Latest news with #SonyWF-1000XM5
Tom's Guide
7 days ago
- Tom's Guide
I've tested every pair of Sony earbuds — here's the ones I'd buy with my own money
Sony's extensive selection of earbuds starts all the way down at $50, and works its way up to $299 in a range of different earbud options. I've tried every single one in some capacity or other, and after some careful consideration and a lot of chin scratching, I know exactly which pair I'd take to the checkout. Without any further ado, allow me to re-introduce you to the Sony WF-C710N, my pick for the Sony earbuds that you should really buy. Sony's lowest-priced ANC buds are also some of the best around. They outperform options more than double the price, with loads of battery life, a comfortable fit, and excellent noise canceling. The XM5 might be better, but they're not worth nearly triple the price. I'll admit that I'm very lucky — I get to try out some of the most expensive earbuds and headphones on the planet. I love them, I want them, I covet them, yet, I'd never buy them. They're too much, too expensive and too scary. If I'm going to get something that I can happily take on the train, or the bus, or an intercontinental flight, I want something that doesn't cost too much. But, of course, I also want something that sounds good. I still want to use them, after all. The Sony WF-C710N give me close to exactly what I want for something that I'd actually spend money on. They cost $120. That's half the price of the AirPods Pro 2, $180 less than the flagship Sony WF-1000XM5, and $40 less than the LinkBuds Fit. In my eyes, that's the perfect price for something that forever runs the risk of disappearing into a bus seat, falling out of my pocket, or being sat on because the person next to you on the plane didn't look before placing themselves down. If you want the most features, you can opt for the Sony WF-1000XM5. No one would blame you – they're excellent earbuds with loads of stuff going on under the hood to make them that bit more compelling than the rest of the line. But you don't need any of their really fancy features. The package offered by the WF-C710N is a remarkable one for the price, and it solidifies their place at the top of my Sony earbuds buying list. The WF-C710N have everything you could ever need, and the features they do have work very well indeed. Excellent noise canceling to block out that kid at the back of the bus? Check. Great sound so that Benson Boone sounds his Benson Booniest? Also Check. An app so that you can control everything, including a customizable EQ? Check again, we're in "everything you need" territory now. Sure, the constantly shifting and adjusting ANC of more expensive buds is very impressive, and some of the extra fidelity in sound quality is very nice to have. But then it all comes back to price again. The package offered by the WF-C710N is a remarkable one for the price, and it solidifies their place at the top of my Sony earbuds buying list. The Sony WH-1000XM5 last for 8 hours of playback, and their case boosts that up to 24 hours. That's some good battery life. Thanks, Sony, now I can listen to the entirety of Gojira's From Mars to Sirius a grand total of seven times, and then make my way to Unicorn on my eighth listen. The WF-C710N, despite their lower price, last for 8.5 hours on a charge. That means I can now listen to From Mars to Sirius a total of eight times, all the way through. I'm not very good at math, and even I know that's more times. The case is slimmer than both the LinkBuds Fit and the WF-1000XM5, making it easier to slip them into a pocket when I leave the house. The ANC is on par with the LinkBuds Fit, somehow, and the fit is more comfortable thanks to a lack of fitting wings — although the Fit are better for those looking to exercise. OK, so taking my argument to it's logical conclusion that "I want something cheap for the bus that I won't mind breaking or losing", you could easily assume that the even cheaper WF-C510 might be closer to the top of my list. But that's not the crux of my reasoning behind my slightly more expensive choice. The WF-C510 are a great pair of buds. If you're looking to spend a bit less and still get great sound and comfort, they're a solid in-ear option. But I want something that balances a lower price with sound quality and feature set — and, as Anubis places the buds on his scales in the great deserts of the underworld, the heart and features of the WF-C710N measure perfectly against the feather of their price. So. If if I was to spend my actual money on a pair of Sony's earbuds right now, it's not going to be the top of the range kings or the budget heroes — it's the buds that are only middle of the road in terms of price. Because everything else makes them a very tempting in-ear option indeed. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Tom's Guide
