocking out almost all sounds at all frequencies in all environments, and that's just not realistic. No product can do that these days - there are inherent limitations due to the physics and latencies of how things work. But because of the marketing, people have these false expectations and continue to chase that magical unicorn ANC that will match the sales pitch. Having recently A/B tested a bunch of earbuds and headphones at different price points side-by-side, there's very little difference between them. The main difference is actually just due to the passive noise isolation from the materials used and how well they fit your ears, especially for earbuds. For example, the Sony WF-1000XM5 perform worse for me than the Soundcore A40 (which cost 5 times less), because the Sony don't fit my ears well and tend to get loose which breaks the seal and leaks sound. I'm sure I'll get a lot of hate for this from the diehard fans that like to justify their expensive purchases and that listened to all the hype and sponsored reviews though, hehe

Ok sure, if you say so, comes down to personal preference I guess. I auditioned these between Bose QC 2024, Pixel Buds Pro and Sony WF-1000XM5 and I can't really tell the difference. The A40 actually fit my ears best and the size and build is on par with the Sony. The sound quality and ANC I can't tell the difference, certainly not enough to make me pay 4x as much. These days all earbuds are good. It's not like in the past where you went from cheap 2 dollar wired earpods to quality over ear headphones and you were blown away by the difference. Now the internal drivers and circuitry is all very cheap and all the same more or less. The ANC patents expired in 2020, meaning everyone has the same implementation now. The price difference these days is purely branding and marketing.

Sonys! I also got them yesterday and love them

Gamit ko ngayun sony xm5. pricey siya pero grabe noise cancelling, bass, Long battery life.

Hiya! Just tried the Sony xm5s today and returned them after a couple hours of use. The noise cancelation is impressive, but for me the sound quality was lacking even after messing with the settings. Another big thing were the ear tips—they caused me skin irritation. Silicone ones have never done that to me before. They are so hyped up and I wanted them to be worth it but for me it was a no-go. I'm in search yet again of the perfect earbuds 🥲

I have the Sony WF1000XM5 and they're pretty great. Highly recommend

I tried the Sony WF-1000XM5, and they block out most background noise when I'm on the bus or in a busy cafe. They feel comfortable, and the battery life is solid. My friend swears by the Bose for long flights, so if you want a really plush fit, you might check those out too.

Really wanted the Airpods Pro as I am in the Apple ecosystem, but after listening to the XM5's they are a world apart. Good quality audio is my prime driver and the Sony's have it in spades. I lose some convenience but the N/C and the audio quality are so much better.

interesting, for me the Airpods sound like Beats headphones, exagerated V equalisation. The sonys are more balanced, with a better response across the spectrum. My office speakers are PMC DB1 Golds and the Sonys are more akin to them.

I have the xm5 and the noise cancelling is absolute trash. It appears like they're fully relying on passive noise cancelling and mine just don't seal well I think. I hardly hear a difference when I take them out and can only distinguish between ambient mode by hearing the static sound. They're fine if I take like 5 minutes trying to keep and push them in my ear... Until I move

Hmm the problem is that I have the same problem with all tips. So if the tips are so important, isn't it mostly the passive noise cancellation and barely any active? If I hold the buds in my ear myself, I'll still hear a bunch of outside noise. They really don't compare to the wh-1000xm4 in that regard, though of course those are headphones

Yeah, the one thing I'm concerned about is that the active noise cancellation barely adds anything once the tips are sealed, so it seems like the seal is much more important than the supposed active noise cancelling. Also, I do have trouble keeping the tips in properly, but that is with all the different tips, regardless of how I Orient the buds, so it's something I'm cursed with I suppose

Thanks, that's kind of you. I live in the Netherlands so I'll look around. Sometimes they're great, but if I start eating with them or something they'll drop out real quick. Also the mic sucks for me. Always keep having to change back to my phone because people don't hear me. I believe the AirPods have the edge with the mic. I don't deny they're great, as long as I sit perfectly still and hold them:/

All great choices! Sony WF-1000XM5 stands out for gaming!

I tested buds pro 2...now I'm using xm5...a night and day difference...these ones don't fall, feel super comfy, better sound and battery and pretty decent mic and the ANC it's super good...

I have a 3 months old wf-1000xm5 and it's rock solid in battery performance actually. Other than that what you need to choose depends on your priority or budget. For best ANC it's Bose QC ultra earbuds. For sound quality it's a toss up between sennheiser MTW4 or technics eah-az80

I have both Bose and Sony. And Samsung buds 2 pro. Sennheiser MTW4 and technics eah-az80. I'd rank Noise cancelling as follows : Bose >> sennheiser mtw4 = Sony wf-1000xm5 > technics eah-az80 > Samsung buds 2 pro

Audio quality depends on person to person. I like punchy bass and am basically a slight bass head!! For me it's as follows : 1. Sennheiser MTW4: works on most number of genres. Awesome bass but not overpowering. 2. Bose QC Ultra: the most booming bass. Like it when I'm listening to hip hop, edm etc. But vocals are good too. Treble is a bit weak but I'm very treble sensitive so don't really mind. 3. Technics and Sony wf-1000xm5: very smooth and balanced. Sony has slightly more bass than technics. Respond well to EQ. I love these when I don't want to drown myself in bass. Particularly for classical, jazz, country music etc. 4. Samsung buds 2 pro : weakest bass in this bunch. But very bright and clear sound. I mostly use this for movies and podcasts but sometime I listen to classical on this.

The size of the XM5 aren't for everyone's ears either. Can cause some people pain.

The Sony WF XM5 has ANC excellent too. For less than $90 the Earfun Air Pro 4 or Soundcore Liberty 4 NC.

The Sony Xm5 still has the best anc by Sony. However, the Linkbuds Fit seems to be good a new release re ANC with some improved software. [https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/hands-on-with-sonys-new-linkbuds-fit-and-linkbuds-open-earbuds/](https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/hands-on-with-sonys-new-linkbuds-fit-and-linkbuds-open-earbuds/)

Sony XM5 earbuds. The imaging and ANC are immaculate

I tried apple air pods pro 1 and sony's xm5. The sony is pretty good. But when i tried Techics, it was like hearing in HD for the first time. There are no bad earbuds for 300$, so it's more subjective at that price point.

I have used both. GB3P are miles ahead in terms of sound and call quality. They are also more comfortable than XM5. The only negative is the average battery life. You will get around 5 hours with the Anc on.

GB3P sound is clearer and less muddy when compared to XM5.

I have used both. Sound is more clearer on B3P. Otherwise, both are fine.

Everything on your list seems pretty great. I would go with the Sony's myself

My few cents, I'm using XM5 (also Buds pro and FE). XM5 has great ANC but I would NOT buy them again (I got them as low as 135EUR!!) - foams are the worst, but in general they are slippy and uncomfortable. Unfortunately Samsung Buds are not an option for me because of lack of true Bluetooth multipoint. Right now I'm back on Jabra 75t (best earbuds ever for me, just with poor ANC). I'm thinking about new Bose QuietComfort or Jabra Elite 8 or 10. If lack of multipoint is not a problem get Samsung Buds. BTW Buds FE are really close to Buds Pro 2/3

Bose qc ultra followed by az80 followed by xm5. Large gap then everything else.

I prefer the sony xm5, but overall I use over ears (now momentum 4) so I didn't try so many

Sony wf-1000xm5 are amazing. Love mine.

