SONY WH-1000XM6 Flagship Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Signature Hi-Res Sound, Comfort, Foldable Design, Durable Case, 30 HR Battery NC On, iOS & Android – Black

* Very comfortable for short periods, but starts hurting the ears after more than an hour. * Overall sound and build quality are good; headphones feel premium. * Noise cancellation is noticeably better than Anker Soundcore (around ~20% improvement). * Does not auto-connect when taken out of the case (unlike TWS earbuds), which is inconvenient. * The case design is not ideal—you have to fold the headphones every time to store them. * Fit/seal is not very stable—slight head movement can break the seal and let noise in. * This issue is especially noticeable in noisy environments like public transport or when people are talking nearby. * Connectivity is generally good, aside from the lack of auto-connect.

As a bit of background, I've owned the WH XM4s, XM5s and the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra. I also currently have a pair of Sennheiser open-back 505s, the Sony WF XM5s. Suffice to say, I am a bit of a headphones nerd. I raise this because I think its worth prefacing that this review is of the WH XM6s, within the niche they occupy in my 'roster'. That is the commuting/loud office/neighbours are blasting loud music/building works are going on nearby etc category. Essentially, any context where I'm not guaranteed a reasonable level of quiet in my surroundings, these come into play. In that category, they are simply the best I've ever used. The noise cancelling is fantastic. Outside sounds are reduced dramatically. Some have described it as similar to being underwater, which I understand, but I think makes it sound negative. It simply strips almost all sound around you to a level where it is, at worst, effortless to ignore. It can struggle a bit with sudden high frequencies (e.g. microwave beeps) and high winds can be noticeable but they're still much reduced. Sound quality is absolutely fantastic as well (again, within this specific category - I do prefer my open-backs overall but they're simply not useable in any kind of noisy environment). The bass is powerful, without being overpowering (which isn't a guarantee in modern headphones), mids are clear and instrument separation is excellent. The design is also improved on the previous model. They're light and comfortable on the ears, enough that I can wear them for long periods of time. The hinge is back, which is an effortless win and allows easy folding, and the earcups themselves now fold in the 'correct' direction, meaning you can hang them round your neck with the earcups against your chest. The controls have been improved as well, with a clearer distinction between the power button and the ANC/Ambient sound control. The touch controls on the right ear cup remain the same, and can occasionally be a bit finicky, but I generally find them very easy to use. I don't have very many criticisms at all really. I suppose, as with all headphones of this type, they can start to get a bit sweaty after a time and can create a slightly odd feeling of pressure around your ears. This is expected from this style of headphones, but might be unpleasant for some. The other downside that can't be escaped, is the price. They certainly are not cheap, and for many this will be a dealbreaker. I understand that perspective, but they are still within the price range for this tier of premium, ANC headphones, and I have to say, relative to the competition they absolutely nail it. I do not regret my purchase at all, and these will likely be my go-to headphones for quite some time.

