Noise-canceling headphones have increased steadily in popularity over the last five years, owed largely to their practical design that reduces ambient noise, increasing the perceived audio quality of the music you’re listening to or promoting a distraction-free experience. The Bose QuietComfort 45 and Sony WH1000XM5 are two titans in the ANC headphone market; keep reading as we explore how these two headphones compare and see which comes out on top.
Our Pick | ||
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Noise Canceling: | Adaptive ANC | ANC |
Driver Size: | 30mm | 30mm |
Frequency Response: | 20Hz – 20kHz | 20Hz – 20kHz |
Battery Life: | Up to 30 Hours | Up to 24 Hours |
Charging Time: | 3 Hours | 2 Hours |
Bluetooth: | 5.2 | 5.1 |
Microphones: | 8 | 4 |
Cable Length: | 1.2m | 1m |
Weight: | 254g | 240g |
Build Quality & Durability
Winner: Bose QuietComfort 45
Both headphones have a similar level of durability, with durable plastic comprising most of the unit. The QuietComfort 45 feels more durable in hand, but the WH1000XM5 has the benefit of using recycled plastics. Both are resistant to sweat, but neither have an IPX rating and shouldn’t come in direct contact with water. While comparable in quality, the QuietComfort 45 feels slightly more durable than the WH1000XM5.
Bose QuietComfort 45
The Bose QuietComfort 45 has a good overall build quality. The headband is made from metal, while the rest of the headphones are made from durable plastic. Like most headphones, the weakest point is the hinge, but the QuietComfort 45 is durable enough to carry in a bag without high risk of damage.
Sony WH1000XM5
Sony’s WH1000XM5 incorporates an eco-friendly design, but at what cost? While they don’t feel as premium as the previous generation, the recycled plastics still provide reasonable durability. This design allows them to retain a light weight despite their fairly bulky form factor.
Cables
Winner: Sony WH1000XM5
As these headphones are centered around portable use, they have relatively short cables that can make using them at a computer challenging. The WH1000XM5 has a slightly longer cable than the QuietComfort 45. The cable on the Sony is also a more common type (3.5mm to 3.5mm), making it easier to find generic aftermarket replacements. Both of the official brand cables are durable and made of high-quality materials.
Bose QuietComfort 45
The QuietComfort 45 includes a relatively short (1 meter) 3.5mm to 2.5mm cable. The length is less than ideal for use on a computer or laptop and is best suited for mobile or console use. Replacement cables are available but are less prevalent than 3.5mm to 3.5mm cables. The overall durability of the cable is very good.
Sony WH1000XM5
The WH1000XM5 incorporates a traditional 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable, but similar to Bose, it’s relatively short at 1.2m long. The 3.5mm design makes it easier to find replacement options, which is recommended if you plan to use them plugged into a computer. The included cable is durable and high quality.
Comfort & Fit
Winner: Sony WH1000XM5
The Bose QuietComfort 45 offers superior comfort over Sony’s WH1000XM5. They have less contact pressure, as well as softer earcups and headband. Neither headphone is well-suited for exercise use, as they fit relatively gently on the head. The Sony is more reliant on individual traits to create a comfortable fit (glasses, for instance, can cause problems creating a tight seal). With that said, overall, both speakers are suitable for extended use without much discomfort.
Bose QuietComfort 45
The QuietComfort 45 is renowned for its comfort. They feature extremely soft padding on the earcups and headband without much contact pressure. They retain their position on the head during typical use but aren’t well suited to exercise and can fall off during rapid movements.
Sony WH1000XM5
The WH1000XM5 has a more subjective fit to them, varying in comfort levels depending on the shape of your head. The previous iteration (WH1000XM4) had superior comfort with more suitable padding. The contact pressure is relatively low, which helps improve the comfort levels slightly, limiting their potential for use while exercising.
Sound Quality
Winner: Tied
Both headphones sound great, but they have a distinctly different sound profile. The QuietComfort will appeal more to listeners who enjoy a balanced, reference-style sound and want to hear the track as it was produced to sound. However, the WH1000XM5 is a bass-heavy headphone that has a more fun sound to it. If you’re a fan of heavy bass and listen to a lot of EDM and Hip-Hop, you may prefer the Sony. Inversely, if you want natural sound, the Bose is the better buy.