I've tried all the brands before (though not your exact models). Bose is going to have the best ANC if money is no object. Apple didn't have as good a seal or as comfortable, Sony didn't have as good anc, and sennheiser does not do good anc (though their sound is immaculate). Evrything else you can forget if you're not on a budget. Reviews that say Jabra or soundcore are as good for a lot cheaper are disingenuous - yes they can be decent on a budget, but they don't compare in terms of anc. I've tried jabra, soundcore, earfun, you name them.

They are pretty damn far behind. I've commented it elsewhere but no brand holds a candle in terms of anc to bose and Sony (and maybe Apple) earbuds. Other brands are good on a budget, but comparing them to the likes of bose is incredibly misleading. I've tried them all after reading reviews that say that they're comparable - they're not Edit: I was wrong about the Jabra. I tried it out Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 based on the comment below, and ANC is comparable (though slightly worse). I would recommend the Jabra over the Bose because of Bose's shitty software.

Go for airport, I didn't have good experience with either xm3s or xm5s. Battery degradation for me is worst on sony compared to any earbuds have used (barring a 10$ Chinese one) My wife's airpod pro are still going strong.

Just sent the az100 back. Then got the mx5 and i like these better.

The sound is perfect for me. There's lots of detail and it's a wide soundstage and more than enough bass. The Az100 didn't have these, weirdly enough. The only issue I had was that the foam tips are completely useless for my ears, they just don't isolate, they move around. I have big ears. So I swapped them out for regular silicone ones.

9 months later one died on me, miss them very much

The link is for a certified refurbished pair from Secondipity, which I have heard positive things from. The deal in its own right is a good deal, and I was fully ready to pull the trigger on them but then I had an epiphany! What if I just tried to price match with BestBuy. I started chatting with a representative and they price matched a *brand new* pair for the $112.99 price. I changed the order type from shipment to store pick-up so I could get them faster. I will attach images of the invoice as proof. [Price match proof](https://i.imgur.com/WvSTQng.jpeg) [Order fulfillment proof](https://i.imgur.com/cTFjBIa.jpeg)

Maybe I just got lucky. I didn't really expect them to honor it. But I'm not going to argue with saving ~$150 on what are apparently the best earbuds available. I'm just saying [it is worth a shot](https://bosmediagroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/You-Miss-100-of-the-shots-you-dont-take-BOS-Media-Group.jpeg).

They did it for me. Maybe Best Buy just doesn't like you.

To be quite honest with you, they never asked for a link. They just asked who the retailer was and I told them it was Secondipity. Again, it is still a good deal for certified refurbished earbuds. Maybe I just got lucky with the person I was talking to on Best Buy but it can't hurt to try.

Yes, I opted to receive the transcript of the conversation in case all of the awesome people on this subreddit wanted to see exactly how it went down. https://i.imgur.com/5N4Dma7.png

XM5s are better. Ive had both.

I returned the Buds 3 pro because they were less comfortable and sounded worse than my XM5s. In saying that, I don't find the XM5s that comfortable, I preferred the XM4s. I bought the Buds 3 pro for the integration with my S25U ultra but the lack of multipoint, inferior sound and inferior comfort made me return them. I'll get the XM6s when they come out in a few months.

I'd definitely recommend the AZ80, I've been using them for about 6 months now and they're the best earbuds I've ever had. Their sound quality is great, noise cancelling is really good (only AirPods Pro have better NC imo), and their battery life is amazing. The app is pretty good aswell, lots of features and not as clunky as many others. They've got multipoint connection for up to 3 devices which is nice to have, support LDAC & the touch surfaces are configurable. 10/10 would recommend 👍🏻 Alternatively I'd go for the XM5 or Bose, but personally I'm not satisfied with Jabra.

I own both. Buds 3 Pro are better in almost every way I can think of. I would not buy the Sony's again.

I own both WF-1000XM5 and MTW3 (not 4 unfortunately, so I'm not sure if it translates well, though I read that MTW4 is a tad bit of an upgrade from MTW3). SQ: MTW3 > XM5. MTW3 has more soundstage, more defined (albeit less) bass. ANC: XM5 > MTW3. Hands down. This is true with their headphones as well (which I both own too) Battery life: Can't say one stands out from the other. Both can be used on an iPhone (both support AAC). Both have apps. iPhone does not unfortunately make the best use of both (it lacks AptX and LDAC support). If you're after SQ, go for MTW4. But for general purpose use, buy the XM5. That's the reason I own both. To make the best use of either, use a source that supports AptX HD/adaptive and/or LDAC (like Android phones).

WF-1000XM5s. I'm an audiophile and a musician, and personally I enjoy Sony's TWS tuning the most, more so than Samsung etc., and LDAC is a nice thing to have. The earbuds are nicely balanced and it makes them comfy to listen to for long periods. They're also decently small and low latency, which makes them great to use for gaming handhelds and laptops and the like. I know some people have recommended the Creative Aurvana Ace Mimi as well, so that's worth a look it you prefer the stem style. I can't speak for sound quality as I haven't heard them.

I’ve tried every high end wireless anc earbud. Bose QC ultra are soo good even compared to the Sony xm5 earbuds especially after being a long time Sony user since the

One thing to know is that sound is subjective. All the ones you a re looking at are competitive with one another in the higher end consumer segment. The momentums might be a good choice for your music needs as they are a bass forward earbud with good sound. I love the Technics but the fit might not be the most comfortable for everyone. I can tell you this the AZ 80 earbuds are not the most comfortable for my ears BUT I have used more comfortable earbuds. Also the Perl Pro are comparable imo for sound but I had the experience and have seen a lot of people says they are uncomfortable. As for the Sony they are decent but the others produce a better sound profile. The best thing to do if you are able to is look at some reviews YouTube. If you want some good sources I can help with that. Also try the others if you can and return what you don't like. Unfortunately it's a big trial and error type situation especially with fit. One thing that will help with the fit is some eartips from Spinfit. I've found that I've gotten better sound and fit from earbud using theor eartips. Hope this helps some

As for higher tier earbuds . These 3 are the best in my opinion: Google pixel buds pro 2 or Wf1000xm5 or Apple airpods pro 2 would be your best choices. (Maybe jabra is also pretty good here) For other high options . Jabra elite 8 gen 2 or jabra elite 10 gen 2 or the Samsung buds pro 3 or Bose quiet comfort ultra earbuds. For less pricey options maybe the linkbuds fit and nothing ears. Check these earbuds out , they are quite expensive though.

That and linkbuds line are the only product line for Sony Bluetooth earbuds. Xm4 are bulky and big in my opinion but each to their own. The xm5 also last longer and have better anc.

XM5 have terrible mic quality if you talk outdoors. Also problems with charging. Sound quality and anc is great.

Both XM4 and XM5 have charging issues. Mic is awful. Otherwise great buds.

I have all three. Xm5s are good for me. Nice fit. The app for the bose quietcomfort 2 is a lot better now. Galaxy buds pro 3 seem to have theirs mostly sorted now with the new batch they selling. I have had one random issue with my buds pro 3 though and that's the left earbud randomly disconnecting then reconnecting. Other than that hiccup, all 3 pairs have been really good for me.