11-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Hurry! You've got just hours left to add these Prime Day earbud deals to your basket
Prime Day is very nearly over. As the hours count down until Amazon slams those doors shut and brings prices back up to normal, you've still got a little time to get those last-minute earbuds deals. There are big savings to be had on some of our favorite devices. There's the Bose Ultra Open, which are $229 at Amazon. Then there's the Sony WF-1000XM5 down to $198 at Amazon. There are still plenty of Prime Day earbuds deals live — make sure you don't miss out! The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are a cheaper way to get hold of Bose's excellent noise canceling. They block loads of noise, but also sound pretty good. 8.5 hours of battery life in the buds themselves is better than average, too. This deal brings them down to their lowest ever price. LOWEST PRICE! The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC are a surprisingly excellent pair of earbuds. Their case might be bulky, but the buds themselves are comfortable and pack in great sound and ANC from Bose. This deal brings them under $100 by a significant margin for a new lowest price ever. The Sony WF-1000XM5 probably don't need much explanation. These currently rank as our best ANC earbuds, with excellent sound and immaculate ANC — and this deal makes them a whole lot more affordable. Save $100 for a price that is treacherously close to their lowest ever. Sony's transparent blue buds are a budget hero in our minds. They sound great with plenty of detail and bass, and the ANC is better than anything else at this price. We'd wager you're unlikely to see a price this low outside of deals events — so you'd best snap these up quick while the sale is still on. The Denon PerL Pro often slide under the radar, but they're an excellent pair of earbuds that now don't cost the world. The large plate on the outside gives them great touch controls, and the sound quality is out of this world. This $60 deal saves you a bundle on some epic little earbuds. The Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro are some great little earbuds at a price that doesn't completely drain your wallet. They've got good ANC and solid sound, and the case has a cool little screen on it that gives you a helpful battery life readout. This deal brings them down to their lowest price ever. These open earbuds hang on the outside of your ears and let the sounds of the outside world in so that you don't, like, get hit by a car. They sound much better than I was expecting too, with decent bass response for something so physically far away from your ears. This deal brings them down to their lowest price ever. The Nothing Ear buds are an interesting one. Beyond just sounding good and having decent noise canceling, they're also integrated with ChatGPT. That means you can ask them just about anything at any time, which is pretty cool. This deal brings them under $100 for a solid Prime Day deal. There are plenty more deals to be had this Prime Day — make sure you check out our Prime Day live blog to make sure you're staying on top of all the latest sales and offers.
Tom's Guide
07-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
I spent 24 hours with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds gen 2 — here's what I like and don't
I love the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. They're by far the best noise canceling earbuds you can buy, with by far the best ANC. They're comfortable and packed with features — I never leave them home when I go on any kind of trip. I don't think I could live without the peace and quiet I enjoy with my QC Ultra Earbuds. So you can imagine just how excited I was when Bose announced it was launching a new version of the buds, with improvements across the board to make them even better. Well, I've now got them in my hands (ears), and I'm here to tell you all my discoveries in the 24-hour period that I've been testing. One of the only things really lacking from the charging case before was wireless charging. Unlike the Sony WF-1000XM5 and the Apple AirPods Pro 2, you couldn't drop the first gen onto a wireless charging pad to juice them up. That was (emphasis on was) a shame. It was a shame because that's no longer an issue — the generation 2 version can now be charged up with a wireless charger. It's good! It's great! And crucially, it works. Place it on a pad, and it'll charge up. Nice. It does lead me to something I wish was better though... It's no secret that the battery life of the QuietComfort line of products isn't the best. It's likely because the always-on ANC and transparency modes suckle at the battery like a thirsty newborn, and it's left Bose headphones and earbuds with less battery than the competition. Just like the first generation, the earbuds will only last 6 