Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bose QuietComfort 45: Compare Noise Cancelling Headphones

Design Comparision

With the Sony XM5 over-ear headphones, Sony made some changes from the Sony WH-1000XM3 and Sony WH-1000XM4 models. While others may find the more understated, abs-covered device boring and uninteresting, some will find it elegant and stylish.

Unlike its predecessor, the XM5 is no longer collapsible, and the transport box has a new design. The XM5 is a top pair of headphones, but you have to be able to afford them.

The 250 gram weight of Sony’s headphones allows them to stay in place for extended periods of time. The headphones have some articulation to help reduce the size of the carrying case, but they aren’t the most compact like some other headphones.

For those of you who travel frequently, the Bose QuietComfort 45 weighs just 238 gram and collapses by itself, making them an even more appealing option. Additionally, we would characterise the design of these boxes as functional. While they won’t win any awards for a new design, the Bose headphones are a solid competitor to Sony regarding comfort, stability, and durability.

Key Specs and Features

Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones can connect to two devices simultaneously via Bluetooth 5.2 wireless. They’re also compatible with SBC, AAC and LDAC codecs, delivering sounds with 30mm full-range dynamic drivers. There’s no aptX though, which is still a bit of a disappointment.

Utilize the spatial algorithm of Sony 360 Reality Audio and take a picture of your ears. Sony Headphones Control can then use this information to alter the audio playback.

Unlike Sony, Bose hasn’t shared any detailed spec lists that compare the QuietComfort 45 headphones in terms of drivers and connectivity.

The QuietComfort 45 doesn’t have the voice assistant option you can find in the WH-1000XM5. Bose relies on physical buttons rather than touch controls like Sony; both options are executed well, so it mostly comes down to preference.

Audio Performance

Sony WH-1000XM5: Anyone who can afford such an expensive model should use a high-quality music format such as FLAC. Because that’s the only way, you can use LDAC/HiRes Audio! There is a 5-band equalizer and extra bass control in the app. We can therefore adjust the sound individually. Incidentally, that was already possible with the XM3 and XM4.

The bass is generally pleasant, strong, and deep, even when the controller is in the middle position. However, the XM5 is set in the standard tuning so that the treble is somewhat reduced and the bass comes into its own, probably because that’s what the majority prefers.

Despite the driver’s size, the XM5 delivers an impressive audio performance. They’re punchy but also controlled in the lower frequencies, while the higher tones hit with perfectly judged bite. Rhythmic expression is satisfying, and there are various dynamic pitch options for when you want to crank up the volume.

Bose QuietComfort 45: The app has no equalizer, so much in advance. If you want that, you have to grab the Bose Headphones 700, for example. We cannot switch off the ANC in Bluetooth mode! I.e., we always hear the counter noise. It is therefore entirely unsuitable for audiobooks in Bluetooth mode. What we can do, of course, is to connect it by cable and not turn it on. Then it does not need a battery, and the ANC is off. With the QC25, the ANC counter-noise is significantly quieter if you wind it up in silence. The sound of the QC 45 is good but rather high-pitched with a more subtle bass. 

What no amount of EQ finesse can do, however, is restore the subtle details of songs – details that Bose suggests allowing to slip through the cracks. At the same time, Sony provides a much more informative listening experience.

Audio Controls

Sony WH-1000XM5: The fast connection is exciting here because when we switch on the XM5, it is recognized immediately, and a popup appears on the smartphone, confirm, install the app, and set up is done.

The media control for a player or Spotify is done via the touch field on the outside. It responds well, and most importantly, there is sound feedback when a touch gesture is successful. 

• Double tap for play/pause.
• Swipe up or down to increase or decrease the volume.
• If we swipe forward, a song will be skipped; if we swipe backward, a song will be skipped back.
• Put your whole hand on the touch-field and hold it there; it activates the transparency mode as long as your hand is there.
• But there is also the power button and the ANC button. If you press the power button once while it is switched on, a woman’s voice announces the battery level.
• The NC button turns noise cancellation on, off, or activates transparency mode. “Switch off” must first be activated in the app!
• There is a new Spotify quick access feature via the app, and double or triple tap opens Spotify. But the app has to be running! Otherwise, a voice prompt will sound.

But we can also control phone calls because the headphones are ideal for making calls. By the way, there is also a 3.5 mm jack connection.

• Double-tap to answer or hang up the call.
• Press and hold to toggle between headset and phone.
• Hold on to an incoming call to reject.

Bose QuietComfort 45: The on/off switch is on the outside of the right ear cup. In addition, the media control with a plus and a minus button is also located here, and in the middle, we have a multifunction button, MFT for short.

Media key functions

• Press the multifunction button: Play/Pause
• Press multifunction twice: Skips forward. (It doesn’t work in VLC on my Redmi 9S phone, but it does in other players.)
• Press MFB three times: Jumps back
• Increase or decrease volume via plus and minus. Press and hold to increase or decrease the volume quickly.
• Press MFB for 2 seconds to open the mobile phone’s language assistant

Phone

• Press multifunction: Answer an incoming call or end call.
• Press and hold multifunction 1 second rejects an incoming call.
• multifunction Press while a call is in progress: Answer the incoming call and hold the current one.
• multifunction during a call, on an incoming second: press and hold 1 second rejects the incoming one.
• Two calls are active: Press MFB twice to switch back and forth.
• Conference call: Two calls are active; press and hold the MFB button for 3 seconds to activate conference mode.
• Mute/Unmute a call: Press the action button twice.

