Free Connect Air Inflight Wireless Audio Adapter (https://store.sony.co.nz/special-products/BTTRANSMITTERB.htm…) with the purchase of the Midnight Blue colour WH-1000XM5 (other colours don't have the same offer).
Appears to be stackable with the $50 sign up offer from Sony, which would bring the price down to $398
The product page states that they have a “30-day love it or your money back guarantee on eligible products”. However when I check their returns information page, there is no mention of this guarantee at all, it just says that change of mind returns must be in original condition.
If being able to trial the headphones is important to you, it might be best to contact them and get something in writing about this 30-day money back guarantee before making a purchase or opening the box.
Bit shady of Sony tho… the Blue is $20 dearer to get the "Free audio adapter" than the black, silver or pink at $428 (-$50 sign up voucher as well)
I reckon it’s worth the extra $20 to get the audio adapter if you’re gonna use this for travel on long-haul flights. Comparable adapters are more than $20 from what I’ve seen. But if you don’t plan to use it for that, then definitely just save the $20 and go for another colour.
XM6 are likely to be released in the next 6 months. So worth waiting for those so you can either upgrade or get a better deal on these for those who can wait.
a wee note is that at launch xm4's and xm5's stuck at full rrp for months, which drops by 2-300$ after a few.
I actually sold my xm4's that I got on staff (cost+x%) at a retailer for about $100 more than I paid when I sold them on trademe not long after launch
What? It's cheaper than PB Tech. $378 if you don't need the adapter vs $428 at PB Tech. $398 is still less than $428.
Yep forgot to carry the $50, rookie mistake.
How do these compare to the Bose QCs? The standard ones.
The Bose QCs don't sound good, these do
Bose more comfortable tho
Depends on your head shape and size, I tried the Bose QC ultra for a month, but the clamp force was too strong and was giving me headaches so ended up with the XM5s.
That's subjective. I've owned WH-1000XM3/XM4/XM5 and WF-1000XM3/XM4/XM5 and Technics AZ80, Bose QC 35II, Bose QuietComfort (the new one) and a few others. For me, the ANC on the Bose QuietComfort is WAY better than the WH-1000XM5 (which doesn't let you adjust the ANC levels like you used to anymore, it's dynamically adjusted and it sucks. Lots of complaints about this on Reddit). The sound isn't as bassy, but definitely more crisp and clean. It just depends on what sound profile you want. I don't hate the sound on the WF/WH series, that's why I've owned so many of them, but they progressively got worse and worse over the years in my opinion, in the sense that they just don't have as much value as they used to in comparison to the competitions.
I tried the QC ultras for a month, and I found the XM5 had slightly better ANC, tried them on buses, malls, walking around the CBD (never got to try them on a flight though, which was the main reason I got ANC headphones). However as above, the clamp force of the Bose were giving me headaches so ended up with the XM5. The Bose definitely has more of a premium feel and look but still satisfied with the XM5
@Lieutenantdave: That's odd, because all the research videos I found on Youtube show the Bose QC has better NC than the WH-1000XM5 and personally, I could tell it's better as well. The clamping force on my WH-1000XM4 was strong and I hated it. My XM3 was better (in terms of comfort) than the XM4. The only reason I upgraded to the XM5 was just for comfort and it was definitely more comfy than my XM4, but I went with Bose QC instead because it's lighter and even more comfy and can fold, which is more portable.
At the end of the day, only you can tell what's best for you, so I'd suggest everyone should test them out in person before deciding which one to buy. I'm just lucky to be in a position where I can buy them without worrying about costs.
@NovaAlpha: Yea I was gonna say the most important bit of buying headphones is comfort. If it aint comfortable it aint worth it.
Sony offers 30 days risk free trial and Bose do a 90 day trial (little bit of a pain sending back and taking a while to receive a refund)
I went a little overboard and literally carried and tried both the XM5 and Bose QC ultra to hear it for myself in different enviroments- as I was saying, IMO the XM5 was slightly better overall in most situations - XM5 won over the comfort part which was most important for me.
@Lieutenantdave: Interesting that they offer free trial, when companies like Noel Leeming and PB Tech have strict policies against refunds for headphones, coz of "hygiene" and "health" reasons. I'll consider getting directly from Sony/Bose next time then, thanks for the tip.
Hows returns on these if you find they're not right for you, is there a returns policy like Bose have with their headphones?