Hang on a sec. Had my XM6's for a few hours now. Been tuning them with DSEE, EQ, LDAC. It passes the Bjork test - Venus As A Boy - mellifluous and soulful. Unison - powerful and emotional. Unravel - just perfect in presentation. Then comes Akwaaba by Winnie - Damn fine soundstage - Vocals perfect - mid-tempo beat slowly rocking. And then On The Nature of Daylight by Max Richter on the Arrival Soundtrack. Starts slowly and builds. Cellos killing it and tearing at your heart. Then at about 1:40 the violins kick in with that rumbling bass line. The 3rd bass note in that sequence drops - And this is when I stood up and started clapping. Then I started crying. The violins and the bass. It was like I had never heard this song before. It was like the first time - only this time perfect. I've been listening to this track but today with my XM6's was the first time I had heard it. I could hear and feel everything for the first time. (by the way when I was clapping I could not hear the claps at all due to the king of ANC doing it's thing. I have the Sony Ult Wears ((X3) and the Sony WH-1000XM6s are better. I have the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC's (x4) and the Sony WH-1000XM6s are better. I have the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro's (x3) and the Sony WH-1000XM6s are better. I have the Soundcore Space One and the Sony WH-1000XM6s are better. I have the Soundcore Space One Pro and the Sony WH-1000XM6s are better. I had the Beats Studio Pros and the Sony WH-1000XM6s are better are a million times better. I have the Beats Studio 3 (X2) and the Sony WH-1000XM6s are better. I have the Beats Studio 2 (X5) and the Sony WH-1000XM6s are better. Up until today my 9 year old Beats were the best headphones I had ever owned but the XM6's now take the crown. My other test tunes come out as they should on the XM6s. The list is getting longer so bear with me. Resolution on the Godzilla Minus One Soundtrack builds in volume and complexity and reaches a majestic crescendo towards which the XM6's deliver with exceptional clarity. People by LiBianca - I'm hearing some percussion for the first time to go along with the perfect melody and haunting vocals. It's Happening Again by Agnes Obel mellifluous and haunting and delivered perfectly - piano notes thumping my brain - vocals coming from everywhere (stereo separation). My Heart WIll Go On by Celine Dion in CD quality and LDAC - when she sings 'You're Here' at the 3:25 mark your headphones or sound systems needs to be able to reproduce that so that it cleans the earwax out of you ears - and the XM6's do just that and are almost painful if I play it too loud - no distortion - just Celine at her vocalist best. Maria Callas, Maria Callas; O Mio Babbino Cara; Madame Butterfly - the only way to listen to her legendary voice with all of the emotion, nuances dips and highs that gets to your soul. Quanta Qualia by Hayley Westenra - main vocals in the middle - violins everywhere - choir haunting in the background. These Days by Tems - Bass drum thumping and controlled - vocals in the middle - percussion like a heartbeat in the background. People Look Forward and Give You by Felt - thumping EDM - bass rocking - drums snearing - vocals telling a story as they should be. Stoic Theme by the Ink Spots on the Shawshank soundtrack. Cello, violins and not much else perfectly balanced and represented. So Was Red and End Title on the Shawshank soundtrack takes you back to the end of that great movie - close your eyes and you can hear it and see it in your minds eye. And everything on the Interstellar Soundtrack by Hans Zimmer - the only way I can hear that any better is on my BO sound System in my Audi A5 or live played by 60 piece orchestra. You can tell from my test tunes that I listen to quite a range from EDM, Hip Hop, Afro Beats to Classical and Opera and the XM6's delivers them all perfectly as I would like to hear them. The ANC seems to be doing what it should be doing with no background hiss. Can't hear my laptops in my office at with them on. And clapping right in front of my face I cannot hear. The headphones are comfortable. I have seen some other review on YouTube where certain reviews have complained about the clamping force and top headband being uncomfortable - but not for me. Had them on for a few hours now and no discomfort at all. I'll see how sweaty they get in the summertime. Also I have read and seen that the ANC sensor in each headphone protrudes out and causes discomfort - not in my case. Can't feel them at all. I paid £299 for these in the Black Friday sale. And this is the most I have ever paid for a pair of headphones. Are they worth it - yes. I buy multiple pairs of my favourite headphones so that I can get decades worth out of them (Beats Studio 2 for example) so I'll be buying another 2 sets one in 2026 and another in 2027 so I can get at least 10 years out of them - in the sales of course - won't be paying more than £299 for my other sets. I took a call during my testing and it sounded natural. The caller could not tell I was using a pair of headphones either. I reckon it will take a few days to loosen up the drivers to make them sound richer and better so I'll edit this review when I get to that point. And when I get the next 2 sets I'll update again them. And I still have to play with a lot of the settings like spatial audio listening modes, These headphones deliver the emotion of my music like no other headphones do. And as headphones should do. Don't let the audiophiles grind you down. EQ, High Res and ANC those settings to get them to where they need to be for you. Damn it, Sony. You've only gone and done it. I've been waiting 9 years for a better set of headphones than my trusty Beats Studios 2 and you've only gone and done it - Bravo. Edit 18/03/26. Bought the silver version for £276.30 and got them today. One thing I noticed is that after wearing them for a few hours was that the ear cups were stained by ny sweat and no amount of cleaning got them back to their brand new condition. So I went and bought some replacement earpads from Wicked Cushions. These earpads are brilliant and much better than the stock Sony ones. They don't effect the sound quality, are slightly thicker and even more comfortable than the originals. And they come up clean after wiping away at my sweat. I bought another set of earpad replacements for my first pair and it makes a difference there too. So running in the silver pair so that they sound less tight like my black pair and all going good. I use a slightly different EQ than what I have on my black pair just to mix things up a bit. So if you have problems with the ear comfort of the originals I recommend getting a set of replacement earpads from Wicked. They were ridiculously easy to fit as well - all done in about 5 minutes - 4 of which was watching the instruction video. I'm still planning on buying the blue version as well next year in2027 - or maybe I'll get the pink ones instead...