hours. That's only just enough and pales in comparison to the 8 hours you get on most of the competition. Some kind of battery improvement would have been nice, but alas, no such luck. I knew that the ANC was still going to be excellent. No doubt in mind. Bose has never let me down, and it's unlikely to start now. There's the same great ANC on board the gen 2 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, although there are now some subtle improvements. They still play their signature orchestral swell to listen to the inside of your ear and adjust ANC accordingly, but I've found it's worked slightly better with the new version. Transparency mode has seen some improvements, too, with some AI implementation. My dad sounded clearer in "aware mode" in the new buds than he did in the old model, and the sound of the outside world didn't feel quite as synthetic. Nice. I quite like the way that the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds gen 2 look. They're a chunkier bud than the likes of the WF-1000XM5, but that's not something that bothers me too much. What does bother me is that they look almost entirely identical to the old model. The only thing that keeps them differentiated is the color. For the most eagle-eyed, there are now grilles inside the eartips to stop dirt and grime getting into the audio bits inside, but that's not noticeable when they're in your ears. To be clear, the new white smoke color I've got here is nice. But I would have liked to see some more visual updates. The original QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds were already pretty good for calling people. Voices are crisp and noise isolation is used to make sure there isn't anything getting in the way of hearing your call partner. The call quality in gen 2 has stepped up from what I can tell. There's apparently a new AI-powered noise suppression system, which makes sure that you're easier to hear on the other end of the call. I'll be doing more testing in the next few months, but things are looking pretty good at the moment. Usually, I'd have more to say, even after only 24 hours with the buds — but this time around I simply don't. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds gen 2 are very, very similar pair to the gen 1 buds. They sound the same, and offer the same feature set, too. My verdict at the moment — if you're buying a pair of the QC Ultra buds now, don't. Wait for the Gen 2 to arrive and you'll get the benefits of the few updated features. If you're thinking of upgrading, perhaps hang about and wait for our tech reviewers to finalize our testing. Because at the moment, this feels like a limited update.
Tom's Guide
04-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
I just tested these stunning earbuds — and they Bose and Sony on design and sound
Noble's new Fokus Amadeus earbuds are certainly eye-catching with their red, metal-topped charging case that's meant to echo their namesake's red coat, and the crimson, jewel-like earbuds that are housed within. There's more to these premium buds than their fancy looks, of course. There's some interesting audio gear inside, along with extra features that mean they take the fight to the likes of the Sony WF-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Think ANC that blocks out all the noise, incredible sound and features galore. If you can get hold of a pair. Let's find out more about Noble's latest premium wireless earbuds. Price $320/£279Connectivity Bluetooth 5.4ANC YesBattery 8 hours (ANC on) 12 hours (ANC off) 42 hours (Case)Colors RedCodec support SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, LDACCompatibility iOS, AndroidFrequency response 20Hz – 20kHz As with pretty much everything that Noble makes, it's annoying to get hold of the Amadeus. That's not to say there aren't plenty of places to buy them. If you don't mind avoiding Amazon, there are plenty of outlets that stock the buds and sell them for their MSRP, including Noble itself. That's not the issue — it's that there just aren't all that many of them in the wild. Noble makes stuff in smaller production runs, on account of being a much smaller company than the likes of Sony or Bose. That lends the air of exclusivity to some degree, but it does mean they're generally sold out almost everywhere. They do get restocked, so you're not completely out of luck, but if you've got your heart set on a pair of Noble (anything), you might want to find some way to make stock alerts for the Noble website, or a more niche audio site. Thankfully, you'll be paying a reasonable price to get hold of a pair. They're priced at $320 in the US, making them a mite more expensive than the Sony and Bose options. Buyers in the UK get an excellent deal, however, as they undercut the competition by a few pounds. They cost £279 at most outlets, and you're definitely getting a better pair