[Updated] Sony WF-1000XM5 stock eartips fit uncomfortable or painful for some; poor sealing also reported

Here’s the crux of the article in video form:

New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….

Original story (published on August 18, 2023) follows:

User reports suggest that the stock eartips provided with the Sony WF-1000XM5 fit uncomfortable and have poor sealing, ultimately undermining the overall listening experience.

Sony launched its WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds with the promise of superior sound quality, active noise cancelation (ANC), and ergonomic design.

However, battery drain and poor call quality issues have concerned potential buyers

Now a significant number of users have expressed dissatisfaction with the fit of the stock eartips (1,2,3,4,5,6).

Reports indicate that some users find the eartips uncomfortable, with concerns ranging from a feeling of insecurity as if the earphones might fall off to outright discomfort during extended use.

Users have described moments when the earbuds feel precariously perched in their ears, leading to anxiety about potential accidents.

Perhaps even more alarming are reports of severe ear pain and wounds resulting from prolonged use of the Sony WF-1000XM5 with stock eartips.

While ear discomfort is not uncommon with earbuds, the severity of the reported pain raises concerns.

WF-1000XM5 eartips painful. A medium eartip on the left bud and a large on the right bud fit my ears best, but they get too uncomfortable to wear for more than an hour or two.
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The left ear is okay, the right ear doesn’t fit whatsoever – that’s a me problem for sure. But it gets insanely painful after a while and my skin gets irritated and it’s just not a pleasant experience.
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Another concerning trend emerging among WF-1000XM5 users is the poor sealing of the stock eartips. This directly impacts the earbuds’ active noise cancelation (ANC) capabilities.

ANC is a pivotal feature for many consumers, especially those seeking respite from external noise in various environments.

Users have reported that, despite the eartips fitting snugly in their ears, the ANC performance remains subpar.

Eartips aren’t good for me. S fits excellent, but ANC is nonexistent (even though the app tells me the seal is perfect) M has better ANC, but hurts to wear.
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The Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds arrived with high expectations. However, reports of discomfort, pain, and poor sealing associated with the stock eartips have cast a shadow over their performance.

As we know Ear pain can have lasting effects on users’ overall well-being, making it imperative for Sony to address this issue promptly.

WF-1000XM5’s shortcomings in these areas highlight the need for manufacturers to prioritize user feedback and iterate on their designs to deliver products that truly enhance users’ lives without compromising on comfort or performance.

05:28 pm (IST): A user gives the following advice to enhance the Sony WF-1000XM5 stock eartips comfort and sealing:

All i had to do to achieve the best isolation, comfort and ANC was simply turning them clock wise more than usual, now i achieve the best seal and ANC and sound quality.

When i say more than usual i mean in a way that i never ever had to do with other earbuds, when i place the XM5 in my ear i have to turn clock wise until i FEEL the better isolation which is something i never had to do with any other IEM since the isolation would be good as i put them on.
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05:51 pm (IST): A user claimed to have experienced irritation in the ear after using the WF-1000XM5. However, the little copper charging terminals are to be blamed in this scenario.

This means that additional components resulting from the revised design would also be at fault for the fit problems in addition to the eartips themselves.

To try to remedy the problem, several people have offered a suggestion that is similar to the one mentioned in the last update (try to fit them more precisely in their ear).

Thanks guys for your answer, everything makes sense now: The bump hurts because the earbuds were not fitted correctly, which explains some of the loss of the noise cancelling seal. I’ll keep them a bit to see how this will improve my experience !
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Note: There are more such stories in our dedicated Accessories section, so make sure that you follow them as well.

Featured image source: Sony WF-1000XM5.

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