Sony’s Outstanding WH-1000XM5 Headphones Are $150 Off Right Now

The Sony WH-1000XM6, headphones are the most recent entry in Sony’s 1000X series, which has been around since 2016. They’re the best over-ear headphones in terms of audio quality currently on the market—but not everyone can (or needs to) drop nearly half a grand on headphones. The WH-1000XM5 are a generation older and were at the top of their class when they initially released. Since that model is a couple years old, they’re currently discounted to $248 (originally $399.99)—the second-lowest price they’ve ever been, according to price-tracking tools.

I have been a loyal customer of the 1000X line for many years; they’re my go-to headphones for most activities. The WH-1000XM5 came out in May of 2022 to an “outstanding” review from PCMag for their top-notch audio quality, but also for their exceptional audio when using its best-in-class active noise-canceling. The headphones are also well-designed to be comfortable for long listening sessions.

The ear controls use tapping and swiping, which aren’t my favorite, but it’s what all the modern headphones are moving toward. There’s a companion app that lets you adjust your EQ settings to your liking, including what the swiping and tapping functions do.

These headphones also have a stereo 3.5mm connection, which is perfect for those who want to use a wired cable and not worry about battery life. Speaking of battery life, Sony says you can expect about 30 hours, but it will vary depending on your usage of ANC. They are compatible with AAC, LDAC and SBC codecs and have multipoint connection, meaning you can pair them with more than one device at the same time.