of buds for the price. Let's get the one problem out of the way first — the carrying case is, for lack of a better term, unwieldy. It's too tall, a little too wide, and features too many edges for it to comfortably pass my 'jeans pocket' test. The choice of crimson that makes up the lid of the charging case is striking, and it contrasts well with the rest of the black chassis If they're going to live in a backpack or a handbag, this isn't going to be that much of an issue, but fellow 'earbuds into my pocket' people might want to think about investing in some cargo pants. Or a fanny pack. With that all dealt with, we can take a closer look at the package itself. And it's a bit good-looking, isn't it? The choice of crimson that makes up the lid of the charging case is striking, and it contrasts well with the rest of the black chassis. I like how the whole thing isn't red; otherwise, the whole thing might become overwhelmingly vermilion. Open that red lid and you'll find the buds within. Just like other Noble earbuds, they're something of a work of art. The touch panels on each bud are covered by a swirling red resin, inlaid with the Noble logo for a jewel-like finish. They shine in the light, and reveal new shades with the changing shadows. They look lovely. There are plenty of small details as well, including the metal Noble inlay inside the eartips. It all adds up to a pair of earbuds that look unlike just about everything else you can buy for a similar price, separating them from the Sony and Bose options. It helps that they're built well, too. The buds themselves are extremely solid-feeling, with few seamlines to give away how they're constructed. The case opens and closes with a satisfying 'snap', and it feels like it will survive anything you might throw at it. Considering they are going to be portable audio companions to take everywhere, the build is excellent. Comfort it is good too, thanks to the multitude of fitting options in the box. There are six different eartips housed in their own little plastic case (another nice touch), including three standard options, and then three double flanged options. My preference is for the medium-sized double flanged buds because they passively block more noise, although your mileage may vary. Just like their more expensive cousins, the Fokus Rex5, the Amadeus are packed with Audiodo personalized audio. I'm generally not a massive fan of personalized audio systems, with small changes that don't make much of a difference when it comes to my ears. Audiodo however, is slightly different — it gives my mismatched ears a better bet when it comes to listening to my music. It's easy enough to initiate. Head into the app, and select the 'Personal EQ' button. From there, you'll be instructed to listen to some beeps and boops that play between your ears, and then you're done. I found the sound afterward not only slightly more detailed but also more spacious overall. It's a good extra, and something I'd like to see implemented on more earbuds and headphones. The app itself is very simple to use and perhaps looks a little dated, but it's otherwise a solid piece of software for controlling your earbuds. There are loads of different options to be found, including a very robust 10-band EQ, which can be manipulated even if you've gone through the Audiodo personalized sound. Beyond the 10 Band EW, there's also something called 'EQ curve', which lets you dial in a warmer or more detailed tone. It's a nice, quick customization feature that doesn't need too much fiddling with to find a sound that works. You can also customize the touch controls built into the buds through the app, update the firmware, check the battery, control music playback, and disconnect the buds from your device. The app is available for both Android and iPhone, although I've found the EQ easier to use on Android devices. Despite costing less, Noble seems to have stepped up the ANC in the Amadeus over the Rex5. There's more passive noise blocking now, although some sound will get in when the music isn't playing or when it's quiet. It's not quite up there with the Bose or Sony ANC, but it does get treacherously close. If you want the best ANC possible from the Amadeus, you should opt for the flanged tips. They're better at creating a passive seal, keeping the sound out much better than the traditional tips. They are slightly more invasive in your ears, however, something you should bear in mind if you're particularly sensitive in the ear area. I found that the noise canceling did a solid job when I took them on the bus, blocking out annoying crying children and noisy teenagers. The noise of the bus melted away, and the rumbling tires were inaudible. When walking around outside, some of the ambient noise made its way in, but they were otherwise very impressive. 