Sony WH-1000XM5: Best Equalizer Settings for YOU + Fine Tuning the EQ (Tutorial)

[@fiddlix]

Great video. This just re-affirms the way I have been tuning my XM5s. The Sony app is definitely the key to unlocking the real potential of this set of headphones. An excellent introductory tutorial. Thank you.

[@NorbReviews]

Agreed on the app! Thanks for your kind words!

[@gt3grievous]

theyre bass still hits hard as xm4s?

[@c0ppertone]

this was an incredibly useful introduction to what these different ranges actually mean in terms of bass/mids/treble, and what modifying them actually does to the sound - thank you!!

[@NorbReviews]

My pleasure! Happy to hear it was useful!

[@pixeus]

Amazing and educational EQ guide! I just got my XM5s and it's been a challenge getting the right fit for me (Other EQ settings people have suggested have given me listening fatigue if I have to describe it). My ears have been pretty well conditioned with Sennheiser's soundscape for years and I feel these settings feel like the closest fit. Thank you and will be using both for ANC on/off!

[@NorbReviews]

Happy to be of service! Thank you for the kind words!

[@sony1968]

A good advice! Based on many years of experience, it is very important to blow your nose at least every half hour to hear the best quality! Seriously, try it and you'll agree!

[@gonefishin1374]

Awesome video! I really needed this to understanding fine tuning my eq for the Sony XM5’s thank you!

[@NorbReviews]

Thank you!

[@robertomartinezreyes7266]

Thank you for the video. I was finally able to set it up in a way that I liked better. Super the video.

[@NorbReviews]

My pleasure!

[@anujkap91]

Please help me understand that as a user what do you think we can do custom eq and it will be similar or better than QC45? Like everyone is saying QC45 is having best sound signature etc but I like XM5s ANC. Your answer might help me deciding

[@reddwarfhead]

The video was super useful for an absolute beginner like me, thank you so much!

[@NorbReviews]

Thank you for the kind words! I’m elated that you found it useful!

[@ranbenyair5890]

very helpful video, I'm a musician and I never understood why I don't get the equlizer right. I thought the high pitch is where the cymbals are but apperntly its in the middle! It makes so much sense to me now that the high pitch are actualy the overtones and higher than the instrumants. Now I know where every instrumant is put. It helped me a lot. Thanks!

[@NorbReviews]

One musician to another, I’m super happy you found this useful!

[@Suphakon4781]

For me : Clear bass : -2 / 400 : 0 / 1k : +3 / 2.5k : +3 / 6.3 : +1 / 16k : +2 I usually use my studio monitor headphones 、This Sony xm5 have too much bass.

[@NorbReviews]

Thanks for sharing!

[@vjs857]

Did you know you can turn sony XM5 into a monitoring headphone with EQ ? The formula is this 400 HZ : 0 1 KHZ : + 3 2.5 KHZ : + 6 6.3 KHZ : + 3 16 KHZ : + 1 Clear Bass : _ 4 I'm doing the adjustment work and took the monitoring headphones and compared them with the XM5 and tried to match the XM5 headphones with it with EQ and the sound was completely equal to a monitoring headphone. This EQ formula may seem boring to some people , but this is the real sound of the studio , and it will be very pleasing to those who want to listen to the song with the same sound as it was recorded in the studio 😉

[@NorbReviews]

This is a FANTASTIC tip! I’ll be testing this out myself tonight! Thanks!

[@vjs857]

@@NorbReviews I hope you like it, this formula is like monitoring headphones with flat sound and soft bass and the details of the singer's voice above Sony XM5 ( Default EQ ) is a bit weak in the midrange and the bass makes it sound muffled , so you have to increase the midrange to make a flat and one-handed sound and turn down the bass a bit

[@vjs857]

@@RaginYak Hifiman xs headphones I used Sony xm5 when it was with wired, in Bluetooth mode, the audio codec of Sony is lower, and when you connect it to a wire, its bandwidth increases. Which is logical because Bluetooth is limited and cannot transmit sound like a wire and has losses

[@NorbReviews]

@MMDV - Tried these and I love the output! Compared them to both my Sony MDR-7605 and Sennheiser HD 380 Pro, and yeah, the sound is definitely in line, although the sound is still warmer on the XM5 than the 7605. And It’s not as detailed as either of those, but both of those are wired sets, so that’s understandable. Still, this is great. Mind if I give this a call out in a future video? Also, do I pronounce your name “em em dee vee”, “two-thousand five-hundred and five”, “twenty-five oh-five”…? (Not sure if the name is an acronym ir Roman numerals.)

