I Tested Bose & Sony's Premium Earbuds - HUGE differences!

[@Belgarath777]

I just got the Bose. Fortunately I don't hear any left ear hiss and after trying the Sony, I completely disagree about how the Bose is more likely to fall out. These are lodged in my ear, yet, still comfortable. There could be a 10.0 earthquake and these things ain't falling out. Also disagree about the Bass comments.

[@Kavyavyas363]

Hii.. can you please compare bass of these two.. using xm4 for two weeks now.. and i feel bass is not as punchy as bose soundsport which i used for an year. Now planning to go for bose qc2 purely for bass. Is it recommended ??

[@XxZcorpionXx]

Have both and can confirm that bose are better at everything except call quality!!

[@Kavyavyas363]

@@XxZcorpionXx thanks a ton !

[@PurposeTravel]

The hiss/squeal/buzz in the left earbud is a total deal breaker for me. They were returned.

[@geekinhard343]

It's different for everyone. Everyone's ears are shaped differently. For me the sony will not ever fall out I barely ever adjust them. Where the bose I have had one fall out into a bucket of water 2 times now lmao. It's not really opinion based, it's based on your ear shape and size

[@Andyhandle]

Really appreciate the different noisy conditions testing. Most reviewers seem to treat noise cancellation as just one thing.

[@StefanConstantinDumitrache]

A word on replacing Sony's foam tips for silicon ones: the protection which covers the tube is NOT on the tube itself, but on the foam tip, so you need to look for silicon tips with the same protection on them, otherwise in time you risk getting the buds filled with all sorts of gunk or earwax.

[@jk6078]

Sony is Asian company and Asians have dry ear wax. so they dont really think that through....

[@evolution5052]

Did u find any such eartips ?

[@StefanConstantinDumitrache]

@@evolution5052 I did not look for such tips.

[@flexor212000]

Which will probably void the warranty. Not that the warranty is that long but still.

[@Ashlord]

You mentioned crackling sounds at one point in the video, and I've experienced that with my Galaxy Buds Pro recently. It's happened maybe twice, but it is pretty noticeable and sightly annoying. However though, I've just put them in the case and out again and that's fixed it both times :) Anyway, great video! 😂

[@Hookmeister]

Bose are so comfortable! I’m just not a fan of buds that require deeper insertion to get a good seal.

[@771shadowolf]

See there new open earbuds ??

[@apox5308]

That’s what she said

[@LoyalSol]

I would have given the XM5 a try if it wasn't for the fact that Sony actively screwed up the XM4s with their firmware. I thought it was just my pair, but apparently multiple people had their $300 earbuds ruined because Sony sent out defective firmware and then tried to pretend they didn't have to replace them despite it being their problem. The firmware actively ruined the battery and actually caused some people's to overheat. I don't know if I trust Sony enough to not mess up another $300 pair of earbuds when the last pair says they aren't that competent when it comes to firmware. They soured me on their products with that one.

[@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi]

Yeah they arent the typical japanese company sadly. I wish Toyota made headphones, sonys are made by idiots in the philipines and other crappy third world countries and all these problems across both brands are common.

[@wadep5100]

+1 also another Sony user here who had their XM4s killed by Sony's firmware update. I also don't know if I can trust Sony again. But it doesn’t look like the Bose is the superior choice so it’s a tough call. If I go down the Sony route, I’ll be taking extended warranty!

[@TigerKittay]

I had to replace the right battery on my XM4s. I believe the firmware update did it.

[@treborrrrr]

*raises hand* Yup, happened to me. They wouldn't replace them for me. Ended up buying new batteries and replacing them only to have a hum appear in the right earbud whenever ANC is on (which apparently has happened to people that have _not_ opened the earbuds up at all as well). I really don't want to give Sony any more money but they seem to be what ticks most boxes for me. I'm more than a little bummed out.

[@gaelsg1547]

Totally agree! SONY NEVER AGAIN

[@blakegara7841]

Had the Bose for 2 weeks and every single phone caller I had told me I sound horrible as if I’m speaking through a paper towel roll and that they are not interested in having a long conversation with me if this was persistent. Which is unfortunate because I use my earbuds for work every day. This video seems to be exactly what the callers on the other end were experiencing with me.

[@JorgeReyesMD]

Buddy domt get either if you want phone calls quality. They both suck

[@jameslobsinger7326]

The foam tips on the Sony are a no-go for me which, as stated above are what gives them the edge in the NC results. They were also rather unsecure and uncomfortable for me with the many silicone type tips that I prefer, at least until I found a set of tips that work for me. The NC with all of the silicone tips I tried was nowhere as effective as that of the Bose, which are much more comfortable, secure and effective for NC (I own both). Once I settled on a set of tips that work for me on the Sonys I like them quite well and they sound amazing! However the Bose are my go-to when I want the most effective NC, and sound great to boot.

