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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Beats EP are wired on-ear headphones that are budget-friendly and provide good overall sound quality, which is suitable for casual music listening. They're less comfortable for long periods compared to the Sony WH-1000XM5 and don't offer active noise cancelling, so they're not ideal for noisy environments or air travel. The Sony WH-1000XM5, on the other hand, are premium over-ear wireless headphones with excellent active noise cancellation and sound quality, ideal for frequent travelers or office use. They also have a long battery life and app-based customization. However, they are significantly more expensive. If budget is a concern, and you mainly need headphones for casual listening, choose Beats EP. If you prioritize comfort, superior noise isolation, and wireless features, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is the better choice, provided you're willing to invest more. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Beats EP
Good for TV and video
Advantages of the Sony WH-1000XM5
Very good for air travel
Key differences
Gaming
6.3/10
5.6/10
The Beats EP is only fair for gaming, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Phone Calls
4.2/10
5.5/10
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Beats EP are both poor for phone calls, though the Sony WH-1000XM5 is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.8/10
6.0/10
The Beats EP and Sony WH-1000XM5 are both only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Beats EP is somewhat better.
TV and Video
7.6/10
5.8/10
The Beats EP is good for TV and video, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3/10
9.1/10
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is excellent for noise reduction, while the Beats EP is poor.
Battery
N/A
40.3 Hours
The Beats EP does not have a battery. The Sony WH-1000XM5 has 40.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$100
$398
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Beats EP has a price of $100 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 costs $398.
Build Quality
8.0/10
8.8/10
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Beats EP both have very good build quality, though the Sony WH-1000XM5 has somewhat better build quality.
"With the EP model, Beats delivers a stylish headphone with cable connection and hands-free functionality that should please consumers seeking a balanced sound for playback on mobile devices."
"The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the best Sony Bluetooth headphones so far and one of the most well-rounded Bluetooth headphones around. Look no further if you need class-leading ANC with a mostly inoffensive sound signature. Just be ready to pony up the price premium."
Get a great deal on the Beats EP or the Sony WH-1000XM5
About Beats
Beats is an American, consumer-focused, audio products manufacturer. Founded originally by American rapper and producer Dr Dre, the company is now a subsidiary of Apple. Beats sells a wide range of audio products, including several models of headphones, earbuds and speakers as well as full car audio systems.
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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