[@vjs857]

@@NorbReviews I am really glad that you were satisfied with this test 🙂⚘️ Well, wired headphones provide more details and this is logical But just last week for testing, I took the xm5 headphones with this eq setting, mixed and mastered a song, and the result was still satisfactory, and no one in the studio complained about the song mix. xm5 For those who are amateurs and started studio work,xm5 headphones with this eq formula are excellent for them, because in addition to monitoring, they can also use these headphones for personal work And far better than cheap monitoring headphones And that my profile name is numbers, these numbers are important in my personal life Tell me my name if you want It is not a problem if you don't want to 😊💚🌹

[@angelelenkov5209]

Really helpful. Thank you! I subscribed!

[@NorbReviews]

Thank you! And glad to be of help!

[@Chiefsfan12]

Do you have settings for people that like bass a lot liked

[@NorbReviews]

Just push the bass Deep Bass to 10, but keep the rest here. This way you get all the rumbles while retaining quality.

[@Chiefsfan12]

@@NorbReviewsthis was really good

[@Migou33333]

wow .. thx for that great video ... made me understand how to really get that eq !!!

[@NorbReviews]

Awesome! Happy you found it useful!

[@elshacriesrain]

Great video, I was so lost before seeing it. What is the best setting for listening to Sleep Token. That’s all I need lol

[@NorbReviews]

Thank you for the kind words. I wish I could help, but that I think this gets a bit more in the weeds than I like. BUT… this is where toying around with the EQ comes in: your ears, your rules.

[@Simon-ju6vn]

Can you please tell me Equalizer settings for sony whxb910n for natural sound quality.

[@NorbReviews]

Short answer: you really can’t on these. You can try to get close, but these aren’t really built to get to neutral. That said, it’s something I’ve experimented with, and I do own them. Would it be OK if I took a couple of days to make a video response? I think this might be a good question all around.

[@RachaelKelliFan]

Question! My volume of my headphones seem so much lower than before and it’s at maximum. How do I fix that?

[@NorbReviews]

Could be a lot of things: - what app are you using? Does it have an independent volume bar? - what device are you using to cast? Does it have multiple volume settings? - could the headphones be damaged? Was there sweat or water dropped on them? It’s hard for anyone to say. Sorry about that.

[@totallyunmemorable]

I use my xm-5 to listen to music (w/ noise cancelling engaged) by connecting via a cable to my laptop. I use the laptop's EQ. I have to boost the treble frequencies all the way up, and the bass frequencies nearly all the way down, and I still can only get just 'okay' tone. Is there no way to improve things without going wireless?

[@Luca_Munz]

Unreal help, thank you so much friend 🤝🧡

[@NorbReviews]

My pleasure!

[@arielantebi7476]

I'm a metalhead. I listen to genres like symphonic deathcore, metalcore, death metal... What is the best EQ for that?

[@NorbReviews]

Tough to say, because it’s a matter of taste. To me, as a fan of symphonic rock, I’d start with the settings here then push up the 10k some to open up the sound. You can also use the default EQ option “Bright”, then boost the bass to taste.

[@JoeyB0b]

Link for best equalizer APO settings for when I'm using it wired on my pc?

[@NorbReviews]

Is they’re turned on, same settings, but set them up before connecting them. If they’re turned off, or if you want to tune them on the computer, first make sure the EQ is flat. This part is beyond my scope, but you can start with the general settings here and apply them to your EQ. You can also find a normalized (or compensated) frequency response and use that to tune them at the appropriate frequencies.

