Products
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless
Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless
Tested using Methodology v2.1
Updated Mar 09, 2026 05:48 PM
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Tested using Methodology v2.1
Updated Mar 09, 2026 06:07 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
TypeOver-ear
Noise CancellingYes
EnclosureClosed-Back
Bass Amount
Very Emphasized (6 dB)
WirelessYes
Treble Amount
Slightly Emphasized (1 dB)
MicYes
Sound Signature
Warm
TypeOver-ear
Noise CancellingYes
EnclosureClosed-Back
Bass Amount
Emphasized (3 dB)
WirelessYes
Treble Amount
Balanced (0 dB)
MicYes
Sound Signature
Warm
Our Verdict
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless
Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless
If you want top-of-the-line over-ears with a powerful ANC system, go for the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless. However, if you're looking for cheaper over-ears without sacrificing too much customization or performance, try the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless. While both headphones have customizable sound profiles via their companion apps, their ANC can block out more ambient noise, although the Anker headphones are still excellent in this regard. Conversely, the Anker are more comfortable. The manufacturer also advertises them as having a longer continuous battery life, but their build quality is a bit worse.
Variants
- WH-1000XM5 (Black)
- WH-1000XM5 (Midnight Blue)
- Soundcore Space Q45 (Black)
- Soundcore Space Q45 (Blue)
Check Price
Black
WH-1000XM5
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Soundcore Space Q45
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Midnight Blue
WH-1000XM5
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Blue
Soundcore Space Q45
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Amazon.com
Silver
WH-1000XM5
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BestBuy.com
White
Soundcore Space Q45
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Amazon.com
Smoky Pink
WH-1000XM5
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Main Differences for
Sports And Fitness
Sports And Fitness
Threshold
Sports And Fitness
Full Comparison
Sound
Sound Profile
Sound Profile
Normalization Frequency
Bass Amount
Treble Amount
Sound Signature
Frequency Response Consistency
Consistency L
Consistency R
Std. Deviation
Raw Frequency Response
Raw FR L
Raw FR R
Bass Profile: Target Compliance
Bass Profile: Target Compliance
RMS Deviation From Target
Low-Frequency Extension
Low Bass
Mid Bass
High Bass
Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance
Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance
RMS Deviation From Target
Low Mid
Mid-Mid
High Mid
Treble Profile: Target Compliance
Treble Profile: Target Compliance
RMS Deviation From Target
Low Treble
Mid Treble
High Treble
Peaks/Dips
Peaks/Dips Graph
Peaks
Dips
Stereo Mismatch
Frequency Response Mismatch
Phase Response Mismatch
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
Weighted Frequency Response Mismatch
Weighted Phase Mismatch
Cumulative Spectral Decay
CSD
PRTF
PRTF
PRTF Accuracy (RMS Deviation)
PRTF Size (Avg.)
PRTF Distance
Harmonic Distortion
Harmonics Levels
THD Ratio
WHD @ 94 dB SPL
WHD @ 104 dB SPL
Electrical Aspects
Impedance
Sensitivity @1kHz-1V
Bluetooth Max SPL
Virtual Soundstage
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
Speaker Modeling
Room Ambience
Head Tracking
Virtual Surround
Test Settings
Firmware
Power
Connection
Codec
Test Instrument
EQ
ANC
Tip/Pad
Microphone
Design
Style
Design Picture 2
Type
Enclosure
Wireless
Transducer
Comfort
Comfort Picture
Weight
Clamping Force
Controls
Controls Picture
OS Compatibility
Ease Of Use
Feedback
Call/Music Control
Volume Control
Microphone Control
Channel Mixing
Noise Cancelling Control
Talk-Through
Additional Controls
Portability
Portability Picture
L
W
H
Volume
Transmitter Required
Case
Case Picture
Type
L
W
H
Volume
Build Quality
Build Quality Picture
Stability
Stability Picture
Headshots 1
Angled Picture
Side Picture
Headshots 2
Front Picture
Rear Picture
Top
Top Picture
In The Box
In The Box Picture
Isolation
Noise Isolation - Full Range
Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph
Noise Cancelling
Overall Attenuation
Bass
Mid
Treble
Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios
Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph
Airplane Noise Attenuation
Airplane Noise Isolation Audio
Office Noise Attenuation
Office Noise Isolation Audio
Street Noise Attenuation
Street Noise Isolation Audio
Noise Isolation - Voice Handling
Female Voice 1
Male Voice 1
Female Voice 2
Male Voice 2
ANC Wind Handling
ANC Wind Handling Graph
ANC Wind Noise
Leakage
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
In-Line
Boom
Detachable Boom
Mic
Recording Quality
Microphone Frequency Response
Recorded Speech
LFE
FR Std. Dev.
