Review Verdict: The WH-1000XM6 addresses the majority of the things we want addressed from the previous-generation WH-1000XM5, and the steep price tag is Sony perfecting its best headphones to go head-to-head with premium offerings from the likes of Bose and Apple.
Pros
- Foldable and more compact when not in use
- Audio upscaling, Noise Cancellation is more refined
Cons
- Big price jump over the WH-1000XM5
It’s a long three year wait, and Sony compiled all the feedback from the WH-1000XM5 to unveil an even better pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM6. Despite the WH-1000XM5’s imperfections, it is touted as the best pair of noise-canceling headphones in the market. With the unveiling of the WH-1000XM6, has Sony perfected the formula for its best pair of headphones?
For this review, I’ve used the WH-1000XM6 for a week and compared it with my WH-1000XM5 that got a major firmware update a few days ago:
Sony WH-1000XM6 Review: Design
One of the biggest complaints with the WH-1000XM5 is that it’s bulky when not in use with its non-foldable earcups. Sony addressed this with the WH-1000XM6, bringing back the foldable design of earlier iterations (ie. the WH-1000XM3 and XM4). This is a welcome change, as it also made the WH-1000XM6’s carrying case to be more compact. I also like the magnetic lock of the case instead of the zipper-based one on the WH-1000XM5: aside from being less prone to being broken, it’s easier to use and makes storing the WH-1000XM6 easier.
Aside from the foldable earcups, Sony made several improvements to the WH-1000XM6: its more compact than its predecessor, has a wider headband with a thicker padding, and feels sturdier, addressing complaints with the WH-1000XM5 where the stem holding the earcups tend to break. Replacing the earcup pads on the WH-1000XM6 is also much easier: you don’t need additional tools to replace them in case they get worn out. And the battery? iFixIt happily reports that the WH-1000XM6’s battery is easy to replace, being held on by screws instead of adhesives. That makes the WH-1000XM6 lasting practically forever–Sony takes right to repair seriously, and it’s rare to see a pair of wireless headphones that have a battery that’s easy to replace.
Another change with the WH-1000XM6’s design is with the power button, which is bigger and has a more visible symbol to reduce instances of accidentally pressing the NC/AMB button. Each earcup has three grilles for the microphones to aid with noise canceling. I got the black colorway, which can be a smudge magnet at times. Like its predecessor, the WH-1000XM6 is also available in Moonlit Blue and Platinum Silver. The Smoky Pink colorway, unfortunately, is exclusive to the WH-1000XM5.
Sony WH-1000XM6 Review: User Interface and Fit
Like all of Sony’s wireless audio products, the WH-1000XM6 uses the Sound Connect app for tweaking various settings. It has the same set of settings as the WH-1000XM5, with the differences being a 10-band equalizer (vs 5-band), voice commands, and a new Listening Mode option that is one of the biggest new features of the WH-1000XM6. The app is easy to use, and offers a plethora of customization options to bring out the best of what the WH-1000XM6 has to offer.
Going with the fit, the wider headband and thicker padding makes the WH-1000XM6 more comfortable to wear for long hours. I haven’t tried using the WH-1000XM6 for plane rides, but they are comfortable as I wore them during Zoom meetings, while working on articles for the site, and while walking around Metro Manila. The additional articulations to the earcups make the WH-1000XM6 adapt to your head better than its predecessor.
Sony WH-1000XM6 Review: Audio Quality
Having a pair of WH-1000XM5s as my daily driver, comparing the WH-1000XM6 is a must given the rather huge price hike Sony is asking for them. With the recent firmware update on the WH-1000XM5, the audio quality is almost the same as the WH-1000XM6–but only at default settings. Play around with the equalizer, adaptive noise cancellation settings, and even DSEE Extreme, and the difference is more evident.
With the all-new QN3 noise cancelling processor, the WH-1000XM6’s noise cancellation performance is more polished than its predecessor. It’s also more responsive with different scenarios: from sitting inside a coffee shop, walking outside, to working in my home office, the WH-1000XM6’s noise cancellation is more polished and consistent. Audio quality remains to be top-notch while the WH-1000XM6 and its 12 microphones do all the processing to give you the best possible noise cancellation.
Sony makes use of AI for noise cancellation on the WH-1000XM6, and the best implementation of this is with Listening Mode. Background Music simulates settings in your room, living area, or a coffee shop–all while keeping you unbothered with outside noise and still giving you top-notch audio quality. Cinema makes use of Sony’s 360 Reality Audio to give you an immersive experience if you’re watching a movie or a recorded live concert like NMIXX’s set at their perfomance at Korea University. It’s a flex of what the QN3 noise cancelling processor and V2 integrated processor are capable of, giving the WH-1000XM6 the widest set of audio customization of options I’ve ever seen on a pair of headphones.
How about audio quality? The WH-1000XM6 has a more balanced soundstage (which the WH-1000XM5 finally got with the latest update), but has a broader audio range compared to its predecessor. I’d say that the WH-1000XM6 is more detailed in producing all of the intricate details from vocals to instruments, giving me a more immersive audio experience. But what impressed me is the improvements to its DSEE Exteme audio upscaler. With the WH-1000XM6’s upgraded internals, audio upscaling feels more refined: even if i’m listening to Spotify with a 128kbps bitrate, the audio output can match Apple Music’s 24-bit ALAC Lossless. I can’t determine if there’s AI involved with the audio upscaling, but the WH-1000XM6’s DSEE Extreme works better compared to its predcessor.
Despite all those improvements, Sony claims that the battery life of the WH-1000XM6 are the same as their predecessor. I have yet drained the WH-1000XM6’s batteries completely during the time I was using them, and that means that Sony’s claims hold water.
Sony WH-1000XM6 Review: Wrap-up and Conclusions
Sony took their sweet time–three years at that–to refine the WH-1000XM5, listening to everyone’s feedback to come up with the WH-1000XM6. They are expensive yes, but the WH-1000XM6 is Sony showcasing its dominance and expertise in the noise canceling headphones market. If you’re coming from the WH-1000XM5, you can choose to not upgrade. But if you’re coming from the WH-1000XM4–or you simply want the best noise-cancelling headphones in the market–Sony has perfected the formula with the WH-1000XM6.
Sony WH-1000XM6 Review: Price
The WH-1000XM6 is priced at Php 27,999.
