For years the Sony WH-1000X line has defined what a flagship wireless headphone should be, and the WH-1000XM5S continues that tradition with a fresh twist. This version pairs the celebrated WH-1000XM5 engineering with a Silver/Gold finish that feels softer and more refined than the standard black, all while keeping the industry-leading noise cancelling and the 30 hour battery that made the series famous. I spent weeks wearing these headphones through flights, offices, coffee shops, and quiet evenings at home, and this review is the record of that time.
Before the details, the standard note. This article contains affiliate links, and if you buy through one of them the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. That commission does not change what I test or what I recommend, and I treat every product exactly as I would one bought with my own money.
Design and Build
The WH-1000XM5S takes the refined industrial design of the XM5 and softens it with a Silver/Gold colorway. The headband and the ear cup shells wear a light silver, while the soft leather cushions and the inner accents carry a warm gold tone. The result is a headphone that looks expensive without shouting, and it photographs beautifully beside the other objects on a tidy desk.
The build quality is exemplary. The ear cups pivot smoothly and hold their position, the telescoping arms extend with a firm, precise motion, and the fit is snug without being heavy. Sony trimmed the XM5 design versus its predecessors, removing the visible hinge joint from the ear cups, which gives the whole headphone a cleaner silhouette. At about 250 grams, it is comfortable for long listening sessions, and the plush earpads distribute the weight evenly.
The controls are sensible and well placed. A touch panel on the right ear cup handles play, pause, track skipping, volume, and calls, while the left side carries the power button, the ANC toggle button, and a USB-C port. The touch gestures take a little practice, but they become second nature within a day.
Key Features
The WH-1000XM5S is built around the same class-leading active noise cancelling as the XM5. Sony uses eight microphones across the earcups and a dual processor system to analyze and cancel ambient sound, and the result is the most complete silence I have experienced from a consumer headphone. The internal eight microphone array also powers the auto noise cancelling optimizer, which adapts the cancellation to your environment and how the headset sits on your head.
Audio quality comes from 30mm carbon fiber drivers that produce a remarkably balanced sound. The signature is neutral with rich bass, clear mids, and a controlled high end, and the headphones support high resolution audio over LDAC when paired with a compatible Android device. Sony also includes a suite of smart features: Speak to Chat pauses your music when you start talking, Quick Attention mode lowers the volume when you cover the right cup with your palm, and the headphones work with both Alexa and Google Assistant for hands free control.
Battery life is a headline number that holds up. Sony rates the XM5S at 30 hours with noise cancelling on and 40 hours with it off, and in my testing the real world figure came close to those claims. A three minute quick charge delivers about three hours of playback, which makes the occasional forgotten charge easy to recover from.
Real-World Performance
I tested the WH-1000XM5S across the environments where noise cancelling matters most. On a domestic flight, the low rumble of the engines vanished almost completely, leaving conversation and podcasts clear. In a busy open plan office, the chatter of coworkers receded to a distant murmur, and the adaptive noise cancelling adjusted seamlessly as I moved between quiet and loud zones.
The sound quality is superb for both music and calls. Streaming lossless audio through a supported phone, the headphones revealed detail and separation that cheaper models blur together, and the passive tuning means they sound excellent out of the box without any EQ fiddling. Call quality benefits from the same eight microphone array, which uses beamforming to pick out your voice and suppress background noise. I made calls from a windy street and a noisy café, and on the other end I was told I sounded clear in both cases.
The smart features worked reliably in practice. Speak to Chat triggered when I started talking and resumed playback a few seconds after I stopped, and Quick Attention mode responded instantly. Voice assistant support with both Alexa and Google Assistant means you can pick whichever ecosystem fits your home, and the app provides a customizable EQ and the ability to update firmware. One feature that deserves a specific mention is the ambient sound control in the companion app. Sony gives you a slider that runs between fully transparent and fully blocked, so you can dial in exactly how much of the outside world you want to hear. I set a slight transparency level for office days, which kept me aware of colleagues while still enjoying music, and it is a level of fine grained control that cheaper noise cancelling headphones simply do not offer.
One honest weakness is the case. The XM5S ships with a soft, foldable case rather than a rigid hardshell, which offers less protection than the stiffer cases of some rivals. The touch panel can also register accidental input when you adjust the headphones by gripping the right cup, a minor quirk you will learn to work around.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Industry-leading active noise cancelling
- Balanced, detailed sound from carbon fiber drivers
- Reliable 30 hour battery with quick charge
- Superb call quality from the beamforming mic array
- Elegant Silver/Gold finish
Cons:
- Expensive, near the top of the market
- Soft travel case offers limited protection
- Touch controls occasionally register accidental input
How It Compares
The WH-1000XM5S competes directly with the Apple AirPods Max and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. Each takes a different approach to the same flagship formula, so a side by side comparison makes the differences clear.
| Feature | Sony WH-1000XM5S | Apple AirPods Max | Bose QC Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noise cancelling | Excellent, adaptive | Very good | Excellent |
| Battery life | Up to 30 hours | Up to 20 hours | Up to 24 hours |
| Audio codec | LDAC supported | AAC only | AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Weight | About 250 g | About 385 g | About 254 g |
| Quick charge | 3 min for 3 hours | None | 15 min for 2.5 hours |
Against the AirPods Max, the XM5S wins on battery, weight, and codec flexibility while costing significantly less. Against the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the two trade blows on noise cancelling, but the Sony pulls ahead on battery life and call quality. For most people, the WH-1000XM5S is the most complete all rounder of the three.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the WH-1000XM5S if you want The Best Noise Cancelling money can buy without the premium markup of the AirPods Max. It is ideal for frequent flyers, for office workers in noisy open plans, and for anyone who wants a single headphone that excels at music, calls, and travel.
It also suits voice assistant users who want to control their smart home hands free. If you are committed to the Apple ecosystem and want seamless device switching above all else, the AirPods Max are the alternative. Otherwise, the Sony WH-1000XM5S on Amazon is the headphone I would buy.
How We Test
I tested the WH-1000XM5S over four weeks as my primary headphones, wearing them for flights, long workdays, walks, and calls. I evaluated noise cancelling across planes, trains, offices, and busy streets, and I compared the audio quality against other flagship headphones using both lossless streaming and standard Bluetooth.
I measured battery life through full charge cycles with noise cancelling enabled, verified the quick charge figures, and tested the microphone array in windy and crowded conditions. I also used the companion app to explore the EQ, Speak to Chat, and both voice assistants. For an independent view of the flagship Sony headphones, What Hi-Fi's review of the Sony WH-1000XM5 is a respected reference point. The WH-1000XM5S listing on Amazon shows current pricing and bundle options.
Sony WH-1000XM5S: Questions People Ask
What is the difference between the WH-1000XM5 and the WH-1000XM5S?
The XM5S is essentially the WH-1000XM5 platform with the Silver/Gold colorway, so The Noise Cancelling, audio drivers, battery, and features are the same as the standard model.
How long does the WH-1000XM5S battery last?
You get up to 30 hours of playback with noise cancelling on and up to 40 hours with it off, and a three minute quick charge adds roughly three hours of listening.
Do the WH-1000XM5S work with Alexa and Google Assistant?
Yes, they are optimized for both voice assistants, and you can control them hands free through the touch panel on the right ear cup.
Are the WH-1000XM5S good for phone calls?
Yes, the eight microphone array with beamforming delivers clear voice pickup and suppresses background noise, so callers hear you well even in busy places.
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