[Updated] Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones 'poor noise cancelling' & 'static or high pitched sound in right ear' issues surface

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 June 21, 2023) follows:

Sony has long been recognized as a pioneer in the audio industry, consistently producing high-quality headphones that have delighted audiophiles and casual listeners alike.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, the latest addition to the WH-1000X series, have garnered significant attention. It comes with exceptional sound quality, impressive noise-cancelling technology, and a range of smart features.

But it’s not possible for the developers to guarantee a bug-free experience as we have previously witnessed various glitches with other models (1,2).

Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones ‘poor noise cancelling’

And now, some Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones users have expressed concerns about the device’s poor noise-cancelling capabilities (1,2,3,4,5).

I’ve been trying out my WH-1000XM5 for teams calls but I’ve been told that the person on the other end can hear everything the person sitting behind me is saying. Anyone else having this issue? I use them with ambient mode on so I can hear myself speak – does that make any difference?
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I feel like my noise cancellation does not or is not working to it’s full potential. I’ve made sure it’s on in the app. Is there anything I’m missing?
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Reports show that users are utterly dissatisfied with the noise cancellation of the WH-1000XM5, believing it to be much worse than the Sony WH-1000XM4 (1,2).

It seems that the issue is probably due to the ANC (Adaptive Noise Cancelling) feature. Sony’s Adaptive Sound Control on the Headphones Connect app automatically turns on, and enable the Ambient Sound Control setting.

As a result, the impact of noise cancellation could be minimal. One of the affected users shared a similar problem after adjusting the ANC.

Resultantly, users are disappointed as their headphones fail to block out ambient sounds as effectively as anticipated.

High pitched sound in right ear

Additionally, some Sony WH-1000XM5 headphone users are also running into an issue where they hear a static or high-pitched sound in the right ear (1,2,3,4,5).

I’ve been hearing weird noises (popping and like something is rubbing against the ANC microphone) from the headphones. Currently, this is only isolated to the right ear cup. It goes away once I turn off the ANC/AMB. Is anyone else experiencing similar happenings?
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I have a whistling noise in the right ear cuff. How do I fix it? The last two times I sent it in to Sony and got a replacement on them. It’s been a pretty good deal. I took off the ear cuff last night and cleaned the white part a little but it keeps coming back it seems.
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It seems that this issue occurs when users turn on the ANC mode. And surprisingly, it gets better when they disable the mode or the headphones itself.

While this issue may not affect all users, it can be disruptive and impact the overall enjoyment of the headphones.

Unfortunately, Sony hasn’t acknowledged the ‘poor noise cancelling’ issue in WH-1000XM5. They also haven’t commented on the bug where users are hearing strange noises from their right earcup.

Nonetheless, we’ll keep tabs on the latest developments and update this article accordingly.

11:11 am (IST): Reports suggest that the high-pitch noise problem is not limited to Sony WH-1000XM5, as some users have experienced it with their Sony WH-1000XM4 as well.

11:41 am (IST): A YouTuber has suggested a workaround that worked for Sony WH-1000XM4 users. And XM5 users can also try it, but at their own risk.

Moreover, a user got their XM4 replaced even when they were out of warranty. Hence, XM5 users can also try to replace their unit since they are still under warranty.

04:50 pm (IST): A user reports that the static issue has also appeared on the mic, as other people hear static sound during calls.

Note: We have more such stories in our dedicated Sony section so be sure to follow them as well.

Featured and inline image source: Sony

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