Why Beats Studio Pro Are BETTER Than Sony XM5!

Are the Beats Studio Pro better than the Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones? I think so! And in my comparison between the Beats Studio Pro vs Sony XM5, I reveal exactly why.

GET A PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES: 

JOIN MY SUBSTACK

CHECK OUT MY OTHER CHANNEL

JOIN THE MARK ELLIS ACADEMY

BECOME A PATRON (IF YOU’RE NOT ALREADY)!

FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA

SOME OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links below will direct you to the Amazon website.

MY FREE ONLINE COURSES

LISTEN TO THE EIGHT OR SIXTEEN PODCAST

READ ME

HIRE ME!

WHAT IS THIS CHANNEL ALL ABOUT?
I have zero interest in deep spec dives or long-winded comparisons. I review laptops, smartphones, tablets, headphones and the latest tech based on real experience. I'll tell you how it'll make you feel, whether or not it's worth your time (and money) and help you find the tech you need to get stuff done.

WHO AM I?
I'm a UK-based freelance marketer and broke free of a regular job many years ago. Watch my videos to find the tech you need, without the jargon.

GET IN TOUCH

Oh, and some of the links in this description are affiliate links from which I earn a small commission!

CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
01:16 - Safe evolution
02:11 - The case
03:21 - Controls
03:42 - Hi-def audio
04:16 - Daily drive perfection
04:41 - The caveat

[MarkEllisReviews]

What gets your vote (and why) - Beats or Sony? And, PLEASE let's keep it civil, guys. These are headphones - not football teams.

[latenightwatchers]

For all who struggle to upgrade from older Beats - i have had Beats from the year 2018 - and i have used them til now... 2024 - but the ear pads started to crumble and thats why i decided to order new beats. I bought the Studio Pro and i gotta tell you... WOW... the upgrade is well worth The sound is crystal clear and ANC is very dope. Highly recommend the Beats Studio Pro!

[MAGAEVA]

I actually just purchased a pair of the WH-1000XM5’s this past Wednesday as they were on sale at Target (online only) for $250, while I can’t say anything about the Beats Pro’s because I haven’t heard them, I can say I AM BLOWN AWAY BY THESE WH-1000XM5’S!!! THEY ARE THE THE BEST ANC AND BEST SOUNDING HEADPHONES I HAVE EVER PERSONALLY TRIED/OWNED!! I am not a “Beats Basher” as I have owned 3 different versions from the original ones, then the solo 3’s and my favorite ones the Powerbeats Pro’s. I am someone who has always liked a deep bass in my music as I mostly listen to Metal/Hard Rock/Rock music so I have always liked Beats and Sony headphones for that, I am NOT an “audiophile” I just know what sounds good to me and these XM5’s ABSOLUTELY SOUND PHENOMENAL!!!

[Relaxatiionn]

I’ll be honest, I returned my beats because the fit was horrible unless you have a small head and the sound was okay. Noise cancellation was absolute trash, any wind and you hear the wind in the beats. Returned after 4 days of use. Just got the XM5 way better sound, noise cancellation is outstanding and I like the in app EQ customization for different experiences. To anyone who says the beats are better I’m calling BS that you’ve tried both. They don’t even compare to one another, the price is absolutely worth the money for the XM5 and I’m an Apple fanatic but they missed the mark hard on these headphones for that price point.

[adamburke]

I honestly considered the XM4 or XM5. But seeing how much of a step back the XM4 were knowing I liked the compatibility of Beats with my Apple devices, Beats Studio Pro was worth it.

[vica]

I think the XM4s are better than the beats - I had both

[afitlife]

Matter of taste. Just bought them though listened and tested the Sony m4 and m5. I have some great noise cancelling headphones. But for some reason I like the beats. They fit better on my (big) head. And overall give me a more genuine (original audio more archetypical) feeling just like the first Sony Walkman or the first Apple iPods. I like them a lot and think I get what you mean with your opinion.

[fotografioso]

How would you say the Beats compare to the XM4s? I’m quite hesitant to upgrade right now as I still like the XM4s. However, on the other hand the tighter integration of the Beats with the Apple ecosystem is quite enticing.

