Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Sony WH-1000XM5: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Sony WH-1000XM5: 60% of 359 owners recommend it, vs 36% of 434 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).

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

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

36%of 434 owners recommend
36% recommend · 24% neutral · 40% don't
Owners praise
  • Comfort over long flights and full work days, including for glasses wearers
  • Ear cups deep enough that ears sit inside them rather than being pressed
  • Noise canceling that buries steady noise like engines, fans and road hum
Owners complain about
  • A background hiss or white noise floor with nothing playing, audible to many owners though not all
  • Popping and thumping when walking, running, or when a door slams nearby
  • A firmware update that removed switching devices from the headphones themselves
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 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) if
  • ✓Frequent flyers who want quiet on a plane and a case that fits a carry-on
  • ✓Glasses wearers and anyone whose head hurts in tighter-clamping headphones
  • ✓All-day desk wear where the headphones go on in the morning and stay on
  • ✓Listeners who like a full bass-forward sound and will spend a minute in the app
Skip it if
  • Anyone sensitive to background noise during podcasts, quiet passages or silence
  • Walkers, runners and commuters on rough roads, where the noise canceling pops
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 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) owners say

“I’m loving both Bose models though.”
— Zealousideal_Bid2690 on Reddit
“Its very good. quality is top notch”
— Adorable_Toe79 on Reddit
“I had the Ultra headphones which caused severe skin irritation. I got rid of them as the only solution was buying third party ear pads which would have changed the sound.”
— TheLawPlace on Reddit

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

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Sony WH-1000XM5: frequently asked questions

Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) or the Sony WH-1000XM5 better?

Real owners lean toward the Sony WH-1000XM5: 60% of 359 owners recommend it, vs 36% of 434 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).

Who should get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)?

Owners point the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) at frequent flyers who want quiet on a plane and a case that fits a carry-on, and glasses wearers and anyone whose head hurts in tighter-clamping headphones.

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 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) is a background hiss or white noise floor with nothing playing, audible to many owners though not all. For the Sony WH-1000XM5, it's hinges crack or break, often within a year.