So I had the XM5 buds and they died after 1.5 years (battery issues). And I treated them well. there's also a lot of stuff you can't customise which drove me mad (ie if you take an earbud out it goes into transparency mode). Otherwise enjoyed the sound and ANC.  I've now bought the AZ100s and i Like em. I use comply foam tips which blocks more noise and the ANC is equal to the xm5 (i think better on lows worse on highs). Sound quality is great (similar to xm5. better for hip hop and jazz. slightly worse for guitar heavy stuff)  but they have amazing battery (literally all day at work without going into the case), can customize everything, and are comfy.  only complaints. I can't figure out how to "pull" connection. ie I have 2 devices paired and want to connect a third and bump off the 2nd automatically. no idea how to do this. and the case magnet isn't as satisfying as xm5s

I've got the Sonys, they sound great and are comfortable even in my small ears (I use the comply foam tips with them). But their touch controls kind of suck (for example to change the volume you tap them several times, but to play/pause/skip you also have to tap it several times, so you have to get the speed just right). I upgraded from the original pixel buds pro, which I honestly didn't really like, and they turned me off from wanting to try the new ones. But their touch controls were much more intuitive and of course their app was much more nicely integrated with my phone.

No, I've never had that happen with these. If anything they could be a little more sensitive, like half the time when I'm trying to adjust the volume I'll just be pausing/skipping my songs instead so I give up and end up doing it through my phone. I wish it were a tap and hold situation like every other earbud I've had, because that's my biggest gripe with these.

Sony wf-1000xm5 are pretty great IMO.

I had a pair of Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 - very good all round but failed in about 6 months. Tried the sony XM5 next and they were returned after 1 trip - could not get them to consistently noise cancel and ergonomics/controls were poor - have returned them due to issues with the ANC. So I'm onto the standard QC now and so far impressed with the fit/comfort and the ANC seems very good immediately, will try them on a flight next week.

I used to be a Sony fan girl, but their quality has gone way down. I won't buy another pair again after swearing by them for the better part of 10 years.

Sony WF-1000XM5. Completely drown out the machine shop noise that's normally surrounding me. Bluetooth multipoint is a necessary part of whatever headphones I daily drive now.

I am new to this sub and didn't experience many earbuds or headphones equipment. My previous experience is Beyerdynamic DT990 studio-headphones which require a soundcard, recently Bowers & Wilkings Px8 which I love for some music and for some I am a bit disappointed but overall great sound. And now recently, as I was looking for something for exercise, I was thinking about either Jabra Elite 8 Active or Sony Wf-1000xm5. I had the XM3s I think? And I was happy before. Whenever I looked at many lists, it looked as these were praised most for their sound quality as this was most important for me. Then, they are also slightly waterproof (IPX4), which is enough for jogging or other exercise I guess. Jabra Elite 8 would have been completely waterproof (IPX8) but after all I decided I wanted the best sound quality. So far I am very happy with these ear buds that are very small and fit into every little pocket. I find the sound quality very nice and enjoy using them. There are minor connectivity issues at time which can be annoying but so far it wasn't too bad or frequent. Some touch controls are a bit counterintuitive or unpractical (tapping the ear buds for louder/quieter multiple times is REALLY LOUD directly in your ear). Overall, I can only add, I like the sound from the XM5s. I heard good about the Technics AZ80s too in lists and rankings. I decides to "trust the masses" as I suppose plenty of money is funneled into sonys production for these headphones and they are made and marketed to appeal to a huge audience of consumers. I would be curious what you decide for too. Would I not have wanted it for jogging, I would have thought about AZ80s too.

Would you rather decide between the AZ80s or the Sony WF-1000XM5s? If only audio quality is your most important criterion. And perhaps also if you consider them for exercise/jogging, perhaps slight rain at times.

I am thinking about giving the Elite Active 8 Gen 2 to my girlfriend and perhaps at times comparing them to my Sony Wf-1000xm5s. 24th June or July? Can you update me on the sound and how you like them in comparison to other headphones and or in ears? I am really curious.

I love my XM5’s but I think I need to put in bigger earbuds. The ones they came with fit fine but they launch out of my ears if they are slightly touched. I was just on a 4 1/2 hour flight and about 20 minutes in put on my neck pillow and then sat there for the next 4 hours wondering if I was ever going to find them again. Thankfully I did find them but I’ve never had that problem with EarPods. They were a gift so I didn’t choose them but probably would buy Apple products again in the future when I need a new pair.

Between these 2, APP because I prefer earbuds But I’d take xm5 earbuds over that

Only if you want the Apple ecosystem conveniences  Otherwise, Sony XM5, Linkbuds S, or Galaxy Buds Pro 2 are my top picks. Yes even as an iPhone user I prefer Samsung Buds over Airpods

Sony XM5: great ANC and in-app EQ (with a bass slider)

I haven’t tried those, thanks for the info To an amateur ear like mine, xm5 sounds really dang quiet

+1 for XM5s! Checks all the boxes except tracking

Seconding this. I went with the bose ultra for headphones, but imo for earbuds, the Sony xm5 is unrivalled. Ive tried several brands and this was the first pair that I found super comfortable instantly upon wearing. They also offer a great selection of earned sizes and their app is also able to help you assess which size works best for you if thats a plus for you.

I am also a owner of the XM5 earbuds and while the ANC is good, it is known to have charging issues. Mine doesn't charge with a wire anymore, and I need to use a wireless charger to charge it.

I have them all! The xm5s are formidable on all spectrums (I use them without anc in the gym because the passive insulation is excellent!) The AirPods are very good but the sound is much worse. The Jabra are comfortable, good active isolation and much better sound over the AirPod Pro 2. The momentum is excellent in sound quality, the ANC is equivalent to the Jabra. The Bose are excellent in anc but their really low end. If I had to give you an ultimate choice, if you listen to a lot of music and quality and reduction are important to you, Sony is the best placed. They are part of my daily and my favorite pair for listening to music with the Denon Perl Pro.

Had airpods 2 pro, they sounded too tinny, so i switched to the Xm4. It had great sound and terrible fit. I then switched to Linkbuds S , which fit great, but I couldn't get past the low quality sound, I then switched to the Galaxy Buds 2 pro, which fit great and had the most bass of any headphone I've ever tried, it's clear bass too. I used these for 2 years, but even with good bass, the highs and mids suffered a lot. Then I finally went back to Sony with the wf1000xm5's, which have all the bass of the buds 2 pro but with clarity in every frequency. They also fit even more secure for me than my galaxy buds 2 pro. In my opinion, it's an easy win for Sony.

Wf1000xm5, they have the premium sound of more boutique brands while offering way better fit, battery life, and customization compared to the more expensive options. None of the bluetooth earbuds balanced profiles even come close to wired B.A. iem's in terms of boring analytical listening or latency. I dont see why you would spend twice as much on something that a major brand does as good or better in certain categories.