[@mikefischl1787]

Does LDAC really make a difference in audio quality over standard Bluetooth connections?

[@NorbReviews]

Yes, it definitely does. I touch on my review of the XM5: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fILIdnt3fqZmfpY But LDAC can be finicky about distance and other signal interference, so keep the headphones close to the device to get the max benefits.

[@dieforyoubabyy]

hey i love hiphop and trap music with great punch of bass what presets should I keep

[@NorbReviews]

Oh, this one is a hard one. Off the bat, I’d just boost the Clear Bass up and keep the rest of the settings I put here, but I would need to experiment here. It also depends on the sound you really like: if you want a warmer sound, you’ll want to boost the lower frequencies and bring down the upper frequencies. (Anything above 1kHz.) Best of luck. I’ll play a bit with these and if I come up with anything good I’ll let you know.

[@dieforyoubabyy]

@@NorbReviews aight man appreciate it

[@jky422]

@@NorbReviews Hello! Have you discovered any improved EQ settings for hip-hop music? I'd like to know if you have any new suggestions!

[@khalidbashir2037]

Nice. I am getting mine this weekend.

[@NorbReviews]

Awesome! I hope this helps you enjoy them even more!

[@ANIPMFMAGIC]

Hey thanks for the video, what do you think is the best EQ settings for general everyday listening?

[@NorbReviews]

The ones in the video are what I recommend: I created these to better align with a more neutral response. In the comments here, someone also put settings for a studio / reference tuning. I would test all these out if I were you, and see which sounds better to your ears. Best of luck!

[@slicedbread5692]

What setting would you recommend for movies?

[@NorbReviews]

This is a really good question. I’ll do a bit of research, but fair warning: I don’t tend to listen to movies with headphones all that often. (When I do this, it’s usually in bed, and it’s usually just shows.) However, here’s how I’d approach this: Most movie modes end up doing a bit of a V curve, which I’m not a fan of: for movies, I want to hear the voices, so I’d recommend maybe using more of a studio setting. (There’s a comment above that has this: 400@0, 1k@3, 2.5k@6, 6.3k@3, 16k@1, Bass@-4, but I’d adjust this to taste.) The later part of this video covers what each of the ranges does, and it should help you tune it for you. One other factor: if you’re using a source that uses the Sony 360 Reality Audio, that will also impact your EQ settings, since that changes the nature of how sound is played for your ears.

[@slicedbread5692]

@@NorbReviews I've been experimenting with it a little bit since I asked you about it. I've been hovering around 400@2, 1k@3, 2.5k@6, 6.3k@4, 16k@3, Bass@+3... I like a little bit of the lower end and the extra bass, because i watch a lot of action and sci-fi movies and it makes it so I really feel the action and more intense scenes instead of just hearing it. You probably already know this, but I found a good way to test movie audio levels is to watch a full trailer of the type of movie you enjoy on whatever EQ setting you want to check out. Then adjust it and rewatch the same trailer again. Trailers usually have dialogue, ambient sounds, music, and action in just a quick 2 minute clip so it's great. When I did it I watched the Endgame trailer and that worked well.

[@hnayman]

Can you make a video about how to raise the sound to the highest sir

[@NorbReviews]

No plans to make a video, but doing this is easy: just go into the EQ and raise all the bands to max. This raises the volume across the board. But please be careful with this, as it could damage your hearing over time if you do it too much.

[@hnayman]

@@NorbReviews its working thanks big mom ❤️

[@hnayman]

@@NorbReviews hello I should ask one question can you look please. When I listen to songs in the headphones, all the sound goes out and too much, how can I prevent it?

[@stuartmclean3834]

Thanks ,your setting really helped and really improved my listening.... but a question.? I also own xm3 sony phones and xm5 were an up grade .. but find volume on xm5 quite a bit lower in all ranges and when tapping for control ,i feel xm3 are louder in all settings ..do you know if this was a sony firmware re grading.

