Sony’s newest Bluetooth headphones aim to reclaim the title for the best noise cancellation available, featuring both internal and external enhancements.
The Sony 1000X series has consistently offered exceptional noise cancellation, competing closely with Bose for the top spot.
The WH-1000XM6 succeeds the outgoing XM5 model, priced at £399 (€449/$449/$699).
Its exterior design closely resembles its predecessor, featuring a smooth, soft-touch plastic body, luxurious ear pads and headband, along with a discreet Sony logo on the arms. The ear cups now have hard fabric cases redesigned with magnetic clasps for compactness.
The case is excellent, snapping closed efficiently and ready for travel. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
While the new headphones are lightweight, they feel robust and well-suited for the rigors of travel. Although the Bose QC Ultra offers more comfort, the XM6 delivers a secure fit without discomfort. The ear cups are slightly shallower than Bose’s, ensuring an appropriate fit.
The right ear cup features a responsive touch panel for controlling playback and volume through swipes and taps, which works well unless you wear gloves. The left ear cup includes a power button, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a button for toggling between noise cancellation modes.
The XM6 can connect to two devices at once via Bluetooth 5.3 and supports SBC, AAC, and LDAC audio formats. It also supports Bluetooth LE (LC3), a next-generation Bluetooth audio feature not yet widely adopted, but promising for the future. Call quality is excellent, featuring side tone options that sound natural in both quiet and noisy environments, allowing users to hear themselves through the headphones.
The power and noise cancelling mode buttons are conveniently located on the left earcup, while the right earcup allows for playback and volume control via the touch panel. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Specifications
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Weight: 254g
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Driver: 30mm
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Connectivity: Multipoint, 3.5mm, Bluetooth 5.3 with USB-C charging
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Bluetooth Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
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Rated Battery Life: 30 hours ANC
During testing, the headphones exceeded the rated 30 hours of battery life, managing over 32 hours with noise cancellation active. They charge via USB-C in approximately 3.5 hours and can be used while charging via Bluetooth or the headphone jack.
Impressive Noise Cancellation
For the first time in years, the XM6 features a chip upgrade with the new QN3 processor, which is seven times faster than previous versions and supports 12 microphones to detect unwanted noise, achieving remarkable noise cancellation.
Top noise canceling headphones effectively manage low engine noises and rumble, but also struggle against higher-pitched sounds like keyboard taps and background chatter. The XM6 significantly improves on this by neutralizing those distracting higher frequencies.
It also offers an excellent natural sounding ambient mode that allows users to clearly hear the outside world, with 20 different levels to choose from or automatic adjustments based on background noise. You can choose to suppress certain sounds while letting voices through.
Control modes through the Sony Sound Connect App, adjust settings, complete EQ, and perform updates. It also enables location and activity-based modes. Composite: Samuel Gibbs/Guardian
The headphones deliver a rich, well-balanced, and detailed sound quality expected from a market leader, maintaining clarity across the frequency spectrum with excellent tonal separation and robust bass when required. They may feel a bit clinical on specific tracks but offer a warm tone out of the box. A full equalizer setting allows for further customization.
The XM6 also supports various sound modes, including new background music features simulating acoustic environments like cafes or living rooms, as well as cinematic audio modes for movies. You can also utilize Sony’s 360 Reality Audio embedded spatial audio system for supported Android devices, including head tracking capabilities.
Sustainability
The black soft-touch plastic easily collects fingerprints but can be easily polished. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The headphones are designed to be more repairable, earning praise from repair experts for their improved design. Ear cups can be easily replaced. Additionally, they are constructed from recycled plastic.
Price
The Sony WH-1000XM6 is priced at £399 (€449/$449.99/$699.95). For comparison, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra is priced at £350, the Sonos Ace costs £449, and the Beats Studio Pro retails for £349.99. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless is priced at £199, while Fairbuds XL are available for £219.
Verdict
Sony has set a new benchmark for noise cancellation with its 6th generation 1000X series headphones. The WH-1000XM6 effectively reduces challenging high-pitched sounds such as background chatter better than any competitors.
The improvements over the previous model are noteworthy. The high-quality sound ensures an enjoyable listening experience. They are lightweight, comfortable, and feature excellent controls. With a solid battery life exceeding 32 hours, a folding design, and a great carrying case, they are convenient to use.
While the Bose QC Ultra remains a comfortable competitor, Sony’s designs may seem somewhat dull and come at a steep price of £400, despite some rivals being more expensive. However, if top-tier noise cancellation is your goal, the WH-1000XM6 is highly recommended.
Pros: Best-in-class noise cancellation, excellent sound quality, spatial audio features, lightweight and comfortable, great case, Bluetooth Multipoint, support for Bluetooth LE/LC3, 32-hour battery life, effective controls, superior cross-platform control app, enhanced repairability.
Cons: Pricey, unexciting design, lacks water resistance, limited spatial audio support on iPhone.
Source: www.theguardian.com
