Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Sony ULT Wear vs Sony WH-1000XM5: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Sony WH-1000XM5: 60% of 359 owners recommend it, vs 47% of 154 for the Sony ULT Wear.

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

Sony ULT Wear

47%of 154 owners recommend
47% recommend · 17% neutral · 36% don't
Owners praise
  • Big, punchy bass that owners who like heavy low end love
  • Noise canceling that owners rate highly
  • Strong value, with some owners saying it comes close to Sony's pricier XM models for much less
Owners complain about
  • Plastic hinges that crack or snap, often during normal handling, anywhere from a few weeks to over a year after purchase; some owners had a second pair break the same way, while others say a replacement has held up
  • The sound splits owners: many say it needs EQ tweaks to sound right, some find the bass overblown or muddy, and a few expected more bass than they got
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 Sony ULT Wear if
  • ✓Bass lovers who want heavy, adjustable low end
  • ✓Buyers who want strong noise canceling without paying flagship prices
  • ✓Listeners willing to spend time tuning the EQ in the app
  • ✓People with larger ears who want deep, padded earcups for long sessions
Skip it if
  • Anyone who needs headphones to survive daily handling for years without hinge worries
  • Listeners who don't want to adjust any sound settings
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 Sony ULT Wear owners say

“I recently purchased the Sony ULT Wear and I love it!”
— @jamesbarlett246 on YouTube
“The bass is honestly pretty fun, sometimes I just wanna press a button and destroy the song I'm listening to.”
— @Pika915 on YouTube
“To be fair, I didn't hear hardly any difference. The ULTs fit my head better, but they looked much chunkier on my ears as the phones stuck out way more. I've decided to keep the XM4s and return the ULTs.”
— @1977ver 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

Sony ULT Wear vs Sony WH-1000XM5: frequently asked questions

Is the Sony ULT Wear or the Sony WH-1000XM5 better?

Real owners lean toward the Sony WH-1000XM5: 60% of 359 owners recommend it, vs 47% of 154 for the Sony ULT Wear.

Who should get the Sony ULT Wear?

Owners point the Sony ULT Wear at bass lovers who want heavy, adjustable low end, and buyers who want strong noise canceling without paying flagship prices.

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 Sony ULT Wear is plastic hinges that crack or snap, often during normal handling, anywhere from a few weeks to over a year after purchase; some owners had a second pair break the same way, while others say a replacement has held up. For the Sony WH-1000XM5, it's hinges crack or break, often within a year.