Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X vs Sony WH-1000XM5: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X: 68% of 63 owners recommend it, vs 60% of 359 for the Sony WH-1000XM5.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X

68%of 63 owners recommend
68% recommend · 5% neutral · 27% don't
Owners praise
  • Clear, balanced, detailed sound
  • Several owners report pairs still in good shape after two or more years of daily use
  • Most owners who switched from the DT 770 PRO prefer it
Owners complain about
  • Build durability is the most common complaint: headband padding coming unglued within months, and plastic sliders and earcup arms cracking, often within two years
  • For some owners the clamp is tight or the headband presses on the top of the head and starts to hurt
  • The sound does not suit everyone, with some hearing heavy bass and muddy detail and others hearing thin or fizzy highs
Full owner report →

Sony WH-1000XM5

60%of 359 owners recommend
60% recommend · 15% neutral · 25% don't
Owners praise
  • Class-leading noise cancellation
  • Comfortable and lightweight for long wear
  • Excellent, well-rounded sound quality
Owners complain about
  • Hinges crack or break, often within a year
  • Sound underwhelming or muddy for the price
  • Headband presses painfully on top of head
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X if
  • ✓People producing or monitoring music who need a closed back
  • ✓Gamers and everyday listeners who want one pair for music and games
  • ✓Owners of an older DT 770 PRO looking for a cleaner closed back
Skip it if
  • Buyers who want headphones that will not need a headband or slider repair in the first couple of years
  • Listeners sensitive to a tight clamp or pressure on the top of the head
Get the Sony WH-1000XM5 if
  • ✓Frequent flyers and commuters wanting top-tier noise cancellation
  • ✓Office workers on frequent calls and video meetings
  • ✓Long-session listeners who value all-day comfort
  • ✓Listeners who fine-tune sound with the app's EQ
Skip it if
  • Audiophiles chasing reference-grade sound quality
  • Gym and sweaty workouts (not water resistant)

What Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X owners say

“Update: I got the headphone and I have been using it for almost 2 months. Best headphones I ever owned in terms of clarity. Perfect for music producers.”
— @HifyTech on YouTube
“To anyone here thinking of buyint the 700 Pro X: Do it. I've owned a pair since the very first day they were available in the market, use they daily, and they still look fresh out of the box. The sound is amazing, still on the same pads and the comfort is unmatched.”
— @bananawarlock3981 on YouTube
“I'm not kidding, this thing feels like a vice on your head. Add to that the extra weight and the excessive bass, and you have a headphone that quickly fatigues both your head and your ears.”
— @Nayah9 on YouTube

What Sony WH-1000XM5 owners say

“I actually love the fact that they won't fold. Folding make them weaker and they rattle a lot.”
— @LLANTALOBOTOMIK on YouTube
“I think not being foldable will eventually be better for durability in the long term”
— @RaedVS on YouTube
“Wow the sound quality sounds just like my phone speakers”
— @Gpinky765 on YouTube

Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X vs Sony WH-1000XM5: frequently asked questions

Is the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X or the Sony WH-1000XM5 better?

Real owners lean toward the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X: 68% of 63 owners recommend it, vs 60% of 359 for the Sony WH-1000XM5.

Who should get the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X?

Owners point the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X at people producing or monitoring music who need a closed back, and gamers and everyday listeners who want one pair for music and games.

Who should get the Sony WH-1000XM5?

Owners point the Sony WH-1000XM5 at frequent flyers and commuters wanting top-tier noise cancellation, and office workers on frequent calls and video meetings.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X is build durability is the most common complaint: headband padding coming unglued within months, and plastic sliders and earcup arms cracking, often within two years. For the Sony WH-1000XM5, it's hinges crack or break, often within a year.