Recently purchased these after owning a pair of xm4s Watched a lot of YouTube reviews on these and they got great reviews so wanted to buy a pair and see for myself. First impressions was the magnetic case which is quite cool. No more zips. After trying the headphones on I could tell that the headband was not as soft as the xm4 headphones. Much less padding making it not as comfortable for someone with not much hair. Also the clamping force as others have said is more on this headphone. I wouldn't say its "uncomfortable" as such, but just not as comfortable as the xm4. After 10 minutes of use you can really feel that you are wearing these headphones vs the lightweightness of the xm4s. I also think the angle of the cups are such that they are in contact with each other all the time. Unsure if this will soften up over time. Can see from picture the differences. Regarding the sound I compared both side by side listening to a range of songs on Spotify with the highest audio setting. I would say the sound is slightly better on the xm6 in that its more clear and things seem more pronounced. Also helps within the sony app that there is now 10 bar eq vs 5 with the xm4 so can be tuned better to the required sound that you like. I also like the different sound stages with cinema mode and background music, think thats quite a good little extra. Noise cancellation is slightly improved over xm4 however wouldn't say its drastically improved. Did a few tests with background sounds on (eg having fan on and other sounds too) and the xm6 completely removed the sound whereas xm4 could faintly hear the noises but not massively different in my opinion. The transparency/ambient mode to me was a lot better. No more muffled sound like with the xm4s. Could easily and clearly hear the sound around you. Not tested making a call with these on as didnt buy them for this purpose so can't really comment on this. I think the xm6s look more modern and sleek vs the older xm4s. There is also a more protruding mic in the headphones of the xm6s. I didnt notice it myself when I tried them on however you can see it if you look closely in the headphones. Pros ✅️Great sounding quality ✅️Anc and ambient mode are great ✅️Look stylish and modern ✅️They fold Cons ❌️Price ❌️Clamping force ❌️Not as comfortable as older xm4 Overall I only had the headphones for one day and returned unfortunately and will be using the xm4s which is a shame as I was looking forward to these and wanted to like them more. To me if im upgrading an item it needs to have all the benefits of the last model and the extra benefits and features of the latest model. For me it wasn't there. The headband alone made it too uncomfortable to use for longer than 30 minutes at a time. I'd also say ignoring the price if they were both the same price id still pick the xm4s as would rather have more comfort and for it to have less clamping force vs the extra benefits of the xm6s. Hope this helps anyway. Just being honest and happy to share my thoughts.

