- Sony WH-1000XM6 The Best Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones, HD NC Processor QN3, 12 Microphones, Adaptive NC Optimizer, Mastered by Engineers, Studio-Quality, 30-Hour Battery, Midnight Blue

I have a headphone problem, or so my wife says. I’ve owned the Apple AirPods Max, the Sony XM5’s, the Bose QC and QC Ultra the QC 45’s and 35’s both I and II, the Sonos Ace, and the Beats Studio Pro. Going into my XM6 purchase, my favorite are/were the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. I bought the QuietComfort Ultra during Prime Day for an unbelievable $329! I have found that they offer the best combination of comfort, sound and ANC for the price. So, how does the XM6 compare? The ANC is second to none. I augment our central air with a window unit, which sits right behind my head, and I can completely eliminate its sound. But static sounds are pretty easily muffled by most of newer ANC headphones, so how about dynamic sounds like a tv or normal conversation? The XM6 excel there, too. Put simply, they offer the best ANC of any of the aforementioned headphones. They are also pretty comfortable and clamp down relatively tight, though I haven’t found anything to be as comfortable as either the QC or QC Ultra. The XM6 are designed to be over ear headphones, yet my ear doesn’t seem to fit inside the cup like other over ear headphones. This, in my opinion, makes them less-comfortable then they could/should be. However, the memory foam is a nice touch and does help. The sound is well-balanced and pretty good right out of the box, though I had to make use of the ten-band EQ to get them to sound just a tad better than my QC. With my current EQ settings, I would say they offer the clarity of the Apple AirPods Max, but with the bottom end of my Bose QuietComfort. The bass isn’t overpowering, it’s actually pretty accurate (after EQ tinkering). In the final analysis, the XM6 offer the best sound of any of the headphones I mentioned, but not by much. Furthermore, the ANC is superior to everything else I’ve owned, but not by a staggering amount. So, which should you buy? If you’re like me and in search of the best possible sound, and won’t settle for anything less than the best ANC, then get the XM6. If, however, you prioritize comfort and value, and don’t mind making some very minor concessions regarding sound and ANC, then get the Bose QuietComfort or the QC Ultra (wait until you catch them on sale, which is pretty often). I hope that helps. Happy listening! Update: “6/02/2025: Intermittent crackling in left speaker. Had to return them. I have replaced them, though. Update 06/07/25: I received the replacement pair and everything seems great. I neglected to mention in my previous review how great the Sony app is and how customizable the XM6 are. First, you get a ten band EQ, instead of the Bose three bands. Additionally, there are some awesome (optional) features that are missing from Bose. Sony has speak to chat, which mutes your music and puts your headphones in aware mode when you speak. Also, there is an option to accept or reject calls by simply nodding or shaking your head, which is very cool. If you’re into features like that and general customization, then the Sony XM6 are for you. UPDATE 06/17/2025. Started hearing crackling again in the right speaker this time. This time I did a Google search to see if others were having the same problem, and it seems like turning on DSEE Extreme could be the culprit at high volumes. The DSEE Extreme setting is supposed to upscale compressed files. I turned off the setting and no more crackling. I replayed the same part of the same song with and without it engaged, it it’s definitely the DSEE Extreme. Consequently, I’ve turned off that setting and now everything seems fine.

