There’s always a product that defines the category they are in. For earbuds, that would be Apple’s AirPods Pro, and for noise-cancelling headphones, many will point to Sony’s WH-1000XM series. So there’s little surprise to see why people were so excited about the release of the new Sony WH-1000XM6 after waiting three long years.
Unlike the 1000XM5, which saw a massive change to the design of the headphones, Sony has opted to spend those three years of development doubling down on performance, and the results show. It’s the most refined headphones from the series yet—a near-perfect balance of audio quality and usability, and it is once again a reminder why Sony remains at the top in the headphone space.
Design and Build
The 1000XM5’s significant design overhaul was controversial when the headphones first launched in 2022. Stylistically, it looked much more sleek to the eye, but it lacked a crucial function that most people loved – folding. The new Sony WH-1000XM6 doesn’t stray far from its predecessor’s design DNA, but it does add back the ability to fold.
Now, the headphones come with stainless steel hinges that enable the earcup to fold inwards, allowing it to have a smaller form and slip into bags more easily. The carrying case has also been tweaked to complement the return of folding—it’s now much smaller than before and includes a magnetic clasp instead of a zipper.
You never know what you’ve missed until you’ve lost it, and that is very much the case with the folding functionality. Previously, I wouldn’t have even entertained the idea of bringing 1000XM5s, even for a long trip, because of how much space it took up. But now that is less of a daunting task with the new headphones. And the implementation of a magnetic clasp for the carrying case is a massively underrated quality-of-life improvement; it makes closing the case simpler and makes it so much more convenient when you can do it with one hand.
Beyond the return of being able to fold, the Sony WH-1000XM6 just has minor tweaks to the overall design. The build uses the same soft-touch materials, but the company has updated the buttons on the headphones, now using a recessed circular shape for the power button, which makes it easier to locate blindly.
On the other hand, comfort isn’t quite what I would expect from the WH-1000XM6. The fit feels a tad tight for my liking, whether it be because the earpads weren’t thick enough or that the clamping force was too strong (or even a combination of both), the headphones never really felt comfortable enough for very long sessions. That being said, fit is subjective as everyone’s head is different, and these may very well be perfectly fine for you. Best to try it on first before you make your purchase.
While the headphones do have physical buttons, playback and volume controls are still done through touch, which, somewhat frustratingly, are still only on the right earcup. From a flexibility standpoint, it would have been better for both earcups to have touch controls. Nitpicking aside, the touch panel does great with responding to gestures, and I’ve had no issues with using the touch controls on the WH-1000XM6.
Performance
Sony has included new changes inside the WH-1000XM6 to bring better audio quality and ANC performance.
Sound-wise, the headphone’s default settings give a more bassy quality—subtle, yet still giving enough of a satisfying punch. It’ll satisfy most consumers who typically prefer a warmer sound signature. Comparing it with its predecessor, I’ve also noticed that the vocals have improved clarity as well.
With the help of the Sound Connect app, users can change up the sound signature even more to their preferences, with a new and highly adjustable 10-band equaliser that can be scaled. If you aren’t too technical, you can also opt for the “Find Your Equalizer” function, which is an easier way to get a custom EQ setting and generally does a decent job of getting your preferences right. The Sony WH-1000XM6 truly shines when you have it tuned properly to your liking; it kicks ass at most genres I throw at it, whether it be elevating the instrumentals in smooth jazz or rocking my ears off with punk rock anthems.
The WH-1000XM6 also includes a new “Background Music” listening mode that you can toggle in the settings, mimicking the experience of hearing your favourite tunes in the background – like if you were in a cafe and the store’s speakers were playing something. It works as intended, but personally, it isn’t how I want to listen to my music. Interesting concept, though.
Equally impressive is the ANC performance. There’s a new QN3 processor in addition to an increased 12 microphones found on the headphones, all of which combined make it the best ANC headphones on the market.
The WH-1000XM6 has been excellent in blocking out outside noise. I was able to disappear into a world of my own, away from chatter in crowded cafes as well as incessant drilling from nearby construction. While I was not able to test it out for flights, the headphones were good at silencing noise from trains during my various commutes.
Ambient mode should also get a mention here. When toggled on, the transmitted outside noise sounds very natural, almost as if you aren’t wearing headphones at all. I was able to have normal conversations in this mode and had no trouble discerning what people were saying. There is also an Auto Ambient Sound mode that adjusts the filtering of ambient noise based on what is happening around you. It’s basically a reactive ambient mode that is useful if you get tired of toggling it manually.
Battery
The WH-1000X series has historically given great battery life, and that is no different for the Sony WH-1000XM6.
It lives up to its 30-hour rated battery life with ANC turned on—in fact, it gave more than advertised, lasting more than a week (averaging 4 to 5 hours of use) before I needed to charge the headphones. Needless to say, it makes for the perfect companion piece on long flights.
The headphones still charge over USB-C, and a quick three-minute charge gives 3 additional hours of use. USB-C is strictly only used for charging, though. You’ll need to use the included 3.5mm headphone jack if you want to switch to wired listening, which is slightly disappointing given that it just adds more cables to bring.
Verdict
Some things don’t change. Sony won’t diverge from the hard-to-recite WH-1000X name, and it continues its recognition as one of the best ANC headphones people can get on the market—if not the best. The Sony WH-1000XM6 is a marked improvement over its predecessor, providing better sound quality, ANC performance, and of course, bringing back folding along with a much better carrying case.
Being the best in class also comes with a price tag, and it is a hefty one. But the WH-1000XM6 is a solid investment if you are looking to get something that is future-proof. I’ve still got my WH-1000XM3 working well, and I have no doubt that this new one will similarly last years.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 is available for purchase on the Sony website or via their official store pages on Shopee and Lazada.
Photos by Heng Yu Cheng and Zheng Yi of the DANAMIC team.
Sony WH-1000XM6
Pros
- Excellent sound performance
- Best in class ANC
- Return of the fold
Cons
- Pricey
- Fit can be tight