These headphones are a game changer! The ANC is incredible. My commute on the bus is now 95% silent other than what I'm listening to with the excellent noise cancelling. My colleague who sits next to me who talks nonstop with a loud voice - can't hear him at all. They also cancel out the TV when it's turned on and making a call, neither person can hear it's on. Performance wise, they are fast turning on, and the app auto plays music, which saves having to open up your phone. I'm not having to wait around for anything and no issue connecting to my phone. The Sony app means you can configure them in almost any situation, which is something the Bose headphones can't compete with. Battery life is really good, no issues with it, other then it drains the battery life of my phone fast. I'll update this is this changes. Comfort, people say the clam is too strong but I don't find that at all and find them really comfortable. It helps that I don't wear them continuously all day, as reviews say Bose is good for that. I haven't had then for that long, so I'll update it again in a few months time to see how they have maintained themselves. Things that make it more like a 4.5 stars would be there are still some low pitched sounds I can hear like the screach of a bus door and someone coughing, which I can live with. Also, the headphones could do with being more obvious which is left and right, maybe some texture difference, so I can see it in a rush in the mornings, poor lighting or for someone visually impaired. Overall, I would give these a solid recommendation to anyone who has a hard time with noise or wants to just hear their music and nothing else. What an amazing time to be alive with such cutting edge tech at an affordable price.

Amazing headphones , I have just received these , I have a pair of 720n as well They are good but these are definitely a big step up ! I had a pair of apple max pro , although a great set of headphones , I found them , large to transport about when travelling , and they do attract attention ! Not necessarily the right attention . These Sony are less obvious , being plastic but I would say the sound quality equally as good and the noise cancellation is the best there is ! To test I put Alexa on playing music right next to my chair put the Sonys on with full noise cancellation on ! Could not hear the Alexa ! I have also used these with 3-5 jack cable connected to iPad using 3-5 jack to usbc adapter , if you do this still switch on the power button or the sound will be inferior , ! Some say they are uncomfortable to wear for long periods so I invested in some third party extra thick soft ear pads ! But I have not fitted them yet as I find the originals are ok ! What I like about Sony is the app you download load to allow you to set them up to your personal preferences ! They sound ok out of the box , but set them up on the app ! They are amazing ! They are foldable and come in a nice case with magnetic latch ! Case is small , so more practical so fits nicely in a bag / rucksack ! Battery life is around 35/ hours , 10 min charge gives you 3 hour listening time !!Overall I am very pleased with them !

I'm at a bit of a loss. As the title of my review would suggest, I've been a Sony headphones faithful for the best part of the last decade. So why exactly have the XM6s left such a bitter taste in my mouth? Well... I like Heavy Metal. Very heavy stuff indeed. This sort of music has multiple layers working in tandem and the ability to differentiate whilst maintaining a high degree of sonic impact is paramount to the listening experience. I loved my XM4s so much I kept them the absolute longest of any set of headphones I'd ever owned - Virtually impeccable sound, just got a bit long in the tooth, weren't holding the best charge and looking a little worse for wear after being my daily commuters. I did my research - A lot of it at that. The XM6s were naturally at the top of every tech reviewer's list, I have several chats across different AIs and everything pointed to the same solution: Go for the newer ones, which to me also seemed like a no-brainer given the history I have already explained. The issue here isn't around build quality, features, battery life or comfort - They are every bit as good as my previous headphones if not better in the noise cancellation department and the magnetic carry case is a very pleasant change that made the XM6s very simple to put away. So what was the issue? Sound. Completely lifeless, natural sounding with all layers in my music fully discernable, but stripped back completely of the wallop the XM4s provided. Zero punch after playing with equalisers till the cows came home and again further research to see how I could get them to perform better than they were - To absolutely no avail. Then I thought of the earbuds I use - Bose QC Ultra Gen 1. Best noise cancellation on earbuds having tried the Sony WF1000XM5s and for commuting that made them the best. To my complete shock however, I would now also argue for the music I like at least that the Bose earbuds actually obliterate the XM6s - That's a mad thing. Of course it is highly subjective to the listener and your tastes, but for me this is a line that can't be uncrossed. I do not want watered down sound, I want it to tantalise me the way it always has and expectedly moreso with their very latest iteration. This was clearly not the case. So back they go and it looks like I'll be getting Bose QC Ultra Gen 1 overear headphones instead, given Bose seem to actually understand how my music should sound, as I have been informed the Gen 2 followed Sony in their journey to the bottom of washing out sound. A bit sad given the otherwise faultless history I have with Sony's headphones, but if you have XM4s I would strongly advise avoiding these like the plague.