HFE
Weighted THD
Gain
Noise Handling
SpNR
SpNR
Noise Gate
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Continuous Battery Life
Additional Charges
Total Battery Life
Charge Time
Power-Saving Feature
Audio While Charging
Passive Playback
Charging Port
App Support
App Picture
App Name
iOS
Android
macOS
Windows
Equalizer
ANC Control
Mic Control
Room Effects
Playback Control
Button Mapping
Surround Support
Connectivity
Wired Connection
Cable Picture
Analog Audio
USB Audio
Detachable
Length
Connector
Latency - Analog
Latency - USB
Recorded Latency
Recorded Latency Connection
Bluetooth Connection
Bluetooth Version
Multi-Device Pairing
Quick Pair (Android)
Quick Pair (iOS)
Line Of Sight Range
Latency - SBC
Latency - aptX
Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality)
Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)
Latency - LDAC
Recorded Latency
Recorded Latency Codec
AAC Support
Wireless Connection (Dongle)
Line Of Sight Range
Latency - Dongle
Recorded Latency
PC Compatibility
Analog
Wired USB
Non-BT Wireless
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
PS4 Wired USB
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
PS5 Analog
PS5 Wired USB
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Xbox One Wired USB
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
Xbox Series X|S Analog
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
Base/Dock
Type
USB Input
Line In
Line Out
Optical Input
RCA Input
Dock Charging
Power Supply
Check Price
Black
WH-1000XM5
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Soundcore Space Q45
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Midnight Blue
WH-1000XM5
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Blue
Soundcore Space Q45
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Silver
WH-1000XM5
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
White
Soundcore Space Q45
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Smoky Pink
WH-1000XM5
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless
Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless
Comments
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless vs Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless: Main Discussion
What do you think of these products? Let us know below.
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Hi! It’s important to note that comfort is highly subjective and not everyone will have the same experience with each product! As an example, in my own personal experience, I felt quite the opposite from you haha. I can’t wear the XM5 for more than 15 minutes before feeling some pain, and can use the Anker Space Q45s for a full day without any issue!
For testing however, we take into consideration multiple things when evaluating comfort, and the pressure on the top of the head is something that multiple users online seem to have experienced with the XM5 and their new design.
As for the noise handling, are you referring to the Noise Isolation tests? If so, adaptive ANC systems are harder to test for than a non-adaptive ANC system with our current methodology. The results can be due to how fast the ANC can actually react to our testing on both headphones. This is also why we went out and tried to add as many recordings and subjective impressions of the XM5’s performance in the text of the review.
Rest assured, our reviews are based on objective data-driven testing and we don’t accept any incentives for favorable reviews. We also make sure to buy all of the products we test ourselves to eliminate any potential brand influence!
We hope to be able to better test adaptive ANC systems soon, as they’re becoming more of a norm on the flagship models of manufacturers. Stay tuned for a future (maybe not so far future) test bench update! 🙂
How dare you give the Q45 higher comfort rate than the XM5? I had both of them the pain I got from the Q45 is the most pain I have ever had from a headset in my life! and the noise handling come on !! the Q45 is not that good to be equal to XM5! are you paid to do that ?