Sony this week launched the updated version of its premium flagship noise-canceling headphones. If your only interest is how the 400 WH-1000XM5 from Sony stack up against Apple's 549 AirPods Max, be sure to check out our direct comparison. The following is a standalone review of Sony's latest headphones.

Since they launched in August 2020, Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones have been among the best cans on the over-ear noise-canceling market, which is probably why Sony has chosen to keep them in its lineup despite the release of this latest iteration. You can still buy the XM4's for 349, while the XM5's retail for 399. But does paying the extra 50 get you a better listening experience? The short answer is yes, but the performance gains are less than groundbreaking, and any decision to upgrade is likely to be dictated by the overhauled design.