Sony Electronics' update of its award winning 1000X series headphones – the WH-1000XM5 - surprises the industry with an improved immersive, distraction-free, wireless sound experience to its users. Following its predecessor, the WH-1000XM4 headphones, released less than two years ago, the new model elevates the industry-leading noise canceling and audio quality up a level with updated technology and a refreshed design that is intended to improve comfort even more.
For the WH-1000XM5 redesign, Sony says it developed its best noise canceling technology yet, with two processors controlling eight microphones that dramatically reduce frequency, especially mid- to high-frequency noise and automatically optimizes noise cancelation depending on the environment. This is along with various consumer variables including head size, whether the listener is wearing glasses or if hair is covering their ears. Whether users are trying to zone into work in a busy cafe or aiming to relax during a hectic morning commute, the WH-1000XM5 headphones create a suitable, immersive listening environment.
With the help of Sony's Integrated Processor V1, the WH-1000XM5 headphones unlock the full potential of Sony's HD Noise Canceling Processor QN1, while the specially designed 30mm driver unit enhances noise canceling. These features, Sony says, improve sound clarity and bass reproduction, creating a better noise cancelation implementation that allows the listener to completely switch off the world around them whether they're escaping from plane noise or sitting on a train on their way home from work.
The WH-1000XM5 headphones also set a new standard for high quality audio reproduction. Sony's meticulous selection of materials and their assembly means users can enjoy their favorite tracks in the way they should be experienced. The 30mm drivers with a light and rigid dome use carbon fiber composite material that improves high-frequency sensitivity for more natural sound quality. Sony's unique technologies also include a premium lead-free solder containing gold for excellent connectivity and optimized circuitry.
In the best Japanese tradition, high resolution audio is a priority, and the WH-1000XM5 headphones offer the best possible support, with and without the wires, thanks to Sony's industry-adopted audio coding technology, LDAC. To make sure that the experience is consistent, Sony also converts all audio signals to its best possible state using DSEE Extreme 4 technology that upscales digital music files in real time.
And of course these new headphones are 360 Reality Audio Certified, ensuring that users can enjoy a custom immersive music experience. According to Sony, nugs.net and PeerTracks recently released music videos features with 360 Reality Audio that users can enjoy to get a sense of the technology's possibilities.
And while Sony upgraded the circuits and the microphones in the WH-1000XM5 headphones to enhance noise cancellation, it also improved the call experience, which is an important reason why so many business professionals and travelers keep their headphones on. No location is off limits for taking calls with the WH-1000XM5 headphones thanks to Sony's precise Voice Pickup technology that uses four beamforming microphones and an AI-based noise reduction structure to isolate the user's voice with perfect precision, while a newly developed wind noise reduction structure minimizes wind noise during calls. Now, even a busy street or a noisy work environment can be the perfect place for a call with family, friends or colleagues.
For those familiar with the already sleek design of the WH-1000X series, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones introduce a beautifully crafted evolution in style. An all-new design is finished in a newly developed soft fit, synthetic leather with a stepless slider. The synthetic leather material fits snuggly around the head taking pressure off the users' ears and blocking out external noise, so they can keep listening all day, free of discomfort.
Sony also understands that users are moving through the world at a fast pace, so when they finish a busy workday and arrive to the calmness of their own home, the WH-1000XM5 headphones make this transition seamless using Adaptive Sound Control. This automatically tailors sound to suit their specific situation, recognizing their most frequented locations and adjusting the ambient sound settings accordingly.
Additionally, the WH-1000XM5 headphones integrate with Quick Access, allowing users to resume Spotify music playback with two or three taps – with no need to touch their smartphones. Sony also helps users to listen to their music safely with the Sony Headphones Connect app, comparing sound pressure data recorded by their headphones with guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO). Through the app, they will receive instant notifications when listening levels are too high.
Finally, the WH-1000XM5 headphones come with smart features to help consumers effortlessly sail through each day. By using Speak-to-Chat, users can stop for a quick conversation and their headphones will automatically stop the music and let in ambient sound. Once the chat is over, the music plays on. With the help of instant pause, their personal soundtrack will stop playing as soon as they take the headphones off.
The WH-1000XM5 headphones are obviously Google Assistant and Alexa compatible, and use multipoint connection with Bluetooth technology to simplify the pairing process with two devices at the same time. When receiving a call, these headphones know which device it's coming from and instantly connects the consumer to the right one. Users can also quickly switch between devices with just the touch of a button.
The WH-1000XM5 headphones support Google's Fast Pair feature that helps to compensate slightly the fact that Android devices are not as good in that regard, and also help users locate where the headphones were last placed. Swift Pair also makes it quick and easy to pair headphones to Windows 11 or Windows 10 laptops, desktop PCs or tablets - for those not using a Mac.
Sony has also designed these headphones with the environment in mind. There's no plastic in the WH-1000XM5 headphones packaging. The product box is made with recycled and sustainable materials developed for Sony and the WH-1000XM5 headphones also use recycled plastic materials from automobile parts. The WH-1000XM5 headphones comes with an impressive up to 30 hours of battery life, so users can enjoy superlative sound even on long trips, with a remarkable three-hours' worth of charge in just three minutes using USB Power Delivery. And the WH-1000XM5 headphones come with a handy collapsible carrying case for easy storage whenever traveling.
The new Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are available in black and silver for approximately $399.99 MSRP, starting to ship May 20, 2022.
www.sony.com