I'm loving this headphones; I use them 5 hours every day in train journeys and when I say the noise cancelling is the best you can get I mean it . Battery life is mind blowing last very long , more than advertised and the built quality feels very premium. The quality of the audio is crystal clear plus you can customise through the app and the connection is so fast that you never realise it and it fits perfectly and also the magnetic case it's a life change when you travel

It was definitely worth upgrading from WH-1000XM6.

Helt överlägsna hörlurar på alla punkter. Jag har haft de flesta hörlurar såsom xm5, xm4, Apple MAX, Sonos ace, med mera. Dessa har bäst anc o h bäst Aware läge. Bäst i samtalen bäst på allt. Helt sjukt så bra de är i alla anseenden. GIVET KÖP!

Incredible product, the noise cancelling is amazing, the app gives you some great features, battery lasts a long time. I’ve used it in the airplane and it’s a game changer when it comes to cancelling all the noise around

Bhé ottimo suono,spettacolare la riduzione dei rumori esterni,la uso mentre lavoro,e lavoro rilassato ascoltando buona musica e senza disturbo dei miei attrezzi da lavoro,compressore bicilindrico e aspirapolvere 1500w parecchio rumorosi. Ottimo il prezzo ma con lo sconto

Una de las razones por las que comprar los XM6 ha sido que han vuelto a ser plegables, vengo de unos XM4 y no hice la transición a los XM5 por este motivo. Este nuevo modelo se siente mas confortable, especialmente en la parte superior que apoya la cabeza, también me da la sensación de ser mas envolvente, no pensaba que pudiera ser así puesto que los XM4 ya eran super cómodos, tengo la sensación de que al apoyarse mas en las orejas respecto al XM4 hace menos daño en la parte superior de la cabeza, algo que se agradece cuando llevas varias horas con ellos. La bisagra que pliega los cascos tiene una robustez mayor, ahora es de metal al contrario que su modelo anterior. Respecto a los XM4 la cancelación de ruido a mejorado, quizás sea por el nuevo procesador (QN3) pero escucho menos ruidos del exterior, Pero donde mas he notado la diferencia es en la calidad del audio en las llamadas, el micrófono se escucha mucho mejor gracias al aumento de micrófonos. Por otro lado la calidad de Sonido me parece que tiene un sonido mas nítido y detallado, especialmente en frecuencias altas, los bajos me parecen que están mas controlados y con mayor definición que los XM4, siempre mejorando lo excelente. Por ultimo, otra cosa que me ha encantado es que ahora si se pueden cargar los auriculares mientras se usan, cosa que antes no se podia, ya no tienes que interrumpir tus sesiones de musica mientras trabajas y los cargas. Puntos a favor: Diseño Plegable con Bisagra Metálica: Recuperan la portabilidad del XM4 y añaden una durabilidad superior a la del XM5. Cancelación de Ruido Superior: Más eficaz y adaptable que en los XM4, y ligeramente mejorada respecto a los XM5. Calidad de Llamadas Excepcional: Un avance muy significativo, especialmente frente a los XM4. Tu voz se escucha clara en cualquier entorno. Sonido Refinado: Más detalle y equilibrio, manteniendo la pegada de los bajos. Mayor Comodidad: Mejor ajuste para un uso prolongado. Carga y Escucha Simultánea: Una mejora de conveniencia importante. Puntos en contra: Mejoras Sutiles desde los XM5 (salvo diseño y llamadas): Si ya tienes los XM5, el salto no es tan dramático como de los XM4 a los XM6 en la mayoría de los aspectos.