'Ambient Mode' is the name for transparency here, and it works fine. It's perhaps a little over-eager, pumping more noise in that I might otherwise like when I'm buying a sandwich from the shop, but it let me hear the clerk to make sure I didn't look completely rude. Every single device from Noble has been the best in class and price when it comes to their sound quality. The Amadeus are no different. Comparing them to their more expensive cousin, the Rex5, you'll find a different sound profile as opposed to one that's better. While the Rex5 are more focused on revealing detail and keeping everything super tight, the Amadeus want to warm everything up and bring some low-end to the table. The lacking low-end was something that many weren't enamored with on the Rex5, so it's nice to see that Noble has brought some of it back to the Amadeus. That's not to say they're in any way not detailed or that they lack resolution — far from it, they're a best of both worlds solution. I'd wager, in fact, that more people are going to enjoy the more laid-back, warmer sound over the more in-your-face, forward sound of the Rex5. I sat down to test the Amadeus with Qobuz, one of the best streaming services. I left the personalized audio on, but I left the EQ settings alone for the most part to gauge their core sound straight out of the box. Watain's Black Flames March brings the tremolo-picked guitars and blistering double kick drum for some devilish fury, and the Amadeus are more than willing to oblige. Each hit of the kick drum is impactful and meaty, but quick to resolve for the next one. The bass guitar lays its impressive groundwork for the rest of the ensemble, but keeps itself tight and controlled. The mids are a highlight too, bringing plenty of fury to the triplets of distorted guitar. The cymbals are bright and airy, but not overly so, while the growled and screamed vocals are clear and precise. There's perhaps a touch more warmth than detail heads might like, but it's a wickedly tempting piece of dangerous, frenzied black metal. Look, they're called the Amadeus, so they have to be tested with some of their namesakes. Mozart's Piano Sonata No.1 I. Allegro is a detailed, endlessly complex piano piece that needs impressive precision to sound its very best. In the 2016 live recording that I used, the dynamics are particularly strong, and the Amadeus kept up impressively. Every change in volume was well represented through the Noble Fokus Amadeus, with the loudest parts packing plenty of oomph while the quieter parts were delicate and precise. The piano itself sounded excellent, ringing out with a beautiful timbre. As the pianists fingers dart across the piano keyboard, the music moves from left to right. Beautifully handled, with no one frequency taking the spotlight too much. Japanese Jazz Fusion heroes bring some much-needed levity to the situation with a funky, multi-layered soundscape with 君と歩こう. The dancing drums pack plenty of impact, while each note of the bass guitar makes itself well known thanks to the low-end weighting of the Amadeus. The guitar line is well-produced and effortless in its toe-tapping rhythm, and well resolved by the buds. The saxophone is clear and bright, while the rest of the ensemble joins in. You get all funk. I didn't suffer any kind of malady while testing out the call quality of the Amadeus, giving my friend a call while sitting in a busy cafe. The microphone quality on my end was perfectly clear, and let my call partner hear everything that I had to say. They came through crisp and clear as well. They're not better for calls than the Sony or the Bose options, but they don't fare badly at all when compared to their established competition. Touch controls! Forever my nemesis. Even when they work well, I don't like them — I'll always prefer the solid, faithful tactility of a button over a touch panel. The touch controls here work well, with multiple taps for different functions. It covers the whole outer panel of the bud, so you'll not have to worry about missing anything. You can customize them in the app as well, so you could have three taps pause the music instead just a single press, or use it to manipulate the volume. If you don't mind touch controls, you'll be well served by the Noble Fokus Amadeus — I simply don't like touch controls. But I live with them, given they're pretty much all we get with in-ears. Bluetooth 5.4 ensures a very modern suite of connectivity, although there's no Auracast or Bluetooth LE. Oh well. We move on. We do get multi-point connection, which is far more useful, and I found it worked about as well as any other implementation I've tested. It's not AirPods good, but it's the next best thing. Switching from laptop to phone and back was easy, and I didn't experience any trip-ups. The Bluetooth connection was very stable as well, surviving the notoriously anti-Bluetooth London underground without kind of dropouts. As for range, I've been able to walk from my office to the other end of the house without any connection hiccups — very solid indeed. Anything above 6 hours is good in my book, and the Amadeus absolutely trash that figure. Their 8 hours of ANC listening is far more than that which you'll find in the Sony and Bose competition, and the 12 hours of ANC off is even better still. 