The rise of hybrid work has headphones makers tuned into what professionals need to effectively collaborate across endless Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet calls. As remote meetings become the norm, everyone craves audio that‘s glitch-free and free from background noise. Enter two noise-canceling wireless over-ear models aimed at enhancing productivity for the hybrid worker – the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Jabra Evolve2 85.
Sony retails the WH-1000XM5 at $398 while Jabra sells the Evolve2 85 for $499. Though different in design and features, both claim improvements over earlier generations of ANC (active noise cancellation) to hush barking dogs, chatter and other distractions plaguing home offices. Let‘s explore how they compare based on the criteria vital to any headset purchase.
Ergonomics and Portability
Starting with the spec every headphone wears – its physical design – Sony sticks to familiar territory while Jabra gets adventurous.
The WH-1000XM5 refines Sony‘s beloved silhouette with synthetic protein leather padding the headband and oval earcups. Silicon rubber edges ensure a gentle seal for passive noise blocking. Cushiony foam layers make the fit comfy for hour-long meetings or playlists. At just 250 grams the Sonys hardly weigh you down.
Jabra experiments with a more angular look, sandwiching memory foam around each oval earcup. Softer mesh fabric lines the headband underside. Despite larger 40mm drivers versus Sony‘s 30mm, plushing up materials keeps the Jabra cans svelte at 286 grams. Their collapsing hinge design enables the earcups to fold flat, play nice with included desk mount and stuff into an integrated pouch for transport.
Forthose craving understated style, Sony‘s monochrome palette looks appropriately professional on video calls. Jabra offers more flair with options like navy blue and beige to stand out from others‘ black plastic eggs. Ultimately both score top comfort marks for long hauls at the home office.
Control and Customization
If configuring every aspect of your headset seems vital for concentration, Jabra obliges with multiple ways to tailor these cans. Their free Sound+ mobile app grants adjustable EQ, playlists, ANC levels and more. Physical buttons on the earcup let you manually toggle noise cancellation, answer calls or summon Siri and Alexa. A unique flashing "Busylight" acts as a do-not-disturb sign to prevent interruptions.
Yet Sony proves more intelligent interfaces need not complicate. Intuitive touch gestures on the WH-1000XM5‘s exterior handle playback, volume, calls and ambient sound access. Buffered by a newly developed V1 processor, smarts like Speak-to-Chat make Sony conversational – automatically stopping music when you start speaking so you never miss a beat. Wear detection pauses tunes whenever removing the headset. Adaptive Sound Control tunes ambient levels to locations frequented like the office or gym. Though you‘ll still want Sony‘s mobile app to customize EQ and controls, its thoughtful hands-free tricks ease interaction tremendously.
Listening Experience
Both models promise an aural respite from your open office or crowded household during calls and music playback. Each packs large drivers – 30mm for Sony, 40mm on the Jabra – complemented by built-in amplifiers pushing the acoustic hardware to its limit. Regulation of loudness and distortion ensures concerts don‘t sound blown out at higher volumes.
Digging into the specs where execution differs, Sony‘s drivers have the wider frequency response range at 4 Hz to 40 kHz compared to Jabra‘s 20 Hz – 20 kHz reach. What‘s that mean in musical terms? Deeper sub-bass thump for genres like EDM or more sparkly detail in symbols and vocals with jazz or classical tracks. Reviewers praise the WHO-1000XM5‘s spacious soundstage giving the impression of listening in a concert hall versus closed headphones. An upscaling chip makes compressed streams from Spotify or YouTube more full-bodied. High resolution LDAC Bluetooth streaming sounds incredible. Overall the Sony cans edge out Jabra‘s still excellent audio chops when scrutinizing.
Noise Be Gone!
Any hybrid pro will tell you unreliable noise cancellation makes or breaks their remote workday. Here both contenders incorporate mics and processors specifically to silence nearby annoyance whether it‘s cars honking, chatter, construction or more. But with twice as many microphones (8 to Jabra‘s 4) paired with a new dedicated V1 sound chip, Sony gives its algorithm the upper hand at adaptive suppression without compromising music quality.
Tests measuring decibels of reduction show Sony leading in most frequencies. Its "Auto NC Optimizer" tailors cancellation response to individual head and ear shapes for better immersion. Where Jabra‘s effective enough for general background hum, Sony exceeds in truly taking you out of the environment so you can focus.
Calling and Connectivity
Good old telephone voice quality still counts with modern headphones expected to juggle cell calls alongside wired or wireless computer connections. Thankfully whether chatting via mobile or VoIP apps, callers praised both the Evolve2 85 and 1000XM5‘s ear-to-ear transmission clarity courtesy of noise reduction and multiple embedded mics. Sony implements a mesh design said to mimic the human auditory structure for more natural voice pickup. Jabra‘s arm-mounted boom mic keeps capture optimal.
For device pairing, the usual Bluetooth 5 standard enables low latency music streaming or video chat absent lip sync issues. Both sets link with two devices so you can conveniently switch between phone and computer audio seamlessly. Battery life lasts around 30 hours on the Sonys with noise cancellation engaged, longer disengaged, while Jabra is rated for 30 hours of talk/tune time as is. They‘ll handle back-to-back-to-back Zooms or playlists through any workday and commute home.
Ecosystem Optimization
Here‘s an area where Jabra differentiates by offering versions of its 85 headset specialized for leading platforms. Collaborators living on Microsoft Teams or Google Meet infrastructure may benefit from the Evolve2 85 variants officially certified by both companies. Expected superior integration with mute controls, microphone performance tweaks and dedicated buttons for native app functions reward those loyal to these environments. Sony doesn‘t segment model variants this way, though its mobile app ties into several popular calling solutions.
For the unified communications power user, Jabra‘s platform pros may prove compelling. But Sony fans can rest assured the 1000XM5 works beautifully with web apps like Zoom or Meet as well.
The Verdict
Two headsets that rank among the most advanced noise-canceling models for work or leisure use meet – and Sony just barely bests Jabra with more effective blocking of external sound and slightly better overall audio production values. However, depending on your must-have features like tight platform integrations, longer battery runtimes or a boom mic, the lighter Evolve2 85 still holds mighty appeal at a lower price. Ultimately you‘ll thrive with top-notch hybrid work audio tools from either brand.
But for the professional seeking one pair with winning comfort, smart controls and leading noise cancellation to rule them all, the Sony WH-1000XM5 makes big – yet nuanced – strides towards audio nirvana.
