Beats and Sony are two of the most popular headphone brands on the market, and for good reason. Both offer a wide range of features and options to choose from, making them ideal for a variety of different users.
Here I going to talk about the Beats Solo Pro vs Sony WH-1000xm5. In 2019, When Apple designed the Beats Solo Pro, The goal was to create a great all-around headphone that would appeal to a wide range of users. The Beats Solo Pro, when it came out, was equipped with nearly every feature that you would find on the Airpod Pro and Powerbeats Pro.
On the other hand, the Sony WH-1000xm5 was designed with the intention of being the best noise-canceling headphone on the market just like its predecessors WH-1000xm3 and WH-1000xm4. It comes packed with a ton of features that are designed to give you the best possible listening experience.
So, which one is better? To answer this question, I’ll go over the key features of both headphones and see how they compare to each other.
Price & Value: Beats Solo Pro vs Sony WH-1000XM5
What really matters is how much each of them would cost you. In this case, Sony would deprive a significant amount of money in your wallet with its WH-1000xm5 headphone. These Premium headphones cost £380/ $399/AU$ 649 and are available in two colors: black and silver.
On the other hand, Beats Solo Pro is a lot cheaper. With Beats Solo Pro you would save almost $100/ £100 / AU$200. Beats Solo Pro is available in 6 colors: light blue, dark blue, red, black, gray, and ivory.
So in the department of Price & Value, Beats Solo Pro would be the better headphone.
General Comparison: Beats Solo Pro vs Sony WH-1000XM5
| Beats Solo Pro | Sony WH-1000XM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Around $135/ £114 / AU$193 | Around £380/ $399/ AU$649 |
| Release Date | Oct 2019 | May 2022 |
| Predecessor | Beats Solo3 | Sony WH-1000XM4 |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS | Android; iOS |
| Wireless Charging Case | No | No |
| Chip | Apple H1 Headphone Chip | Sony V1 Chip |
| Battery Life | 22 hours (ANC on), 40 hours (ANC off) | 30 hours (ANC on), 40 hours (ANC off) |
| Water Resistance | No | No |
| Size | 10 x 12 x 10 inches | 8.1 x 6.9 x 1.8 inches |
| Weight | Aprov. 350 Garms | Aprov. 250 Garms |
| Colors | light blue, dark blue, red, black, gray, and ivory. | Platinum silver, Black |
| Special features | Active noise cancellation, transparency mode, Volume EQ, Eartip Seal, Spotify Tap, spatial audio, audio switching, Google Assistant voice activation, Check, Auto Switch | Active noise cancellation, transparency mode, EQ Settings, MyFit, Auto Switch, Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, 360 Reality Audio, Spotify Tap, Google Fast Pair, multipoint technology, optical sensors, Motion-detecting sensors |
Design: Beats Solo Pro vs Sony WH-1000XM5
When compared to the original Solo 3s, the new model features a more refined appearance. Instead of glossy plastics, Beats has gone for matte textures and exposed aluminum with Solo Pro.
The headphones are mostly made of plastic, but they’re more durable and have a stronger build quality than the last model. Also, the cushion surface has improved by 70%, making them more comfortable than ever before for gyms and running.
Furthermore, the Beats Solo Pro includes the configuration of physical control. There are three buttons on the right ear cup: a multifunction button, as well as volume up and down buttons. with the help of a multifunction button, you can answer/end phone calls, play/pause music and activate Siri.
Let’s look at the Sony WH-1000XM5’s design. This time, Sony looks to the industry leaders like Bose’s NC 700 or AirPods Max for inspiration and makes significant modifications to the overall appearance. The first thing you’ll notice is a thinner headband and a stem that protrudes from the ear cup.
The ear pads are also a bit wider as compared to the predecessor and also more memory foam-y is used in the build to make them extremely comfortable. As for the bulk, it’s still there but Sony has managed to keep it in check by making some changes in the internals.
Regarding the controls, the XM5 is no different than the XM4s. You can adjust everything from the noise cancellation settings to track skipping and more using swipes and taps on the right ear cup.
Both headphones have their own unique design language. To summarize, both headphones have great build quality and are comfortable to wear for long hours.
Winner: Tied
Features: Beats Solo Pro vs Sony WH-1000XM5
There are several key features that would help many users to make their decision while comparing Beats Solo Pro vs Sony WH-1000xm5.
1. Noise Cancellation:
When it comes to ANC, Sony uses the QN1 noise cancellation processor with an additional second processor in XM5 which makes it the best noise-canceling headphones. On the Plan, ANC for XM5 is equivalent to that of XM4; however, it excels in places with more background noise, like crowded streets.
