The XM5 is largely more of the same – these headphones offer the same basic feature set as the WH-1000XM4, with just some slight improvements. There are no complaints about that here – the XM4, after all, is one of the best wireless headphones ever made. And the improvements are quite significant.

So there you have it. While not a radical departure, the XM5 is an improvement on what were already the best wireless headphones around. Better sound quality, call quality and improved noise-cancelling, and a better design all make them a compelling buy for anyone with the funds. Because Sony has done away with these joints and hinges, the XM5 doesn't fold into a ball like the XM4. Instead, the headphones fold flat like the Bose Noise Cancelling Heaphones 700. While this makes them a little sleeker, it also makes them feel more delicate – and less premium than the sturdier XM4 – and you are more likely to use the supplied carry case to keep them safe. This is now collapsible to be made thinner but does still take up valuable space in a bag. The WH-1000XM4 were already great-sounding headphones, so it seemed like there wasn't much Sony could improve on. But when listening to the same song, "Stay" by Alessia Cara and Zedd, we were surprised by how the WH-1000XM5 upped the ante. Like the WH-1000XM4, the XM5 supports Multipoint, so can be wirelessly paired to two devices at once. Getting a call? They will know which device it's coming from and automatically connect you to it. And you can switch devices at the touch of a button. Custom colour will give you the ultimate customisation for your Sony WH1000MX4, you can mix and match colours and textures to provide a totally unique headphone design

Improved audio, more effective noise cancellation and smart new features make the Sony WH-1000XM4 the over-ear headphones to beat

The power button triggers pairing mode when held for several seconds from off. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Touch controls make a return from the last generation and remain a shining example of how to implement them successfully. Doubling tapping the outer surface of the right earcup plays or pauses your audio while holding your finger to the touch sensor for two seconds engages your voice assistant of choice. Google Assistant, Alexa and Siri are all supported. The XM4 have some of the best active noise-cancelling technology available, with a level of control that goes beyond most, effectively reducing most droning and low-frequency sound as well as some speech and other more sudden noise, matching the best from Bose. If the headset detects a problem while charging due to the following causes, the charging indicator (red) flashes. In this case, charge once again within the charging temperature range. If the problem persists, consult your nearest Sony dealer.They sound fantastic, have effective noise-cancelling and long battery life. They support multipoint Bluetooth 5 for connecting two devices at once, high-res music with the LDAC format and an instant ambient sound mode for listening for announcements, too. Something about Cara's vocals felt ever more heartfelt in the WH-1000XM5, capturing the desperation of the song's message. The song layered the anthem masterfully, whereas it seemed like the WH-1000XM4 didn't give each of the elements quite as much space. That's not to say the WH-1000XM4 aren't excellent, the WH-1000XM5 just have more confidence. Call quality is average. Note that unlike most rivals, the WF-1000XM4 are often available at a discount on their RRP, so it’s worth shopping around. The Speak-to-Chat function detects when you’re speaking loudly enough and automatically enables an ambient sound mode so you can carry out a conversation. The Headphones Connect app has a full equaliser and options for customising noise-cancelling, controls and activating the DSEE Extreme sound enhancer. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The 'Custom' button has now been relabelled 'NC/Ambient', but remains in the same place. It's likely Sony made this decision based on how people have been using the button.If you've lost the charging case or one earbud, please send the remaining items to one of Sony's Authorised Services Centers, so that a replacement for the missing part can be acquired and reset with the remaining components. Find an Authorised Service Center. The earbuds and the charging case all have pre-set information that allows them to communicate with each other. Only an Authorised Service Center can configure your earbuds' settings to align their firmware versions. All three components (left earbud, right earbud, charging case) must be present during the configuration. Just like the XM4, it supports Sony's hi-res LDAC music codec (but not aptX or aptX HD), DSEE Extreme (which upscales music files in real time), and Sony's 360 Reality Audio tech, giving you virtual surround sound. They are Sony’s first 1000X set to support the popular multipoint connection feature, which means you can have two devices connected at the same time, such as a phone for calls and a laptop for music. It works reliably with a variety of devices. The high-resolution LDAC audio cannot be used when multipoint is enabled, however, restricting connections to the more standard SBC and AAC. The XM4's Adaptive Sound Control also makes a welcome return, with upgrades in tow. Adaptive Sound Control automatically adjusts the sound output depending on your situation – so it will detect if you are in a quiet meadow or a busy city street, for example, and tweak the audio accordingly. This is more advanced than the version found on the XM4, which relies on you running Sony’s NC Optimiser after you have changed surroundings to make sure you are getting the best noise-cancelling possible.