Had so many "Buds" - Apple/ Bose/ JBL/ Sony and now Buds Pro 3 and they are without doubt the best I've tried for sound and ANC Sony WF-1000XM5 were really good for ANC but were really bass heavy ( which I normally don't mind ) but were ridiculous. For integration with your Samsung phone the Buds Pro 3 really offer the best option. #

I have the Sony XM5 and bought the Perl Pro on sale for £149 last week. I also bought the creative BT-W6 dongle for £49.99 to be able to take advantage of AptX Lossless with them on my S24 Ultra. The Perl Pro with the dongle using Tidal is the most incredible sound I've ever heard. The XM5s are good, but this was just total eargasm. Without the dongle however the sound from the XM5s was a tad bit better than Perl I'd say.

the Sony WF-1000XM5 are great, a little pricy but worth it. If ur looking for different budgets i suggest you [read this](https://earbudswireless.medium.com/best-earbuds-for-iphone-dfa6b89253b0)

The Bose QC Ultra earbuds have the best ANC on the market. I don’t recommend them though. They’re terribly buggy (I went through 5 pairs across 3 different time periods and have given up) and have horrendous call quality for their prices. Stepping back just a smidge in ANC with the Sony WF-1000XM5 will give you an ask string better experience. Smaller earbuds with almost the same level of ANC, better sound quality, better call quality, a smaller charging case that has Qi charging, and a better app along with earbuds that have less bugs. My Bose earbuds would constantly cut out with my devices (make iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro Max, also S24 Ultra), the left side would usually not connect and require that the earbuds be reset (they need to be plugged into USB C power to do this), and the left earbud still has a mosquito-like buzzing. I owned the WF-1000XM5 at launch and they were solid. I sold them just to get the brew color Sony recently released and they’ve still been solid. It will take years before I trust Bose again.

If bass is your concern, the WF-1000XM5 offer a healthy amount of it and you can tune them how you want. They also have great ANC, second only to Bose. But I wouldn’t buy Bose true wireless earbuds. I don’t recommend them after years (and I do mean years) of constant exchanges that started with the QC earbuds 1, went through the QC earbuds 2, and stopped with the QC Earbuds Ultra when the pair they sent me had mosquito buzzing in the left ear and still experienced Bluetooth issues (mainly audible blips and connection interruptions). I will never buy Bose earbuds again. There’s also a difference between bass and mud, Bose focuses on mud.

Sony WF-1000XM5. The ANC is almost as good in an overall smaller package with better battery life, much better sound quality, a better app, and more features.

The WF-1000XM5 are a big improvement over the XM4. They’re a smaller design that’s more comfortable, improved voice calls, improved ANC, better ear tips with a hybrid foam setup, and a better fit due to their smaller size and upgraded ear tips. The XM4 earbuds were fine at the time, but the XM5 are an upgrade in every way.

Anything with microphones and ANC is going to have a battery, there’s no way around that. Batteries mean they’ll have a limited life. In my experience, the passive noise isolation from my IEMs is just as good as the ANC in the LinkBuds S, maybe even better. Not as good as the ANC in my XM5 headphones/earbuds, but still solid. You may not need ANC if you’re getting a good seal. It’s worth trying. Solid IEMs go for $15-$55 on Amazon. You could try a pair out and, if you like them, spend more to get a higher end pair and accessories to make them wireless/true wireless.

The Bose QC Ultra earbuds have the best ANC on the market for earbuds, they’re measurably the best. The JBL Tour Pro 3 are a close second followed by the AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM5 tied for 3rd. If ANC is your sole focus, the Bose QC Ultra earbuds are it. But they’re buggy, have connectivity issues, their battery life is on the lower side, and they have bugs that will require you put them back in their case, close the lid for 30-60 seconds, then take them out again. If you don’t want to deal with that and are interested in getting ~2 more hours of battery life, get the JBL Tour Pro 3 and use their foam tips. If you have an iPhone, the AirPods Pro 2 are also great as they’ll have more features and solid connectivity to your source device.

According to Rtings, the Bose are still better and Sony’s ANC is heavily reliant on their passive isolation. Take that away and their ANC isn’t great. I’d also hesitate buying into a brand that isn’t making consumer audio gear anymore and whatever stock is left is it. They’re already becoming more difficult to find at MSRP.

I’ve had both and kept the WF-1000XM5. My issues with the AirPods Pro 2 were that they never stayed in my ears (unless I used foam ear tips), I couldn’t EQ them, their ANC was good but not class-leading, they don’t have true multi-point (Apple device switching isn’t the smoothest and doesn’t always work), their battery life is average, and their sound quality was just fine for my tastes. Although Sony’s ear tips aren’t the most compostable, their sound quality and ANC are better than the APP2. I know some people are quick to mention the Technjcs A80Z or even the Denon Perl Pro for sound quality. But both their ANC levels are below that of the XM5 and the earbuds themselves are much larger. I prefer having a compact package with top ANC and good sound quality. I primarily listen on my iPhone 15 Pro Max, then an Android Walkman when I’m at work because phone use at my office is being frowned upon. AAC through the XM5 sounds good. It’s more about the hardware than the codec. Properly mixed Atmos tracks sound good, and I think they’re an all around solid package compared to the APP2, which, to me, only excel at Apple integration and their smart features (like case precision location).

Unpopular opinion: I think they’re overrated and prefer the Sony WF-1000XM5. They have better ANC, I prefer their sound signature and like Sony’s clear bass option, better mic call quality, a smaller case, and last a little longer per charge all in a (for me) more comfortable design. I tried to like the Momentum True Wireless 4. But their ANC is average, at best, and I didn’t think they were any clearer than my Sony earbuds. I preferred the Denon PerL Pro to these as well, and they’re usually on sale for $240-ish. They have the same average level of ANC as the Momentum. But their automatic tuning was something else. Still didn’t have the bass punch of the Sony (neither do the Momentum), but I preferred their clarity and sound signature over the Momentum’s. I know a lot of people here like the Momentum True Wireless 4. I just couldn’t get into them. I probably would have if I didn’t already own the XM5.

I’d take out the Technics, Sony, and Samsung if ANC is your focus. Their ANC levels are all mid-tier, at most. If you have an iPhone, I’d also add the AirPods Pro 2 to your list. I also suggest adding the JBL Tour Pro 3. In terms of ANC, it goes Bose, JBL, then Sony/Apple. Some argue that the Jabra Elite 10 version 2 have the best ANC, but they let in sounds that were cancelled out by both the Bose QC Ultra (there is no such thing as the Bose QC Ultra 3 earbuds) and JBL Tour Pro 3. If you don’t want to deal with bugs and can take a small, nearly unnoticeable hit in ANC, get the JBL Tour Pro 3. If all you want is ANC and you’re ok with bugs, the Bose QC Ultra earbuds are it.

Random disconnects, issues where the left earbud will produce a popping sound and they won’t connect making you either reset your device or put them back in their case for a couple of minutes, having only the right earbud connect, the earbuds remaining connected after they’re in their charging case with the lid shut…. The left earbud is also known for producing a mosquito buzzing when no content is playing. Sony’s ANC is fine (still lower than Bose and JBL) when you use their foam/rubber hybrid ear tips (or 3rd party foam ones). Switch to just silicone ear tips and their ANC is terrible. It heavily relies on the passive isolation from their ear tips. All the others have solid ANC regardless of ear tip material.