One thing you’ll miss with the new WH-1000xm5 is the button on XM5 that allowed toggling between Ambient sound mode and Noise Cancelling mode. With the new model, Sony promises everything will now run smoothly in the background without user input.
However, it’s not the case with Beats, Solo Pro is the first on-ear headphone with ANC from Beats. The company uses two beam-forming mics on each earbud to analyze ambient noise and then creates an opposing signal to cancel it out. The result is effective noise cancellation, but it’s not as good as what you get from Sony.
Just like Sony XM5 you did not control the ANC with Beats Solo Pro, it automatically adjusts the level of noise cancellation to what it thinks is best for your environment.
2. Voice Assistant
Next, we’ll consider the Voice Assistant. In this department, both the headphones are neck to neck as they come with Apple Siri and Google Assistant, Alexa support.
With Beats Solo Pro, you can use “Hey Siri” to do a number of things hands-free. By saying “Hey Siri,” you can ask Siri to play a specific song, album, or genre. You can also ask Siri to read your messages or email, make a phone call, or even search the internet.
On the other hand, with Sony WH-1000xm5, you can use Alexa and Google Assistant to perform a wide range of tasks just like Beats Solo Pro.
3. Bluetooth Connectivity
Beats Solo Pro comes with Bluetooth 5.0 as well as they are powered by Apple H1 Chip which helps to connect with iOS devices more easily. Moreover, the range of Bluetooth is also increased because of the latest chip which is 50 feet.
On the other hand, Sony WH-1000xm5 comes with a more advanced Bluetooth version than the Solo Pro which is 5.2. However, the Bluetooth range that is specified by the company for XM5 is 32 feet.
4. Bluetooth Codecs
Both earbuds feature universal SBC and AAC codecs. However, the Sony earbuds feature the newer LDAC codec while Beats earbuds don’t. This could be a dealbreaker for some audiophiles as the LDAC codec offers a higher bitrate and therefore, better audio quality.
Sound: Beats Solo Pro vs Sony WH-1000XM5
Now it’s time to go deep down and analyze the Beats Solo Pro vs Sony WH-1000xm5 in terms of Sound.
As we know Beats has never compromised in terms of sound quality over the years. They always do their best to ensure that the user gets top-notch sound. Beats Solo Pro is no different, it comes with 40MM drivers that produce an intense bass. Moreover, you can get a balanced sound Profile with a balanced and consistently clear soundstage.
When you listen to Dua Lipa’s album, “Future Nostalgia”, with Beats Solo Pro you can feel each and every beat of the song. The mids and the highs are very well pronounced and you can hear each and every instrument used in the song.
On the other hand, Sony WH-1000XM5s comes with 30MM drivers that produce tighter, more detailed Bass as compared to its Predecesoor 1000XM4s and Beats Solo Pro. Sony uses carbon fiber composite material in the new 30mm Driver unit which helps to improve the rigidity of the driver and also the high-frequency sensitivity of the voice coil.
Mids and Highs are well balanced and you can hear each and every element of the song very easily. When you listen to Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You”, you can feel each and every string used in the song.
Battery Life: Beats Solo Pro vs Sony WH-1000XM5
Battery Life is a department in which many users make their decision whether to buy a product or not.
When it comes to Beats Solo Pro vs Sony WH-1000XM5, the XM5 is the clear winner in the department. It has an advertised battery life of 30 hours with ANC turned on, and 40 hours with ANC turned off.
The Beats Solo Pro, on the other hand, has an advertised battery life of 22 hours with ANC turned on, and 40 hours with ANC turned off.
Moreover, the quick charge feature of the Sony XM5 is also a great advantage. With just 3 minutes of charge, you can get 3 hours of playback, while the Beats Solo Pro takes 10 minutes to charge for 3 hours of playback.
Both headphones Support using USB-C charging cable to charge Headphones, While Sony WH-1000XM5 only takes 3.5 hours to get fully charged, and the Beats Solo Pro takes about 1.5 hours.
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Conclusion
We have reached the end of our Beats Solo Pro vs Sony WH-1000XM5 comparison. Which one of these two-pair headphones is the better choice for you?
In the Department of Features, Sound, and Battery Life, the Sony WH-1000XM5 comes out ahead. These headphones have active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and longer battery life. They also come with a hard carrying case.
The Beats Solo Pro has some features that the Sony WH-1000XM5 has. These include on-ear controls, an integrated microphone, and the “Hey Siri” feature.
FAQs
The Sony WH-1000XM5 has a detachable cable, a neodymium magnet, a noise-canceling microphone, a 3.5mm male connector, and supports USB Type-C.
Yes, the Beats Solo Pro can be folded, which might make it more portable for some users.