The Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Canceling Headphone Drops to a New Price Low for Labor Day

The prior generation Sony XM4 was already an outstanding headphone, but the XM5 features key improvements in noise cancellation and comfort. The XM5 has been fitted with a second processor and double the microphone count dedicated to filtering out ambient noise. The earcups have also been redesigned so that they fit more snugly on the ear, thus creating a better seal and as a result, more effective passive noise isolation. The active noise canceling performance is on par with other top-end headphones like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or the Apple AirPods MAx.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 has also been updated with a noticeably sleeker redesign with a different style of headband adjustment. The band is wider than before for better weight distribution and the earcup padding is now made of a luxurious synthetic leather material that’s softer and more comfortable. You can easily wear these headphones for hours. One small drawback, however, is that the XM5 can no longer be folded inward, only swivelled, so it’s less compact.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 also retains the XM4’s excellent battery life at over 30 hours on a single charge even with ANC activated. The XM5 also supports fast charging over USB Type-C.

What’s improved on the new WH-1000XM6 headphone?

The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphone was released earlier this year after a 3 year upgrade drought. Both sound quality and noise cancelation have been improved thanks to a new QN3 audio processor and a total of 12 microphones (including 6 beam-forming mics) that do an even better job than ever before of cancelling out unwanted noise. The XM6 is also easier to stow away than the XM5 because the earcups can be folded inwards and fit in a smaller carrying case. Because it’s a new release, it currently sells for $448 on Amazon. Since the WH-1000XM5 is nearly half the price, it’s still a better value.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.