[@cy5214]

I agree. Sony's ear tips are garbage. I swapped them out with Airfoams Pro Universal ear tips and they are best combination. Smart having silicone and memory foam together. Too bad they don't make one for Bose.

[@BishieBishie]

The biggest problem Sony have with the tips and ANC is not that the tips do all the work, its been tested and they dont, the ANC is superb. BUT. If you dont like the tips so you change them, you lose some ANC, why would you spend that money to lose some of the ANC when the Bose just work? And to me the Bose are more comfy. The most odd thing is that if you switch to other foam tips like the Comply ones, you lose more ANC than you do switching to Silicone like azla... So its not just the foam, but that Sony tuned the ANC to work with their tips so much, switching them out will give very varied results. Source is AREGINA.

[@CocoXLarge]

@@BishieBishie Until a year in your Bose stops working for no goddam reason.

[@ThcBanaman]

I hated the Sony foam tips for the XM4s, just got the XM5 and the foam tips are amazing. I already ordered silicone tips in advance that I don’t need now. No more hurting ears

[@MrAhuraMazda]

Foam tips arent for noise canceling theyre for frequency response, specially mid bass

[@hopeseekr]

When I first demoed the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds in The Mall of Dubai in October 2023, it literally changed my life. I bought a pair right then and I have traveled around the world with them two times since. Literally changed my life as an introvert programmer. Now I can walk the busy streets of NYC or The Mall of The Emirates and totally zone out the noise of crowds. Totally life changing for me!

[@isaacwutkee11]

I’m glad you mentioned that crackling in the left Bose earbud at 2:07! I mentioned this in the comments of your initial Bose review a couple days ago, but I 100% have the exact same experience with mine. I think it’s honestly going to be all of their earbuds. I love everything else about them. Incredible transparency, incredible Immersive sound, and very good bass and all around sound. But I hate that faint crackling.

[@ponymushama]

My Bose Ultra's left earbud is crackling all the time. Sigh 🥲

[@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi]

Sonys over ear xm3 xm4 and xm4 alllll do the same. its due to diferences in pressure. and the membrane of the actual speaker.

[@ponymushama]

Airpods Pro 2 does not have this annoying crackling sound. @@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi

[@melvinp1324]

i get the same - its like a BT connection loss - pretty sure mine are going back and ill get the B&O EX

[@treborrrrr]

@@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi My XM4s did not do that, until the battery died in my right one and I replaced it, now it's making noise constantly when the ANC is on. I've seen others mentioning the same thing without opening them up so I'm not quite sure what causes it. It's annoying though as they were basically dead silent before, even with ANC on.

[@prettyflowers9956]

Why don't earbud testers like yourself test for wind noise cancellation? For anyone that uses audio outdoors I would think wind noise would be the number 1 issue!

[@STUDSrUS333]

After having the Sonys for only 3 weeks before them becoming nothing more than a paperweight due to “water damage” , I picked up the Bose and find them to be way more comfortable and very very similar sound quality

[@JT-qb6vf]

Well I can honestly say that the snapdragon sound makes a difference . I believe that it makes a big improvement. It can play Aptx adaptive, with the immersion on it sounds sooooo good. Great fit; superior audio quality too. Nice improvement from the QC 2. Compared to B&O E 10 and Bowers & Wilkins PI 72, Momentum 3……..these are contenders!

[@nkob6666]

Is snapdragon a setting in the app for the Bose? And what’s the best sounding earbud you heard

[@michwashere8]

02

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

hm for ie600 ve3 mext owners yes new anv will make them unusable, gr11 prob wont

[@rolins3279]

Zero words on how the Bose QC Ultra is a slot trap 🤦🏽‍♂️ Instead of providing the software update to all QC 2s, Bose preferred to do it only on those not yet sold, added a coat of silver paint to the earbuds, and wants to make it look like a new product, leaving the previous buyers behind in the process. And the media and youtubers pretend not to know or understand it, it's really nasty.

[@Fredo.heavyy]

I was honest on my review and I’m getting slaughtered by the NPC😅

[@conheo4]

I agree with you.

[@SibTiger33]

I know right. Not a single reviewer is talking a out this.

[@lol3ndir]

Still using the XM4 earbuds and I think it's so good that upgrade can wait for several years. Thanks for the video review!

[@Mike335is]

I absolutely love my xm4s... However, the battery over time is horrible... They're dead after about 4 hours... Where it used to be about 8 hrs...

[@lol3ndir]

@@Mike335is that's the downside of the XM4. I use it everyday for calls and it only last for around 2 hrs.

