So getting this device can be a Rollercoaster at times, especially if you own the previous model. So I decided to speak about this to maybe help others. For starters, this is not going to be some huge redefining jump into the world of Hifi headphones. It’s still Bluetooth and because it is, it’s only so far the ceiling extends before you cut off. And right now the bluetooth world has pretty much reached it. That’s why the focus is call quality and ANC mostly. It’s about extra features mostly that wow people. Things like hear through and play and pause have become the new raves. So with this headphone taking a more stepped back approach on sound quality with smaller drivers ..they are attempting to optimize and get more out of smaller drivers instead of going bigger. But because of this they have less bloom in bass but the bass is more controlled.
They also gave more details to the mids and soundstage, making sounds have more separation and directional bounce inside their sound. This where they become different and better than the xm4. Now, the trick to this is that it’s not something heard right off the start of using the headphones. But as your ears get adapted to it you will start to hear the music open up and present better details in every genre of music. But the question is …is this something you can create on the Xm4’s through adjustments of EQ? Yes, somewhat. Lower the bass and bringing up mids are things you can do with EQ. But instrument separation and soundstage won’t be apart those things. So if this important to you then the xm5 will be a successful upgrade to you. If you don’t care about these things then the xm4 will be pretty much as good to you and therfore will be better off just sticking with those. Outside of that ..you do get better phone quality by miles and better ANC. So on that subject, you will have to determine where you are at on that. Do you make phone calls with your headphones? Are you disappointed in the ANC in the xm4’s? If yes is your answer then again you will find benefits there in the Xm5’s. But $400 is the price for those changes and only you can determine if that’s worth that especially if you see the xm4 for under $300. So decide for yourself. For me, I think the Xm5 are the best Bluetooth device you can buy on any platform right now.
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