Your current earbuds have the best ANC on the market. They’re buggy as all hell, but you aren’t going to find earbuds with better ANC. The AirPods Pro 2, Sony WF-10005, and JBL Tour Pro 3 all have competitive ANC with Bose, but Bose still has the best. The AirPods Pro 2 will provide a more solid experience if you’re using an iPhone. The Sony will have ANC a notch below Bose. But they do get a couple extra hours of use, their charging case is small and supports Qi charging, and I think their sound quality is better than Bose. I have the JBL Tour Pro 3. When music is playing, I can’t hear anything. Better audio quality than Bose and longer battery life (the same as Sony). Their charging case is large, but at least it has Qi charging and can act as an audio source for the earbuds. The touchscreen seems like a gimmick, but I actually use it from time to time instead of relying on the JBL app (which is a little slow but worlds better than Bose’s buggy app). I will never buy Bose earbuds again. I went through 5-6 pairs of QC earbuds 1, the same number of QC earbuds 2, and 4 pairs of QC Ultra. I just kept exchanging them for connectivity issues (Android and iOS), buzzing in the left ear on the Ultras, needing to factory reset the 2 and Ultras (which means plugging them into a USB power source), and overall just terrible experiences. I had the Sony WF-1000XM5, but their hybrid foam/rubber ear tips weren’t my favorite. Then I received a pair of JBL Tour Pro 3 and kept them because of their sound quality (I can get booming bass without distortion, unlike with Bose), competitive ANC, and having damn near every feature under the sun. The only thing you can’t do is control audio playback and adjust volume directly with the earbuds. But their case, my Apple Watch, or my iPhone can handle that.

Is the XM4 earbuds and battery drain issues. The XM5 last for 8 hours with ANC enabled. LDAC will reduce ~2 hours. But it’s a power hungry, overrated codec. The next headphones would have been released last year if Sony stuck to their schedule. But it looks like they’re going to update both later this year. The XM5 earbuds are about 1.5 years old, so they still have a few months before reaching 2 years old.

You’re in a Bose sub so will get Bose recommendations. Are you just looking for sports earbuds or everyday earbuds to use with sports? The phone you have will can also change the recommendations. The Beats Fit Pro are good sports earbuds, but their ANC is lacking and I wasn’t a fan of their audio quality. Bose doesn’t offer a pair of sports earbuds anymore. Just the QC series with the QC earbuds II, QC Ultra earbuds, and their QC open earbuds (whatever they’re called). You’ll get stellar ANC and good audio quality with either the QC earbuds II or Ultra along with sweat resistance and a stable fit. Sony has the LinkBuds S with ok ANC but good sound quality, their fit seems fine for most people though they don’t have a stability fin. There’s also the WF-1000XM5 with ANC second only to Bose and, in my opinion, even better sound quality but their fit is even more divisive. Jabra makes a slew of earbuds with good sound quality and average ANC, especially the Elite 8 series made for exercising. There are others as well. It all depends on your phone, what you want out of them, and how you prioritize ANC.

I’ll be the opposite of everyone here and say the XM5. Mine have been great, owned them since launch last year. ANC and audio quality are better than the Buds 3 Pro, so is battery life and overall features. You aren’t going to be stuck in Samsung’s (not Android but Samsung’s) ecosystem just to get some of the features. The Buds 3 Pro are also experience quality control issues and problems with the ear tips. Samsung delayed their launch until the end of August, possibly into October. My pair was fine, but they didn’t stay in my ears. They looked like Cybertruck AirPods Pro and fit exactly like the AirPods Pro 2. The clear top to the charging case doesn’t seem like it will last a long time. They look and perform similarly to Moondrop’s $75 true wireless earbuds, which already looked like silver AirPods Pro 2. Mine were returned within 24 hours of them getting to my house. They just didn’t fit, regardless of ear tip size, and both their ANC and sound quality weren’t reflective of their $250 MSRP. They were fine for what I was going to pay ($90). But even then, I think Moondrop’s true wireless were better and the XM5 are still leagues ahead.

I was on the same situation as you a few weeks ago. I had the XM5's returned because of the unreliable connection, they would disconnect from my phone if I was in a crowded area like the metro, which is 90% of the usage I needed them tl for. Eventually I decided that the sound quality was not that important to me in TW earbuds, and went with the pixel buds pro that were on sale at 150€. With EQ they sound decent enough, they are super comfortable and the ANC blocks out most of the Metro noise. Also, right now Jabra Elite 10 are on sale in Europe at 150€. But also Jabra decided to stop making consumer earbuds and focus on products for companies, so not sure about the long term support.

Great buds. Love them in every way. A bud version of the headphone variant. Battery life is awesome (more below), sound quality is great, ANC is virtually perfect for gym, outdoor, indoor, work use. There have been reports that one bud may not hold charge, I haven't ran into that issue. Figured I'll mention it since it's the only negative I've read on these buds. Definitely get them as far below of MSRP as possible. I'm cheap like that.

I’ve had experience with a few of these, and I can give you some insights based on your priorities. Here’s what I think, in terms of sound quality, Sony and Sennheiser are usually considered the best, with crisp highs and deep bass. For ANC, Sony and Bose are top-notch, but the Technics and Jabra also do well. Call quality is solid across all, but I’d give an edge to the AirPods Pro and Sony for clear, noise-canceling calls. Would love to hear what you decide!

I think the xm5 stacks up fine with competitors. You just need to use the eq a little bit (excited is a good preset if you can’t be bothered). Technics az80 would be my pick, especially at their new price.

Sony xm5 is great and has a versatile eq. Technics az80 sound great out of the box with dynamic preset, much better than the az100, that one takes a bit of tinkering to sound normal and not nasally. Cambridge m100 are amazing for the current price of $99, they used to be $250.

Xm5 anc is pretty great, buuuuut it Relies on you using foam tips as well to cancel out low end. Az100 is on par with the xm5 for anc (I tried them with foam tips as well, and it’s pretty much the same).

Yeah I love the xm5, definitely in my top 5. The eq works very well, thank god lol I’m not a fan of the stock sound (but excited preset is great).

Yeah the xm5 is fantastic once those foam tips soften up. I still haven’t tried any of my aftermarket tips, I’m pretty satisfied. I think I prefer the xm5 over the az100, but for movies the az100 is amazing with Dolby.

I really like xm5 and technics az80. Status between 3ANC is a nice one as well, but might be an odd fit for some people I guess. Out of those 3 the az80 is by far my fav. If you get it, the dynamic eq is nice, otherwise I can give you the eq I made which is similar but has better vocals and sharper treble. Otherwise it’s a warm nuetral iem with nice thumpy midbass and great separation and nice staging. I use iPhone 11 Pro, never had much of an issue with tws, just that app2 is my every day carry because it’s always reliable and has good anc and unbeatable passthrough

Probably AirPods Pro 2 (mine are over 2yrs old and still working like new) , buuut if you don’t have an iPhone maybe the xm5. My xm3 from 2019 is still working, but I only get like 2hrs per charge on the buds lol.

Wf1000xm5, yeah I have them too. They are pretty good, one of my favorites.

The Sony pair.

The Sony’s feel so cheap. You hold them in your hand and you install know Apple build quality and design are elite. Also the fit is terrible regardless of which size ear plugs you use.

A huge plus for Google Buds Pro and the Sony XM5 is the support for Google Find My Device network. I didn't like the sound quality of the Buds Pro, though. I'm currently using the 1More EVO.

1000xm5 are great, i use them. No complains at all regarding software and sound quality

I gave the Sony WF-1000XM5 a thorough run, and they impressed me with solid noise cancellation and a balanced sound profile during my daily commutes.

They're OK, if your priority is sound quality go for it, they sound really good, however if you want the best fit so you never have to adjust them in your running session I'll recommend looking other buds, may even save some serious money getting sport buds with great fit and OK sound, sadly I wouldn't know which ones to recommend

For me upgrade. Wfxm5 smaller little bit. Whxm5 lot better mic quality.

