Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
By The Gear Audit Team · Original specification research September 9, 2026; manufacturer-source and buying-advice check September 20, 2026.
Quick answer: decide how wired listening fits your day
Sony WH-1000XM5 Black has passive analog playback when its battery is empty, plus LDAC with a compatible source. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) Black supports USB-C audio while charging and its Immersive Audio modes. Choose by the connection you will actually use; we have not measured ANC, sound, comfort or calls to declare a universal winner.
The supplied cable can carry sound with the headphones off, though ANC needs power.
USB-C audio and power can run together for a computer-based day.
Connections and manufacturer claims
| Decision | Sony WH-1000XM5 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen |
|---|---|---|
| Wired fallback | Detachable analog cable; passive audio with power off | Included 3.5-to-2.5 mm analog cable and USB-C audio |
| Listen while USB charging | Sony says music playback unavailable during charging | Bose documents USB-C playback and charging together |
| Wireless formats | SBC, AAC, LDAC; source must also support LDAC | Bluetooth 5.4; Immersive Audio modes |
| Published runtime | Up to 30 hours ANC on; 40 off | Up to 30 hours Quiet/Aware; 23 with Immersive Audio |
| Published weight | About 8.82 oz/250 g | 0.583 lb/about 264 g |
Separate manufacturer test conditions prevent a measured battery or ANC ranking. Weight does not settle fit, pressure or glasses comfort.
Sony WH-1000XM5 Black: passive analog backup
Best for: Travel where a seatback or other analog source and an empty-battery fallback are real possibilities.
Sony documents passive cable playback with the headphones off, while its wireless ANC and controls need charge. With a cable connected, Bluetooth is unavailable and playback/volume move to the source; phone calls use the source phone’s microphone. Sony also lists LDAC, which requires a compatible source.
Pros
- Unpowered analog audio. A depleted battery need not end listening from a compatible analog source.
- LDAC option. A phone or player that supports it can use this documented codec path.
- Published lower weight. Sony’s about 250 g may favor a weight-sensitive packing decision, while fit remains personal.
Cons and trade-offs
- Charging pauses music. Sony says playback is unavailable while connected to USB power.
- Passive audio is not ANC. Noise cancellation still needs power when the battery is empty.
- Cable changes call and control behavior. Use the source for volume and microphone; check adapters for the actual seatback or phone.
Choose something else if: You want to continue USB listening while plugged into a computer for power, or to use Bose’s Immersive Audio modes.
Our recommendation
Choose Sony for a light-travel routine with meaningful analog backup. It is not a route to uninterrupted playback while charging, so choose Bose when that is the decisive desk requirement.
Sources: Sony specifications, cable use and charging. Recommendation is editorial.
Price listing: Sony WH-1000XM5 — Black.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) Black: powered desk flexibility
Best for: A computer listener who values USB-C audio while charging and changes listening modes by setting.
The second-generation Bose model supports USB-C playback and simultaneous charging; Bose lists 16-bit 44.1/48 kHz USB audio and includes an analog cable. Quiet, Aware and Immersive modes change the routine. The up-to-23-hour Immersive claim is shorter than the up-to-30-hour Quiet/Aware claim, each under Bose’s conditions. Check “2nd Gen” because the earlier Ultra is a different listing.
Pros
- Playback through USB charging. Keep listening at a compatible computer while adding power.
- Selectable listening modes. Quiet, Aware and Immersive settings address different work or entertainment moments.
- Two supplied wired routes. USB-C audio and an analog cable cover different compatible sources.
Cons and trade-offs
- Immersive mode shortens stated runtime. Budget around the mode you actually use rather than the 30-hour headline.
- USB format is specified at 16-bit. Do not choose this as a claimed 24-bit/96 kHz USB route.
- No IP rating. Bose does not assign water protection to this model; choose an appropriate product for wet exercise.
Choose something else if: Empty-battery passive analog audio is the must-have, or your primary listening is wet-weather exercise.
Our recommendation
Choose the exact second-generation Black model for a desk where charge-and-listen is routinely useful. Try its fit and preferred listening mode before treating the specification sheet as a sound-quality verdict.
Sources: Bose second-generation page and guide. Recommendation is editorial.
Price listing: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) — Black.
Which path should decide?
Write down the actual source: an analog aircraft screen, a USB-C work computer, or a wireless phone with optional codec support. Sony is the clearer empty-battery analog answer; Bose is the clearer USB charge-and-listen answer. Compare cable and adapter contents, then assess fit, sound, transparency and noise reduction in a permitted trial. Neither Bluetooth version nor a maker’s battery number proves better ANC.
Our headphone connection guide expands this check across devices and adds an AirPods Max 2 example.
Comparison questions
Can Sony play analog audio when its battery is empty?
Yes, from a compatible analog source with its cable. ANC is unavailable without power, and wired controls move to the source.
Can Bose play over USB-C while charging?
Bose documents simultaneous USB audio and charging for this second-generation model; charging can take longer in use.
Is Bose’s 23-hour figure a contradiction?
No. Bose states up to 23 hours with Immersive Audio, versus up to 30 in Quiet or Aware modes, under its respective conditions.
Amazon prices: Cards show the named US configuration and an eligible current new USD offer when available, with its check time. Unavailable or expired offers use a labelled search link. Confirm the model, included parts and final checkout price. Numerical Amazon ratings are omitted when usable review data is unavailable.
Research method, sources and limitations
We checked exact Sony XM5 and Bose second-generation manufacturer specifications, support guides and official product photos. Product capabilities and battery numbers are manufacturer statements; scenario recommendations are editorial judgments. We did not listen, measure ANC, calls, battery or fit, and no unverified review score is supplied. A Bose first-generation Ultra and Sony XM4/XM6 must not be substituted.
Original specification research: September 9, 2026. Source and buying-advice check: September 20, 2026. Unsupported legacy tests, scores, review totals and prices are omitted.
Primary sources: Sony XM5 specifications, Sony analog guide, Sony charging guide, Bose 2nd Gen page, Bose guide. Read our methodology.
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