Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bang Olufsen HX

When it comes to high-end headphones, two manufacturers stand out: Sony and Bang & Olufsen. Both firms have a long history of creating high-quality headphones and audio equipment.

In this post, we will evaluate two of their most popular models, the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX, to help you decide which one is the best fit for your needs.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-canceling headphones are well-known for their cutting-edge technology that combines several microphones to effectively eliminate background sounds.

The headphones also include an equalizer that allows you to tune the sound to your liking, as well as support for LDAC, a high-resolution audio codec that can give greater sound quality while streaming music over Bluetooth.

They also offer sophisticated touch controls that let you quickly manage music playback and take calls, as well as a long-lasting battery life of up to 30 hours.

These headphones provide an immersive listening experience with ease and flair, making them appealing to both audiophiles and travelers.

Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bang Olufsen HX: A Comprehensive Guide

Specification

Feature	Sony WH-1000XM5	Bang Olufsen HX
Form Factor	Over Ear	Over Ear
Frequency Response	4 Hz – 40000Hz	20 Hz – 22000Hz
Impedance	48 Ohms	24 Ohms
Driver Unit size	30mm	40mm
Battery Life	30h	40h
Charging Time	3. h	3h
Bluetooth Range	10m	10m
Bluetooth Version	5.2	5.1
Color	Black, Midnight Blue, Silver	Sand, Black, Gold, Timber
Weight	250g	285g
Check Details	See More	See More

What’s in the box

Sony WH-1000XM5	Bang Olufsen HX
Headphone	Headphone
Carrying Case	Carrying Case
Connection Cable	Charging Cable
User Guide	Quick Start Guide and warranty

Fit & Comfort

In terms of comfort, both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX excel at providing a pleasant and fatigue-free listening experience, even after extended wear. The Sony headphones have soft and substantially padded ear cups and headbands, giving a delicate and comfortable fit.

The Beoplay HX, on the other hand, takes things a step further with memory foam earpads that adapt and mold to the specific shape of your ears, providing a tailored and snug fit.

Furthermore, both headphones are lightweight, reducing strain on your head and neck during extended use. It’s worth noting that, while both headphones emphasize comfort, the Beoplay HX is slightly heavier than the Sony WH-1000XM5. Depending on individual preferences, this tiny weight difference may be noticed after extended listening sessions.

However, for most users, both alternatives provide excellent comfort, and the choice between them may come down to other variables such as sound quality, noise cancellation, or design aesthetics.

Design & Build

The Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX are both well-designed headphones with a premium look and feel. Sony headphones have a clean, minimalist style with smooth lines and a matte finish.

The Beoplay HX, on the other hand, has a more elegant design, with a leather headband and aluminum earcups that exude refinement.

Both headphones are strong and well-crafted in terms of construction. Sony has used high-quality polymers that do not affect the WH-1000XM5’s overall durability. Despite their plastic structure, they have a luxury feel.

The Beoplay HX, on the other hand, takes a different approach with a more luxurious design that includes metal elements. The combination of leather and aluminum leads to a sturdy and upmarket build quality.

In the end, the choice between these two headphones in terms of appearance and build boils down to personal preferences.

Some consumers may enjoy the Sony WH-1000XM5’s sleek and minimalistic style, but others may prefer the luxurious aesthetics and quality materials of the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX. Regardless of your preference, both headphones exude luxury and excellence in their design and workmanship.

Sound Quality

Both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX provide exceptional sound quality, providing a variety of sound preferences. The Sony WH-1000XM5 has a well-balanced sound characteristic that shines in a variety of music genres.

Its audio reproduction is excellent, with clear vocals, realistic instrument separation, and a controlled bass response. This makes it a versatile choice for audiophiles who value accurate and balanced sound.

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX, on the other hand, favors a slightly bass-heavy sound profile, which offers more punch and depth to music that relies on low frequencies.

The bass response is noticeable but does not overshadow the overall audio quality. This sound signature is perfect for fans of genres such as electronic, hip-hop, or pop when a heavy bass presence is needed.

Finally, the choice between both headphones in terms of sound quality comes down to your particular audio preferences, with the Sony WH-1000XM5 giving a more neutral and balanced sound and the Beoplay HX catering to those who prefer a bit more bass in their music.

Noise Cancellation

Both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX excel at noise cancellation. These headphones use innovative technology to deliver a relaxing listening experience.

However, due to its use of hybrid ANC technology and digital signal processing (DSP), the Beoplay HX may have a slight advantage in noise-canceling capabilities.

This combination allows it to successfully suppress a wide spectrum of environmental sounds, providing an immersive listening experience.

It’s crucial to note that noise-canceling performance can be influenced by a variety of factors, including the fit of the headphones and the location in which they’re worn.

