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ALTERNATIVES
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Scored using Headphones Methodology v1.0
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Products in this category are scored under Frontum Headphones Methodology v1.0: technical specifications plus authentic consumer ratings, with 0% commercial bias.
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Sony MDR X05 Review | 93 Data compared

Avg. price:~£110Form factor:on-earConnectivity:wiredBattery life:N/A hoursActive noise cancellation (ANC):no

Sony MDR X05 Review: Compare 93 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Headphones category and whether it is worth buying.

Sony MDR X05
6.2/10

Overall score

Score
6.2/ 10
✕
What it is
An overall evaluation of the headphones' quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.
When it matters
When you need a quick reference to identify the best headphones on the market.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 51% of models
Score components

80%

5.8

Technical score

20%

8.1

User score

â–²Better than 51% of headphones
7.3

Value for money

Value for money
7.3/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 51% of models
Score components

70%

6.2

Overall score

30%

9.9

Price

â–¼Worse than 51%
5.8

Technical score

Technical score
5.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Headphones category across these key areas: Sound, Calls & Controls, Connectivity, Features, Battery, Design.
When it matters
When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 57% of models
Score components

52%

6.4

Sound

20%

4.4

Features

10%

6.7

Design

8%

4.6

Connectivity

6%

4.0

Battery

4%

6.2

Calls & Controls

â–¼Worse than 57%
8.1

User score

User score
8.1/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 72% of models
Score components

70%

8.9

User ratings

30%

6.4

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
â–²Better than 72%
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Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of pair of headphones Sony MDR X05

Technical score
Technical score
5.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Headphones category across these key areas: Sound, Calls & Controls, Connectivity, Features, Battery, Design.
When it matters
When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 57% of models
Score components:

52%

6.4

Sound

20%

4.4

Features

10%

6.7

Design

8%

4.6

Connectivity

6%

4.0

Battery

4%

6.2

Calls & Controls

5.8
User score
User score
8.1/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 72% of models
Score components

70%

8.9

User ratings

30%

6.4

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
8.1
Popularity
Popularity
6.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you prefer headphones that have already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 56% of models
Popularity:
Sony MDR X05 has a popularity score of 6.4 points, which is higher than that of 56.3% of products in this category.
6.4
Value for money
Value for money
7.3/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 51% of models
Score components:

70%

6.2

Overall score

30%

9.9

Price

7.3
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
no
This pair of headphones does not support active noise cancellation. 27.5% of headphones support active noise cancellation.
Driver type
dynamic
Driver size
40 mm
Market range: <10 mm – >50 mm
This pair of headphones uses a driver size of 40 mm, larger driver size than 28.6% of headphones and equal to 53.3% of headphones.
Number of drivers
1
Market range: <1 – >4
This pair of headphones uses 1 drivers, fewer drivers than 4% of headphones and equal to 96% of headphones.
Lowest frequency
4 Hz
Market range: <5 Hz – >20 Hz
This pair of headphones reaches a lowest frequency of 4 Hz, lower lowest frequency than 97.2% of headphones and equal to 2.1% of headphones.
Show more
Noise-canceling microphone
no
This pair of headphones does not support a noise-canceling microphone. 39% of headphones support noise-canceling microphones.
Can be used as a headset
yes
This pair of headphones is headset-ready, 84.8% is not. 15.2% of headphones can be used as headsets.
Number of microphones
1
Market range: <0 – >4
This pair of headphones has 1 microphones, more microphones than 26.9% of headphones and equal to 50.9% of headphones.
Boom microphone
no
This pair of headphones does not include a boom microphone. 13.5% of headphones have a boom microphone.
Microphone SNR
?
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Connectivity
wired
This pair of headphones supports wired connectivity, less flexible connectivity than 49.2% of headphones and equal to 50.8% of headphones.
Bluetooth version
N/A
Maximum Bluetooth range
N/A
Audio latency
N/A
Multipoint support
no
This pair of headphones does not support multipoint. 30.6% of headphones support multipoint.
Show more
Ambient sound mode
no
This pair of headphones does not offer ambient sound mode. 24.9% of headphones support ambient sound mode.
EQ support
no
This pair of headphones does not support EQ customization. 23.2% of headphones support EQ.
Companion app
no
This pair of headphones does not work with a companion app. 21.6% of headphones support companion apps.
Adjustable ANC levels
N/A
Voice assistant support
yes
This pair of headphones supports voice assistants. 39.2% of headphones support voice assistants.
Show more
Battery life
N/A
Battery life with ANC
N/A
Charging time
N/A
Quick charge
no
This pair of headphones does not support quick charging. 33.1% of headphones support quick charge.
Battery capacity
N/A
Show more
Brand name
Sony
Form factor
on-ear
Weight
235 g
Market range: <14 g – >340 g
This pair of headphones weighs 235 g, heavier than 55.5% of headphones and equal to 0.9% of headphones.
Acoustic design
closed-back
Clamp force
?
Show more