[@lol3ndir]

@@Mike335is and here I am after updating my XM4 to latest firmware my battery on my right earbud dies within an hour. Of course I over after a year so no more warranty! This is my 2nd unit of XM4 (same battery issue) so no more Sony for me!

[@toadiscoil]

I heard your comment about the passive noise cancellation. I bought a set of Comply Foam foam tips for my Shure 846's and it was a world of difference. Since the Shure's only rely on passive noise cancellation and bass is dependant on the "seal" these foam tips are night and day with even the Shure foam tips. I tried all of them on all sizes and none could handle movement without breaking the seal. They basically revitalized my headphones and now I want another set for another set of Shure 425's that I have as well. They are supposed to need constant replacement but I feel if I take good care of them (always keep on the case, not squish them but just insert into the canal) they should last me a good while. I wanted to buy the Sony's because I just couldn't get the seal in place and I am going to start traveling more on airplanes for work. I think the passive isolation will be sufficient as I always sleep on plane flights but I test-drove the Sony's at an airport headphone store and I really liked the sound. But I saved quite a bit of money :) and was able to fall in love again with my flagship Shure's.

[@binman5233]

You saved yourself a lot of money as well. My passive wired buds block more noise than the Sonys with the ANC on!

[@dandavis5533]

Just to let you know, Bose has added multi-point Bluetooth connectivity.

[@jbhines]

They did, with this unit? That’s the only thing I don’t care for in my QC.

[@dandavis5533]

@@jbhines From the Bose website under the FAQ: "Yes. The Ultra Earbuds have the Bluetooth multipoint feature allowing them to connect to two source devices at the same time. This is a recent update as of July 2024, so be sure to set up your earbuds with the Bose app to receive software updates."

[@peurpaelen3261]

I love the comfort of the Bose over the Sony Foam tips, but the left earbud of the Bose Ultras makes is a constant static and feedback noise that bugs me, especially when listening to calm music in the library (b/c I can hear the static more and it's hard to ignore it once you realise it). Does anyone else have a problem with a static noise in the left earbud of the Bose? Doesn't seem like there is a solution to it.

[@georginagates6553]

I've also had the same problem! I've gotten 2 pairs, both had that static hissing noise and it's super disappointing. I'm most likely going to pick up a pair of the sony's.

[@peurpaelen3261]

@@georginagates6553 I tried the Sony xm5 earbuds as well. But, personally they are less comfortable than Bose and a less secure fit. Plus, because of how deep they are inside your ears if you're running or even walking, each footstep makes a bass thud that gets annoying over time. I really wish that Bose didn't have that static sound and I tried very hard to overlook that, but I couldn't get myself to ignore it.

[@milton8769]

Looks like bose still havent figured out the mic quality thing. Comfortable, light, great anc but awfull call quality (have the qc700s and tested the old version of esrbud). The complaints were that it felt i was moving in and out of a microphone or that it sounded like I was inside an empty water tank

[@Imperialbbuilding]

After owning x Wf4 i thought id try the bose based off good reviews. One day after owning the bose i took them back and exchanged for wf5. The sonys are unmatched. The only thing i liked about the bose was that they are extremely comfortable

[@JuliusTurner-hm6ff]

Nah Galaxy Buds pro 2 are better than Sony.

[@geekinhard343]

You can just tap 4 times and hold to increase the volume more with the Sony. I think its funny how many people miss this detail.

[@daking6361]

I would say the XM5 would be the winner based on having more features, but I cannot trust Sony after buying the XM4. The battery drain is so horrendous, and the earbuds are literally useless now. I guess they were designed to completely die by the time the XM5 come out which is unacceptable. I recently ordered the Sennheiser momentum 3 so am eager to try those out when they come in

[@davidbrooks8061]

I have a pair of Momentum 3's, yr 1/2 old and the right bud doesn't charge anymore. Zero customer service, so good luck.

[@IdiotMeetsMsc]

@@davidbrooks8061exactly this. I am a huge sennheiser fan but this was the last pair. Now i am looking dor something different.

[@corey7219]

I'm taking out my Sony wf-1000xm3s as I returned my wf-1000xm4s due to battery drain issues

[@hairyhomerify]

Had my xm4 2 yrs still get good battery life

[@jthompson7024]

Are you going to do a review or comparison for Bose quiet comfort ultra headphones possibly vs the Sony headphones? You make the best tech reviews!