Personal tastes also play a factor, as some users may prefer one headphone’s noise suppression over another. As a result, the real noise-cancelling performance varies from person to person and setting to setting.

To discover which headphones provide greater noise cancellation for your specific needs, test them in the setting where you want to use them, as this will provide the most realistic assessment of their capabilities.

Microphone or Call Quality

When it comes to microphone and call quality, both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX perform admirably. The Sony headphones include a sophisticated microphone system with four beamforming microphones, ensuring precise voice pickup and advanced audio signal processing.

This configuration produces clear and natural-sounding communications, making it great for conference calls or hands-free chats on the road.

The Beoplay HX, on the other hand, provides good call quality because of its built-in microphones and hybrid active noise cancellation, which helps eliminate background noise during calls.

While it lacks the superior microphone technology of the Sony WH-1000XM5, it nevertheless provides clear and comprehensible speech conversation.

In conclusion, both headphones excel in terms of microphone and call quality, guaranteeing that you can stay connected and speak efficiently while enjoying your audio experience. Other variables, such as sound preferences, design, and other features, will most likely determine which one you choose.

Battery Life

The battery life of the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX is certainly impressive, allowing for extended listening sessions without regular recharging.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 has a great battery life of up to 30 hours, allowing you to listen to music or podcasts for an extended amount of time before needing to recharge.

Furthermore, it has quick charging capabilities, allowing you to receive three hours of playback on a three-minute charge.

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX, on the other hand, has an even longer battery life, lasting up to 35 hours when active noise canceling (ANC) is turned on.

This long battery life ensures an uninterrupted audio experience, making it an excellent choice for individuals who are frequently on the go. Both headphones also have fast-charging options, allowing for hours of listening with minimal charge time.

Finally, deciding between these two headphones may come down to whether you value the Beoplay HX’s tiny advantage in battery life over the Sony WH-1000XM5’s powerful performance and quick charging features.

Control System

The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX control systems take various methods to regulate your audio experience.

The Sony WH-1000XM5’s ear cups have a touch-sensitive control screen that allows for intuitive motions to adjust volume, skip tracks, pause/play music, and activate voice assistants. This touch interface is snappy and user-friendly, allowing for quick and easy access to critical functions.

In contrast, the Beoplay HX features a physical button control panel on the ear cups that gives tactile feedback for precise control over playback, noise cancellation, and transparency options.  While the touch-sensitive elegance of the Sony headphones is lacking, the button controls are intuitive and simple to use.

Both control systems have their advantages, with the Sony WH-1000XM5 providing a more modern and gesture-based approach and the Beoplay HX providing a more tactile and classic button interface. Your preference for control style and convenience of usage will most likely determine the one you choose.

Connectivity

Both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX excel in terms of connectivity. The Sony WH-1000XM5 supports Bluetooth 5.2, which ensures a stable and efficient wireless connection with your devices. It also supports the LDAC, aptX, and AAC codecs, enabling high-quality audio streaming, especially for high-resolution video.

Furthermore, it offers multipoint connectivity, which allows you to connect to two devices at the same time, making it easy to swap between your smartphone and laptop.

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX, on the other hand, includes Bluetooth 5.2 for dependable wireless connectivity. It supports AAC and aptX codecs, ensuring superb audio quality across a wide range of devices.

While it lacks LDAC capability, it nevertheless provides excellent audio performance. The Beoplay HX’s connection stability and speed are remarkable, providing a flawless listening experience.

Both headphones have a USB-C charging port, which is a handy and versatile way to recharge the battery. Overall, when it comes to connectivity, both models are on par, with the Sony WH-1000XM5 offering LDAC capability as a significant benefit for audiophiles, while the Beoplay HX provides a dependable and high-quality wireless experience for most users.

Support for Bluetooth Codec 

Support for Bluetooth codecs is an important feature of wireless headphones because it directly affects the quality of audio streaming. The Sony WH-1000XM5 shines in this category because of its extensive codec support.

It is compatible with LDAC, a high-resolution audio codec, ensuring that you can experience great audio quality while streaming from devices that also support LDAC. It also supports other common codecs such as aptX and AAC, allowing flexible connectivity with a wide range of devices.

LDAC, in particular, excels at streaming high-quality music, providing it a significant advantage for audiophiles and people who value top-tier wireless audio.

While not as wide in codec support as the Sony, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX nevertheless offers strong compatibility. It supports aptX and AAC codecs, allowing for high-quality audio streaming across several devices.

Despite the lack of LDAC support, the Beoplay HX provides excellent audio performance, ensuring that your music sounds clean and bright. In practice, most users will find the codec support on the Beoplay HX to be more than adequate for a pleasant listening experience.

In the end, the choice between these two headphones in terms of Bluetooth codec support comes down to your own audio preferences and device compatibility requirements.

Extra Feature

Both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX include a slew of added functions that improve the user experience.