[@NorbReviews]

I’m not sure: I’ve never used the XM3, just the XM4, and they measured the same to me in my rough test. I also tend to listen more on the quiet side. Sorry for not being able to help.

[@miggyyusay]

How would you do this for the last gen XM4s? What EQ settings would you use personally or if someone is looking for a balanced sound?

[@NorbReviews]

Hey Miguel, I’m on a trip right now and don’t have the XM4 with me, so I can’t tell you exactly what I use, but try this: Bass: -1 400: 1 1k: 3 (test either 2 or 4) 2.5k: 3 (or 4) 6.3k: 2 (or 1) 16k: 0 (or 1) Again, I don’t have the XM4 on me, but that’s what would start with after looking at the XM4 frequency response vs the Harman target. Start with those and follow the advice in this later half of the video to tweak them to your preference. (If anything, the later half of this video will teach you how to tune any Sony headphones that use the Headphones app.)

[@mysterywizard3010]

This really helped thank you :)

[@kaseyditlefsen46]

Whats the best EQ for watching movies??

[@NorbReviews]

Honestly, this EQ is pretty much “set it and forget it” for me. But maybe bump up the mids and highs some for increased clarity?

[@anujkap91]

Please help me understand that as a user what do you think we can do custom eq and it will be similar or better than QC45? Like everyone is saying QC45 is having best sound signature etc but I like XM5s ANC. Your answer might help me deciding

[@NorbReviews]

I like both, but when it comes to sound and comfort, the QC45 Is better than the XM5. With EQ, you can make the XM5 sound pretty good, maybe close to the QC45, but not better, especially since Bose also has EQ. I disagree with everyone saying that the QC45 has the best sound signature: that would be the Momentum 3 (IMHO), followed by the XM4 (at least at that price range, because the Focal Bathys exist and are great). If you like the XM5, get the XM5, EQ it, and be happy. I love mine and will recommend it all day long.

[@sony1968]

Sony Best

[@danielc.4824]

Nice video. Thanks!

[@NorbReviews]

Thanks for watching!

[@CosmosParticle]

Thanks for this! Great vid, and really appreciated.

[@NorbReviews]

Glad you liked it!

[@nguyenlong4803]

Hi bro.i usually listen jpop ,ost anime ❤.Can you suggest me some ways eq on my sony wh1000xm4 ?? Thanks you!!

[@NorbReviews]

Hey, Nguyen. I've been slacking on making a video about just that. Thanks for the reminder. Without digging deeper, here's kind of what I'd recommend: Bass - Keep or increase the bass boost. Yes, the Sony already is bass heavy, but this makes it more exciting. (Lower it a couple of notches if you want to get closer to the Harman curve). 400 - Bump up 1 notch 1k - bump up 3 notches. 2.5k - Bump up 3 notches. 6.3k - Bump up 2-3 notches 16k - (this one's for the dolphins) Keep as is, or bring it up if you want a little more sparkle up top. I don't have a specific recommendation yet, but this should get you to a good starting place. Use the instructions I put in the later half of this video to help you fine tune it to your taste. Let me know how that works out!

[@73ND41]

I like the Bright preset.

[@NorbReviews]

Same. It’s one of the few that I like with this.

[@Hanime_Video]

Need an EQ that makes the music louder please help me

[@NorbReviews]

Depends. Easy way: push everything up. It’ll increase the volume by something like 6dB. Hard way: look up the Fletcher Munson equal loudness scale. It’ll tell you what you may need to do to change the EQ sound that it’s *perceived* at a higher volume. Please use this responsibly! Protect your hearing!

[@tiloup102]

Hi! I really love classical music. So can you take a screenshot of your personnal eq setup and leave it in comment? If isn't possible, please let me know the exact parameters. I have difficulty to ajust it with your video so I have to see some model of what I have to do.

[@NorbReviews]

I listen to classical ALL the time. (I even have a subscription to Idagio.) The ones I use are in the video. I find those help with clarity. There’s a comment here also by Soren which has some really great settings that help more with clarity, especially in the mids. Best of luck!

