From 25 videos by the 23 channels who covered both
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Reception data shown for
4 of 4 topics
Best on noise cancellation — 15 of 16 channels liked it
channel consensus
What the channels assessed about each product.
Separate positive-reception counts. Larger or similar percentages do not establish a preference, a winner or equivalence.
Counted from 23 channels who reviewed both. We have not tested these headphones ourselves — counts describe channels; selected quotations link to located caption passages. 9 of them disclosed a sponsorship, free unit, paid promotion or ad on at least one of their two reviews; each is marked wherever they are quoted. Half of them covered the two within a month of each other, and 15 of 22 within a year.
From 25 videos by the 23 channels who covered both
Reception data shown for
4 of 4 topics
Best on noise cancellation — 15 of 16 channels liked it
From 41 videos by the 23 channels who covered both
Reception data shown for
4 of 4 topics
Best on sound quality — 15 of 17 channels liked it
Every topic at least 8 of the 23 channels discussed on both models. Percentages are the share who rated it positively. Pick one to jump to the evidence.
| Topic | QuietComfort Ultra | Sony WH-1000XM5 | Evidence type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design and build quality | 67% 6 of 9 | 27% 4 of 15 | Reception only |
| Sound quality | 67% 8 of 12 | 88% 15 of 17 | Reception only |
| Comfort and fit | 92% 11 of 12 | 81% 13 of 16 | Reception only |
| Noise cancellation | 94% 15 of 16 | 88% 15 of 17 | Reception only |
Each square is one channel; filled squares rated that topic positively. One channel counts once per topic, so these measure how many channels had a positive net assessment — not how loudly. A topic appears only where at least 8 channels covered it on both models.
QuietComfort Ultra: 6 of 9 channels recorded positive reception. Sony WH-1000XM5: 4 of 15. These are separate product assessments, not direct preference votes.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra6 of 9 channels liked it
Sony WH-1000XM54 of 15 channels liked it
“I do have to give it to the Bose. I think the Bose is probably the most versatile in terms of design, uh maybe not aesthetics, but it is versatile and it handles pretty well.”Booredatwork.com · Jun 2024
“Now the 1000XM5 from Sony on the other hand makes a solid first impression with a fresh and clean design, clear sound, and an even better ANC.”
Audio Zone · 1:46 · Jul 2023 →“The minimalist design is sleek and professional, making them a great choice for the office or travel.”
Pro Product Comparison · 1:32 →“and the build quality is probably my favorite out of the Bose, Beats and these Sony XM5s.”
Steven Foster · 2:25 · Dec 2023 →“I think durability deserves a special mention with the XM5s and they are a bit of a winner in that area, which is a surprise because when you first get these and first get them out the box, they are unnervingly light.”
Mark Ellis ReviewsFree unit from Sony · 4:03 · Aug 2022 →“If you look at the hinge design here, this has been a notorious issue online and I have seen examples of this hinge breaking. To get down to this lightweight, Sony did use quite a lot of plastic, but the hinge here is really the weak point.”
RecordingNOW · 3:50 · Mar 2025 →“These feel really plasticky and really cheap and the design of it is absolutely beautiful. But once you actually hold them in your hands, they feel extremely cheap, they're extremely flexible.”
Nikias Molina · 1:01 · Jun 2022 →“Also, the ear cushion material and headband material like a lot of other headphones in this price range is made out of a fake leather material and it's not as breathable as I'd like.”
6 Months Later · 3:27 · Nov 2022 →“unlike their predecessors, they can't fold. You see, this is the XM3 that you can fold just like this, but the XM5, the new model, doesn't fold.”
AudioTribe · 4:05 →and 13 more with something to say here
“the Bose QC Ultra do feel the most premium here 'cause they have the best feeling leatherettes here, plus they also have those exposed metal headband arms”
GYMCADDY · 2:16 · Jun 2024 →“the ultra is up I would say it's it's the I guess it's Ultra it's like their most high-end headphones that you can get with some new technology in it”
Tech By Leon · 0:22 →“I do have to give it to the Bose. I think the Bose is probably the most versatile in terms of design, uh maybe not aesthetics, but it is versatile and it handles pretty well.”
Booredatwork.com · 6:10 · Jun 2024 →“They fold down, making them easier to toss into a bag, they're very comfortable to wear, and arguably have the best noise cancellation available.”
Kevin The Tech Ninja · 0:44 · Jul 2024 →“the metal hinge here is especially annoying because it's got so much resistance that you'll have to hold the headband like this and pull it out one by one”
Kenneth TanakaPaid promotion disclosed · 4:00 · Aug 2024 →QuietComfort Ultra: 8 of 12 channels recorded positive reception. Sony WH-1000XM5: 15 of 17. These are separate product assessments, not direct preference votes.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra8 of 12 channels liked it
Sony WH-1000XM515 of 17 channels liked it
“From a sound quality standpoint, it is absolutely amazing. Everything is crystal clear. It has both low end and high end which is great to see”9to5Mac · 973k subscribers · Oct 2023
“If you're somebody who I think values sound quality and the ability to tinker with their devices more and really customize their headphones to what they like, then you're probably going to enjoy the benefits of the Sony WH-1000XM6.”
SoundGuys · 11:30 · Oct 2025 →“Sony has their own proprietary sound enhancements as well, and if you're using a Sony source say like the A306 or the ZX707 DAPs, then I'd be hard pressed to find a better portable combo in this price range.”
Moon Audio · 3:22 · Aug 2023 →“The audio quality of the Sony WH-1000XM5 is what truly captivated us. Described as detailed, musical and transparent, these award-winning headphones excel at handling any genre you throw their way.”
Audio Zone · 4:48 →“my first impressions of the XM5s sound quality is really good; the bass was exceptional, but it could sometimes overpower the vocals and make everything sound muffled.”
loveaction alyssa · 5:44 · Feb 2023 →and 12 more with something to say here
“if you want a headphones for loudness, the Sony 1000XM5 is not the one. You can go for the Skullcandy Crusher headphones that have built in fourth base.”
AudioTribe · 8:32 →“the XM5s, the XM4s as well as the XM3s are always some of the worst sounding ANC headphones that I have ever used.”
crinacle · 3:03 · Jun 2025 →“By default, I think the XM5s are a little heavy in the mids and definitely a bit heavy with the bass.”
6 Months Later · 2:05 · Nov 2022 →“The one caveat with the noise canceling, similar to the B&W PX7 S2e headphones, is that the base quantity is increased when the noise cancellation is active”
The Source Audio Video Design Group · 2:25 · Dec 2023 →and 1 more with something to say here
“From a sound quality standpoint, it is absolutely amazing. Everything is crystal clear. It has both low end and high end which is great to see”
9to5Mac · 3:21 · Oct 2023 →“for watching video, the Bose is going to be perfect for things like YouTube or watching a movie on my television”
The French Glow · 3:21 · Oct 2023 →“These are better. If you can get them for the same price, get the Bose.”
SoundGuys · 4:03 · Dec 2023 →“the Ultra on the other hand, I was able to dial in what I consider a very audiophile balance and hyper detailed sound that fixes all of the issues with the stock sound profile”
RecordingNOWPaid promotion disclosed · 9:17 · Apr 2025 →and 5 more with something to say here
“Okay so straight out of the box if you don't do any EQing whatsoever to the Bose quiet Comfort Ultra headphones they sound incredibly middly.”
Mark Ellis ReviewsIncludes a paid ad · 4:18 · Oct 2023 →QuietComfort Ultra: 11 of 12 channels recorded positive reception. Sony WH-1000XM5: 13 of 16. These are separate product assessments, not direct preference votes.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra11 of 12 channels liked it
Sony WH-1000XM513 of 16 channels liked it
“Where Bose really shines is comfort. These headphones are light, and the plush ear cups make them ideal for long flights or hours of uninterrupted listening.”Audio Zone · Oct 2024
“the XM5 just kind of feel like they're resting on top of my head, which makes them an excellent choice for traveling or just anyone that wears their headphones for longer periods of time.”
CEONTHEMAKING · 2:07 · May 2024 →“I still like the XM5, that's still one of my favorites because A, comfortable, didn't have a tough clamp, microphones are like god tier, so I'm happy to save money and go for the XM5”
DHRME · 14:26 · May 2026 →“The combination of ABS sliders, swivelling earcups, and plush memory foam within the headband positions it amongst the most comfortable over-ear headphones in its class.”
Audio Zone · 1:51 →“You pick these up, it's almost like picking up pillows like a just a set of pillows that you're just going to put over your ears for a while.”
New Stuff TV · 6:47 · Aug 2022 →and 12 more with something to say here
“overall the comfort of these headphones for me has actually been a bit of a downside and that's because of the space in each ear cup. It is way less than other sets of headphones”
6 Months Later · 2:53 · Nov 2022 →“the interior of the ear cups is very shallow. So my ears are clearly pressing against the fabric inside of these ear cups and it can feel kind of claustrophobic.”
RecordingNOW · 2:17 · Mar 2025 →“The shape of the headband because it's rounded, it's very uncomfortable, so after two hours of wearing, you'll start to feel pain on your head.”
REC Anything · 13:51 →“because the problem was the head the uh the head cups inside always hit my head hit my ears so I couldn't wear the thing for a very long time”
Almando Gooden · 0:43 · May 2025 →and 2 more with something to say here
“The actual cushion on the headband itself is extremely comfortable and I was going through about four to five hour listening sessions and you kind of completely forget that there's there”
9to5Mac · 0:49 · Oct 2023 →“Where Bose really shines is comfort. These headphones are light, and the plush ear cups make them ideal for long flights or hours of uninterrupted listening.”
Audio Zone · 1:25 · Oct 2024 →“On the Bose I didn't feel it at all. And another thing is that the Bose's ear cups are roomier than the Sony.”
DHRME · 0:23 · Nov 2023 →“The headphones have just the right amount of clamping force so they feel fairly secure without any discomfort. The padding is quite plush and soft and the overall cup size just fits around my ears without pressing.”
Erin LawrenceFree unit from Bose · 2:21 · Nov 2025 →and 7 more with something to say here
“personally the ear cups created more pressure than the QC45s on my ears, making long-term wear slightly uncomfortable”
The French Glow · 5:05 · Oct 2023 →QuietComfort Ultra: 15 of 16 channels recorded positive reception. Sony WH-1000XM5: 15 of 17. These are separate product assessments, not direct preference votes.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra15 of 16 channels liked it
Sony WH-1000XM515 of 17 channels liked it
“Now, the noise cancellation on this is excellent. I didn't notice any hissing and it blocks out a good amount of surrounding noise.”GH Tech Review · 31k subscribers · Jul 2025
“Overall though, the Sony XM5s have been my go to I think just with that combination of sound canceling that doesn't annoy me, a sound profile that to me at least sounds good and I enjoy both for voice and also for music.”
Steven Foster · 5:42 · Dec 2023 →“these headphones in particular are some of my favorites and I know that they are some of the industry leading in noise cancelling. These are none other than the Sony WH-1000XM5s”
Karl Conrad · 0:11 · May 2022 →“If you're after a premium listening experience with incredible sound quality, world-class noise cancellation, and all-day comfort, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is hands down the winner.”
Pro Product Comparison · 3:30 →“The XM5 automatically optimize the noise cancelling based on environmental measurements. On the XM4 you could do that, but you had to use an app.”
Digital Trends · 6:07 · May 2022 →and 16 more with something to say here
No channel said this in words we could verify.
“Bose QuietComfort Ultra is unsurprisingly the choice for those who crave the best noise-cancelling tech on the market and a balanced, all-encompassing audio experience.”
Audio Zone · 5:21 · Oct 2024 →“Now, the noise cancellation on this is excellent. I didn't notice any hissing and it blocks out a good amount of surrounding noise.”
GH Tech Review · 3:16 · Jul 2025 →“Bose built its reputation on noise cancellation and these headphones continue to impress me in that department.”
Oscarmini · 3:18 · Feb 2025 →“It's amazing how good the noise cancellation is and this stuff. Absolutely unreal.”
9to5Mac · 4:25 · Oct 2023 →and 9 more with something to say here
“one of the things I have with noise cancellation though is sometimes I just feel so cocooned into place that I almost feel like suffocated”
GadgetsBoy · 11:53 · Aug 2026 →“despite boasting the best active noise cancellation and the best audio performance from Bose ever, I've decided to return them”
The French Glow · 0:00 · Oct 2023 →“the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones second generation do not do any better and also lets in a lot of background noise”
Weekend Gear Guide · 9:44 · Nov 2025 →Coverage of both products does not mean a channel directly compared every property. Conditions, firmware, fit and test dates can differ. Missing evidence does not establish a tie. These counts summarize separate assessments; a preference requires a supported comparative passage.
All 23 channels covered both models. This limits the coverage panel, but does not establish identical tests or direct preferences. 17 of them published a review of one of these two, shown below. Thumbnails open YouTube.
This is Tech Today, ShortCircuit, Mike O'Brien, CEONTHEMAKING, Mark Ellis Reviews, crinacle, Aaron X Loud and Wireless, SoundGuys, DHRME, GYMCADDY, CNET, Booredatwork.com and 11 more
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