Headphones vs Headphones · Sony vs Bose, premium over-ear ANC
Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bose QuietComfort 45
The two flagship noise-cancelling headphones every reviewer ends up comparing. Sony has slightly better sound and slightly better ANC. Bose has the comfort that wins long flights. Picking the wrong one means re-buying in 6 months — here is how to choose first time.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Sony WH-1000XM5 | Bose QC45 |
|---|---|---|
| Noise cancellation | Class-leading; 8-mic adaptive ANC | Excellent; slightly behind Sony on planes/trains |
| Sound signature | Detailed, neutral, customisable via app EQ | Warm, V-shaped, less tuneable |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC only |
| Call quality | 4-mic beamforming + AI noise removal | Solid but no AI; older mic array |
| Battery | 30 hours (ANC on); 3 min fast-charge = 3h | 24 hours (ANC on); 15 min charge = 3h |
| Weight | 250 g | 238 g |
| Folding for travel | No (flat-fold only) — case is large | Yes (folds inward) — compact case |
| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes — 2 devices simultaneously | Yes — 2 devices simultaneously |
| Touch / button controls | Touch (swipe + tap on right cup) | Physical buttons |
| Companion app | Sony Headphones Connect (extensive EQ, ANC modes) | Bose Music (sparse — basic ANC + presets) |
| Price | ~€380 | ~€320 |
Watch before you buy
MKBHD review
Marques Brownlee on the WH-1000XM5 — the nuanced take on sound stage, mic quality and why Sony still leads Bose on ANC for most listeners.
Noise cancellation — Sony wins, but by less than you'd think
Sony's 8-mic adaptive ANC is the current gold standard. It actively re-tunes based on the leakage between your ear cup and your head, so a poor seal (glasses, hair) hurts performance less than on rivals. Where it shows up most is low-frequency drone — the aircraft-engine and air-conditioning band — where Sony is generally reckoned to have the edge over the QC45.
But Bose hasn't been the ANC king for years and the QC45 is still excellent — for the daily commuter and open-office worker, the difference between "great" and "best in class" is academic. The bigger question is whether you'd actually notice that gap day to day.
Sound quality — Sony wins for music, Bose wins for predictability
Sony's signature is detailed and neutral out of the box with LDAC support for hi-res streaming (Tidal, Apple Music lossless). The 10-band EQ in the app means you can tune the sound to whatever you want — bass-heavy for hip-hop, flat for podcasts, vocals-forward for calls.
Bose's sound is "Bose": warm, V-shaped (bass + treble boost, midrange slightly recessed), and consistent. You cannot fundamentally re-shape it. For listeners who don't want to fiddle with EQ and trust the manufacturer's tuning, that's an upside. For audiophiles, it's a constraint.
Call quality — Sony's biggest lead
If you spend >5 hours/week on calls (and you do, reading this), Sony's call quality is the deciding factor. The 4-mic beamforming + AI noise removal isolates your voice from background noise dramatically better than Bose's older mic stack. Café noise, kids in the background, keyboard clatter — Sony filters all of it. Bose remains usable but listeners can tell.
Comfort — Bose wins for long sessions
This is where Bose still holds the crown. The QC45's clamping force is slightly lower (~3.5 N vs Sony's ~4.5 N), the earpads are deeper (your ears don't touch the driver), and the headband distributes weight better. On a 10-hour flight, Bose is genuinely more comfortable. Sony is fine, but you notice it.
Build, durability, and travel
Bose folds. Sony doesn't (it lays flat only). For travel, Bose's case is 30% smaller — fits in a backpack side pocket where Sony needs main compartment space. Sony's build quality is excellent but feels slightly more premium-plasticky; Bose feels more rugged. Both have 1-year warranty (extendable to 2 in the EU).
Who should buy the Sony WH-1000XM5
Music enthusiasts. Heavy callers (working from home, lots of Zoom). Anyone who plays with EQ. Hi-res streaming subscribers (LDAC + Tidal/Apple Music). Younger user (touch controls feel natural). If you spend most of your headphone time at a desk listening to music or on calls, Sony.
Who should buy the Bose QC45
Long-haul travelers (the comfort + folding case + reliable ANC matter more than peak performance). Users who never touched a companion app and never will. Anyone with a 6+ hour daily commute. People who hate touch controls. People who already own AirPods Pro and want a "set and forget" upgrade for flights — Bose feels familiar instantly.
Listen to the verdict
The verdict
Office / WFH / daily music listening? Sony WH-1000XM5. The call quality alone justifies the €60 premium, and the EQ flexibility plus LDAC matter more day-to-day.
Frequent flyer / commuter / "I just want them to work"? Bose QC45. The comfort wins long sessions, the folding case is travel gold, and the simpler control scheme means fewer "I taped my touchpad" frustrations.
If you live in NL and can borrow both for a week from MediaMarkt / Coolblue's return policy — do it. The ANC difference and the comfort gap are subjective enough that 7 days of real use beats any spec comparison.
Want individual deep-dives? Full Sony WH-1000XM5 review · Full Bose QC45 review