Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sony WH-1000XM5

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

Bose

8.4

Excellent

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony

8.8

Excellent

What Reviewers Agree On

Noise cancellation is best-in-class — marginally better than Sony XM5
Immersive Audio spatial sound is surprisingly convincing and enjoyable
Comfort is excellent for long listening sessions
Build quality and premium materials feel worth the price
Call quality is very good with clear voice isolation

Deal Breakers

Battery drops from 24 to 18 hours with Immersive Audio enabled
No multipoint connection out of the box (added later via update)

Detailed Comparison

Noise Cancellation

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

Bose reclaims the ANC crown with the best noise cancellation available in consumer headphones.

The ANC is the best I've experienced — airplane cabin noise, office chatter, and street sounds are effectively eliminated.
Bose edges out Sony by a slim margin in ANC performance, particularly with low-frequency rumble.

Sony WH-1000XM5

The ANC on the XM5 is widely considered the best available, with eight microphones and Sony's Integrated Processor V1 delivering exceptional noise isolation.

ANC is the best in class — airplane engine noise virtually disappears
Auto NC Optimizer adapts ANC based on ambient pressure and environment
Ambient/transparency mode is natural but not as good as Apple AirPods Max

Sound Quality

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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

Rich, warm sound signature that most listeners will enjoy, though audiophiles may want more neutrality.

The sound is warm, rich, and engaging — Bose has clearly invested in tuning these for mainstream appeal.
Immersive Audio is genuinely impressive for movies and spatial music mixes, but it's a battery hog.

Sony WH-1000XM5

The XM5 delivers a balanced, natural sound profile that appeals to a wide range of listeners. The 30mm drivers provide clear mids and detailed highs without harsh sibilance.

Sound signature is more neutral and refined than XM4 — less bass-heavy out of the box
LDAC Hi-Res Audio support delivers noticeably better quality from compatible sources
EQ customization in the app is powerful and the presets are well-tuned