The earbud body yes, but the insertion I dont think so, when i use wfxm3-xm5 and linkbud s, i used M sized for all of them.

if wfxm6 also release in summer , i guess it still retain the $299 msrp or more now. Wfxm5 mic quality is garbage, but its good on other 3 categories. Based on your scoring, i guess the huawei freebud pro3/4, samsung buds pro 3, technic az-100 are the one you looking for.

Sony XM4/5 never had any issues great sound quality

bought my sony xm5's just over a year ago and the left earbud is dead.

I have the Sony XM5's and the ANC is really game changing. I mow my lawn with them in and I can barely tell that my lawn mower is running. They also work really well in the office and I can't hear the person sitting next to me. The audio quality is solid too and the one touch to switch to passthrough is great so you don't have to keep pulling an earbud out so someone can talk to you. Calls work well and I've not had any issues with connection or people being able to hear me. Regardless of what earbuds you get, make sure you get the right sized tips and type to go in your ear as that will make a huge difference in performance. I prefer foam tips as they really improve audio quality and ANC performance.

Sennheiser has better sound quality for listening at home. Sony has better noise cancelling. For travelling, I have my Sony and would recommend that. At home, I use studio headphones. There's also 100s of results online if you Google for a comparison.

I've been using them for a few days. The fit is great, the little fins and the buds fit well and aren't uncomfortable even after a few hours of wearing them. I've done some light workouts and they stay on. I also have a Sony wf-1000xm5 which I feel sounds better, but the price point is also different (the Sony has an inferior fit though, IMO). The case is cool, and the integrated strap and carabiner-ish thing are a nice touch. The case is BIG though, and I found it weird that you have to open it downward to get and return the buds in alignment with the corresponding ear they go on. My biggest complaint is the voice prompt, which is super loud and sounds like the prompts from cheap generic China buds and earphones from 10 years ago. I like that you can customize the touch functions in the app, but the touch function itself is less responsive than I would like---you have to really be intentional (and a little slower when doing multiple taps) when you tap it. ANC is OKAY. Not excellent, but not poor either. The annoyance of the voice prompt telling you what mode you're on (ANC off, ANC on, StayAware on) is offset by the fact that it tells you what mode you're on. I cannot comment on specifics with the sound, as I'm not really an audiophile. There was hardly any difference for me switching from one EQ preset in the app to another.

I tried the Sonys and they were great, but not nearly as comfortable, so I ended up getting these instead.

It's unclear whether you're looking for earbuds (title) or headphones (message body). If earbuds I'd go for the Sony WF-1000XM4 or XM5. I actually have both and they're great. Unlike Samsung and Pixel buds, they don't irritate my ear canals. The others, Samsung especially, provoke a severe allergic reaction where my ear canals itch and weep fluid for a couple of weeks until they heal. If headphones then I have a pair of Sony WH-1000XM4 that I swear by. Great sound and the noise cancellation is very effective. All the models mentioned here support LDAC.

That's the whole reason why I have the Sony wfxm5 earbuds they offer 8 hours of battery while these galaxy buds offer 4hr/5hr battery which isn't good enough. That's why I will never buy galaxy buds again

The Bose Quiet comfort has the best ANC in the market. The Sony 1000XM5s have the 2nd best ANC.

For excellent noise-canceling earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are top contenders. Both are praised for their ability to significantly reduce outside noise, even in noisy environments, while still delivering great sound quality. If you prioritize top-notch ANC performance, these are solid choices to explore.

I feel the Galaxy Buds 2 make a good choice personally. Battery life runs good for me, ANC is good, mic ka issue nhi h, aur iPhone me bhi connect ho jaata h. If you want to raise the budget, then the Airpods Pro are the best hands down.

So wait for a week for the reviews to come out, lmao, I am an audiophile that doesn't buy all the audio products (but only the top rated products out there) Sony's XM5 are the best I've heard before this, apart from Sennheiser momentum 4, that don't have any bugs or connectivity issues(unlike other brands), so I didn't have to look at any other brands.

Yes, Sony for me were the best overall without any manufacturing or applications or connection issues. And the top rated for audio quality for consumers. Didn't get pi8's due to charging issues (read reddit page), this is the new buds without any bugs.

Noise cancelling is the best in class, compared to Sony xm5 (with largest ear tips), sony couldnt cancel 100% noise for me, these do. You need to try these to believe me. I tried these yesterday in an Uber for the first time, it was mind blowingly silent, like I was deaf.

Ones I already own: Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds Audio Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds

Sennheiser has a more refined sound, audiofile sound...I have both of them. Sony has a better noise cancellation and a very good v shaped sound.

I do own both. I will share my experience. My ear slightly bigger especially earphone resting area. Sony sit nicely and cover up all gaps to make better ANC. But Buds 3 pro all ear tips from samsung makes me feel like no ANC at all. Finally found $32 worth ear tips from azla, managed to make 60% of the ANC i was getting with sony. If you really need high quality, buy wired earphones.

Tried the beoplay, B&W, divialet, denon, AKG, XM5, buds 2 pro, AZ80 and maybe a couple more I can't remember. I skipped a few other audiophile brands because they lacked too many features for TWE. Went with the AZ80. The beoplay did wow me at first but i don't think the AZ80 is any inferior. IMHO it's mostly a brand thing. Just because a company makes an "audiophile" speakers, doesn't mean their headphones will be better than, say, a Sony one. Also, it's what your ears like. Many people swear by the xm5 audio quality but I personally found it very harsh. The AZ80 sounds very balanced and natural to me. I mostly listen to pop, country and 90s r&b

I think the Sony sounds a little better, but the Apple are more reliable and work better with IOS and OSX. I have both

I can't say I notice a big difference between experiencing Atmos on AirPods versus the Sony. Yes, as I said, head tracking is not available on the Sony. My point was simply to make it clear that you can hear spatial audio on the Sony earbuds as well as AirPods. We can all make our own qualitative decisions on the differences.

Yes. To be clear I'm not advocating for anything, just stating outright that you can experience Atmos/Spatial Audio on Sony headphones and earbuds. [https://www.reddit.com/r/Earbuds/comments/1e6jn6b/comment/ldyeqgr/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/Earbuds/comments/1e6jn6b/comment/ldyeqgr/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)

I dunno. I just bought some to replace the XM4's I lost after a bike ride. I miss my XM4's. I'm still auditioning the 5's, but so far the ANC isn't quite as good to my ear, but the comfort is better. It also eliminates that slight 'tinny' sound from the XM4. I think it was a result of sound reflecting off of internal surfaces in the old 'buds, causing a kind of echo. I got used to it over time, and it's missing in the XM5's (which is nice) but for $300, I just want a more significant improvement.

Yes, I had them and returned them. The ANC wasn't nearly as effective as the Edifier imo.

True. I love my Momentum 3s, plus the sound quality is great. If there's one thing that I've learned, it's that spending more doesn't always equate to a better product. I have the Sony XM4s, but I was disappointed with them, so I went for the XM5s, and I was even more disappointed. The Sennheisers have been great, but for some reason, I'm always having trouble getting them to connect for calls. Other than that, they've been very good.

