Introduction
Whopping Sony WH-1000XM6 makes an entry into the market of the premium ANC headphones with the confidence of a reigning champion, having successfully retained its throne for two consecutive years amidst strong competition from Bose and Apple. With each new generation of Sony WH-1000X headphones being an incremental improvement of its predecessor, the sixth generation refines every single feature and comes out even stronger.
WH-1000X line has been Sony’s flagship in the segment of active noise-canceling headphones for six years already, and every iteration brought an important improvement. While XM3 defined the segment, XM4 polished the concept, and XM5 made some serious hardware updates, including rebuilding chassis and enhancing sound quality. XM6 is the refinement of its predecessor XM5: same hardware approach and philosophy with upgraded processor, driver, and increased battery life by 4 hours.
Having tested Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones in airplanes, open offices, home studios, and outdoors during last month, here are my thoughts on areas in which they perform superbly well, areas where they match other top contenders and areas where they lag behind them.
Noise Cancellation: Game Changer
XM6 uses Sony’s next generation ANC processing chip QN3, which works twice faster and with twice larger sampling rates than QN2 used in XM5 headphones. The practical result is the enhancement in ability of QN3 to cancel high-frequency noises such as air conditioners, keyboards, and hums of airplane engines. As a result, high frequencies are canceled much better than in any previous Sony’s generation.
Comparing directly to competitor’s QuietComfort Ultra headphones, both models excel in cancelling low and mid-frequencies with XM6 giving slightly better results in low end, and Bose performing slightly better in mid-frequencies. What is truly innovative about XM6’s noise cancellation is its performance in cancelling noises in 2-4kHz frequencies, which causes most office distractions. High sampling rates provide this enhanced level of accuracy without leaving behind slightly hollow feel of sound in Sony headphones.
The adaptive ANC profile tuning technology works thanks to machine learning running on QN3 chip and adjusting itself depending on the current ambient sound environment. It switches to transportation ANC profile when detecting low-frequency rhythmic humming and switches to office ANC profile in the case of open office sounds. Testing proves its efficiency and precision in adapting to different environments.
Sound Quality: Balanced
Sony WH-1000XM6 uses updated driver, which has been adjusted to fix the problem of ‘V-shaped’ response with excessive treble and bass and weak mid-range, inherent in XM5 headphones. Improved balance means enhanced mid-range with clearer vocal performances and acoustic instrument sound. New generation uses improved 40mm driver with a new carbon fiber composite diaphragm and silky dome center, providing accurate reproduction of treble sounds without any metal resonances.
LDAC codec support in XM6 allows for transferring wireless audio in up to 990kbps, offering better sound performance compared to the SBC/AAC codecs with audible improvements in cymbal decay and instruments separation. Spatial processing of 360 Reality Audio with head tracking technology seems genuinely helpful now when head tracking is sufficiently quick and precise providing stable soundstage during head movements.
Battery Life and Comfort
Battery of XM6 is capable of providing 40 hours of playtime when using noise cancellation compared to 30 hours offered by XM5. Quick charge option provides 3 hours of music after only 3 minutes of charging time. Increased battery capacity means that XM6 is capable of going three to four days per full charge instead of two or three, which was the case with XM5.
Comfort level provided by headbands has been improved thanks to new foam compound, which distributes pressure evenly throughout the headband. Four hours of wearing WH-1000XM6 were noticeably more comfortable than wearing XM5 for the same period of time. Ear cushion pads made from new synthetic leather are 20% more breathable because of numerous perforation holes.
The bundle of accessories is impressive, including USB-C charging cable, analog cable with 3.5mm connector for wired connection, hard-shell case, and airplane adapter.
Smart Features
Thanks to integration with Sony Connect application, XM6 supports automatic pausing and resuming of the playback upon removal and putting on back of the headphones, respectively, switching on and off the Speak-to-Chat feature, manual EQ adjustments and multipoint connection to two devices simultaneously. The latest addition to XM6 capabilities is the AI-based Adaptive Sound mode which automatically sets appropriate ANC profile by analyzing GPS location and sound environment of the device to switch between transportation, office, and outside modes. The accuracy rate in the tests performed during two weeks of commuting to work is approximately 90%.
Verdict and Conclusion
Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones priced at $379 become the new standard for comparing other models to. XM6’s upgrade is important yet optional for owners of the previous generation – get your XM6 as soon as you need a new pair. If you want to join the premium ANC headphones club or upgrade from XM4 or even older models, XM6 is the obvious choice.
Compared to Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones ($429), XM6 shows better noise cancellation in low frequencies, increased battery life, and a more advanced selection of smart features available at a lower price point. Sony WH-1000XM6: best noise cancellation, improved sound, unbeatable battery life. Sony retains its leadership in the segment of premium noise-cancelling headphones.
