A Rip Off? 🤔 Sony WF-1000XM5 vs WF-1000XM4 vs LinkBuds S

So here we have the Sony WF-1000XM5, and I’m going to compare them to the WF-1000XM4 and LinkBuds S.

But before we get to the comparison proper, I want to talk about some new features and improvements the XM5s bring to the table because it seems to be designed to address some of the complaints people had about the XM4, like the size of the buds. Those are quite big, so for people with smaller ears it can be tricky. While it still is not as tiny as the LinkBuds S, it now comes in a much smaller form factor which makes it more comfortable to wear, especially if you have small ears.

Some other welcome changes are volume controls on both sides by tapping repeatedly, when previously that is restricted to one earbud, and the option to turn off sidetone so that you don’t have to hear ambient sounds when taking calls. So if those were your complaints about the XM4, seems that Sony does listen.

Another small but significant change that you won’t hear about often, is that now the foam tips have a mesh that prevents ear wax and other debris from entering the buds. And you’ll need that mesh because when debris enters the XM4’s nozzle, this affects the sound and it’s very difficult to clean.

Its case is the smallest case ever by Sony, but it also has the same battery endurance as the Mark 4s, up to 8 hours in the buds, and 24 hours with case.

It also has some other changes like an upgraded processor called the Integrated Processor V2, as well as a new QN2e Noise Canceling Processor. It also has Spatial Audio with Head Tracking, which according to Sony, can be activated for content on YouTube and Netflix, but only on devices running Android 13 and newer.

Head tracking gives you a more immersive audio experience by locking the source of the audio in place so even if you turn your head, the audio stays locked to your device, kind of like Apple’s Spatial Audio.

Head Tracking can also be used to answer and reject calls. I’ve tried it, and it does work, for calls, but I wasn’t able to get head tracking to work for audio. Somehow, even though 360 audio was working, there was no head tracking on YouTube when using the Xperia 1 V. On my Samsung S23 Ultra, I couldn’t get it to work either after going through the settings. So perhaps head tracking will be fully supported some time in the near future.

Other improvements to its hardware are a revised microphone layout with 6 mics instead of 4, and a new 8.4mm driver called the Dynamic Driver X, which, in theory, should sound better compared to the smaller drivers of previous models.

All of those upgrades come at a slightly higher price. But is it true? Does the XM5 really have improved sound, noise canceling, and call quality compared to the older models? Let’s find out.

Call Quality

Well, in some ways it is an improvement over the XM4. Background noise reduction is definitely better, just as good as the LinkBuds S, but it wasn’t able to clean up my voice as well, which is the same problem that the XM4 had. Somewhat an improvement, but could be better. Listen to the samples here.

(Compared the XM5’s call quality to the XM4 and LinkBuds S in both quiet and noisy, windy conditions using some really loud cafe style background noise, and a fan.)

Active Noise Canceling

In terms of active noise canceling, the XM5s do cancel just about as much noise as the XM4, but they are a bit weaker in the lower frequencies and a bit better in the mids. One thing I noticed is since these are smaller, it takes a bit more adjusting to get that same snug seal as the XM4s which does influence the ANC. So I can see why some people think that the XM5s cancel less noise. It’s really a matter of getting the right fit. The LinkBuds S cancels less noise than either of them. Listen to the samples here.

Transparency Mode

In terms of transparency the XM5 sits somewhere in the middle between the XM4 and LinkBuds. They are a bit more transparent than the XM4, but the LinkBuds S amplifies the passthrough louder with a bit more hiss. That’s a nice balance to have.

Sound Quality

In terms of sound quality, frequency sweeps show that the XM5’s tuning is quite similar to the XM4, but for a few key differences. It sounds a little thinner in the lower mids, and it emphasizes the upper region of the mids more. So if you compare these A-B, you’ll notice that even the pitch of the vocals is different. It sounds crisper on the XM5, while on the XM4, the same vocals sound more weighty and breathy. In this way, the XM5s do sound similar to the LinkBuds S, but more smooth and less sibilant, which I prefer. The XM5 also has the best spaciousness among these earbuds, in part thanks to its higher treble extension. Have a listen.

Find Your Equalizer

But if you want to tweak its sound more to your liking, there’s a new way to do that aside from the usual presets and graphic EQ. “Find my Equalizer” lets you teach the earbuds what’s your preferred EQ simply by playing a song and picking what option sounds better. Then it turns that into a suggested EQ setting which you can finetune on your own later. Not exactly auto calibration like HearID because that is more to determine what your hearing limits are rather than figure out your preference.

An upgrade or what?

So if you’re wondering if the XM5s are really an upgrade over the LinkBuds S, it definitely is. It’s a much more complete product and it performs better in terms of sound and ANC. It also has wireless charging, which the LinkBuds S don’t have.

Compared to the XM4s, in some ways it is, in other ways not so. It’s definitely a more refined experience than the XM4s, having persistent volume controls and letting you turn off sidetone. Better comfort due to smaller size. All the other features like head tracking, even if I could get it to work, are as of this moment just icing on a cake rather than anything game changing.

In terms of sound, I do prefer its spaciousness, but I also prefer the XM4’s thicker vocals. Not a big deal because it’s possible to make the XM5s more mid-range heavy in settings. In terms of ANC, it’s not exactly a downgrade but it’s a little less powerful than the XM4, but not by much. Its mic pickup is somewhat better at noise-gating, but I’m wondering why can’t they make it as clean as the LinkBuds S.

Also, I’m not a fan of that piano gloss. It’s beautiful, and it kind of reminds me of my old PSP during the Y2K era. But I also remember having to wipe it quite often, because it’ll always get greasy from the skin’s natural oils, not to mention the fingerprints. Same for the XM5.

That being said, it is this writer’s opinion that the improvements alone could somewhat justify the price increase if it were just about the features and comfort.

If you want to check the latest Amazon prices of these earbuds, click on the links below.

Check latest prices on Amazon!
Sony WF-1000XM5 - https://amzn.to/3qiamkS
Sony LinkBuds S - https://amzn.to/3xNMab7
Sony WF-1000XM4 - https://amzn.to/3zbNN12

Singapore Prices

Sony WF-1000XM5 - https://s.lazada.sg/s.bsAyl?cc
Sony LinkBuds S - https://s.lazada.sg/s.bMJ20?cc
Sony WF-1000XM4 - https://s.lazada.sg/s.bMAKc?cc

(Affiliate Links Disclosure)

When you make a purchase through the Affiliate Links on this site, the site earns a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!