Eric Chan / Engadget
Sony’s 1000X series can be said to be the benchmark for active noise-cancelling headphones.True/WirelessandearmuffsThey are the most talked about models in their respective markets.The latest headset WH-1000XM5 There have been many evolutions, how can it be improved? Sony thought of “destroying the old self” and further reducing noise from the fundamental design, bringing true quiet ANC headphones inside and out.
Shape design
WH-1000XM4；WH-1000XM5
The foldable headphone design Sony has been using since the original MDR-1000X, while everyone is used to it, the WH-1000XM5 has completely changed. The one-piece design of the earphones hangs from only the ends of a single, smaller headband, which already looks simpler and more modern, and thus reduces the number of joints required. The price in exchange is that the headphones cannot be folded, and the storage capacity will be relatively poor; at the same time, the flip direction of the headphones when hanging on the neck is from the inside to the outside, which increases the chance of the lining being soiled and the unit being damaged. In particular, the XM5’s wearing sensor has changed from the exposed type of the previous generation to hidden under the filter, so friends who have the habit of hanging headphones seem to pay attention.
WH-1000XM4；WH-1000XM5
For editors with a relatively large head circumference, the inability to fold and fold is not a disadvantage. On the contrary, the headband has a wider arc, which is less likely to clamp the head tightly, which directly improves the wearing feeling. In addition, the headband is extended and retracted in a stepless manner, and the I-shaped joint between the headphone and the earphone is muted, so when you adjust the size while wearing the earphone, you will not hear the sound of the card. This is Sony’s way of bringing further noise reduction to ANC noise-cancelling headphones after generations of experience.
Eric Chan / Engadget
In addition, the seemingly similar artificial leather materials are also different. The XM5 uses a higher friction material, which makes the earphones less likely to run away, which makes up for the change in the width of the headband and reduces the sound caused by the friction between the hair and the earphones. However, after the headband becomes smaller, the pressure on the top of the head is indeed more felt because of the weight, which may be a bad design for some friends.
WH-1000XM4 and WH-1000XM5 Carrying Cases
Outside of the headphones, the included carrying case is also completely new. Because the earphones cannot be folded, the area of the earphone box is larger than that of the previous generation, which is inevitable. Interestingly, the height of the portable box can be compressed. After the earphones are taken out, the user can flatten the box, and the sides will be folded inward according to the reserved crease, so that the height of the box can be reduced by nearly half. That way, the carrying case can be more easily tucked into tight spaces like bags on the backs of airplane seats, backpacks, etc. In addition, a small magnetic cover has been added to the accessory compartment inside to prevent the wires from running around.
Eric Chan / Engadget
App
Eric Chan / Engadget
The WH-1000XM5 is also controlled through the Sony Headphones Connect app on the mobile phone. The app has an account login function that can record settings across devices, and some gadgets that can only be used after logging in, so it is recommended that you download and log in.
The basic operations of the Connect app are the same as the old ones, such as adjusting the settings of the headset’s auto-off, auto-pause, talk-to-chat, DSEE Extreme, etc. In the latest version, after logging in, you can record and analyze headphone volume data, and compare it with the WHO recommendations. It is a gadget that cares about the user’s hearing health. What’s more intriguing is the addition of a “Services” tab. Currently, it is possible to link the Spotify account to the app, which seems to reveal the possibility that Sony will integrate with more third-party services here.
Sound quality
Eric Chan / Engadget
In addition to the major changes in appearance, Sony also took the opportunity to switch to a new 30mm carbon fiber unit for the XM5, while emphasizing the higher softness of the edge of the unit. Although the new unit of the XM5 is a little smaller than the 40mm LCP unit that has been used for many years in the previous generation, some friends may think that it will have a bad impact on the sound quality, but in fact it has improved. Because the carbon fiber material has higher rigidity, the XM5 has a stronger bass performance; at the same time, with the help of the high softness edge, the unit response can be more detailed and sensitive, and the tone and clarity are also improved.
Listen to the Japanese group Green-Yellow Society’s “Bluetooth” over an LDAC-encoded Bluetooth connection.LITMUS“, the vocals are very real singing in the ear, the soundtrack has a certain sense of space, and the rhythm of each beat is quite powerful. Hirai Dai’s “Prayer flower“The First Take version, there is a good sense of silence in the background when soloing. Chen Lei’s Acoustic version “The world is none of your business“, the three-dimensional sense of the guitar strings is obvious, but it will not compete with the vocals.
Noise Cancellation, Call Clarity
In the hands-on article, it was mentioned that the XM5 introduced dual-chip noise reduction, which was introduced by the previous generation. WH-1000XM4 QN1 pairing in use WF-1000XM4 on the integrated chip V1. According to the effect chart provided by the official, the XM5 can have better noise reduction effect in the high and medium frequency parts, and the example in real life is that it can better isolate the voice of others talking.
The editor tried to test the noise reduction on the bus. When only ANC is turned on but no music is played, the voice of the neighbors chatting has been suppressed so that no content can be heard, and there is only a vague feeling of someone talking. , after playing music is completely into their own world. However, the ultra-low frequency vibration of the bus engine inevitably flows into the ears, but this is partly because the seat is also vibrated. When I tested it at home, I couldn’t hear the crisp sound when I tapped the mechanical keyboard, let alone the sound of kittens begging for food.
This time, the number of microphones on the XM5 has been greatly increased to 8, 4 on each side, and 2 of them are beamforming microphones for the user’s speech. The pickup and separation are very strong. The editor tested the effect through the recording app, and found that my voice can be well separated from the background sound. Even sitting next to the TV that is playing the conversation, I can only hear my own words, and the voices of the TV characters have become very small. .
Summarize
Eric Chan / Engadget
After officially borrowing the WH-1000XM5 and trying it out in detail, it can be said to be a bold move by Sony after the ANC headset reached its peak. Because of the big design change, it brought a completely different wearing feeling, and even caused a discussion about whether to fold it. In terms of the habit of Xiaobian not going out with headphones, the impact of the new design is still relatively positive. And I imagine that when I have the opportunity to travel by plane in the future, the storage of the portable box is even more improved.
As for the sound quality, the new unit can bring a very obvious difference, so that old users can have a sense of freshness, so the overall experience is evolving in a positive way. Of course, Sony also marked a very aggressive price, which is HK$300 more expensive than the previous generation, and it costs HK$3,190. Whether it is worth it depends on how you feel after actually listening to it.