Sony WH-1000XM5

A very strong flagship noise-canceling headset with excellent isolation, long battery life and rich features, held back by a bass-heavy, recessed-mid tuning, weak moisture resistance and a high price.

A strongly recommended pair of wireless noise-cancelling headphones whose sound quality, clarity and bass precision take a big step up from the XM4, despite a redesign that feels slightly less premium and a less compact fold.

A top-tier pair with excellent noise cancellation, customization and call quality, held back by a fit that doesn't suit everyone, below-average battery life and slightly muddy bass.

A very strong noise-cancelling travel and office headphone with long battery life and good sound accuracy, held back by a headband that is uncomfortable on small heads, some build concerns, and unadjustable automatic ANC, and now overshadowed by the XM6 and Bose QC Ultra.

8.9/10

The reviewer finds the XM5 a strong step forward with more refined sound, better noise canceling and standout call quality, though the higher price, larger case and non-folding design may put some buyers off.

A refined, excellent-sounding noise-cancelling headphone that keeps Sony at the top of its class with standout call quality, though gains over the XM4 are small and XM3/XM4 owners needn't upgrade.

The WH-1000XM5 offers very good, though somewhat thumpy and grainy, sound with excellent noise cancellation and a rich feature set, but fit and comfort have some drawbacks for larger heads and sensitive touch controls.

A superb flagship over-ear headphone that matches its predecessor with articulate sound, class-leading noise cancelation, strong eco credentials and excellent call quality, held back mainly by a high price and a bland design.

A comfortable, stylish pair of premium noise-cancelling headphones with top-tier ANC and class-leading sound quality that earns an Editors' Choice award for audiophiles, though it is pricey and Bose edges it on pure noise cancelling.