[monsterquake]

Please refer me to the Reddit posts.

https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/v3fkbb/xm5_anc_software_issue/

https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/v2tz9n/wh1000xm5_weak_anc/

https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/v28911/i_got_xm5_but_i_have_noticed_left_side_is_louder/

https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/v0kou6/xm5_anc_is_horrible/

https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/uwry40/first_flight_with_the_xm5s_frustrating_experience/

https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/uvghvq/xm5_nosie_cancelling_weak_vs_xm3/

https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/uw5rtz/is_it_me_or_xm5s_anc_sucks_or_maybe_defect/

https://www.reddit.com/r/SonyHeadphones/comments/uz6oyg/weak_noise_cancelling_on_xm5/

https://www.reddit.com/r/SonyHeadphones/comments/v3idjb/wh1000xm5_loud_outside_noise_clipping_issue/

https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/v1pg49/return_xm5s_for_xm4s_or_bose_qc45/

Please describe problems with adaptive anc?
Adaptive anc can't foresee the future, so yes, you will hear the difference in operation.
It can be observed when starting to speak.
I agree that adaptive anc should be an option in settings.

The ANC is now automatic, so you don't have control over it. Sony designed it in a way that is slow to change the levels and uncomfortable in how it is handled. There are multiple times when you want a higher ANC, but you can't because the unit doesn't think so and you cannot override it. When you are moving between zones, as the headset is slow to change and also do it automatically, you will be faced with constant changes of the ANC, that at the same time are slow reacting to the environment making a shitshow using them because the audio is constantly fluctuating

On the old xm you simply put the ANC on the desired max level and everything was constant and useful. With XM5 nope, you can't.

For example, I am on a room with a single fan. I turn on the headphones and the ANC works at low level because whatever. It muffles the fan, but it doesn't disappear. Then you clap 10 seconds, after that time you stop clapping. Then the ANC thinks "oh I need to turn the ANC to higher levels" and the fan noise completely disappear, but 10 seconds later after you stopped clapping, the ANC go back again to a stupid level where it's not blocking anymore what it can really do.

And you can't change that. You are tied to whatever the headphones want to do at any time without any way to override it.

The software is a disaster, and seeing that on previous models sony never ever acknowledge the problems they had, I don't have faith in them fixing this with a firmware update, so until they solve it I cannot recommend to anyone the headset nor it can be justified to spend +400 on a problematic product.

 

[starepiernikowe]

https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/v3fkbb/xm5_anc_software_issue/

https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/v2tz9n/wh1000xm5_weak_anc/

https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/v28911/i_got_xm5_but_i_have_noticed_left_side_is_louder/

https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/v0kou6/xm5_anc_is_horrible/

https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/uwry40/first_flight_with_the_xm5s_frustrating_experience/

https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/uvghvq/xm5_nosie_cancelling_weak_vs_xm3/

https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/uw5rtz/is_it_me_or_xm5s_anc_sucks_or_maybe_defect/


The ANC is now automatic, so you don't have control over it. Sony designed it in a way that is slow to change the levels and uncomfortable in how it is handled. There are multiple times when you want a higher ANC, but you can't because the unit doesn't think so and you cannot override it. When you are moving between zones, as the headset is slow to change and also do it automatically, you will be faced with constant changes of the ANC, that at the same time are slow reacting to the environment making a shitshow using them because the audio is constantly fluctuating

On the old xm you simply put the ANC on the desired max level and everything was constant and useful. With XM5 nope, you can't.

For example, I am on a room with a single fan. I turn on the headphones and the ANC works at low level because whatever. It muffles the fan, but it doesn't disappear. Then you clap 10 seconds, after that time you stop clapping. Then the ANC thinks "oh I need to turn the ANC to higher levels" and the fan noise completely disappear, but 10 seconds later after you stopped clapping, the ANC go back again to a stupid level where it's not blocking anymore what it can really do.

And you can't change that. You are tied to whatever the headphones want to do at any time without any way to override it.

Thanks for the links.

Hmmm, I have also xm4 and there is no option to change anc strength.
Only ambient option can be changed.
In xm4 there was a button to optimize anc, and in xm5 it is done automatically.
But setting a level is available only in ambient mode on xm4 and 5

 

[tcellguy]

I can 100% hear the AC units running outside my building with XM5s on. With XM3 or AirPods Pro that sound is completely gone. I don't hear it if music is playing so maybe Sony decided if the ambient noise goes below a certain volume you won't hear it and so maybe that's acceptable.

I seems like they really should have made this adaptive ANC optional and left the ANC slider software active like in prior models.

 

[monsterquake]

Hmmm, I have also xm4 and there is no option to change anc strength.

You can on the xm4, not on the 5

I can 100% hear the AC units running outside my building with XM5s on. With XM3 or AirPods Pro that sound is completely gone. I don't hear it if music is playing so maybe Sony decided if the ambient noise goes below a certain volume you won't hear it and so maybe that's acceptable.