Each new version of the Sony WH1000 series Wireless Noice canceling headphones has improved over the last version and the WH1000-XM6 is no exception. This is their best headphone yet for sure. The sound is much improved and comes very close in quality to the much more expensive headphones I own like the Dali I-O8, the Focal Bathys and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100. The noise canceling is also improved. It still does not block 100% of noise, but no headphones do and it comes closest to that (i saw a test that showed the XM5 blocked 84% and the new XM6 blocks 87% of noise which seems right to me. I love that they listened to their customers and brought back the folding design but did it in an entirely new way rather than fo back to the standard old design. I initially bought the Midnight Blue because of the reported anti-fingerprint coating but was disappointed in it as it still shows off finger smudges (although perhaps not as bad as the previous versions). Due to that I also purchased the Platinum Silver and I love the matte finish on this color which looks so much cleaner and feels more premium, in my opinion. The headphones are comfortable for me with just the right amount of clamping force so that they sit firmly on my head without being uncomfortable. There is a weird sensor on the inside of the ear cups which protrudes out a bit and could be an issue for some although I haven’t had a problem with it. The headband is wider and this adds to comfort level over the previous XM5’s, but not by a large margin. Still, it is better. Also they have added new features which I appreciate such as gestures (nodding up and down to answer a call or side to side to decline a all), voice commands (“headphones turn up the volume, skip this track”, etc. and you can call up your device assistant such as Siri for iPhone by saying “assistant”) and a ten-band equalizer to control the sound as you like it. The case is almost the best part, with the new magnetic enclosure its a snap to open and close. One thing is they added the ability to listen to the headphones while charging, which would be great except the cord provided for charging is so short this isn’t feasible and also there is no USB-C audio which should be a feature as most headphones currently do offer this and is becoming standard issue. I wish they could improve the battery life but 30 hours is fine and certainly serviceable. The other audio modes are mostly useless to me (Background music, Cinema) so i have only tried them once, but I have yet to watch a movie with them so its possible Cinema would work well with that as that is the intention of it after all. I am disappointed they removed the ability to a toggle the Speaker-to-chat on/off by a two-fingered press on the touch pad, now you can only do this in the app. Not sure why they removed it as I found it most handy in the XM5’s. There are enough added and improved features that I feel the increased price is justified and also was inevitable with the Trump tariffs. I think they are worth the cost and have always believed the saying “you get what you pay for”. If out of your price range the XM5 and XM4 are both excellent options for a lower price, but I still recommend the XM6 as the best Sony has to offer!

I had Bose before I got these, and I was ready to buy more Bose until I researched headphones. The WH-1000XM6 are recommended pretty much across the board for wireless headphones, and I understand why now. Songs I thought I knew note for note sound completely new. I hear things in the background that I never knew were there. Music is a totally different experience with these headphones. To a non-expert, they seem perfectly balanced right out of the box-no tinny sounds, no muffled sounds-just crisp and clear and perfect. It also seems to maintain its Bluetooth connection better than my Bose set did. With those, they would randomly lose connection and I would have to restart them to get my connection back. The Sony headphones haven’t done that once, and I didn’t even realize it was an issue with the Bose until I experienced not having the issue. These headphones also have several “modes” for noise cancellation, and I’ve been appreciating that. You can go full cancellation or no cancellation like usual, or you can do in-between modes that dim background noise but still keep it audible, or mix background with music 50/50 like you’re listening to a speaker in the room. One thing I love about the way it cancels noise is I can hear my voice singing but I hear my voice outside of my skull. Nothing irritates me more than hearing my internal vibrations when I’m trying to sing. The controls are touch and haven’t been annoying yet. They don’t activate Willy nilly and I also haven’t had issues activating them. Battery life seems to be great as well- only one charge needed so far. One opportunity is there is no way to use these for console game chat- so you can use it for gaming but you can’t talk through them. They are so amazing in all other ways that I don’t care.

Really nice headphones, sound quality is really good bass included, very comfortable to wear. ANC is absolutely insane for wireless headphones but a hinge squeaks after a month of use and price does not justify for the headphones. Touch controls are extremely annoying and finicky (you will try and raise the volume and it sometimes just skips your media). Would recommend XM4s unless the price is lowered more, as I don’t think these are entirely $450 worth but they are incredibly nice exact quality that was promise and connectivity is very nice! On the silver color headphones, the inside foam layer gets stained from the speakers but it’s only visible with the headphones off. All things considered, very easy to use, durable, and the color is nice.