[@sharatmuthyala]

Brand wise BOSE the way they value their customers you feel like respected I had issues with unequal battery drains of rt earbud in Sony 1000xm4 just after 6m and customer care gave me a nightmare I felt like somehow they were trying to escape from replacement n make profits to their company felt cheated As a customer who paid 300$ for a small pair of ear buds which hardly lasted 1/2 yr as opposed to bose products which easily last a decade real value for money and trust worthy quality For now I will never go back to sony Happy with earbuds 2 pro❤

[@johnmartin8481]

I must admit I am Bose fan and purchased my first QC headphones for the expressed purpose of air travel. The Bose QC saved my sanity when flying. Based on your review both products are excellent. For me the Bose AC Ultra earbuds would be my purchase choice. Thank you for another well balance and informative review comparison.

[@SefJo-kc3hx]

I have both, but if I had to choose one, I would go with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra .The noise cancellation is much better, and the design looks more premium. As for sound quality, I would say they are both pretty good.

[@DavidSmith-eh9im]

I've returned 4 sets of these Bose due to charging problems. Often one of the buds will not charge. Sometimes the case doesn't charge. The retailer told me it's a known issue.

[@donaldmaynor]

My personal favorite earbuds right now are the technics AZ 80s for $300 these are overall the best pair of anc earbuds on the market right now they have great anc not as good as bose and sonys but really close and transparency just as good as the airpods pro audiophile quality sound great battery life ldac codec small case really responsive touch controls witch are very customizable 3 way industry leading multipoint so you can connect to any 3 devices at the same time and it works flawlessly and they have wireless charging so overall these are the best and they been my daily drivers and will continue to be my daily drivers for a long time

[@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi]

why would anyone pay close to spny or bose price for a no name chinese brand thats riding on the name of a long defunct company... pfft $300 for junkstore rubbish.

[@donaldmaynor]

@@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi no name Chinese brand huh let me tell ya technics have been in the game for a very long time now and always make great products and I would say maybe u should give them a shot before u give a negative review without trying them

[@SibTiger33]

100 percentage. Agreed. The best buds on the market right now

[@SibTiger33]

​@@Steve211Ucdhihifvshiyou do know that technics is a japanese company right?? Wow u are seriously uneducated

[@SibTiger33]

​@@donaldmaynortechnics are japanese and the previous commenter is just uneducated

[@hueyh5637]

I like the nod or shake your head to answer and cancel calls on the sony. Great when your at work and your hands aren’t free.

[@efnick96]

Damn I was ready to buy the Bose (coming from the xm4s of Sony) because I wanted to try something new, but not having a multi point connectivity is a deal breaker. Oh well, I guess I'll wait for the next version

[@odeaus]

Not sure if you heard yet but they released an update allowing multipoint

[@TakashiSulzberger]

It would be interesting to see how the Sony Inzone Buds would rank in this test :) In my first impression, they could even establish themselves in everyday use.

[@falcongames6465]

I heard that the ANC on them is bad? Is that true?

[@StefanConstantinDumitrache]

@@falcongames6465 The ANC quality is not that much different between XM5 and INZONE. I oscillated between these two models, eventually decided to buy the INZONE and returned them the same day and got the XM5 instead. They both have the same drivers, so should sound the same, but INZONE are limited in their connectivity and that's baked in, unlikely to be "fixed" with updates. They come packed with a USB-C adapter which ensures low latency and best possible sound, but without it the use-case is VERY limited. I have a laptop without USB-C, so no adapter, but I still could not connect the buds via BT LE (which is their ONLY BT protocol). Same with two Android phones, which both have BT LE capability, and while in their case I could plug the adapter, I don't see myself using the buds this way. On the plus side is the longer battery life when compared with XM5 (at least as advertised, since I did not spend enough time with them), and the lower audio latency is beneficial in games, BUT some games do compensate for this and I did not notice delays or discrepancies with the XM5. All in all I think the XM5 is a better pick for general use, even if they are a bit more expensive while having somewhat less battery life.

[@jordanking7711]

A lot of people would say that obviously the Bose have FAR superior ANC, but I bought a pair of XM5's a couple of days ago, tested the ANC out with those and compared to the WH-1000XM4's I have, I think they do an awesome job, without the pressure feeling in your ears that you get with Bose.

[@brwa5176]

Strange I feel no pressure with the Bose, maybe our ear shapes are different.

[@Bob-x2u9b]

​@@brwa5176I felt the obvious pressure with Bose-quite annoying.

[@Fozzee.1970]

Same here no pressure from the Bose ​@@brwa5176

[@bffmrk]

The fit was the otherway around for me. The xm5 foam tips dont work for me, with x/xs when my head moves a bit it lets in sound and when the m is in, it kinda uncomfy. So i have to use my extra silicone tips. With the bose, its perfect and doesnt move no matter what i do.

[@Technosquid]

I tried the XM5 but returned them. They need more user customizable options and better single bud operation. I actually prefer my Pixel Buds Pro to the XM5. Trying the Bose next.