I seems like they really should have made this adaptive ANC optional and left the ANC slider software active like in prior models.

exactly, they ****ed up badly the xm5.

They are a headset that is being sold because ANC capabilities, and then the ANC is as bad as it can be, making them useless and not worth any kind of money.

They are like a ferrari without wheels. Why would anyone buy that.

 

[starepiernikowe]

You can on the xm4, not on the 5

exactly, they ****ed up badly the xm5.

They are a headset that is being sold because ANC capabilities, and then the ANC is as bad as it can be, making them useless and not worth any kind of money.

They are like a ferrari without wheels. Why would anyone buy that.

LOL When you move a slider it changes to "ambient" from anc, did you notice that?
So you don't change anc level but ambient.
In xm4 it is visually done by a slider, in xm5 you have buttons to go from anc to ambient.
And in ambient mode there is a slider.

Haha lol

 

[Gamerlingual]

you may not have the lower volume ear problem as that could be a faulty unit. Also, with more test, I've determined it isn't, it's a problem of the software. I lastly tried the headphones connected through cable, everything works fine as expected. Then you turn on the ANC and it craps all over the place again.

have 100% sure the ANC problem as that is a software one and happens to 100% of the units.

If you have not experimented the ANC problem, then it is because you are using them on a super-stable situation, like in front of a fan or something like that.

If you use them on variable noise environments like commuting with buses, trains or even an office where the volume levels are not constant, you will have the problem and will find the XM5 ANC completely useless to the point that they are not even worth 20€ because the dynamic ANC ends being more annoying than helpful. And to make things worse, sony deliberately disabled it the manual settings so there is nothing you can do to fix it.

I live in Japan. I have to use the trains. So in my case, not a problem

 

[Light - Man]

Regarding the ANC, I am quite disappointed with its performance. It seems a noticeable step back from the XM4.

So far I have only tried the ANC with my Windows 10 laptop. I wonder can we get better control by using an App?

The SQ is much better than the XM4 and it is the only reason why I would consider keeping the XM5.

The comfort of the XM5 is disappointing as it can dig into your cheeks, due to the very thin soft pads, especially those of us with a bigger head, due to the extra clamping force. For some reason Sony designed the pads to be very thin on the outside but thicker on the inside. The ear space is only marginally bigger compared to the XM4.

Indeed, they also can get quite grubby looking if you are not careful.

Pads seem to be a little less sweat inducing than the XM5 but I will need more time in warmer weather to decide.

I hope that my views adds to the confusion!

 

[starepiernikowe]

Regarding the ANC, I am quite disappointed with its performance. It seems a noticeable step back from the XM4.

So far I have only tried the ANC with my Windows 10 laptop. I wonder can we get better control by using an App?

The SQ is much better than the XM4 and it is the only reason why I would consider keeping the XM5.

The comfort of the XM5 is disappointing as it can dig into your cheeks, due to the very thin soft pads, especially those of us with a bigger head, due to the extra clamping force. For some reason Sony designed the pads to be very thin on the outside but thicker on the inside. The ear space is only marginally bigger compared to the XM4.

Indeed, they also can get quite grubby looking if you are not careful.

Pads seem to be a little less sweat inducing than the XM5 but I will need more time in warmer weather to decide.

I hope that my views adds to the confusion!

No confusion here

 

[neil74]

Just set mine up. Like my WFM4s LDAC will not play when forced to the 660 or 990 setting on my S22 (Exynos standard) it stutters badly every few seconds, almost certainly a Samsung issue. Also getting an intermittent hissing/static noise which is odd.

I am lucky enough to have the S22 ultra too so will try that later.

 

[The1Signature]

They are a headset that is being sold because ANC capabilities, and then the ANC is as bad as it can be, making them useless and not worth any kind of money.

i really do not get your point. i am sitting in a very full and loud starbucks, downtown in the city. and i can tell you that they work better than xm4.

 

[Light - Man]

I stand by my earlier comment, to me the ANC on the XM5 is inferior to the XM4.

I am glad that some people are happy with theirs but it is not good enough for me and I will be returning mine.

Sony need to get their act together and give people the option to control the ANC better.

However, the ambient mode is very good, because you can listen to someone speak and hear your music at the same time.

At the end of the day, 380 UK pounds is too expensive for the disappointing ANC.

 

[Chamade]

ANC works much better than the XM4 for me, especially at cancelling voices. XM5 are voodoo level ANC.

 

[Hubert481]

Why cannot sony the voice battery status in percent?
why cannot sony a voice info for anc on or off?

 

[The1Signature]

ANC works much better than the XM4 for me, especially at cancelling voices. XM5 are voodoo level ANC.

i did a small city tour yesterday and yes... this is voodoo level.

Why cannot sony the voice battery status in percent?
why cannot sony a voice info for anc on or off?

this was confusing for me as well yesterday during my intense testing. i mean they have at least 3 different sounds for the anc modes.

 

[Hubert481]

An answer therefore of the sony ingenieurs would be welcome