Sony XM6 too expensive? Their five-star predecessors are currently half the price
Six generations into the Sony WH-1000 series, we’re starting to see sales trends.
As the shiny new headphones go on sale, older models tend to become less expensive as stock is cleared.
That means, however, that you can get five-star headphones at great prices. And that’s what we’re seeing today with the Sony WH-1000XM5 going for £179 at AO.com as part of their clearance sale.
You will need a code ASK for 20 discount headphones at this price, but it’s worth this extra hassle. This is the best price we’ve seen for the XM5 headphones by a bit, beating the £200 Black Friday price.
You have to remember that this is the SA version of the headphones, which comes with a soft case rather than the usual hard case. However, the most valuable headphones are exactly the same – and you might want to grab them quickly before stock runs out.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 was followed by the higher-end WH-1000XM6, but currently retails for £329. They won’t come close to this price for some time.
So for £150 cheaper, the XM5 still offers plenty of value – they were the 2024 Awards winners after all. They are still very competitive at this price, especially in sound quality, noise cancellation and call quality.
Testing with Duel of the Fates by John Williams quickly demonstrated the XM5’s sonic potential.
“From the moment the choir shakes the wheels of the song, you can hear the Sony conveying dynamic shifts without hesitation,” reads our review of the Sony WH-1000XM5.
“Strings and woodwinds drive the track, the Sony carefully transitioning from busy action to quieter moments with a delicate touch. They do a great job of tracking and separating the timpani roll in the middle of the track – a difficult part to track in rich balanced headphones.”
The XM5 headphones also automatically improve noise cancellation as you move around, and have proven effective at blocking out trains, subways and unwanted conversations.
Sony’s Precise Voice Pickup technology also ensures that call quality is amazing, keeping your voice clear while suppressing external noise and wind.
Battery life is a whopping 30 hours with Bluetooth and ANC on, up to 40 hours with ANC off. If you’re in a hurry, a 10-minute charge alone will give you five hours of battery life.
Memory foam on the earpads and band also helps with support, putting comfort levels up there with the best.
The only gripes are the lack of support for aptX or aptX Adaptive, and the flat folding design means they don’t fold completely.
However, this is by no means a shortcut. The Sony WH-1000XM5 may not be the new headphones on the block, but with a £200 discount on AO.com, they’re very competitive and far better than similarly priced rivals.
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