Creaking is one of the most common complaints about the Sony WH-1000XM5. Every time you move your head, chew or adjust the band, there's a little creak or click from one side. Sometimes it's harmless. But on the XM5, a creak at the hinge can be the first sign of the crack that leads to the model's best-known failure.
Here's how to tell which kind you've got.
Where is the creak coming from?
Hold the headphones in your hands, not on your head, and flex them gently in different places to find the source.
- The hinge, where the headband meets the arm holding the ear cup. This is the one to take seriously.
- The headband slider, the part you pull to adjust the size.
- The ear pads, where they clip onto the ear cups.
Creaks that are usually harmless
Ear pads not fully seated
If the creak comes from around the edge of an ear cup, an ear pad may have come slightly loose. Press firmly all the way round the pad to reseat it. If it keeps happening, a pad clip may be worn or broken.
The slider
A little noise from the slider as you adjust the band is normal. A light clean with a dry cloth can quieten it.
Creaks that need attention
A creak at the hinge that's getting louder
The XM5 hinge is its weak point. A creak from the joint that gets louder over a few weeks is often a crack starting in the plastic. Look closely at the hinge under a bright light, on both sides, for a hairline crack.
A cup that feels loose
If one ear cup wobbles, swivels too freely, or clicks when you press it, the hinge is likely damaged.
Creaking after a knock
If the creak started after the headphones were dropped or sat on, check the hinge carefully. A small crack spreads with use.
What to do
- Harmless creak: reseat the ear pads, clean the slider, carry on.
- Hinge creak, no visible crack: handle them gently. Take them off with both hands, don't stretch the band more than you need to, and keep an eye on it.
- Visible crack or loose cup: stop wearing them and get the hinge replaced before it lets go. Once the hinge breaks, the cable that runs through it takes the strain, and that can leave you with a dead side.
See Sony XM5 hinge broken for what happens next and how it's fixed.
Will Sony fix a creaking XM5?
Sony's replies to owners who report creaking tend to suggest checking how the headphones are being worn. A creak on its own is unlikely to get a warranty repair. A cracked hinge is often treated as physical damage. If yours are still within warranty, it's worth asking anyway, and reading Sony hinge broken: warranty and your consumer rights.
How a creaking hinge is repaired
If the hinge is cracked, the fix is the same as for a broken one: the bracket is replaced. I fit genuine Sony hinge brackets where available, reclaimed and inspected, check the cable through the hinge, and test everything before posting them back. Replacing it at the creaking stage avoids the risk of cable damage later. See my Sony headphones hinge repair.
Questions people ask
Why do my Sony XM5s creak?
Usually the hinge, the headband slider or an ear pad that isn't fully seated. Find where it's coming from by flexing them gently in your hands.
Is XM5 creaking a sign the hinge will break?
It can be. A creak from the hinge that gets louder over time, especially with a visible hairline crack, often comes before a break.
Can I fix XM5 creaking myself?
Ear pad and slider creaks, yes: reseat the pads and clean the slider. A cracking hinge needs the part replacing.
My recommendation
Find where the creak is coming from. Pads and sliders are easy fixes. A creak from the hinge with a visible crack means it's time to replace the hinge, before the cable inside is damaged.