Written by Maurits
Edited on
6 January 2025
·
08:20
Compare the Sony WH-1000XM5 to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are both headphones with strong noise canceling. But they're very different headphones. For example, the WH-1000XM5 has a longer battery life but is less easy to take with you. In this article, you'll read about the other differences between these headphones
Compare the Sony WH-1000XM5 to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
- Sony WH-1000XM5
The noise canceling reduces most of the ambient noise.
Personalize your sound with the Sony Headphones App.
Thanks to the fast charge function, you can use the headphones for 5 hours after 10 minutes of charging.
The headphones can't be folded to a compact size.
From
259,-
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones
You can enjoy spatial audio with every streaming service with Bose Immersive audio.
Thanks to noise canceling, you can close yourself off from your surroundings.
The CustomTune technology analyzes your ear adjusts the sound reproduction accordingly.
With 24 hours, these headphones have a shorter battery life than the Sony WH-1000XM5.
From
299,-
Comparison of the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones | |
|---|---|---|
| Noise canceling | Yes, high-end | Yes, high-end |
| Spatial audio | Yes, via 360 Reality Audio | Yes, via Bose Immersive Audio |
| Battery life | 30 hours | 24 hours |
| Collapsible | No | Yes |
Spatial audio
Sony WH-1000XM5: 360 Reality Audio
You can enjoy spatial audio with 360 Reality Audio. You'll hear a guitar on the right and drums on the left, for example. This makes the music sound like it's being played near you. The headphones scan your ears via the Sony Headphones app for a personal sound. The headphones send this information to the 360 Reality Audio app. In this app, you can activate your account and listen to spatial audio with selected streaming services.
Note: Spotify doesn't support this version of spatial audio.
Bose QC Ultra Headphones: Bose Immersive Audio
With the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, spatial audio offers the same sound as with the Sony WH-1000XM5. This technology is easier to activate with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones than with the Sony WH-1000XM5. In the Bose Music app, you can turn on Bose Immersive Audio. The headphones will now provide spatial audio with any music source. Think about music on Spotify or YouTube videos.
Design
Sony WH-1000XM5: not foldable
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is made of plastic with rubber over-ear ear cups. This makes it feel sturdy and lightweight. You can't fold the headphones to a compact size, which makes it less easy to store in the included storage pouch
Bose QC Ultra Headphones: foldable
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are made of plastic, leather, and aluminum. That's why these headphones feel sturdy. They're foldable, which makes it easy to take them with you in the storage pouch. This pouch is included by Bose and you can find it in the box.
Battery life
Sony WH-1000XM5: 30-hour battery life
With a 30-hour battery life, you can listen to music for 2 full days. When the battery is empty, you can charge them for 10 minutes to be able to listen to music again for 5 hours.
Bose QC Ultra Headphones: 24-hour battery life
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have a shorter battery life. With 24 hours, the battery life is 6 hours shorter than with the Sony WH-1000XM5. You can charge the headphones 15 minutes to be able to listen to music for 2 hours. This is less than with the WH-1000XM5 too.
Sound reproduction
Sony WH-1000XM5: emphasis on the bass
The Sony WH-1000XM5 has a balanced sound reproduction. This means the treble, mid-tones, and bass are all clearly audible. The bass is even clearer than with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. That's why these headphones are suitable for people who are into electronic and rock music.
Bose QC Ultra Headphones: balanced sound reproduction
Just like the Sony WH-1000XM5, these headphones have a balanced sound reproduction. Because these headphones don't emphasize the bass as much, you can use them for many different music styles.
Conclusion
Both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones stand out thanks to their strong noise canceling and balanced sound. If you like louder music styles, we recommend the Sony WH-1000XM5. Do you want to enjoy spatial audio quickly and with every source? The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are a better choice for you.
Article by Maurits
Audio Expert.
