Sony 1000XM5 Vs Bose QC45 Vs Airpods Max Airplane ANC Test

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So right now as of mid 2022 my top 3 performing ANC headphones are the Sony 1000XM5’s, AirPods Max, and the Bose QC45’s which got a very impressive and measurable ANC performance boost after a firmware update earlier this year. Now when I do my ANC test, they are done in a controlled environment and all of the headphones are blocking out the same audio samples.

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[cassandragiauque]

The first day I ever used my XM5s the noise cancellation made me speechless, I could not even hear a vacuum cleaner in the same room as me nor could I hear my significant other watching TikToks right beside me... a few days later I put them on again and the noise cancelation barely felt like it was there. I do not know what happened or why. I have been trying to look it up but have found nothing except some complaints about the optimizer. I don't know how it can be so good the first day and just never again after that. It makes me so sad because I was EXTREMELY impressed by them.

[hl]

The AP Max is the quietest to my ear. This is very subjective. It's not the level of decibel alone. The frequency of reproduction matters too. Different people are sensitive to varying ranges of frequency. To my ears, the Max sounds like a flowing water stream. It's very relaxing.
Having said that, for the traveling purpose I probably pick the QC45 if I don't have any headphones due to weight and comfort reasons, and the ANC is also very decent.

[augustanuj]

The only drawback with xm5 is less pudding but its a lot less hot, using it for 1 month now. No problem as such

[DennisSchmitz]

Had the QC45 for one full day. Sound quality wasn't up with the XM5 nor Airpod Max. Teble especially sounds terrible with lots of coloration which makes these sound quite metallic.

The XM5 on the other hand with some EQ (lowering bass, adding treble and upper mids) really makes these sound great. Also no issues with the upper band even though my head is quite huge and the ANC and features are another league over the QC45 as well.

[xWAHOUx]

Crazy that not so much reviewer talk about the huge XM5 Anc auto optimizer issue that makes the ANC very week.
Also, nobody is talking about how bad the QC45 is when there is a bit of wind, wind get amplified like crazy

[KillingMoon_]

How do the XM5s wear vs the XB910n. How much better are they??

[Methenavigator]

Hey friend, Dose the change of eq really make Sony’s Mark5 sound more clear and open? Will it be open like the Bose?

[gtbigdog]

Thanks to Prime day I got the QC45s for $220

[LUIZS]

Can you add a comparison with these with the technics a800?

[CarlWiganerUK]

The XM5 carrying case is ridiculous, it's truly huge. No point using them to travel.

[CojRacer]

Can you please elaborate on sound quality?

[mitch]

i guess cabin pressure is subjective, watched several other youtubers and read several reddit threads stating bose has more cabin pressure

[jredubr]

Got the AirPods Max. I strongly disagree with the comment on cabin pressure. I just don’t feel any cabin pressure with it.
I have the XM4, and it’s a very good headphone, but its sound is very muddy due to the overwhelming bass. Even if I try to reduce all the bass in the app it becomes much better but lifeless, and still a bit muddy.
Also had the Bose, but its sound profile is just… nah. It is BY FAR the most comfortable headphone I’ve ever used, but the bass is reduced when you increase the volume and the treble is also quite a bit recessed to my ears.

I am personally loving the AirPods Max. It’s not very comfortable, but not annoying, I just can’t forget they are on my head. The sound quality though is amazing. There is a LOT of bass, but mostly sub-bass which doesn’t harm the mids. The treble is also good but occasionally piercing and it is the weak point of its sound profile, though still good. SQ-wise, it destroys the Bose and the Sony. ANC-wise, it destroys the Bose and in my personal experience it is way better than the XM4.

The case is absolutely awful though.

[punkyroxx]

I wonder how the Bose 700 hold up in a plane

[gmyep]

Noise canceling ear buds on airplane or train.

[saulslowik]

I just took my Airpods Max on a trip from DC to Brisbane and the ANC was atrocious on them, and the cabin pressure was atrocious. I'm selling them and picking up the XM5s. Biggest regret I had was dumping the XM3s for the Airpods.

I know I'm giving up some portability with the XM5s, but it's worth it.

[donaldmaynor]

the qc 45s for the price are amazing there overall better than there competition and there cheaper and ive been enjoying my pair for the past year now

[skyhigh]

I’m in the Apple ecosystem so for me the AirPods Max is a no brainer, I tried the XM5 don’t like the sound or new design and the QC45 are a pain with Bluetooth, always have to remove and pair in Bluetooth settings even know the devices were already paired up, plus the Bose sound signature has decent highs but no bass so these headphones are not recommended for EDM, Hip Hop etc. AirPods Max sound great with all genres of music.