Sony MDR X05 vs the average pair of headphones

246810TotalDesignSoundBatteryConnectivityCalls & ControlsFeatures
  • 14 Hz lower bass extension
    This pair of headphones has a lower lowest frequency than the average pair of headphones (4 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    4 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • Direct 3.5 mm plug
    This pair of headphones includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average pair of headphones does not. 39.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
  • In-line controls
    This pair of headphones includes in-line controls, the average pair of headphones does not. 36.6% of headphones support in-line controls.
  • Foldable design
    This pair of headphones has a foldable design, the average pair of headphones does not. 48.3% of headphones are foldable.
  • 4,000 Hz higher treble extension
    This pair of headphones has a higher highest frequency than the average pair of headphones (24,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20,000 Hz.
    24,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz
  • 24 dB higher max SPL
    This pair of headphones has a higher max SPL than the average pair of headphones (134 dB vs 110 dB). The average headphones reach a max SPL of 110 dB.
    134 dB vs 110 dB
  • 10x higher input power handling
    This pair of headphones has a higher max input power than the average pair of headphones (1,000 mW vs 100 mW). The average headphones handle max input power of 100 mW.
    1,000 mW vs 100 mW
  • 4 mm more spacious earcup height
    This pair of headphones offers more spacious earcup height than the average pair of headphones (64 mm vs 60 mm). The average headphones offer an inner earcup height of 60 mm.
    64 mm vs 60 mm
  • Foldable design
    This pair of headphones has a foldable design, the average pair of headphones does not. 48.3% of headphones are foldable.
  • 4 mm more spacious earcup height
    This pair of headphones offers more spacious earcup height than the average pair of headphones (64 mm vs 60 mm). The average headphones offer an inner earcup height of 60 mm.
    64 mm vs 60 mm
  • 14 Hz lower bass extension
    This pair of headphones has a lower lowest frequency than the average pair of headphones (4 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    4 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • 4,000 Hz higher treble extension
    This pair of headphones has a higher highest frequency than the average pair of headphones (24,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20,000 Hz.
    24,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz
  • 24 dB higher max SPL
    This pair of headphones has a higher max SPL than the average pair of headphones (134 dB vs 110 dB). The average headphones reach a max SPL of 110 dB.
    134 dB vs 110 dB
  • 10x higher input power handling
    This pair of headphones has a higher max input power than the average pair of headphones (1,000 mW vs 100 mW). The average headphones handle max input power of 100 mW.
    1,000 mW vs 100 mW
  • 2 dB/mW higher sensitivity
    This pair of headphones has a higher sensitivity than the average pair of headphones (104 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    104 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • Direct 3.5 mm plug
    This pair of headphones includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average pair of headphones does not. 39.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
  • In-line controls
    This pair of headphones includes in-line controls, the average pair of headphones does not. 36.6% of headphones support in-line controls.
  • Fixed cable
    This pair of headphones has a fixed cable, while the average pair of headphones has a detachable one. 62% of headphones have a detachable cable.
  • No battery indicator
    This pair of headphones does not show battery level clearly, while the average pair of headphones does. 56.3% of headphones have a battery level indicator.
  • 7.8% higher weight
    This pair of headphones is heavier than the average pair of headphones (235 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    235 g vs 218 g
  • Fixed cable
    This pair of headphones has a fixed cable, while the average pair of headphones has a detachable one. 62% of headphones have a detachable cable.
  • 7.8% higher weight
    This pair of headphones is heavier than the average pair of headphones (235 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    235 g vs 218 g
  • No battery indicator
    This pair of headphones does not show battery level clearly, while the average pair of headphones does. 56.3% of headphones have a battery level indicator.

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

9.0
luvhate115
≈ estimated
21/05/2013
Hands-on review · sound, isolation and build tests
Verdict
The Sony MDR-X05 is better than the earlier model, with strong bass and good isolation, though its plastic body scratches easily.
9.0
luvhate115
≈ estimated
21/05/2013
Comparison with Sony XB600 · sound, fit and build tests
Verdict
The Sony MDR-X05 sounds better than the XB600, though it scratches easily out of the box.
Shop video
Overview video
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Third-party reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
Reviews last updated: November 2026 · How we calculate this

What customers like about Sony MDR X05

  • Powerful and deep bass response suitable for genres like hip-hop and electronic music
  • Highly comfortable memory foam ear pads that provide a soft, cushy fit
  • Effective passive noise isolation that blocks out significant ambient noise
  • Stylish and attractive design available in multiple color combinations
  • Dual-folding design makes them compact and portable for travel
  • Excellent value for the price, especially when found on sale

What customers don't like about Sony MDR X05

  • Ears can get hot and sweaty during extended listening sessions due to the ear pad design
  • The headband may feel too tight for some users, potentially causing headaches
  • Non-detachable, double-sided cable can be prone to tangling and occasional static issues
  • Bass can sometimes be perceived as 'bloated' or overpowering for non-bassheads
  • Build quality is primarily plastic, leading to a cheap feel compared to original MSRP
  • Included carrying case is considered bulky and inconvenient by some reviewers

Verdict

The Sony MDR-X05 is a compact on-ear wired headphone featuring 40mm neodymium drivers that deliver a wide frequency response of 4 Hz to 24,000 Hz and a sensitivity of 104 dB/mW. Designed in collaboration with Simon Cowell, it utilizes a Direct-Vibe structure for powerful bass reproduction and passive sound isolation. Key pros include its dual-folding portable design, tangle-free serrated flat cable with in-line Apple-compatible remote/mic, and pressure-relieving memory foam earpads for enhanced comfort. Main cons involve a mostly plastic build that some users find cheap, a tendency for the earpads to trap heat during long sessions, and occasional reports of wire-related static issues.

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