Sony’s WF-1000XM5 are widely regarded as some of the best true wireless earbuds on the market, and after spending time with them it’s easy to see why. The overall sound quality is excellent. Music has a full, balanced presentation with strong but controlled bass, clear mids, and crisp treble. They handle a wide range of genres well, from bass-heavy electronic tracks through to acoustic or orchestral music. There is a sense of clarity and separation that makes instruments easy to pick out without the sound ever feeling harsh or fatiguing. Sony’s tuning feels refined rather than exaggerated, which makes these earbuds easy to listen to for long sessions.

Active noise cancellation is another strong point. While it does not quite reach the level of the Technics AZ100, it is still very effective. Low-frequency sounds such as bus engines, train rumble, and aircraft cabin noise are reduced extremely well, which makes them great for commuting or travel. Higher-frequency environmental noise is handled reasonably well too. When walking along a busy road, traffic noise and passing cars are noticeably softened, though not completely removed. Overall, the ANC performance is clearly in the very good category.

Sony’s companion Android app is also one of the better ones available for earbuds. It is well designed, stable, and offers a high level of customization. You can adjust the EQ, configure touch controls, tweak noise-cancelling behavior, and enable Sony’s various audio processing features. It provides plenty of control to tailor the earbuds to your preferences without becoming overly complicated.

Unfortunately, comfort ended up being the dealbreaker for me. The WF-1000XM5 sit fairly deeply in the outer ear, and the body of the earbud pressed against my concha, the bowl-shaped hollow of the outer ear that leads into the ear canal. For my ears this caused pain rather than just mild pressure. Even after experimenting with different tip sizes, angles, and rotations, I could not wear them for more than about 30 minutes before the discomfort became too noticeable. Ear shape varies quite a lot between people, so this may not affect everyone, but in my case it made longer listening sessions impossible.

I purchased the earbuds directly from Sony and their return process was relatively straightforward, which I appreciated. That made the experience less frustrating than it might otherwise have been. It was still disappointing to return them, because in most other respects the WF-1000XM5 are excellent earbuds. The sound quality is among the best in the true wireless category, the noise cancellation is very capable, and the software experience is polished. If they fit your ears comfortably, they are easy to recommend. Comfort is always the deciding factor with in-ear earbuds though, and if they do not sit well in your ears, even great sound cannot make them practical.