42 hours out of the case means it's good for about 2 and a half charges, and you get 2 hours of use out of a 10-minute quick charge. You'll not be wanting for battery life, that's for sure. As for real-life battery testing, I discovered I lost about 15% of the buds' battery with ANC turned on after about 2 hours of use. That would work out about the same as projected, if not slightly more than Noble has proclaimed on all its spec sheets. The Noble Fokus Amadeus are a better pair of headphones than the Sony and the Bose alternatives. Sure, the others block out marginally more noise and they have wear detect (a feature lacking here), but the Amadeus are far more comfortable, better looking, and more premium feeling for the price than the alternatives. We'd absolutely have a new list topper for the best wireless earbuds on our hands, if only they weren't so thin on the ground and annoying to get hold of. I can wholeheartedly recommend you go out and buy a pair if you're looking for some buds around the $300 price mark, given that these sound so epic and pack in so much battery life. I just wish you could find them.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GoPro's latest 5.3K action camera is $100 off at Amazon
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. SAVE $100: The GoPro Hero13 Black is on sale at Amazon for $329.99, down from the standard price of $429.99. That's a 23% discount. Opens in a new window Credit: GoPro GoPro Hero13 Black $329.99 at Amazon $429.99 Save $100 Get Deal Summer vacation is just around the corner and if you're looking for a way to share the experience with those who can't come along, there's a great deal in store at Amazon. As of May 25, the GoPro Hero13 Black is on sale for $329.99 at Amazon, marked down from the usual price of $429.99. That's a 23% discount that shaves $100 off the list price. Now that we're well into Memorial Day weekend, you're probably thinking about warmer weather and summer vacation. If you love to record your adventures, you'll want to pack along something that's more worthy than just your phone. The GoPro Hero13 Black is the brand's latest model and it offers impressive 5.3K video. That means the footage from your underwater adventures, city wandering, and mountain hike will be crisp and great to share. Sony WF-1000XM5 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Earbuds — $198.00 (List Price $299.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) — $24.99 With Code "4KNEWFTV" Blink Mini 2 Indoor Wireless 1080p Camera (2-Pack) — $37.99 (List Price $69.99) Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm, Sports Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00) Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 256GB Phone With $50 Amazon Gift Card (Pre-Order) — $1,099.99 Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus (2021 Release) — $119.99 (List Price $179.99) Asus ZenWiFi AX6600 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System (2-pack) — $259.99 (List Price $329.99) Aiper Scuba S1 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner (2024 Model) — $529.99 (List Price $699.95) Shark RV2302AE IQ Robot Vacuum With 60 Day Capacity Base — $248.00 (List Price $499.00) A GoPro is a must-have if you upload to YouTube or TikTok and this is the first model to use the Enduro battery, which has 1900mAH capacity. In real-life terms, that gives you over 2.5 hours of recording in 1080p or 1.5 hours in 4K. Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth tested out the GoPro Hero13 Black and said it's "way better than a $400 video camera has any right to be." And thanks to today's sale price at Amazon, that price sinks even lower, to $330. GoPro made some nice upgrades with this model including new HB-series lenses with auto-detect and a new body design. The GPS and data overlay are also major improvements compared to previous models. SEE ALSO: The best live Memorial Day mattress deals in 2025: Shop Nectar, Brooklyn Bedding, Purple, and more In Beck Werth's review of the action camera, he says, "...it shoots professional-quality video footage underwater, on the trail, and in the snow. For creators and pro videographers, the new lens mods, accessories, and ND filters give you even more powerful tools." Before you head out on summer adventures, upgrade to the GoPro Hero13 Black during Amazon's Memorial Day sale. You'll be able to get a model that's packed with functions for just $329.99, saving $100 compared to the usual price.