Bose QuietComfort 45
A highlight of the QuietComfort is its balanced sound profile. The bass falls into the sweet spot, where it’s balanced but slightly emphasized to provide some additional oomph. The midrange is near-perfect, with excellent clarity and detail. In contrast, the highs are a touch more lively. They have a limited soundstage, which is not uncommon for this style of headphone.
Sony WH1000XM5
Sony has opted for strong bass with the WH1000XM5, with thumping lows that can obstruct other nuances within a track. The midrange is more balanced and aligns closely with the QuietComfort. Though a little less lively than the Bose, these headphones still have a slightly emphasized treble that adds a touch of brightness and helps balance out the strong bass. The soundstage is underwhelming.
Connectivity & Latency
Winner: Sony WH1000XM5
Sony holds an advantage with the use of Bluetooth 5.2 instead of the 5.1 offered on the QuietComfort 45. In turn, it has better range, providing a stable connection over a longer distance. Sony’s advantage of supporting LDAC gives it better overall latency when compared to Bose’s APTx.
Bose QuietComfort 45
Bose uses a Bluetooth 5.1 receiver in the QuietComfort 45, a modern version with SBC, AAC, and APTx profile support. The Bluetooth latency is unremarkable and can degrade gaming experiences and potentially impact video watching to a lesser degree. They support multi-device pairing, so you can connect to more than one source device at a time.
Sony WH1000XM5
Sony’s WH1000XM5 uses Bluetooth 5.2 and supports SBC, AAC, and LDAC profiles. It has a mediocre latency across profiles and isn’t well suited to gaming. Using LDAC provides improvements over SBC response times. Still, they perform within the normal range for a portable ANC headphone.
Noise Cancelation & Isolation
Winner: Sony WH1000XM5
Both headphones have outstanding noise cancelation, reducing ambient noise across all frequencies. While Bose is more effective at reducing low drones and hums, Sony does a better job at reducing higher frequencies like chatter. Both headphones perform extremely well, but the WH10000XM5 comes out ahead.
Bose QuietComfort 45
The Bose QuietComfort 45 is hailed for its impressive noise cancelation. They can effectively reduce ambient noise in the majority of frequency bands. It’s extremely effective in removing low sounds like the humming of fans and air conditioners. It’s also reasonably effective at removing chatter and high-pitched droning.
Sony WH1000XM5
Like the QuietComfort, the WH1000XM5 has industry-leading noise cancelation. It has an outstanding reduction of mids and highs in comparison to other ANC headphones on the market. Unlike the QuietComfort, Sony has incorporated a more sophisticated adaptive ANC that adjusts the noise cancelation depending on the environment.
Microphone
Winner: Sony WH1000XM5
Both microphones are great, allowing you to record or engage in phone calls with clear, precise sound. Both offer a reduction in ambient noise that allows them to be used in challenging environments where ambient noise might otherwise be a problem. The QuietComfort 45 is just slightly better, providing a bit more noise reduction.
Bose QuietComfort 45
The QuietComfort 45 has an extremely good-sounding microphone that offers effective reduction in environmental noise, allowing you to take calls and record audio in challenging environments. It uses 4 microphones.
Sony WH1000XM5
The WH1000XM5′ has a great microphone that works well for calls and recordings. The effective noise reduction allows for use in high ambient noise environments. The microphone records accurate sound with great quality. It uses an impressive array of 8 different microphones.
Conclusion
The battle between Bose’s QuietComfort series and Sony’s WH1000XM series has been going on for years and is considered a battle of the titans. They are both premium noise-canceling headphones targeted towards demanding high-end users. They are well-suited for travel, office, and everyday use – but aren’t designed for gaming. Despite both headphones trading back-and-forth blows, the Bose is more comfortable and great for those who want a reference-style sound. The WH1000XM has a more lively sound with more bass and lower latency. There’s no wrong choice here, but I prefer the Sony for its heavier bass.