The action button is next to the 2.5 mm jack connection on the left ear cup. We switch between the Aware mode and the silent or ANC mode with the action button. Speech output “perceivable” and “quiet.” Turn off the ANC completely? Unfortunately, there is no way to do this in Bluetooth mode!

Comfort

Sony WH-1000XM5: The XM5 weighs 250 grams according to my scale, and I find it very comfortable to wear. The inner surface of the ear cups is also spacious, with a height of 6 cm and a central width of 4 cm. The soft ear pads are made of memory foam, adapt very well and provide good protection from the outside.

The ear cups are attached to two hinges that allow horizontal and vertical adjustment to the head. In addition, the ear cups can be rotated backward by 90° and forwards by an estimated 45°, more than we will ever need. The headband is height-adjustable and infinitely variable.

Bose QuietComfort 45: The ear cushions are covered with comfortable soft leatherette, and the inside is probably memory foam. In addition, the ear cups can be rotated 90° backward. They adapt to the shape of the head at the side, and we can also turn them quite far forward. All this contributes to excellent wearing comfort. The inner surface of the ear cups is 6 cm high and 4.5 cm wide in the middle. The headphones also weigh about 235 grams.

The headband is adjustable and metal-reinforced, and the steps snap in well and noticeably. On the inside of the headband, there is still a soft synthetic leather pad. The enclosed hard-shell transport box is convenient for transporting the headphones.

In terms of design, the QC45 is very similar to the QC25. Both models are among the most comfortable headphones.

Noise Cancellation

It can be tough to decide which wireless noise cancelling headphones to buy. There are so many great options on the market, and each has its own set of features and benefits.

Two of the most popular wireless noise cancelling headphones are the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QC45. Both of these headphones offer great noise cancellation, but they have some key differences.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 offers superior noise cancellation thanks to its four microphones. This means that it can effectively cancel out a wider range of noise frequencies than the Bose QC45.

The Bose QC45 is a bit lighter and more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. It also has a USB-C charging port, which is convenient if you have a newer smartphone.

Bose headphones are generally regarded as some of the best in noise-canceling abilities, although the Sony WH-1000XM5 cans give them a run for their money.

Without leaving a trace of countersignal, any sense of pressure in the earpiece, or disruption of the noise floor, the XM5 negates the vast majority of external sound with the kind of casual efficiency we more readily associate with its competitor.

Likewise, the QuietComfort 45 headphones can cancel out anything but a plane passing overhead. If you’re a passenger on said plane, you’ll be able to shut down the engine drone entirely.

In addition to regular noise cancellation, Sony’s new boxes also offer a feature called adaptive noise cancellation, which tries to learn your most frequent environments and tune in to certain sounds.

Bose doesn’t offer anything similar, though both headphones share similar surround sound or awareness modes. In Sony’s case, this allows you to amplify the sounds around you when you need to pay attention, while Bose’s feature seems to be that the noise cancellation is turned off simply.

Apps and EQ

When it comes to noise-cancelling headphones, two of the most popular brands are Sony and Bose. Both companies make great products, but which one is right for you?

In this blog post, we’ll compare the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort 45. We’ll look at their features, apps, and equalization (EQ) options to help you decide which one is the best fit for you.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 are great for people who want a lot of control over their sound. The headphones come with a dedicated app that lets you adjust the noise cancelling and EQ settings. You can also use the app to choose which ambient sounds you want to hear.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 are perfect for people who want an easy-to-use product. The headphones have a simpler app that only lets you adjust the noise cancelling levels. However, the QuietComfort 45 do have an automatic EQ setting that adjusts the sound based on your environment.

Both pairs of headphones are great for people who want to reduce noise in their life. However, if you want more control over your sound, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is best.

Battery Life

The Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort 45 are both great wireless noise cancelling headphones. They are both very comfortable to wear and have great battery life.

Both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort 45 have great battery life. The Sony WH-1000XM5 can last up to 30 hours on a single charge, while the Bose QuietComfort 45 can last up to 20 hours.

With USB-PD charging, the Sony WH-1000XM5 can get three hours of power in just three minutes. Charge them the more conventional way, and they’ll go from complete to full in just over three hours. Once charged, however, they last 30 hours with noise cancellation or 40 hours with it off.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 can’t compete with those numbers. For them, the best-case scenario is that they will last around 25 hours. It’s not half bad, but it won’t cause Sony any sleepless nights.

Which is better

There are a few key differences between the Sony WH-XM and Bose QuietComfort noise cancelling headphones. The Sony WH-XM headphones are slightly lighter and more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They also have a longer battery life, with up to 30 hours of playtime on a single charge. The Sony headphones also have a better overall sound quality, with clearer highs and tighter lows.

The Bose QuietComfort headphones have some advantages as well. They have a more sophisticated noise cancelling system that does a better job of blocking out external noise. They also come with a hard carrying case, which is great for traveling. And, the Bose headphones are compatible with the Bose Connect app, which gives you more control over the sound of your headphones.

So, which pair of headphones is better? It really depends on your needs and preferences. If you need a pair of headphones that can block out a lot of noise, then the Bose QuietComfort headphones are a good choice. If you want a pair of headphones with great sound quality and longer battery life, then the Sony WH-XM headphones are a better option.