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The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones are down to $174.99 for a refurbished Grade “A” unit, compared to their regular $399.99 price tag (and Amazon’s current refurbished listing at $239.97). They arrive in near-mint condition, showing little to no cosmetic wear, and include a carrying case, USB-C charging cable, and a 3.5mm audio cable for wired use. You also get an aftermarket one-year warranty, which helps ease any secondhand purchase worries. Free shipping across the contiguous U.S. sweetens the pot a little more.
When it comes to performance, these headphones still rank among the best. Released in 2022, the WH-1000XM5 earned PCMag’s “Best Headphones of the Year” for good reason. The 30mm drivers, combined with the Integrated Processor V1 and LDAC support, push out high-res audio without distortion even when ANC is on, which many competitors don’t get right. Plus, their Integrated Processor V1 means better handling of both high-frequency noises and the more subtle ambient sounds around you, whether that’s the roar of an airplane engine or chatty coworkers. Comfort-wise, the ultra-lightweight build and soft-fit leather make them easy to wear for long sessions, notes this PCMag review. Battery life promises up to 30 hours with ANC on (your mileage may vary).
What do you think so far?
There are a few things to weigh, though. The touch-sensitive ear cup controls can feel finicky if you’re used to physical buttons, and some people just don’t love the modern swipe-and-tap approach (customizable via the app). Also, while multipoint Bluetooth 5.2 pairing is smooth, these aren’t ideal for hardcore gaming where super-low latency matters. That said, for daily use across phones, laptops, and even old-school wired setups (thanks to the included 3.5mm cable), they hold up extremely well.