[@tiloup102]

@@NorbReviews yes, thanks! I'm using his settings right now. What about your 400k range?

[@NorbReviews]

@@tiloup102 thats one I sometimes play with, but generally just leave it as it is on the video. Sometimes I push it up so I can hear the string section (especially violins and violas) better, but don’t often feel the need. The big change I often make is the Clear Bass: I will push that up, especially in bass-heavy pieces like the Dragonetti Bass Concerto, or anything with a bombastic amount of tuba, low cello, and double bass (or, if we’re lucky, octobass).

[@tiloup102]

@@NorbReviews thanks! 😀

[@MrSwede001]

THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@NorbReviews]

My pleasure!

[@gerardfraser]

Wow I bought this headset and starting searching youtube because I thought they were crap headphones for $500 Canadian and they are still crap headphones compared to my $10 scull candy or my JBL or cheap Mpows,I am truly shocked at how bad these wh-1000xm5 are for me.Thanks for sharing video I tried your suggestions which were awesome but the headset is being returned and going with my $10 sckull candy for daily driver.

[@NorbReviews]

Yeah, the XM5 are definitely not for everyone. Sorry that you had a bad experience. I made this video because I hate the Sony default tuning on these so much. (And I also enjoy Skullcandy’s stuff.) Have you considered any other models? I’m wondering if you might enjoy the Sennheiser Momentum 4.

[@gerardfraser]

@@NorbReviews Thank you for the reply.I returned the HW1000xm5 and bought the Skullcandy Crusher Evo for the bass and as a PC gamer they are perfect for me.I did really like the video thanks again

[@gassan2126]

Great video

[@NorbReviews]

Thank you!

[@psychicKult]

How do i get the equalizer function for PC use?

[@NorbReviews]

Once you set up the settings on your mobile app, the settings should stay on the headphones on any device. Just ge sure to turn them on when you plug them into your computer with the aux cable.

[@psychicKult]

@@NorbReviews wow thank you! i had no idea. i could not find anyone addressing this issue anywhere--supremely frustrating !

[@NorbReviews]

@@psychicKult you know, it feels like a minor issue, but you’re right, it isn’t. I’ll keep this in mind for future reviews.

[@Gwinter452]

From my understanding, the custom EQ settings only work over Bluetooth. Any wired connection bypasses the internal DAC/chip/processing that's required for the EQ adjustments. I have the XB910n, but can you confirm whether this is true for either the XM4 or XM5? (I connect wired to my phone, and it's a default EQ)

[@starlight3479]

how to turn on Ldac on xm5

[@NorbReviews]

That depends on your casting device (eg, your phone). The device should automatically cast in LDAC (if it can). This isn’t controlled by the XM5. The XM5 is just a receiver.

[@kevinsmith7846]

Click on bluetooth, click on and connect to xm5... hit the cog wheel next to the xm5s in bluetooth, enable LDAC by moving slider over to enabled.... these are the steps for my samsung note 20 ultra.... you can also go into developer settings on your device to change priority from quality, to connecton.... hope this helps!

[@bsewall]

Probably important to note that if you use Sony’s dual connect feature, it disables LDAC. Not a big deal for iPhone users since Apple doesn’t support it. But may be worth exploring on Android.

[@josephitaa]

Wow amazing video you acc fixed my headphones😭

[@NorbReviews]

Glad you found it useful!

[@agoogleuser9025]

What do you think about the features of the Sony app? Should I use 360 Reality Audio? What's the best ambient mode settings?

[@NorbReviews]

1. I like them, but they can be overwhelming. The app design could also improve. 2. I'm usually a fan of this type of sound option for movies and games. I don't like what it does to music, and feel it sacrifices some of the sound quality. 3. That's to taste and depends on the situation. My preferences switch according to the situation.

[@tencapybara7537]

I don’t get it :|

[@vibrations999]

This was indeed really helpful. Thankyou

[@NorbReviews]

Thank you for the kind words!