Sony WF-1000XM5 Vs PSB M4U TWM Comparison Review

Every time there’s a new set of true wireless earbuds out, there’s bound to be comparisons to the current leaders on the market. I recently reviewed there M4U TWM from PSB and found them highly enjoyable for the price. It made me want to compare them in depth with the Sony WF-1000XM5. It’s fifty dollars more on discount, but are they that much better than the TWM?

What You Get

Look & Feel

You shouldn’t have a problem finding either of these earbuds comfortable. The XM5 is the bulgiest design of the two, but they should both sit in your ear without fuss. In terms of stylishness, the XM5 has a classier look than the TWM, but both have pretty standard aesthetics.

Design & Functionality

The XM5’s many features and noise-canceling might be the biggest dealbreaker for you regarding your buying decision. You don’t even get ANC with the TWM, as most of its major features are pure sound-based. If you’re looking for a set of true wireless earbuds that you’re going to use for more than just listening to music, I would easily take the XM5. While it’s all the supplementary features that make the XM5 more worthwhile, it’s the actual driver configuration that makes the TWM more interesting as a set of earbuds. They have a dual-planar design that gives the sound more personality compared to almost every other set of true wireless earbuds on the market. Then there are the controls for playback, where both earbuds are completely different from one another. The TWM opts for a physical button while the XM5 sticks to touch sensors. Both have good feedback for what they are, neither featuring long delays or finicky responses.

Bluetooth

Both the TWM and XM5 have stable wireless connections with no instances of dropout. The XM5 has the clearest advantage over the TWM in its support of LDAC, while the TWM only has aptX Adaptive as its most advanced CODEC.

Battery Life

The XM5 and TWM are almost the same in terms of battery life. Both sets of earbuds should last around eight hours off a single charge. Using their charging cases, you should be able to use these earbuds for a few days without needing to charge, and even then they have fast charge times.

Soundstage

If you’re okay with not having spatial audio features, then the TWM will give you a better soundstage. It’s better in terms of depth and accuracy, with a much clearer separation between the left and right channels. The XM5 has good separation too, but compared to the TWM the layers aren’t stacked as elegantly. Both earbuds are linear in their spatial imaging, but the TWM appears more dynamic than the XM5. With spatial audio, the XM5 has its own way of displaying spaciousness, but its use is limited to the apps that support it.

Low End

It’s hard to beat Sony when it comes to bass, but the TWM might win you over with its better balance and realism. If you favor a mid-bass dominant frequency response with considerable impact, then the XM5 will suit your tastes better than the TWM. However, if you’re looking for something more subtle and evenly distributed, the TWM will give you that. You’ll get something more theatrical with the XM5, as its thickness and slam are present and adjustable. The TWM has a more consistent sub-bass reach, and it feels deeper than the XM5.

Mids

While there are certain EQ methods you can use with the XM5, the timbre will never sound as natural as the TWM. PSB’s RoomFeel setting uses warmth and clarity better than the XM5, which is more muddled in comparison. The XM5 isn’t too dull and recessed, especially if you bring them forward with EQ, but most of the time too many elements get relegated to the background of the mix. With te TWM, instruments have better resolution and room to feel more individualized.

Highs

The TWM and XM5 share more similarities in the high frequencies. Both earphones are tuned to be very smooth and digestible without minimizing their presence. You’ll hear more details over the TWM, with more defined ticks and plucks, but the XM5 can get to a similar level with EQ.

Summary

Comparing both the WF-1000XM5 to the M4U TWM, there is a distinct value to each of them. It’s apparent that the TWM makes more of an impression on its sound signature with its dual planar driver configuration and RoomFeel controls, while the XM5 is more concerned with noise-canceling, and has more modern features to be a better companion with your phone. Being only fifty dollars apart, the XM5 and TWM’s differences make sense for what you might prefer to use them for.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 and the PSB M4U TWM are available at Audio46.