Sony has launched the WH-1000XM6, the latest in its premium noise-canceling headphone range. Priced at $450, these headphones offer enhanced audio quality, featuring a 30mm driver and support for multiple codecs including LDAC and DSEE Extreme. They boast improved active noise cancellation with 12 microphones and a faster QN3 HD processor. The design includes a wider headband and increased earcup articulation for better comfort. Other features include AI-assisted microphones for clearer calls and a new carry case. While the XM6 are pricier than their predecessors, older models like the XM5 and XM4 are now more affordable.
Sony has unveiled the WH-1000XM6, the newest flagship model in its acclaimed range of wireless noise-canceling headphones. The XM6 enhances nearly every aspect compared to its predecessors, although it comes with a higher price tag.
When it comes to audio quality, Sony asserts that there are improvements in clarity and resolution. The company collaborated with several professional studio engineers, including Randy Merrill and Chris Genringer from Sterling Sound, Mike Piacentini from Battery Studios, and Michael Romanowski from Coast Mastering, to fine-tune the audio for the new headphones. The WH-1000XM6 is claimed to provide “studio-level accuracy,” allowing listeners to experience their music “as it was meant to be.” However, such claims have been made before and often don’t hold for consumer-grade products.
The headphones are equipped with a 30mm driver made from a high-rigidity carbon fiber composite material dome, along with a new voice coil architecture. The digital-to-analog conversion features an advanced look-ahead noise shaper that predicts and optimizes quantization noise while responding rapidly to sudden audio changes. In terms of codecs, you’ll find SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3 support, complemented by Sony’s DSEE Extreme upscaling algorithm and a 360 Reality Audio feature that includes a new Upmix for Cinema mode to convert stereo content into spatial sound. While there’s an audio jack for wired analog input, USB-C digital audio input is notably absent, unlike some competing headphones, including the AirPods Max.
The active noise cancellation feature has seen enhancements as well. The XM6 includes 12 microphones and a new QN3 HD Noise Canceling Processor, which reportedly operates 7 times faster than the QN1 found in the XM5. This improvement allows the new Adaptive NC Optimizer to respond more quickly and effectively to changes in ambient noise. Additionally, the driver design has been optimized for better noise cancelation performance. The Auto Ambient Sound mode has also received upgrades from the previous version.
Call quality has been enhanced with AI-assisted beamforming microphones that effectively isolate your voice from background noise.
Lastly, the XM6 features a revamped design. The headband is now wider, reducing pressure on your head, and features an asymmetrical shape to help identify the left and right sides more easily. The hinge also boasts increased articulation compared to the XM5, allowing the earcups to fold in, a feature present in earlier 1000X models. The XM6 is available in three colors—Black, Platinum Silver, and Midnight Blue—all featuring matte finishes. They come with a new carry case that includes a magnetic latch.
The WH-1000XM6 is priced at $450 (or £400/€450), which is $50 more than the XM5, which in turn was also $50 more than the XM4. However, the earlier models are now available at reduced prices, so if the new model doesn’t seem worth the investment, you can purchase the XM5 for $350 and the XM4 for $300.