[zombieimpact]

The beats studio pro sound okay and have a shit ton of clamp force. They also have mediocre anc and terrible build quality. I don't know why you're giving them praise. Both the QC45 and Sony 1000xm5 are more comfortable and have way better ANC.

[eriktred]

Well Mark, you were right. The comment section didn’t disappoint 😂.

[velvetunderground]

I was choosing headphones for a month, watching lots of reviews and almost went with xm4 because they are so highly praised. However then I tried them on in a store and they looked so bulky on my small head.. I wanted versatile headphones that work well for the gym, wearing them outside and while working while also having decent sound quality and connectivity. Eventually I went with the Beats because while they aren't the most outstanding in terms of sound and not as comfortable as Sony they do tick all of the boxes for me. Just a good all-rounder for everyday use in various situations. IMO they also look way better than Sony, Bose, Sennheiser and other similar headphones from the same category

[mdfadzlisahat]

The Beats Studio Pro must’ve really impressed you, Mark! I also wonder, though, if the fact that it is such a huge leap from the Beats you used to know (compared to the incremental improvements from the already-steady Bose and Sony cans that you own) played a part in your viewpoint.

It does seem like they all have their respective strengths and weaknesses. Wondering if you will also do a “Best for travel”, “Best for sit-down work” kind of headphone comparisons, given the number of headphones you have! Haha.

Much love from Singapore. 👏🏻😃 🎧

[CalebAlthouse]

OKAY HEAR ME OUT. my mom has the studio pros, i personally didn’t like them, they hurt my ears for how tight they were, the quality sounded cheesy compared to my Sony xm4’s, and the side button is just not it. the one good thing about the studio pros was the noise canceling, the quality of that is great. but on the other hand i just bought the sony XM4’s and they are outstanding! they are so comfortable and the 2 different ambient sound modes are awesome, there is also so many “cool” features with this headphone such as the slide menu for skipping songs, volume adjuster and pausing music. it just feels so cool to be able to slide my finger on my headphones and skip a song 🤷🏻‍♂️ the noise cancelation is 10x better than the studio pros, there is so much bass and crisp sound quality with these, there is a mode where you put your hand over the side of the headphone and it dims your music so you can talk to people without it pausing or shutting your music off. I did my research with both of these headphones and have used them both. The Sony XM4’s is 100% the way to go.

[dmitrijshd]

I agree with this review - it is not just down to music quality (as this is subjective), it is more important to have smooth connectivity (I have Apple and I trust them more with this) and ability to easily transport those, which translates into more use and hence value.

[jaseyettridge]

Im surprised here though the bowers and wilkins ps7 x2 aren’t being mentioned. You can pick them up for £279 and they’re a superb set of cans. Everything from the build to the sound is top drawer.

[jeffcsMN]

I’ve owned variety of headphones over the past several years and one thing I have learned is there is no such thing as the perfect headphones. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses. As a recent owner of Beats Studio Pros there is a lot to love but also minor gripes. The beats are arguably the best value and since I don’t travel all that much they suit my needs.

[hoon]

Hello Mark!
Do you think that the Sandstone color of Beats Studio Pro is definitely susceptible to contamination?

[danieldavila]

Hey Mark! I totally agree about the case, is a nice surprise that the beats can fit in that compact bag, and seems good quality too 👍

[chrispineo]

All I know is I really like the way the Beats Studio Pros sound (with spacial audio set to fixed). The only downside is treble heavy music sounds a little harsh when the heavy treble edge of the Beats is added in.

Couldn’t get the XM5s to sound the way I like even with EQ.

[javtimestwo]

Good job with this video & filming outdoors.
Um, the Beats Studio Pro are perfect for anybody already in the Apple ecosystem and users of Apple Music. The USB C port enables users to enjoy lossless music(same with the 3.5mm jack) Remember everyone, wireless/bluetooth cannot achieve lossless or hi-res lossless sound. Impossible.
The case is great and fits well into luggage or backpack.