I would also look at ebay for refurbished ones. I got my Sony XM5 for $117 last month. They work 100%. Even if the batteries die in a few years, I still walk away with a bargain and can save the money toward another pair down the line or supplement with a pair of over the ear headphones simultaneously

So I personally just upgraded from my Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds as well. I did a bunch of research & narrowed down my search to these earbuds: -Sony WF-1000XM5 -Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (& QC II) -Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 -Technics EAH-AZ100 -Denon Perl Pro -Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 (& Buds Pro) I tried the XM5, which had a slightly nicer sound quality & bass extension, slightly nicer ANC/transparency/call quality, & overall nice design & connectivity. My issue with these is twofold: one, I want to get away from foam tips because I'm tired of replacing them & they hurt a little after some hours; two, the tips of the buds aren't as long as the XM4, so I just couldn't get them to fit my ears. Returned but otherwise would've kept them. The Bose I didn't try, but I did try the QC II earbuds, which are virtually identical in real world use. I returned my QC II because the noise cancelling on the high frequency range was just bad compared to my XM4. At the time, I got Sony to give me an out-of-warranty replacement on the buds since the battery life was crapping out after an update. The Pi8 were the most comfortable earbuds I've ever tried, the sound quality was top-notch (even with the AAC codec), the case retransmission feature made them sound even better, & they look super nice. I had major issues with them unfortunately. ANC/transparency/call quality was unacceptable for $400 earbuds, as were the constant connectivity issues I experienced. The buds would randomly not turn on when taken out of the case, or just one wouldn't turn on, or they wouldn't connect, or sometimes the buds would randomly disconnect/reconnect, or sometimes the buds would disconnect from each other. I really wanted to keep them but they were borderline unusable, even after an update. Returned. I've tried the Pixel Buds Pro twice, & I tried the Pixel Buds Pro 2 once recently. I had high hopes for them since I have a Pixel phone & since I really enjoyed the Pixel Buds 2 that I had before my XM4. Both of the Pros had sound quality that wasn't as good as my XM4, as was the ANC/transparency. They'd be decent for the right person, but not for me. Returned. I was going to try the Denon Perl Pro earbuds until I tried the Technics AZ100. The Technics have virtually everything I was looking for & then some: LDAC codec support for high quality listening; ANC/transparency/call quality that is as good (if not better) than my XM4 (the ANC doesn't block as much high frequency sounds due to silicone tips instead of foam, but it's close enough for me); super comfortable & I don't have to jam the earbuds into my ear canal; very customizable touch controls for each ear bud; great battery life; slim case; solid connectivity with no drop outs so far; low latency for video; and they look great! TL;DR: I bought the XM5, AZ100, Pixel Buds Pro 2, QC II Earbuds, & Pi8 to replace my XM4. XM5 didn't fit right, Pixel Buds weren't great, QC II/Ultra were a wash, & Pi8 had way too many issues for the price. AZ100 are such solid all-rounders that they're worth the price. If the XM5 fit your ears, they're also really good. Pi8 are phenomenal if listening quality is your top priority. Bose are decent as well. I picked AZ100!

The Sony WF-1000XM5 is your best choice for top ANC, great sound, and LDAC support on Android. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are good but better for Samsung. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II have the best ANC, while Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 offers balanced sound with aptX Adaptive.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 is the best choice for your Xiaomi 11T Pro, with great ANC, balanced sound, and LDAC support. Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are good but work best with Samsung. Bose QC Earbuds II have the best ANC, while Sennheiser Momentum 3 offers top sound quality. Nothing Ear (2) is a budget-friendly option. Sony XM5 gives the best mix of features and compatibility.

If it's dry, I use my Sony WFXM5s...absolutely loooove these and I'm surprised how well they have handled being used for running. My only gripe are the capacitive buttons, so if it's raining, I wear my OpenRun Shokz (I'm not a huge fan of these though in all honesty.) I need to try the Jabra Elites and the new Bose open earbuds.

If its raining, the capacitive buttons get triggered; the music ends up pausing/resuming over and over or it goes into pairing mode. I thiiink you can disable them from the app, but of course, its never raining when I start a run. I dont bring my phone with me either. That's really been my only gripe. I wear them for work every day, traveling (NC is excellent), and on my daily runs (in transparency mode), and they've held up spectacularly. I had the WFXM4s before that held up to every day work and excercise-usage for two years (I'm a super sweater) before they died. Sony sent me a new pair but I still bought a pair of using XM5s. The Shokz arent terrible, but theyre really only good for one thing. I also dont find them to be much more transparent than simply running in transparency mode with my XF5s (which almost give me like super hearing.) I only use them when I'm running in the rain, and they already seem like theyre on the last leg.

I run in Sony XM5s (the buds) and they have been damn near perfect. My only gripe with them is that they don’t work well in rain. I also have a pair a Shokz but pretty much only use them for cycling. My first pair of Shokz was RMA’d and my current pair have some weird buzzing.

Sony XM5 earbuds, they are always in my pocket and I use them with the deck if I dont want to disturb anyone, I've never noticed any latency issues. if I'm on my own I just use the speakers. If I really needed a wired set for whatever reason I'd use either my moondrop aria's or my DT770 pro's

I use the XM5 version, honestly never noticed any latencey.

If you plan on using those buds with more than just your phone, I'd recommend sony, but if you want just for phone galaxy buds are better.

I use now XM5 which are a bit better than Sennheiser TW4 in strong wind (IMO). I mean, wind (also from riding a bike fast) during just music listening.

I think the bigger WH xm6's are pending release this year, not the wf series. Wf xm5 are great with android phones! Upgraded to them from my wf xm4 last year. Also have the bigger wh xm4s. Wf xm5 are my most used due to amazing NC, sound quality, and portability/ battery life. Calls quality is probably an area of improvement on the Sony's, and if that's your no1 feature you are looking for then I hear Jabra is the leader in that department.

you could try the wf-1000xm4 or wf-1000xm5 if you like the sony brand. They don't stay in well unless you use the right tips, which you can get on amazon called "comply foam" brand.

Sony xm5s are amazing! Haven't tried bose qc but if complete noise block out is a 10, I'd give the sonys a 7.5 ish, especially for blocking background chit chat

Xm5 easily Or momentum 4 tw

I use Sony MX5 earbuds. The battery life is insane, sound quality is premium. The ANC is also great.

After trying az80, xm5, jabra elite 10, momentum 4 true wireless, between 3anc, I settled on AZ80. It gives me the perfect balance with subjectivity best sound out of those, although between 3anc may edge in in some types of music. I don't think you can go wrong with most of those options. AZ80 felt most premium to with the brushed aluminium.

Specially with their form tips

Technics AZ80 if you have an iPhone Sony if you have Samsung Momentum 4 if you have a device that does AptX lossless or adaptive The technics do the best with the low bit rate iPhone codecs. The other two sound better if you can use the better codecs. The technics sound the most clean and clear The Sonys are smooth and laid back The M4 is the most dynamic/energetic If you consider the Sony, see if you can test them when walking. I found they weirdly amplified and echoed footsteps.

Sony are so much better. Better looking, far better sound quality. AirPods are ahead in terms of call quality.

Sony WF-1000xm5 earbuds. A bit expensive but the noise cancelling is unmatched.

Xm5 and couldn't be happier. The default tips are horrendous but Sony sent me free more traditional silicon tips that are like apple air pod tips. Also comply memory foam ones I use when I'm working out or running for extra secure fit, they have zero chance if falling out with those.