[@237doogie6]

Pixel buds pro....... 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mateocayodelgado4841]

pixels buds pro? lmao

[@JeffinThomas-kv6rf]

pixel bud? 🤣🤣

[@curtiscrawford5696]

2:16 yes. absolutely there is a left ear hiss in the Bose QC 2 & ultra. I have replaced mine twice to the same effect, the Left always having the worst issue. Unless you’re in a noisy environment or have constant loud music playing (possibly why the preset volume is pretty high) or have ear damage, I suspect you’ll hear it too. Such a shame.

[@JuliusTurner-hm6ff]

Its the ghost of your wallet. Haunting you for paying $300 for earbuds.

[@StuWright]

damn that sounds like a problem,but i`m not finding the sonys comfortable

[@elmaster6207]

I never tried Bose earbuds but I tried the Sony XM4s and the Linkbuds S, the sound is Clean, Literally, the cleanest I ever heard in any earbud, and I have tried many, the only difference between the XM4 and the Linkbuds S is detail, other than that, like I said, clean!!!

[@momentarilylapse]

Are the charts from 1:02 available anywhere online with all the devices you've tested? They are super helpful (particularly the high-frequency ANC charts) but sometimes I want to compare two devices that might not be compared in the same video. Great content! I have watched a bunch of these to help me narrow down my next purchase.

[@teddytanalski3926]

I got both of these also to try em out...Bose more comfortable to have in ear longer but the Sony was better for nose cancellation in a shop environment with an airgun. The Bose tended to make static when using air hose. I also had momentum wireless s3s which had good noise cancelation but less than both of these. And is worse with air gun.

[@TigerKittay]

I don’t buy premium earbuds for phone call quality but sound and ANC. I don’t remember the last time I used them on for phone calls.

[@PaulYager]

Now the Bose option also does multi-point connect and you can get the QC Ultra for $250 USD

[@Reventrant]

I just bought these and while the right side Buds Pro wanted to fall out on me while chewing, the Bose are locked in, no matter what I'm doing. The sound quality in great and the Immersion Mode is slightly mindblowing.

[@wb3213]

just bought the xm5s they're so small but Amazing !

[@scubainstructor]

Great review👌

[@GildoDuarte]

I had a battery drain issue with my sony wf-1000XM4 after an update. The repair store (officially recommend from Sony) had to replace the unit. After that, no more issues

[@ausrus5411]

Thank you, useful comparison ))

[@daftvadered]

With the Sony ear buds XM4 and XM5 could you do some basic comparisons with silicon ear tips, im not a fan of foam tips generally but interested to see how well they perform noise cancelling and sound quality wise.

[@donnagathers6979]

Great video, thanks

[@kittealand]

I had the dreaded battery drainage issue after firmaware update with my Sony WF1000XM4 and I figured never Sony again. Well, I couldn't resists picking up the XM5 a couple of days ago and I love them to bits. I was first disappointed with the sound as I was with the XM4's but realized the problem was the same - I was using too small tips. The mic is very much improved also when making phone calls.

[@Elysian-III]

Im seeing alot of reviews in th comments saying that the XM4 struggled with battery life in the longrun and that the foam earpieces arent comfortable. I can agree to this. I hate how foam feels over long uses and i currently own a pair of galaxy buds pro. They wree good for a while, but the quality in battery life went down drastically and i feel like the quality of audio went down as well. While I, also on the other hand, own a pair of 1st gen QC bose, they still remain very good in battery life and still have maintained there sound quality. And thanks to this video, i can reliably say that I'll be making the permanent move from Sony to Bose from now on. I will be sacrificing audio quality, but at least I'll have a more comfortable time with them and they'll also stand the test of time

[@cirecomputers]

The thing I cant stand about the Sony Xm4s and Xm5s are the foam eartips which is essentially what gives them the leg up on the Bose offerings when it comes to NC . They are too rigid and uncomfortable in my ear and if I take them off in favor of silicone ear tips there is a substantial drop in passive nc and noise cancelling in general. Taking this into consideration, I very MUCH prefer the Bose QC IIs and Ultra (the same thing in my book) which are way more comfortable, have better true ANC without the foam eartips and stay in my ears more securely with their wings.

[@jordanking7711]

It depends on the ear. I bought a pair of XM5's the other day and had zero problems. As for ANC, Flossy Carter said in his review of these ear buds that the ANC in those was 'scary quiet' and I have to agree with him. As I said, it depends largely on the ears and what size tips you put on them.

[@cy5214]

try the Airfoams Pro Universal ear tips. It works because it has both silicone and memory foam so you get that seal and not the rigid and comfortable without the NC drop off.

