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Sony’s 1000X series of headphones have consistently topped our lists as the best headsets on the market, and I’ve been a big fan since the WH-1000XM5 was released in 2022. Now, Sony has unveiled a whole new generation: the Sony WH-1000XM6.

The XM6 headsets offer subtle but welcome improvements in sound quality and design. They still sound great, and feel more solid and durable than the XM5. But where the XM6 really shines is in the significant improvement in active noise cancellation (ANC), which is now on par with the best on the market.

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The downside is the price. The XM6 retails for $2,829.65, which is higher than the XM5 was when it first came out. While the price increase is a little unpleasant, it’s still within a reasonable range compared to competing products from Sonos and Bose.

After multiple rounds of testing, I was impressed by the XM6, which outperformed the XM5 in all aspects. However, the XM5 is still an excellent choice, especially when it is often discounted. Considering the more affordable price, the XM5 still has an advantage in terms of cost performance.

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But if you have enough budget and pursue top-notch sound quality and noise reduction experience, the XM6 is undoubtedly an excellent choice for audio enthusiasts, allowing you to immerse yourself in music and stay away from the hustle and bustle.

Sony WH-1000XM6: Subtle improvements in design and comfort

As soon as I unboxed the WH-1000XM6 (XM6 for short) I was impressed by how solid it felt. My three-year-old XM5s seemed a bit fragile by comparison. The hinge design of the XM6s doesn’t bend or wobble as easily as the XM5s did, which is a useful change.

The XM5’s hinges and the place where the ear cups meet the headband have drawn some durability complaints, and while it’s too early to tell the XM6’s long-term durability, the construction seems pretty solid for a plastic build.

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The headband of XM6 looks similar to XM5, but its width is slightly increased, making it more comfortable to wear and fitting better than XM5. Although the headband of XM5 is already good, the improvement of XM6 is eye-catching.

The headband is not only wider, which improves wearing comfort, but also gradually narrows on the sides, which is cleverly designed to be more fashionable and easier for users to identify the wearing direction. The angle design on the outside of the earmuffs also complements this. Compared with XM5, XM6 supports folding, which is more compact when stored and easy to carry.

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The padding of the earmuffs is soft and the wearing experience is extremely comfortable. Although I didn’t feel sweat on the back of my ears, it still felt a little hot after wearing it for a long time.

The power button on the left ear cup has been changed from a raised design like the ANC button to a recessed round button. The two different shapes of buttons make it easy for users to find the required functions and the operation is more intuitive.

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The XM6 weighs 254 grams, slightly heavier than the XM5, but fortunately the added weight doesn’t make the headphones bulky. Compared with the weight of similar headphones, the XM6 is still within a reasonable range.

Sony WH-1000XM6: Excellent sound quality

If you’re willing to spend more money on a pair of headphones, then top-notch sound quality is a given. The WH-1000XM6 definitely meets this requirement. Under the default sound settings, the XM6’s bass is thick, full, and powerful, especially in tracks with strong rhythms. The mid-range performance is also clear, and the vocals are delicate and present. No matter what style of music you listen to, the XM6 can bring satisfactory sound quality.

However, the most common question is: how does the XM6 compare to the previous generation XM5? Sony said that the XM6 was designed in collaboration with mixing engineers to specifically optimize the sound quality. In actual listening, the XM6 does bring clearer details and layering, but these improvements are very subtle.

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Even when I switched back and forth between the XM5 and XM6, testing with lossless audio content, I had a hard time hearing a noticeable, substantive difference. The XM5s already sounded excellent, so the tweaks to the XM6s are appreciated, but not a compelling reason to upgrade if sound quality is your primary concern.

XM6 supports Bluetooth 5.3 wireless transmission, and can also use LE Audio if the device is compatible. It supports multiple codecs such as LDAC, SBC, AAC and LC3, and has multi-point Bluetooth function, which can connect to multiple devices at the same time. In addition, the headset comes with a 3.5mm audio cable.

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Like many Sony headphones, the XM6 supports Hi-Res Audio high-resolution audio playback and is equipped with Sony’s 360 Reality Audio technology to provide spatial sound effects that simulate surround sound.

Sony WH-1000XM6: Top-notch active noise reduction performance

Many headphones sound great, but only a handful excel at isolating outside noise. Powerful active noise cancellation (ANC) is the hallmark of high-end headphones. In this regard, the Sony WH-1000XM6 is top-notch, with excellent noise cancellation that quickly blocks out outside interference and delivers an immersive experience.

Sony WH-1000XM6’s excellent noise reduction is due to the new QN3 processor. Sony says this processor is seven times faster than the chip used in XM5 and earlier models. Thanks to the stronger computing power, XM6 has added four microphones to support smarter adaptive noise reduction technology, which can monitor ambient noise in real time and dynamically adjust the blocked frequency.

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The actual effect is amazing. Although the noise reduction performance of the previous generation WH-1000XM5 is already quite good, compared with the XM6, the new headphones are even better.

For a more comprehensive evaluation, I also compared the XM6 with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, which has long been regarded as the benchmark for noise-canceling headphones. The test scenes included the roar of the subway, the noise of the vacuum cleaner, and the murmur of the street. In certain specific scenes, one headphone may perform slightly better, but overall, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra is slightly ahead of the XM6 in noise reduction. However, the difference between the two is minimal and it is difficult to tell them apart.

Even though Bose has a slight advantage in overall noise reduction, XM6 still performs well in blocking out various interfering noises. In addition, XM6’s “ambient sound mode” allows external sounds to flow in naturally through the microphone, making it convenient to talk with others, which is extremely practical.

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In addition to noise reduction and ambient sound mode, the XM6’s microphone also performs well in voice calls. Compared with the XM5’s four microphones, the XM6 is equipped with six microphones and uses new AI beamforming technology to improve call quality. In actual use, the call quality of the XM6 is still very good, better than other earbuds and head-mounted headphones I have tested.

I recorded an audio clip to experience the effect for myself. In quiet environments, the voice sounded natural and clear; in noisy scenes, the earphones effectively filtered out background noise and highlighted my voice. Even when making calls in public, the XM6s were competent.

Sony WH-1000XM6: Robust battery life and impressive storage box upgrade

While Sony’s many improvements to the WH-1000XM6 headphones themselves are satisfying, the design upgrade that surprised me the most was actually the included storage box.

The new storage box is smaller than the previous one, and the zipper design is replaced by a magnetic closure. This change is very practical, not only avoiding the problem of jamming, but also locking firmly to ensure safety. The storage box may seem like just an accessory, but for users who travel frequently, its appearance significantly affects the overall experience of the product.

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The storage box also has a dedicated compartment for storing the USB-C charging cable of the headphones, which is a thoughtful detail. Sony said that the battery life of XM6 is the same as the previous generation, 30 hours with active noise reduction (ANC) turned on, and longer with ANC turned off. In actual use, consistent with the official data, the power consumption rate of XM6 and XM5 is similar, and the battery life performance is reliable.

Sony WH-1000XM6: Are they worth buying?

There is no doubt that the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are excellent. If you want a headphone with top-notch active noise cancellation (ANC), excellent sound quality and call quality, the Sony WH-1000XM6 is definitely the first choice.

Like its predecessor, the XM5, the XM6 is an excellent all-around headset that ticks all the boxes. It’s rare to find a headset that delivers on the same level of quality in terms of sound quality, noise cancellation, and call quality as the XM6.

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If you are looking for the ultimate design and significantly improved noise reduction, and have a sufficient budget, XM6 will be an ideal choice for audio enthusiasts.

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