I went with xm5 with a whole bunch of different earbuds and it was comply memory foams that I got that worked. They were really great and the best earbuds I’ve ever worn. However I’ve switched back to iPhone and for me AirPods are the only way to go with iPhones.

I received the buds 3 pro yesterday and returned then within 4 hours of them arriving at my house. £250? Give me a break. If you're spending that amount on ear buds, if has to feel quality, period. My girlfriend literally asked why I had one of those kids toys from those vending machines similar to kinder surprises. It's a complete joke, the plastic top seems like it would snap off if dropped on majority of floor types. The buds themselves are quite frankly a bit ridiculous looking to and scream £10 temu knockoff. The extemely angular design the way it juts out from the ear to the stem just doesn't make sense from a design standpoint, it adds unnecessarily bulk and makes them look 10x bigger than they actually are. The silicon is bad quality too. The sound quality was good. But so are £70 ear buds. I returned them for the xm5's and couldn't be happier.

Thanks for this info. What device/phone are you using to send a signal to the AZ100s? Are you using much EQ to tweak for your level of frequency impairment? What's your age? Are you using LDAC or another codec? Are you using Dolby Atmos or other settings in addition? I tried the B&W Pi8s (clear beautiful sound with aptX but too buggy and app sucks) and the Sony XM5s (with LDAC, the settings, adjustment/tweaks are amazing in the app) and great when setup properly but I am going to get the AZ100s this weekend to compare. THANKS!

I've tried 3-4 different brands. Really liked the B&Ws but settled back on the XM5s. Great ANC and EQ can be set wonderfully. I also got them for $198 on sale.

My experience with these 2 were very close. I think they both shine. The XM5s feel better in the ear and overall richer sound stage.

I've been an avid sony fan for several years. The new b3p aren't even in the same league as the xm5s or the xm4s imo. The only thing the Samsung have over the Sony's are call Quality.

I feel your pain. Low latency Bluetooth is a total mess at the moment what with LE audio (LC3) being locked behind Intel EVO PCs in the PC space or having to buy a dongle such as the Creative BT-W6. Some devices that support LE audio that I have tested and know work: Creative Aurvana Ace 2 Earfun Air 4 Pro Jlab Epic Lab Edition - also has a dongle that uses Opus that's even lower latency Sony Linkbuds-S Sony WF1000XM5 Aptx-LL is on hardly any buds at all. Aptx-Adaptive-LL is on several. Look for buds with Snapdragon sound. However, many devices don't backwards support Aptx-LL correctly from Aptx-Adaptive. I've tested Aptx-Adaptive-LL with Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra and it worked reasonably well.

XM5's have hands down the worst occlusion (you WILL hear your footsteps) MTW4 on the other hand.... default buds since March(love the sound)

I’ve played around with a couple of these recently. The Sony WF-1000XM5 really impressed me with its noise cancellation and sound clarity, even in noisy environments, and I found the battery life to be solid.

I've tried a couple of models and found the Sony WF-1000XM5 to be a solid performer. The noise cancellation really shuts out distractions even in busy settings, and the sound quality is detailed and balanced.

I’ve been testing out a few options and the Sony WF-1000XM5 has really stood out for me.

I use Sony Xm5's they have decent noise canceling and also have a transparency mode, much like the apple airpods, which are almost as good as having no headphones in at all.

I have both the Bose QC Ultra and Sony XM5 right now, trying them out before going with one. Bose has much better low frequency response and ANC, IMO. Their connection to devices is slower and there's a longer status chime, during which you cannot hear audio from your source - i.e. being in the car then switching over to earbuds when getting out. The case doesn't have wireless charging, is bulky, flimsy and doesn't feel great, it feels like the lid spring is already deformed / provides reduced retention force, and I've only had it a week. Sony has better software/app, quicker Bluetooth connection without the long status update chime. The ear canal fittings themselves are a strange material that doesn't seem like the usual neoprene-ish stuff, it's more like Styrofoam and is showing creases/cracks after only a week of use. The case is a lot nicer, more compact, slick matte material, and has wireless charging. I really do like the Sony for overall user experience, but the Bose ANC is bar none, turning it on feels like flipping an OFF switch for my eardrums. For this and the improved bass response, I may have to get over the case and connection issues of the Bose over the Sonys... Jury is still out. Going to take them both on a flight with me and make the call after that.

XM5. They are ULTRA comfortable, i fall asleep everyday with them, which was absolutely impossible with the XM4s since they were chunky and heavy. Trust me, they're miles ahead, just not worth the full price but you probably can find a good deal on black friday, got mine on a sale for 150€

I have Jabra 8 Active for running and have Sony xm5 for home use. I am a very sweaty, sub-8 minute marathon runner and have had no issues with fit, sound, or degradation over time. Sony xm5 have foam ear tips which I imagine would get nasty and break from repeated moisture exposure. Really hoping to find a solid Jabra replacement now that they are discontinued.

Status audio 3ANC look no further. OnePlus buds pro are very good too. Sony xm5 are okay but lacked the bass I wanted. Denon perl pro also sound very good too but bulky. 3anc are just my fave. I got a few people to make the switch to them and they love them. They also got a status eq app too. This is all for audio quality. I never used nc at all. I know airpods had best transparency mode though

Sorry about your Bose, that's rough. In that price range, you could also consider the technics AZ80 and the Sony WF-1000XM5. The technics sound amazing and have pretty good noise cancellation. They also come with 7 pairs of eartips to dial in your size, have multipoint connectivity to 3 devices, and the app is wonderful. Their successor the AZ100 just came out like two weeks ago and are being hyped to no end, but they're $300, so a bit above your stated range. The 80s are super solid and much cheaper now, though, so you will still enjoy them. The sonys don't sound quite as impressive but they're still very good, they have a nice app, and their noise cancellation is much better practically on par with the Boses'. They come with 4 sets of memory foam eartips so finding a seal shouldn't be too hard (comply foam tips also work amazingly if none of the stock ones fit you). Source: have owned both of these. The creative aurvana ace mimi also just came out and are only $129 but use a personalization service and XMEMS drivers which reviewers are calling incredible, especially for the price. I haven't used them myself, though, so I can't go as in depth about them. P.s. a good set of noise cancelling buds/cans in med school is so key; the Sony over-ear noise cancelling XM2s I had at the time got me through so much step studying in a house with loud roommates. I am graduating residency in a few months and I'm not sure I would be here without them. Good luck with everything!

Those and the sony wf xm5s  Are fantastic bt headphones imo 

Sony WF-1000XM5 for found quality. But tracking features will still need AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2 or Beats Fit Pro.

Having tested many, for me the best remain the sony wf 1000 xm5. Their passive isolation is already perfect thanks to their foam tips and with the ANC activated, these are just the headphones with the best ANC on the market. And when it comes to sound quality, I find them much better than my AirPods Pro 2 or Bose QC Ultra. The only fault I could find with the Sony wf 1000 xm5 is that they fit quite deeply into the ear canal. I hope my opinion could help someone.

It's a shame that you haven't tried the xm5 because for me they are the headphones with the biggest and best soundstage.

I have the Sony wf1000xm5 and I love them, the noise reduction is incredible partly thanks to the foam tips but they are not the most comfortable headphones on the market that's for sure.