Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs. Sony WH-1000XM5: Tried and Tested

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Like the Lakers and Celtics or Coke and Pepsi, the rivalry between Bose and Sony is fierce when it comes to the battle for headphone dominance. Bose and Sony offer headphones and noise-canceling earbuds at a similar price point with comparable features, and their respective flagship headphones, the QuietComfort Ultra and the WH-1000XM5, are frequently in the running for the best over-ear headphones.

But if you’re going to drop four Benjamins on a pair of headphones, it’s understandable to want to be as discerning as possible. That’s why I put both headphones to the test to find the best option, and pored over the specs to see how they stacked up. The short answer? Both are worth the money, but the best one for you might depend on what you’re looking for, with Bose excelling in portability and noise-canceling, and Sony winning in battery life and price.

Design and Construction

The QC Ultra and XM5 headphones share a similar build, primarily consisting of plastic and faux leather, and both feature a stylish, minimalist design.

The XM5 headphones are slightly bulkier, which is surprising when you’re wearing them; I found that the XM5 earcups were somewhat shallow, such that my ears sometimes brushed against the earpad. That said, the XM5 adjustable headband extends further. I found I had to extend the QC Ultra band all the way for a comfortable fit (on my admittedly large noggin).

Available colors include black, white smoke, lunar blue, and deep plum for Bose, and black, midnight blue, smoky pink, and silver for Sony. Both the QC Ultra and the XM5 come in cases that match the headphones’ colorway, which is a nice touch.

As for the case shape and design, Bose’s is considerably smaller, which is owed to the rotating earcups of the QC Ultra headphones. The Bose case also has a stylish, faux leather construction, while Sony’s case is fabric. Sony’s earcups are also more prone to smudging.

Sony’s case has better cable management, with a secure compartment for the USB-C charging cable and 3.5mm audio cable. The Bose case has a pocket where the cables can sometimes slip out of. Bose also uses the less standard 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm cable.

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In terms of design, I’m partial to the less bulky look of Bose’s QC Ultra headphones, and the more compact case gives them an edge over Sony in terms of portability.

Features and Controls

Both headphones feature on-board controls, with each equipped with a power/Bluetooth button and a multifunction button. The QC Ultra headphones feature a volume slider on the right earcup, while Sony’s feature tap controls on the right earcup.

On Sony’s headphones, a double tap controls playback, while sliding up and down anywhere on the earcup controls volume. You can also swipe back for the previous track or forward for the next, which is intuitive but can occasionally lead to accidental miscues. Both headphones feature reliable wear detection, automatically pausing playback when the headphones are removed.

A unique feature of Sony’s headphones is the ability to temporarily pause the music and switch to Ambient mode by covering the earcup. It’s a handy feature if you’re listening to music and need to quickly listen for a gate announcement at the airport, for example.

In terms of controls, I would give a slight edge to Sony, thanks to the large surface area of the earcup that controls playback, compared to the small multifunction button on Bose’s headphones.

As for the app, both are reliable and offer plenty of features, although I found Sony’s app to be somewhat cluttered, with various menus hidden across the app. Bose’s app is comparatively streamlined, with a simple menu system that makes it easy to familiarize yourself with the headphones.

Sound Quality and Noise Canceling

Both Bose and Sony offer unique noise-canceling features on their flagship headphones. Bose’s app allows you to set custom ANC levels beyond the default Quiet and Aware modes. You can add more modes, and each is customizable with up to ten levels of noise-canceling.

Sony features activity and location-based ANC; the headphones can detect what you’re doing and adjust the ANC accordingly, whether you’re walking, sitting, or commuting. You can also set location-based ANC that automatically adjusts by where you are (work, home, etc).

Overall, I like the customizability of Bose’s ANC, and it slightly outperforms Sony in cutting out background noise, with an impressive ability to handle loud traffic, busy cafe chatter, or droning HVAC systems.

As for sound quality, both headphones offer enjoyable sound for everyday listening. Additionally, Sony and Bose’s apps feature customizable EQ, allowing you to adjust the sound to suit your preferences, such as punchier bass or more pronounced mids. In terms of sound quality, I’d give a slight edge to Sony for its level of detail.

Verdict

Both headphones offer excellent sound and active noise cancellation, although there are a few features that distinguish each model. Bose’s customizable ANC is still arguably the best on the market. The rotating earcup makes the headphones and case more compact and portable.

That said, Sony’s headphones boast more impressive battery life and more convenient on-board controls. The sound quality is arguably better, although the difference was marginal. Sony’s headphones are also slightly cheaper.

Ultimately, the competition isn’t a runaway, but Bose wins on ANC, portability, and overall design, while Sony has arguably better tap controls, battery life, and slightly more detailed sound.