[@mavricxx]

Sony for the win, only thing is I don't like how bulky the Sony are. Just wish the Sony were smaller and had the wings like the Beats Fit Pro. One thing that caught my attention with Bose QC Ultra Earbuds mentioned in this review was the crackling or something from the left earpiece at 2:06. I have the Bose QC2 earbuds and that crakling or whatever it is even hurts my ears. If you're like me that likes earbuds to workout DO NOT get the Bose, especially when you're doing activities like working out, jumping, running etc that horrible sound is at its worse. Another thing I hate about the Bose is that it feels cheap like it could break easily. As a comparison I have a pair of Jabra Elite Active 75t and I much prefer those to workout in. Love the physical buttons, fit (except for no wings as well) and the sound is decent.

[@Mattp-y1p]

Sony doesn’t stay in ur ear to workout in them. Bose don’t move.

[@ShellyBHollis]

love the ultras I just upgraded from the first earbuds.

[@traviolisupreme]

Sony Xm5's, best earphones I've ever used, & I'm coming from Apple airpod pro2's, jabra Elite7pro's & Galaxy pods2pro's Sony is so good now, zero issues with maximum comfort & FINALLY the receiver on my calls can never hear my background noise - no matter how loud, all they hear is my voice! (this is why I bought them) sound quality for podcasts & music is flawless too, yes expensive but they're best, definitely will repurchase again when or if I need to.

[@humeyboy]

Bose want you to pay £50 for the Wireless Charging Mod and £10 for the Extra fit kit.

[@batdroid2705]

Madness

[@blalesnail3098]

The mid-body on the Bose are just so enormous. If you have the wrong sized ear they hurt no matter what, even if you buy the size-0 stability band kit.

[@brwa5176]

I returned my XM5s and am keeping the Bose QC Ultras. Probably the biggest reason is the Bose has a more oval eartip shape while the Sony is round. For my ears at least I could never get a good seal with the XM5s leading to crappy noise isolation and audio quality (for others this may not be an issue). With the Sony's I'd have to massage the eartips each time before putting them in, Ultra's can go in instantly. Noise cancelling for me was far superior on the Bose. XM5s and Ultras both have a surround sound option but the XM5s requires special content that is very limited and expensive. The Ultras work with any stereo music (usually great but occasionally not so great). It would be nice if the Ultra's had wireless charging built into the case (available as a sleeve) and multipoint would be nice, but I use my earbuds with three devices and the Sony's only multipoint with two so it didn't help much.

[@nightwng]

Sony wins but FIX THE FIT SONY! and with that, I'll go with the Bose. Fit and comfort wins for me. I wanna relax and listen. Not worrying whether the damn thing's gonna fall out due to sweat/wax and ear fatigues

[@Nonresponder01]

The sonys are so comfortable for me that I forget I'm wearing them every time. I had to try each tip for a whole day to find the right one, but it fits so well now. I wear them for work, and will have them on the whole time I'm working, so maybe there is a break-in.

[@JohnnyADi]

Please try the hifiman svanar wireless, they are better than every ear bud you've ever reviewed in terms of sound quality.

[@blandruss]

I’ve just watched your review of these Bose ones as well as the Marshall ones. I’m toying with buying either but having tested both (and recommended both!) which would you go for? Thanks

[@Bernd123]

Tbh for calls in noisy environments Huawei Freebuds Pro 3 are currently the boss. Mostly due to their much superior bone conduction tech. Some youtuber tested them against 5 other top tier earbuds (like these here) in various standartised noisy environments where you can judge for yourself.

[@Jefafa73]

I dont understand why every time bass is talked about, it's always QUANTITY, but never QUALITY! The bass on the XM5's are not good. Muddy, not tight. Just "there". Bose has tighter base, and yes, more of it, which I had to eq down when I tried them. Sound quality alone though I'd prefer the Galaxy buds 2 pro, but the passive NC is not as good as the Sonys or Bose.

[@advaitc2554]

Very helpful, thanks.

[@Peakabike]

Good comparidon, thanks. Any plans to test the Jabra 10, c'est Jabra earbuds so far.

[@apox5308]

Owned 2 jabras and they are no where as good as these two plus they break

[@NathanThrower]

I do hear the hissing in the left hear. Sounds like coil whine or some sort of RF interference. Fine when listening to music but less fine when I they are in without audio playing.

[@Idocare1893]

@Mike O'Brien: thanks for this. Why did you not include Jabra Elite and Active buds in your comparison?

[@aldozavaleta37]

Yeah the left ear bud does have noise or crackling on mine as well

[@geekinhard343]

After you tap 4 times with the xm5 you can keep repeatedly tapping for it to keep increasing in small increments with each tap. It go's up in smaller notches than your volume rocker on your phone so I actually like it a lot for that. This made them much nice to use. But you'll never be able to up and down with just one earbud in. Then the transperency isnt good enough for me to where both in any situation. The sound quality and comfort outway this for me though. They stay in my ears and seal better than any other earbud ive ever used. So there my personal favorite now.