How do I feel about these? I gave them a 5 star because they do the job well. The ANC is pretty absolute. While I haven't traveled with them yet, so far it blocks out all ambient noise. On a phone call the other day I asked how the reception was. Crystal clear was the response. I have a hesitancy to give 5 star only because of the price. Are they worth it? Maybe if you didn't know other things existed. Prior and still I use Soundcore Q35 which are also ANC and good ones. You can compare the specs from each website and clearly Sonys have more microphones etc. On paper Sony WH 1000 xm6 are superior. I paid $139.00 for the Q35s and they also fold into a smaller size and come with a hard case. Even an airplane adapter and 3.5 line. My only issue is, even with a huge head they didn't fit all that well. Sony's are a bit snugger. That said after long term use my ears sweat. Maybe my imagination as I am in the middle of hell in the summer. The most important thing to me is sound. For this pricepoint I should be blown away. AM I? I'm not so sure. There's a Sony appp that fine tunes the sound and it's nice. It sounds great, but is it better than the Q35s? I don't know. There are guys out there that have already done all the tests between Sony and competitors and they make a better case than me. I'm not an audiophile that needs perfection rather I'm an old guy that wants the best I can afford thats reasonable. I'm pretty sure the Sonys are better than the Q35s but so far not for the price difference.I need to become more immersed in this give a better review. That said, I also have a pair of Oneplus buds 2 pro that sound amazing. These also have spacial and a tuning app. And ANC. At the moment I'd say since I'm retired and don't have endless streams of money and have simpler needs, the equipment I was using is just fine and at a good price. If I was one of those guys that laid awake at night crunching decibel numbers I'd say spend the money, well worth it. So far they're easy to use, easy to set up. Not keen on the swipe controls instead of buttons but it works, i just need to adjust. A little learning curve for old guys like me. I usually watch videos while researching pre-purchase and so setup was a breeze. Battery life seems spot on 30 hours, just like Q35s. There are clearly things I missed or am not using that may enhance the experience, time and experimenting will help me with this review later. So these are 5 star cans, for sure and should be judged on their own merits and not off the price point. Still though if good enough is ok for you, comparing these to others may be like camparing cars. Upgrades cost more but don't get you there are faster.

I've owned every iteration of the 1000X, going back to the first MDR version. There's already so much that's been said; I'll just skip to my personal experience. - Longevity stinks: Every Sony headphone I've owned breaks in the same way, including the M6. In every case, the plastic headband develops a crack, and the Can falls out. On the M6, Sony did reinforce the swivel mechanism connected to the headphone but didn't think to also reinforce the plastic headband. I haven't had a pair of Sony's that lasted more than 18 months. - Comfort: Is lacking. The headband is too narrow and rolls easy. It can become uncomfortable depending on the orientation. - Noise cancelling: Is top notch - best-in-class, perhaps. No issues here. - Sound: I'd give a C+ - there are headphones that sound better for cheaper, e.g., the Sennheiser Momentum 4. That's it.

Well, the headphones work as advertised. The app that's made for them adds a ton of functionality. They truly last a long time. With light use I can go for a few days without having to recharge them. The noise cancellation I bought them for works well. I often don't notice things going on around me when I have the noise cancellation on. I'm not an audiophile but I can appreciate good quality sound, and these do sound good. As a perfectionist I do wish the button actuator underneath the power button was centered. When I power them on and off if feels less like I'm pushing on the button and more like I'm pushing a tiny lever. But, well, not many people are likely to notice that. Also I really appreciate whatever material the ear cushions are made off. It's soft enough that my ears don't get tired, and because it's not woven cloth it doesn't accumulate dirt overtime. Keeping the cushions like new no matter how many times the headphones have been on. I also like the overall feel of them on my head, not too heavy, and they don't squeeze my head too hard either. The length adjustment is also easy enough to adjust while actually staying in place when you're not adjusting it. The touch controls, while some people might not like them just because they're touch controls, I like them because they're well made. Unlike some earbuds I've had, they react to touch exactly as promised.

In everyday life these headphones deliver exactly what most people buy premium ANC can for the noise-cancellation genuinely shuts out plane engines, train rumble, café chatter and city street buzz better than almost everything else you’ll try, so you can focus on music, podcasts, or work calls without distraction, and users consistently say the ANC feels active and deep in real environments rather than just dampening bass noise. Sound quality in real use is strong: bass is controlled and punchy, mids are clear enough for vocals and podcasts, and highs stay clean — though some listeners online call the tuning a bit muddy out of the box, and a quick EQ tweak in Sony’s app often improves clarity. Comfort holds up over long sessions — people have worn them for 8–10-hour train or work days without serious fatigue, and the fit feels light and secure, but shallow earcups can become slightly tight after marathon use. Battery life is genuinely reliable, with 30 + hours reported in real life even with ANC always on, and the fast-charge feature really does add usable juice in minutes. Users also highlight multipoint Bluetooth and intuitive touch controls as practical daily features, and call quality holds up well enough for Zoom/Teams chats. The only common drawbacks in real use are the lack of water/sweat resistance (so avoid them for workouts) and the fact that the app’s feature set can feel overwhelming if you just want simple plug-and-play.