The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Koss Porta Pro is more budget-friendly, excelling in sound quality for music and gaming, and with its open-back design, it provides a wider soundstage. However, it offers poor noise isolation and is not suitable for exercise or air travel. The Sony WF1000XM5 earbuds are a premium choice with excellent active noise canceling, making them ideal for air travel and noisy environments. They offer better portability, sweat resistance, and they have a longer wireless battery life with additional features like app equalization and ear detection. If microphone quality is crucial, both options offer similar performance. Choose Koss for cost-effective, high-quality music and gaming experiences or Sony for noise-canceling and versatile use, including fitness activities.
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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 Koss Porta Pro (with mic)
Very good for gaming
Good for TV and video
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM5
Very good for air travel
Key differences
Gaming
8.2/10
5.1/10
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is very good for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Phone Calls
6.1/10
5.0/10
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is only fair for phone calls, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.8/10
4.9/10
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
TV and Video
7.6/10
5.4/10
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is good for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5/10
8.7/10
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for noise reduction, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is poor.
Battery
N/A
9.0 Hours
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) does not have a battery. The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$60
$298
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) has a price of $60 and the Sony WF1000XM5 costs $298.
Build Quality
6.0/10
8.5/10
The Sony WF1000XM5 has very good build quality, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) has only fair build quality.
"It’s clear to see why these have been such a popular choice amongst listeners for nearly four decades. It’s a charming pair of headphones that delivers a truly enjoyable listening experience and one that I think punches well above its weight."
"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 Koss Porta Pro (with mic) or the Sony WF1000XM5
About Koss
Koss is an American headphone manufacturer established in 1953. In 1958, they created the first set of stereophones, that is headphones with stereo sound, and in 1984 they released the world-famous Porta Pro, a set of on-ear headphones that has remained essentially unchanged for more than 30 years and that is still made, sold and loved by many audio enthusiasts around the world today.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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