[@josiahbrown7258]

That bose case is rough at this proce point. It's massive, no extra battery really and no wireless. Also how do they not have multipoint. I have 100$ buds that have multipoint. Not saying they are bad and in a lot of ways they are better but missing some baaic features that many cheaper ones have.😊

[@Fredo.heavyy]

Hit the nail on the head

[@myqaveli]

my unit on the ultras also make that noise on the left bud

[@NonLegitNation2]

Just bought the Bose QC Ultra earbuds and I love them. The only thing I don't like about them is that they're hard to get out of the case. If anyone has any tips or tricks to getting them out of the case easier it would be much appreciated. Oh, also the case is pretty massive compared to any other earbuds I've owned, wtf is the case so big? For some reason i haven't had good luck with Sony earbuds. I have had 3 pairs, the WF-1000XM4s and two pairs of Linkbuds S's and for some reason all three pairs would randomly connect and disconnect from my phone whenever I walked or jogged with them. This happened with both my S22 Ultra and my current Pixel 8 pro, i have no idea why they do that but the Bose earbuds haven't done it yet. Also why does Bose and Sony not have a dark mode for either of their apps?

[@mohmushtaq77]

I have both of them but still craving to have more out of them. There is no perfect headphone or earbud.

[@figo5816]

I just got the sony. I usualy listen to more rock/blues songs, hope it sounds good.

[@sony1968]

Perfect :)

[@gaurlglmistrz]

Hi! Which ones will better reduce the noise like footsteps in a room above? Trying to choose one of these for sleeping, would really appreciate any help!

[@breamoako9945]

Good question

[@dariusdareme]

Because of comfort - I vote BOSE. Sony xm4 were very uncomfortable, couldn't ware them for more then 10 minutes. Returned them, got the Airpods pro , even on android. Bose had a ridiculously large case back then, never considered them because of that. The Ultra seem better in all aspects. I think you will soon find 3rd party foam tips for the Bose. They're cheap to produce.

[@geekinhard343]

Yeah but the case is the same size still lol. Not a deal breaker but it's annoying. Especially when u get the sonys and it's like half the size

[@DanAllen1]

The Sony's are great, except they fit for crap. They hurt your ears. So that's a total no-go.

[@jordanking7711]

It depends on the shape of your ears and the ear tips.

[@blameitonthedrugz6725]

Got my sony's about a week ago have to say sony's still @ the top of the game.

[@JoseHernandez-zz6iv]

can you tell me how the ANC & the sound quality are? I'm considering buying the XM5

[@blameitonthedrugz6725]

@@JoseHernandez-zz6iv the xm5 I have too and honestly I dnno If I'd buy em again, ya there real good but the diff betweeen the anc and sound quality was stronger but at least Imo the linkbuds are still pretty close

[@RCvanKessel]

Would love the Bose for the ANC, but no multipoint for a $300 pair of earbuds in 2023? Just baffling in my opinion.

[@Winter4lifer]

The ANC tech is the best of its kind, you're always going to pay up for that.

[@hopeseekr]

The ANC is out of this world. I've demoed them both, and this blew the Sony XM5 out of the water.

[@ajl3791177]

I read that bose ultra does support wireless charging,, is that true?

[@ewaldjooste4984]

Which one is better for motorcycle drivers?

[@MeowMeowBeans69]

Your comment at the 2:10 mark about the sound you hear in the left bud when there is nothing playing...I had that in my left bud as well. I took them back. To me, it sounds like Morse code.

[@timquain5341]

Sony sound like they'd suit me more. How would they go with a S23 ultra? I've been looking at the samsung earbuds, as well. You can track them if you lose them and they make a noise if you walk away from them.

[@Ianmundo]

why is the Bose case so massive? 😂

[@svenmentzing2682]

Could these work with a full face helmet? Taking calls and listening to music while riding motorcycle is what I want

[@markcasco9468]

No, cardo or sena are the options

[@denieldaukshevich]

great review

[@timvlogtv512]

Is there a Bose QC Ultra vs XM5 video coming? Will be waiting for it 👍👍

[@italydude515]

That's what this is.. tf? Lol

[@manuelsantiago2736]

Have you noticed that you had to speak louder on the bose in order for people to hear you when in crowds?

[@watchluver]

Battery life? or did i miss it?

[@alirodriguezm]

I just returned my ultra to Bose, the Audio during phone calls was extremely low, tried everything with tech support but nothing

[@xxgodsxx4618]

samething that happened to me during a call they sounded very low where I can't barely hear them and plus they pick up to much background noise.

