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PC38X
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WF1000XM5
Company ProductName Specs




What we think

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The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·

The EPOS PC38X headphones offer excellent sound quality, comfort, and mic quality, making them ideal for music, calls, meetings, and especially gaming. However, they are not wireless, not suitable for exercise, and lack noise isolation, which could be a downside for travel and outdoor use. On the other hand, the Sony WF1000XM5 earbuds are wireless with active noise canceling, making them great for air travel and portability, but they have lower sound quality compared to the EPOS PC38X. The Sony's are more compact and feature an app with customizable controls, optimized for both Android and Apple devices. Thus, choose the EPOS if you prioritize gaming and sound quality and don't need wireless; choose the Sony if you value portability, noise cancellation, and wireless features. 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 EPOS PC38X
  • Best in class for music
  • Best in class for phone calls
  • Best in class for gaming
  • Excellent for TV and video
  • Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM5
  • Very good for air travel

Key differences

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Music

9.5
PC38X
WF1000XM5
8.0
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for music, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is very good.

Gaming

10.0
PC38X
WF1000XM5
5.1
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.

Phone Calls

10.0
PC38X
WF1000XM5
5.0
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for phone calls, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

7.9
PC38X
WF1000XM5
4.9
The EPOS PC38X is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.

TV and Video

9.0
PC38X
WF1000XM5
5.4
The EPOS PC38X is excellent for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.

Noise Reduction

2.5
PC38X
WF1000XM5
8.7
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for noise reduction, while the EPOS PC38X is poor.

Battery

N/A
PC38X
WF1000XM5
9.0 Hours
The EPOS PC38X does not have a battery. The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life.

Cost

$139
PC38X
WF1000XM5
$298
Product image
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The EPOS PC38X has a price of $139 and the Sony WF1000XM5 costs $298.
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Key similarities

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Build Quality

8.5
PC38X
WF1000XM5
8.5
The EPOS PC38X and Sony WF1000XM5 both have very good build quality.

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How the EPOS PC38X and the Sony WF1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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EPOS PC38XSony WF1000XM5
EPOS PC38XSony WF1000XM5

GENERAL

Price
$139
$298
Brand
EPOSSony
Release Date
September 1, 2020July 1, 2023
Form Factor
HeadphonesEarbuds
Connectivity
WiredWireless

SOUND

Music Score
9.6/108.1/10
Phone Calls Score
10/105/10
Gaming Score
10/105.2/10
TV and Video Score
9.1/105.5/10
Exercise Score
4.5/106.2/10

PERFORMANCE

Battery life
N/A9 Hours
Wireless charging
N/AYes
Charging time
N/A1.5 Hours
Bluetooth version
N/A5.3
Case Battery Life
N/A18

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
NoYes
Noise Reduction Score
2.5/108.8/10
Virtual Surround
N/AYes
Android App
N/AYes
iOS App
N/AYes
Mic Quality
10/106.5/10

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
8.5/108.5/10
Comfort score
8.4/107.6/10
Size
N/AMedium
Weight (headset or single earbud)
249.4 Grams6 Grams
Microphone style
BoomIntegrated

Shopping

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EPOS PC38X

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Dig into reviews and images

Everyday Listening

Ryan Soo | November 2021
"Lightweight and comfortable design, Mic arm with mute, Excellent tuning, Highly natural midrange voicing, Clean and separated bass, Solid soundstage dimensions. Combining all day comfort and integrated coms with a balanced and spacious sound from essentially any source, it is hard to deny the versatility and value provided by the PC38X."

Sony WF1000XM5

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Dig into reviews and images

Sound Guys

Harley Maranan | July 2023
"The Sony WF-1000XM5 is among the best noise canceling earbuds currently on the market, and they aren’t cheap. These earbuds aren’t the best choice for budget-conscious listeners. But if you prioritize active noise cancelation, sound quality, and extensive software support, the WF-1000XM5 is worth its premium price tag."

Get a great deal on the EPOS PC38X or the Sony WF1000XM5

About EPOS

EPOS is a relatively new company with a very long heritage. Previously known as Sennheiser Communications, EPOS is the result of the joint venture between the German headphone manufacturer Sennheiser and the Danish Demant that sought to develop premium audio communication solutions. They specialize in two main product groups, enterprise communications and gaming communication headsets and processing devices.

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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Why trust us

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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.

By the numbers

108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
122,900
Recommendations made
18,435
Consumer hours saved

About the Earbuds or Headphones team

Joe Golden, Ph.D

CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Jason Lew

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.

Chandradeep Chowdhury

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.

Luis Torres

Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.

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