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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Steelseries TUSQ depends largely on your needs and budget. The Sony WH-1000XM5 offers a superior overall sound quality, active noise cancelling, a more comfortable over-ear design, longer battery life, and features like app equalization and virtual surround sound; making them excellent for music, travel, and work calls in noisy environments. Conversely, the Steelseries TUSQ, while less costly, excels in gaming due to their lower latency and features a boom microphone, which may be better for clear in-game communication. However, without wireless capability or noise cancelling, they may not be as versatile for everyday use or travel as the Sonys. 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 Sony WH-1000XM5
- Very good for music
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Steelseries TUSQ
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
8.2
7.6
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is very good for music, while the Steelseries TUSQ is good.
Gaming
5.6
8.5
The Steelseries TUSQ is very good for gaming, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
4.7
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Steelseries TUSQ is poor.
TV and Video
5.8
7.3
The Steelseries TUSQ is good for TV and video, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
6.0
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is excellent for noise reduction, while the Steelseries TUSQ is only fair.
Battery
40.3 Hours
N/A
The Sony WH-1000XM5 has 40.3 hours of battery life. The Steelseries TUSQ does not have a battery.
Cost
$398
$30
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Sony WH-1000XM5 has a price of $398 and the Steelseries TUSQ costs $30.
Build Quality
8.8
8.0
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Steelseries TUSQ both have very good build quality, though the Sony WH-1000XM5 has somewhat better build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.5
5.2
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Steelseries TUSQ are both poor for phone calls.
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How the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Steelseries TUSQ compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | Steelseries TUSQ |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$398 | $30 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sony | Steelseries | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | August 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.3/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.6/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 8.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.8/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 40.3 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 3.5 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 249.4 Grams | 11 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Boom | |
Shopping
Sony WH-1000XM5
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Kazi Mahbub Mutakabbir | February 2023
"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."
Steelseries TUSQ
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Can Buy or Not
Aloysius Low | March 2021
"The SteelSeries Arctis Tusq is a great headset for those on a more modest budget. You can use it for gaming or music, and I daresay it's also great for Zoom meetings when you don't want to be wearing on-ear or over-ear headphones."
Get a great deal on the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the Steelseries TUSQ
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.
About Steelseries
Steelseries is a Danish gaming products manufacturer founded in 2001 and owned by GN Store Nord. Beside a large variety of gaming peripherals like mice, keyboards, and mousemats, Steelseries markets the Arctis line of gaming headsets which feature integrated boom microphones and RGB lighting. Steelseries has partnered with several game publishers and studios for limited editions of their products like a line of Cyberpunk 2077 themed headsets in 2020.
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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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