And five! Sony has just unveiled the new version of its high-end Bluetooth headphones. And surprise, the manufacturer changes design compared to the fourth generation.
The headband is thinner, but benefits from good padding, and slides without rattling. The shells benefit from a texture reminiscent of felt. Thus, the WH-1000XM5 approaches the NC Headphones 700, from Bose.
Sony has also changed the interior of the circum-aural headphones, with new 30mm carbon fiber diaphragms to provide better reproduction of high frequencies.
High definition sound is still there thanks to the manufacturer’s LDAC audio codec, which is added to the traditional AAC and SBC codecs. The “engine” of the helmet becomes more powerful with two microprocessors. Sony adds the V1 chip, present on the WF-1000XM4 headphones, to the QN1 HD processor already found on the WH-1000XM4.
In addition, the helmet benefits from a total of eight microphones, compared to four for the previous model, in order to better capture the surrounding sounds. Sony announces that it has improved its active noise reduction which should be more effective in the medium and high frequencies, for example to limit human voices.
Thanks to the companion application, it is possible to automatically activate different noise reduction modes according to your activity (stationary, on the move, in transport), even in places that you have defined beforehand. The “talk to chat” function allows you to automatically pause the music when you start talking to someone.
Four microphones for phone calls
Call quality has also been improved with the use of a total of four microphones, protected against wind noise, and an algorithm based on artificial intelligence to precisely isolate the voice from ambient sounds. Sony has also tweaked the sensor that detects if you’re wearing the headphones, to pause the music. It is now more precise, more discreet and better hidden in the earpiece.
Up to 30 hours of battery life
Despite the addition of new technologies (more microphones and processors), the headset offers the same level of endurance as its predecessor with, according to the manufacturer, up to 30 hours of autonomy with noise reduction on.
In addition, the fast charge allows to offer three hours of music with only three minutes of charge.
Finally, Sony delivers a hard carrying case that has a gusset to flatten out and take up less space when it’s not housing the headphones.
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The WH-1000XM5 headphones will be available in May in two colors, at the premium price of 420 euros, a higher price than that of the WH-1000XM4 when it was launched (around 380 euros). This one will remain on sale and should see its price drop.