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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize high-fidelity sound and have a higher budget, the HifiMan Edition XS may be your choice for critical listening, as they usually offer superior sound quality but may come with a heftier price tag and are bulkier. On the other hand, if you seek convenience, portability, active noise cancellation, and wireless connectivity for everyday use, including travel and commutes, the Sony WF1000XM5 offers these features in a compact, true wireless form factor, at a more affordable price, though they may not match the sound quality level of the HifiMan. 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 HifiMan Edition XS
- Good for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM5
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
8.8
8.0
The HifiMan Edition XS and Sony WF1000XM5 are both very good for music, though the HifiMan Edition XS is somewhat better.
Gaming
7.4
5.1
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
4.9
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
TV and Video
9.5
5.4
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
8.7
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
Battery
N/A
9.0 Hours
The HifiMan Edition XS does not have a battery. The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$269
$298
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The HifiMan Edition XS has a price of $269 and the Sony WF1000XM5 costs $298.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.0
5.0
The HifiMan Edition XS and Sony WF1000XM5 are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The HifiMan Edition XS and Sony WF1000XM5 both have very good build quality.
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How the HifiMan Edition XS and the Sony WF1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Edition XS | Sony WF1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$269 | $298 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | July 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.9/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.5/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.5/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 18 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 421 Grams | 6 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Shopping
HifiMan Edition XS
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Eric D Hieger | January 2023
"The Edition XS easily compete with headphones in their price range with a very high price-to-performance ratio. The XS are an amazing value and offer performance not far off from headphones more than twice their cost. These will be a mind-blowing revelation for enthusiasts and music lovers who have only heard standard big-brand mainstream headphones."
Sony WF1000XM5
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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 HifiMan Edition XS or the Sony WF1000XM5
About HifiMan
HiFiMAN is a Chinese, high-end, audio product manufacturer, with 20 years of experience, that specializes in amplifiers, digital audio players and planar magnetic headphones, some of which have become a staple in the audiophile community such as the entry-level Sundara, the midrange Edition X, and the very well-regarded, high-end, Arya.
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
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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