If you’ve been itching for a pair of top-tier noise-cancelling headphones but couldn’t pull the trigger because of their price tags, now’s a good time to make the dive. Right now, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is on sale for $198 at Amazon, which is 50% off its original price and the lowest it’s ever been. These headphones regularly top “best of” lists, so that’s a real deal.
The active noise cancellation is the best thing about these headphones, complete with eight microphones and two dedicated processors to hush the world around you as you listen to music, talk on video chat, or keep your mind engaged with audiobooks and podcasts. They’re perfect for commutes and office environments thanks to the Auto NC Optimizer, which adjusts on the fly based on your surroundings.
But these also sound great, justifying their sky-high retail price. With Sony’s Integrated Processor V1, they deliver lots of bass and clear acoustics, with ultra-clean sound for distinguishing voices.
And the battery life is impressive, with a single charge lasting somewhere around 30 hours of use. When it drains down, you can quickly charge back up—a short 3-minute top-up buys you an extra 3 hours of use.
Two notable downsides worth noting. First, these are neither portable nor sweat-resistant, so don’t expect to wear these comfortably while running or doing anything active. Second, the cans don’t fold flat for easy stowing, so don’t get these if space is at a premium. In that case, you’d be better off with pocket-sized ANC earbuds, like the Anker Soundcore P31i earbuds.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are truly premium and offer one of the best active noise cancellation experiences on the market. At $198, half off its original price, it’s a no-brainer if you want a top-tier model.