Short answer: the Sony WH-1000XM5, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #191 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.6/5, at $186.12; the Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X ranks #196, rated 2.5/5, and costs $223.38, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 216 over-ear headphones; for better sound, the Sennheiser HD 550 ranks #6 at $199.95.
The case for the Sony WH-1000XM5: It offers active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC and LDAC for high-resolution streaming, a built-in microphone, and about 30 hours of battery life. The catch: Bass sits about 7 dB over target and sub-bass about 6 dB over, with the low mids another 3 dB over, so the sound is bloated and bass-heavy for anyone wanting a balanced presentation.
What the Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X does well: An open-back design with a 53 mm dynamic driver and a light 0.6 lbs (265 g) frame. The tradeoff: A preference score of 49 in crinacle’s measurement shows a response well away from the tuning most listeners prefer.
Buy the Sony WH-1000XM5. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $186.12 | $223.38 |
| Ranked | #191 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #196 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Connection | Wireless and wired | Wired |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | - |
| Harman Preference Score | 50 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 49 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.33 dB standard deviation | 4.07 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.47 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.92 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.3 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 30mm dynamic | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 48 ohms | 38 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW | 100 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (250 g) | 0.6 lbs (265 g) |
| Frequency Response | 4Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | None | - |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sony WH-1000XM5:
- Beats Studio3 Wireless vs Sony WH-1000XM5
- Sony WH-1000XM5 vs AKG K271 MKII
- Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
- AKG K271 MKII vs Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X
- Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X vs Beyerdynamic DT 770 M
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Sony WH-1000XM5: $186.12 Wireless Amazon eBay
Pros: It offers active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC and LDAC for high-resolution streaming, a built-in microphone, and about 30 hours of battery life. At 250 g it is lighter than the other wireless over-ears at its level. Presence and treble are within about 3 dB of target, and the largest deviation in the upper range is a modest 4.6 dB peak near 6.2 kHz, so the top end is relatively smooth.
Cons: Bass sits about 7 dB over target and sub-bass about 6 dB over, with the low mids another 3 dB over, so the sound is bloated and bass-heavy for anyone wanting a balanced presentation. A 3.6 dB dip near 2.3 kHz pulls back vocals slightly, while air above 10 kHz is about 2 dB low. It has no IP rating for water or dust protection. The Beats Studio3 Wireless has a higher rating.
Full Sony WH-1000XM5 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.33 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 30mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 4Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 50 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Impedance | 48 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.47 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (250 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -3.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,448 Hz | +6.9 dB | 2.46 |
| Peak | 173 Hz | -5.6 dB | 0.96 |
| Peak | 3,028 Hz | -5.4 dB | 2.03 |
| Peak | 1,327 Hz | +3.3 dB | 0.58 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +4.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,110 Hz | -2.3 dB | 5.81 |
| Peak | 875 Hz | -1.2 dB | 4.07 |
| Peak | 1,197 Hz | +1.0 dB | 3.28 |
| Peak | 63 Hz | +0.4 dB | 2.13 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X: $223.38 Amazon eBay
Pros: An open-back design with a 53 mm dynamic driver and a light 265 g frame. At 38 ohms and 100 dB/mW it runs at full volume from a phone or laptop without a separate amplifier.
Cons: A preference score of 49 in crinacle’s measurement shows a response well away from the tuning most listeners prefer. The open back leaks sound and blocks no outside noise, so it suits quiet rooms only.
Full Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X review and specifications →
| Released | 2012 (14 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.07 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 49 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 38 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.92 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (265 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.5 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 163 Hz | -4.0 dB | 0.47 |
| Peak | 2,238 Hz | +9.3 dB | 1.11 |
| Peak | 8,192 Hz | +6.1 dB | 2.21 |
| Peak | 1,477 Hz | -7.5 dB | 0.91 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,587 Hz | +2.5 dB | 4.42 |
| Peak | 4,150 Hz | -3.0 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 55 Hz | +1.2 dB | 2.39 |
| Peak | 78 Hz | -1.1 dB | 2.45 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons