Same Sony app
Sony WH-CH730N
- Lighter, at 207 g
- Rated up to 50 hours
Cheaper alternatives to the Sony WH-1000XM5
Three cheaper pairs with longer battery: Sony's own app, plush pads, or the lowest price.
Updated November 5, 2026
Softest pads
Soundcore Space 2
- Memory-foam cushions
- Takes a headphone cable
Lowest price
CMF Headphone Pro
- Rated 50 hours per charge
- Soft pouch in the box
The original
Sony WH-1000XM5
Worth it if: You fly a lot and want deep quiet
- Very strong noise canceling on trains and planes
- Clear calls, praised by reviewers
What buyers love: blocking out noise.
Not worth it if: You stuff headphones into a small bag
Fairly priced
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What are you actually paying extra for with the WH-1000XM5?
What the extra money buys
- Very strong noise canceling on trains and planes
- Clear calls, praised by reviewers
- Light at 250 g and comfy for hours
Worth it if
- You fly a lot and want deep quiet
- You take many calls on the go
Not worth it if
- You stuff headphones into a small bag
- Your ears get hot easily
Good to know
Why each one made the list, and our final recommendation.
Sony WH-CH730N
It won a 2026 What Hi-Fi award, with praise for its calls, once the Clear sound preset was picked. Tom's Guide said it quieted trains and cafés well, while TechRadar heard nearby voices and keyboards get through. It has no headphone socket.
Soundcore Space 2
Its rich, bass-forward sound and solid quiet in traffic earned an Editor's Choice from Tom's Guide. What Hi-Fi found the same sound bland and flat. Expert Reviews praised the comfort but noted warm cups and voices slipping through.
CMF Headphone Pro
TechRadar heard a lively, bass-hungry sound with surprising detail, and an outstanding battery. SoundGuys agreed on battery and quiet, but found the plastic frame creaks and the buttons crowded. The cable works only while it's on.
Final recommendation: The Sony WH-CH730N is the easy swap: same app, lighter, and it folds. Pick the Soundcore Space 2 if comfort on long trips matters most. Take the CMF Headphone Pro if price comes first. Keep the XM5 for the deepest quiet on planes and the clearest calls.
Side by side
Specs from each maker. Price levels come from shop prices we checked recently; tap through for today's price.
| Model | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price level | Affordable | Budget | Budget | Budget |
| Battery, noise canceling on (claimed) | Up to 30 hours | Up to 50 hours | Up to 50 hours | Up to 50 hours |
| Weight | 250 g | 207 g | 264 g | 283 g |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Two devices at once | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Folds / case | Folds flat, carrying case | Folds flat, no case | Folds flat, no hard case | Folds flat, soft pouch |
| Headphone cable | Yes, 3.5 mm | No | Yes, 3.5 mm | Yes, 3.5 mm (powered on) |
| Shop | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
Questions people ask
Is the WH-1000XM5 still worth buying now the XM6 is out?
On a deal, yes. What Hi-Fi still recommends it for its sound, noise canceling, calls and comfort. The XM6 folds up smaller, which the XM5 can't.
Do the XM5 make your ears hot?
Some people find so. Tom's Guide noted the earpads hold heat faster than some rivals. Expert Reviews found the Space 2's cups get warm too.
Which alternative is lightest?
The WH-CH730N, at 207 g, against 250 g for the XM5. The Space 2 and CMF are heavier than the XM5.
Related guides
How we reached this
We compared the Sony WH-1000XM5 with the alternatives most often recommended by independent reviewers, then checked each against the makers' own specs and current prices.
We haven't tested these products ourselves. Our picks weigh independent expert reviews against each maker's published specs and the prices we checked. Opinions are ours; facts link to where they come from. How we choose.
Sources: Sony Electronics (US): WH-1000XM5, What Hi-Fi?: Sony WH-1000XM5 review, Tom's Guide: Sony WH-1000XM5 review, Sony: WH-CH730N product page, What Hi-Fi?: Sony WH-CH730N review, TechRadar: Sony WH-CH730N review, Tom's Guide: Sony WH-CH730N review, Soundcore: Space 2 product page, Tom's Guide: Soundcore Space 2 review, What Hi-Fi?: Soundcore Space 2 review, Expert Reviews: Anker Soundcore Space 2 review, Nothing: CMF Headphone Pro, TechRadar: CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro review, SoundGuys: CMF Headphone Pro review.