The Sony headphones have a touch-sensitive control panel on the earcups that allows for easy playing, volume adjustment, and voice assistant activation with simple motions. These touch controls provide a convenient and user-friendly interface.

In contrast, the Beoplay HX employs a tactile button control panel that provides fine control over playing and noise-cancellation functions. Furthermore, the Beoplay HX includes a Transparency mode that allows users to hear their surroundings without having to remove their headphones.

This capability is especially beneficial when situational awareness is required, such as during commutes or in crowded areas.

Finally, whether you prefer the touch-sensitive controls of the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the physical buttons and Transparency mode of the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX depends on your own preferences.

Which is the Winner?

The choice between the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX is largely determined by your priorities and tastes.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 impresses with its excellent noise-canceling features, balanced sound profile, and comprehensive codec support, particularly with LDAC for high-resolution audio streaming.

It’s an excellent solution for individuals who need the best in noise cancellation and music quality, making it a top pick for frequent travelers and audiophiles.

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX, on the other hand, impresses with its elegant design, comfortable fit, and slightly bass-heavy sound signature, which is ideal for bass aficionados and those who like a more fashionable aesthetic.

While it does not match Sony’s noise-canceling abilities, it nevertheless provides good noise cancellation and a fantastic music experience.

The victor is ultimately determined by what you value most in headphones: noise cancellation, sound quality, or design. If noise cancellation and audio streaming adaptability are important, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is the best option.

The Beoplay HX, on the other hand, is a wonderful choice if you value comfort, aesthetics, and a balanced sound with a hint of bass.

Both headphones provide a luxury experience while catering to distinct demands, so when making a purchase, it’s critical to establish your objectives.

Alternative Options

While the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX are both good alternatives, there are more options to consider depending on your personal preferences.

If you want top-tier noise cancellation and sound quality but prefer a different brand, the Bose QuietComfort 45 is a great candidate. It has excellent noise-cancellation technology, comfort, and a well-balanced sound.

Alternatively, if you prefer a more economical option without losing quality, the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless is an intriguing option. It has good noise suppression and a trendy style.

The Focal Stellia over-ear headphones are worth considering for audiophiles looking for the best sound quality and a unique listening experience. They have excellent audio fidelity but are more expensive.

Finally, the decision between the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX or these alternative options is based on your budget, preferences, and desired features. Each of these headphones has its own strengths and caters to distinct user preferences, so choose wisely.

Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bang Olufsen HX – FAQs

Which headphones provide greater noise cancelling, the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX?

Both headphones provide excellent noise canceling, although the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX may have a little advantage thanks to its hybrid ANC technology and DSP. However, real-world performance might vary based on factors such as fit and environment, so it’s best to test both headphones in your regular listening situations.

Do these headphones support high-resolution audio codecs such as LDAC and aptX HD?

Yes, both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX support high-resolution audio codecs. Sony headphones are well-known for their LDAC support, which provides outstanding sound quality while streaming music via Bluetooth. The Beoplay HX also has high-quality audio with compatibility with several codecs, including aptX HD.

Which headphones are the most comfy for long listening sessions?

Both headphones are designed for comfort, with plush padding and lightweight construction. Personal comfort preferences, however, can differ. The Sony WH-1000XM5 offers soft cushioning on the ear cups and headband, whilst the Beoplay HX contains memory foam earpads for a secure fit. It is recommended that you try both headphones to see which one feels most comfortable in your ears.

What is the battery life of the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 has a battery life of up to 30 hours on a single charge. The Beoplay HX, on the other hand, offers up to 35 hours of playback with active noise canceling activated. Both headphones also include fast-charging capabilities, which can enable several hours of listening after only a few minutes of charge.

Are there any qualities that distinguish these headphones from one another?

Both headphones are designed for comfort, featuring plush padding and lightweight construction. Personal comfort preferences, on the other hand, can differ. The Sony WH-1000XM5 has comfortable padding on the ear cups and headband, whilst the Beoplay HX has memory foam earpads for a secure fit. It is recommended that you try both headphones to determine which one feels the most comfortable in your ears.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX are outstanding headphones, each with its own distinct qualities.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 impresses with its balanced sound signature and industry-leading noise cancellation, delivering a fantastic audio experience and the ability to fully immerse yourself in your music or content.

The Beoplay HX, on the other hand, stands out with its luxury design and slightly bass-heavy sound profile, giving a stylish and delightful listening experience.

Your choice between these two great headphones will ultimately be determined by your personal tastes. If you value music quality and noise cancellation, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is the clear winner. However, if you seek luxury looks and a more prominent bass response, the Beoplay HX is a solid rival.

Regardless of your preference, both headphones provide comfort, functionality, and performance that appeal to the discriminating audiophile, making either option a terrific addition to your audio setup.