may / 2025

It’s been three years since Sony released the last iteration of its revered WH-1000X series over-ear headphones, and there couldn’t be bigger shoes to fill.

The WH-1000XM5 are considered by consumers and industry experts to be some of the best headphones on the market, with high marks for their comfort, sound, software features, and excellent noise-canceling capabilities.

Also: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs WH-1000XM5: Are the new Sony headphones worth the upgrade?

Now, the WH-1000XM6 are here, positioned as Sony’s most advanced (and expensive) consumer headphones to date. But with so many fabulous headphones on the market and the XM5 being as good as they are, is the upgrade worth nearly $500? Let’s find out.

How do they sound?

The XM6 feature Sony’s typical warm and smooth sound profile, characterized by minimal peaks and piercing in the higher frequencies, and a slight emphasis on the bass. Atmospheric alternative rock like The 1975’s Pressure produces clear vocals, transparent instrumentals, and a tight bass response.

Also: I replaced my bulky headphones with these Pixel earbuds for traveling – and can’t go back

Like all headphones, turning off ANC or ambient noise creates a more neutral sound that most people may find dull or uninspiring. However, the XM6’s sound without added noise features is noticeably fuller than the XM5, which sounds more tinny and grainy. 

Most ANC-enabled headphones engage dynamic tuning with added noise features turned on, and the XM6 are no different. Turning on noise cancellation or ambient sound brings more color and vibrancy, creating a more enjoyable listening experience. 

One of the XM6’s standout features is that listeners can listen in spatial audio on any platform, while listening in spatial audio with the XM5 was reserved for very few music-streaming platforms. Sony 360 Spatial Sound, the company’s proprietary spatial audio protocol, significantly opens the headphones’ soundstage, delivering an airy and spacious sound.

Also: Best headphones of 2025: Bose, Sony, Beats, and more

Like Bose’s proprietary Immersive Audio, Sony’s custom spatial audio can be hit or miss, depending on the song. The cymbals and riffs I typically love in John Mayer’s Neon sounded overly processed and imbalanced, while T-Pain’s Up Down was groovy and dynamic. Can we just give in and license from Dolby, please?

Comparing the noise cancellation

Of all the flagship noise-canceling headphones I’ve tested, Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra have been the best performer since their late 2023 release. However, the XM6 give them a serious run for their money. I wore them in bustling coffee shops, to the gym during the post-work rush, to the farmer’s market during peak Saturday shopping hours, and most critically, while my husband played online video games with his friends.

The XM6’s noise-canceling performance is incredible, thanks to the XM6’s 12 microphones for detecting and canceling external noises and an upgraded QN3 processor, which Sony says is seven times faster at processing noise than the XM5’s QN1 processor.

Also: Why these Bose headphones are still the best I’ve listened to – even though they’re a year old

While wearing them at the farmer’s market, I was astounded at how these headphones could make me feel like I was the only person in the building during the establishment’s busiest hours. In my local Starbucks, only the loud shredding of ice in the barista’s blender could pierce the XM6’s ANC. 

Even the best noise-canceling headphones can’t beat overly loud, sharp, or sudden noises, including the noises from your teammates rage quitting during a game of Marvel Rivals.

The XM6’s ambient sound mode is also impressive, naturally replicating the noises around you. Microphone quality for phone calls is fantastic, and the ambient noise mode offers a significant amount of sidetone so you can hear yourself talk, too. Sony says adding four more beamforming microphones is responsible for clearer call quality.

The noise cancellation is powerful; my only gripe is that settings can’t be manually adjusted in the app. Therefore, you’re stuck with superpowered ANC in public, which isn’t always ideal. 

Design and comfort

The design of Sony’s WH-1000X line of flagship over-ear headphones has always been utilitarian and functional, rather than flashy, eye-catching, or particularly stunning. That ethos hasn’t changed with the XM6.

Every design choice that separates the XM6 from its predecessor was made purely for improved functionality for the end user, and enhanced aesthetics from those improvements are in the eye of the beholder. 

The XM6 feature a foldable design, à la the XM4. Additionally, Sony included a dedicated power button to avoid button-pressing mixups, compared to the XM5, which had a noise cancellation and power multifunction button. Otherwise, the XM6 look almost identical to the XM5.

Also: My favorite wireless audio dongle for traveling just got a major connectivity upgrade

The XM6 sport more downward-angled earcups than the XM5, which Sony asserts will help the microphones pick up your voice better during phone or video calls. However, the sharper earcup angle created a tighter fit, which put more pressure on my jaw after a few hours of wear. 

Battery life and software features

The XM6’s battery life isn’t improved compared to the XM5, so the new generation also promises 30 hours of playback with noise cancellation enabled and 40 hours without. However, a new feature is that you can listen to the XM6 while changing them, like the Beats Studio Pro. However, the XM6 do not support audio via USB-C, and they will connect to your listening device via Bluetooth while charging.

Sony’s headphones are typically stacked with software features, and the XM6 have all of Sony’s software bells and whistles. The Sony SoundConnect app includes equalizer settings, multifunction button customization, Speak-to-Chat, which lowers your music when the headphones sense you’re conversing with someone, location-based noise cancellation, and plenty more features. 

Also: How I turned these $60 headphones into an audiophile’s dream (without spending a dime)

A new feature called Head Gestures allows you to answer or decline phone calls by nodding or shaking your head, which is one of my favorite features I use on my AirPods Pro 2. The XM6 also sport touch controls on the surface of the right earcup, which are just as reliable as the XM5’s. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

The new Sony WH-1000XM6 prove that seemingly small and incremental changes between two generations of products can be impactful, useful, and largely felt. The XM6 are ideal for people who value noise cancellation and sound over style or headphones that make a visual statement.

You don’t need to rush to upgrade if you already own the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra. However, if your headphones are a few years old and you want newer cans for everyday use, you can’t go wrong with the XM6.

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