[@alirodriguezm]

@@xxgodsxx4618and is working normal again?

[@xxgodsxx4618]

@@alirodriguezm it just happen randomly i wear 1 earbuds but the sound come out very low idk y​

[@daraakinsooto7247]

I've been waiting for this so that I can decide if I should return the wf1000xm5 or keep them. Thank you. I am still contemplating on getting xm5 headphones or the ultra headphones to upgrade from xm4, which is too amazing to give up. I am seeing a small bit of wear and tear on my xm4 headphones, which would make sense given I got them when they first release, and it depends on how you take care of it as well. I think Sony should add back the ANC Optimizer because I feel they made a huge difference in improving my ANC. I am using the eartips of the Soundcore Liberty 4, which I have misplaced and still trying to find but I always keep all the eartips of the earbuds I buy to try and then return later because then ill be able to have a wide variety of eartips to try out on different earbuds I buy and some fit but some won't because they are not designed for the style of every earbuds. Please, if you have any suggestions, let me know. Thank you.

[@krisgostynski9018]

Does Sony allow you to return the xm5s? I know Bose has a risk free trial, but didn't think Sony did

[@daraakinsooto7247]

@krisgostynski9018 Yes, I think they have a 30-day free return period, but please check their website to confirm.

[@khalideljamilelalaoui3613]

I wanted to know if you were going to do a test on the Jabra Elite 10.

[@StuWright]

the what lol

[@OrlandoGonzalez-o2d]

Sony earbuds are equivalent to $20 earbuds, bose earbuds are the best earbuds I've ever had. 4.5/5

[@elsebas1978]

Do not forget about Sony being infested by the batter issues. Battery in X4 died out on two pairs that I used to own. Think twice before you buy.

[@joncarr2222]

I had the XM4s and the battery didn’t last 3 years. Replacing with Bose.

[@AndrewUKLondon]

I've still got my xmf3 and they're fine. Maybe you had a duff battery. I haven't tried but it's possible to replace the xmf3 battery. Better still are Shure's bluetooth earhooks. They connect to Shure's mmcx detachable earbuds, which also attach to cables (3.5mm, lightning, usb C). I've had my Shure earbuds for 10 years now (only had the shure earhooks for 2 years). Also means that when Shure produce aptx lossless earhooks I can carry on using my top notch earbuds.

[@jeffreyroberts7438]

Always amazed with these types of reviews, the actual sound quality is always the smallest section. Isn’t that why you buy any type of headphone/earbud?

[@JoeyBeeFit]

Hello everybody! I'm really trying to save you when I'm telling you that the Sony's have just one earbud that dies after less than a year of use! I do believe that Sony probably is the best out of the two models talked about in this video but it is extremely unreasonable that one will die on you while the other one won't in less than one year on top of that!

[@2greenify]

Got the Sony's, they are good. Also have the previous versions, they are fine also. Used them every day in rain, with sports, etc.

[@JoeyBeeFit]

@@2greenify I'm glad your right one hasn't died on you yet. Takes about 6 months. Mine worked great too until they didn't and now I'm looking to buy a new pair unfortunately.

[@2greenify]

@@JoeyBeeFit If it's only 6 month old, you still get them replaced free of charge right?

[@JoeyBeeFit]

@@2greenify yes, I think that under warranty you can but for me I didn't realize that this was an ongoing issue and thought that a firmware update would fix the problem until I found out that this was a major issue with this model. Either way now I need to buy a new one. I reached out to Sony and they're claiming that they'll give me my money back if I jump through hoops in order to get it so I'm currently jumping through those hoops and I ordered a pair of bose in the meantime.

[@2greenify]

@@JoeyBeeFit okay, that's what you meant. I was afraid you lost money on a faulty product. Great to hear this wasn't the case. Sad that you have to go through al those hoops to get your money back though.

[@BedboundME]

I guess it’s hard for a bud to be perfection, passive noise cancelling will make transparency harder.

[@NamirYAH]

The Bose case looks like a Diaper.

[@gpeking01]

Can you do a review on the Noble Audio Fokus Prestige True Wireless IEMs

[@pengsm]

I can hear that noise on the left ear, it's wierd i thought it was just me. Also the Bose after putting it in the case, it's still connected to my phone. I'll have to wait for 5-10 minutes for it to disconnect. I returned the Bose and got the Sony. It's a bummer because i have Bose speakers and their headphones both works well, but their earbuds are horrible. My other Bose quiet comfort earbuds wont even connect, keeps flashing red and white.....

[@malabhargava]

Unrelated, but have the checked out the made in India Sonic Lamb headphones? With a hybrid driver apparently