detailedReviews: detailedReviews 1: content: By the 6th generation, you'd expect Sony to have gotten these perfect, and they kind of have. If you're after some decent headphones, for listening to music on, that also has noise cancelling, bluetooth and a microphone for calls, and can afford the expensive price tag, just buy them. You will not be disappointed. Yes, they are expensive, but they're not a rip off. I purchased these at release, and this review is about 2 week later.
The first time I put them on, I was a bit underwhelmed: the noise cancelling wasn't that great, music didn't pop and everything felt a little flat. I'm assuming that the headphone speaker drivers needed to wear in and soften up a little, and the ANC mics needed to calibrate, because about an hour later I'd slightly tweaked the EQ, and was getting frights when people came up behind me. The biggest issue that I've had is that the transparency mode is too transparent: the real world around me is about twice as loud as it really is, which was pretty overwhelming; however about a week Sony updated the Sound Connect app, which now lets you dial the ANC/transparency up and down depending on your preference, activity (detects if you're sitting, walking, running etc), or location (requires GPS permissions).
Bluetooth has been stable with my iPhone 16, MacBook Pro M1, and over a 3.5mm cable when the battery finally ran flat (so works fine off, just without ANC). You can have ANC on, transparent, or off. Off really sucks as everything sounds echoey, kind of like you're in small room with hard surfaces, like a bathroom, so I'd rather have transparency on and dialled back than 'off'. However this sound didn't happen when using a 3.5mm cable, so I suspect it's more a software bug than a hardware limitation.
The good: Audio quality, ANC, bluetooth stability, works with a cable when off/battery flat, fold flat into the case, the case is super satisfying to use.
The bad: they show dirt a bit much; you have to hold down the power button for longer than I'd expect to power them on; to enter pairing you turn them on, then hold down the power button, they power off, keep holding it, then they enter pairing mode (when you'd expect them to now be off), ANC off is a weird experience.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Excellent noise cancelling and audio quality
detailedReviews 2: content: The Sony WH-1000XM6 over ear headphones are a great addition to the range. I have previously used the WH-1000XM3 and there is no doubt these are a great upgrade on those.
Minimalist eco friendly packaging is well thought out . The case is compact and well designed to maximise use of space. My only criticism over my previous pair would be the clasp closure compared to the zip closure.
Once opened the case is well utilised with the headphones neatly folded inside. The charge cable is nice and short and the 3.5mm jack included is really useful for using non bluetooth connection.
They were ready to use straight from the box with good charge and once the Sound Connect App was downloaded they connected seamlessly to my phone.
On ear they are extremely comfortable with good closure and soft padding. The actual sound is excellent and a definite improvement on my previous pair. The factory settings are great but you can modify using the App if required.
The noise cancelling feature works very well and really enhances the listening experience.
The sound when listening to movies is particularly impressive bringing you much closer to the action.
Music sound is great with a great balance outnof the box that again can be adapted to personal taste.
The ability to control the headphones with both touch and head gestures works very well.
The addition of voice control when using your phone is useful and has worked well so far.
Battery life is excellent and the fast charge to boost facility is another useful feature.
To summarise these headphones are very well designed, they look and sound great and have many great features. Highly recommended.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Great upgrade, excellent sound and noise cancelling
detailedReviews 3: content: If you have ever been in the market for some high-end noise cancelling headphones, you have likely seen something about the Sony WH1000XM series of headphones. They have consistently been at the top of the pack when it comes to best-in-class noise cancelling. Having owned nearly every iteration of the WH1000XM series, they have consistently improved with each version. However, one thing that wasn't quite an improvement to me in the last version (the XM5), was the lack of the ability to fold up the headphones for storage. While this may not seem like a big problem, it made the headphones, and the case take up more room when travelling. Thankfully, Sony as moved back to the folding design similar to the XM4.
- Setup -
As with previous versions, the XM6 are easy to set up. Requiring very little effort to complete. Turning on the headphones and connecting with the app makes everything seamless and very easy. It will walk you through configuring for you specific surroundings and allowing for the tweaks to suit your listening style. It also makes it easy to connect to a secondary device, which is excellent if you work in an office, like I do. I typically connect to my phone and computer. Seamlessly switching between them throughout the day.
- Features -
Like previous models, these are packed with excellent features that make the Sony an easy choice over other models. First, their noise canceling is second to none. They easily cut out the distracting sounds of the office, heavy rain from outside, or the engine noises from planes. You can comfortably keep them at a lower volume too, since you're not trying to make them louder than your surroundings. Somehow, these seem to do an even better job of noise cancelation than the XM5s as well. On top of the excellent noise canceling, they also sound amazing. The quality as I have been listening to any number of different things has been superb. Music, movies, games. They all sound excellent. Another great feature is how quickly these headphones charge. Even though the battery life is outstanding on these (I'm getting almost exactly 30 hours, just as Sony advertises), if you're in a pinch and need them for a quick listening session, you can get about 3 hours of listening time with less than 5 minutes of charging. So very useful. The audio quality while taking phone calls is excellent too. My friends haven't even noticed that I'm using headphones when talking to them. The headphones are also very comfortable. As you can imagine, working in an office, I wear headphones for most of the day. Either just listening to music, or for editing videos. Not only are they very comfortable to wear for the entire time, they also help keep me focused with the noise cancelation. They are lightweight and don't feel cumbersome to wear at all. They do feel like they are maybe tighter on the sides of my head than previous models, but not uncomfortably so. The touch controls work very well, and the new button designs are much easier to find without even thinking. The power button being a round shape, and the noise canceling being the rectangular button. The gesture to cup the right ear with your hand and hear your surroundings works so very well too. You can easily just cup the ear and hear whatever others are saying around you without needing to remove the headphones. Which is a great to keep you moving through the day and right back into the noise canceling when you're done talking.
Pros: Best-in-class noise canceling, outstanding audio quality for media and calls, very comfortable, great battery life and fast charging, excellent controls and features
Cons: There isn't much to say negatively about these headphones. They are improved in almost every way from the previous model, and far superior to nearly any other headphones on the market. They may cost a bit more, but as they say, you get what you pay for. If I were to make one nitpick, it would be that the charging cable is almost laughably short. But to be fair, you're not usually needing to use a long cable with them for charging.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Best-in-class noise cancelling, outstanding audio quality
detailedReviews 4: content: Literal 5 star review. No hyperbole.
I owned the XM2’s then didn’t need a new pair until they died. Those sounded incredible and my experience with them was great. Sticking with the Sony line was worth the cost of admission, so I bought the XM5’s which had just come out. After using them for a few days I returned them. They sounded incredible and much improved over my previous pair, but I hated that they didn’t fold down, plus it seemed the quality of the build was cheaper. I wanted to wait for the release of the XM6’s to see if they improved those concerns in any way, but in the meantime purchased the XM4’s to hold me over. Fast forward about 3 years to now and the XM6’s drop. Purchased them week one and as someone whose owned the XM2, XM4 and XM5 I can confidentally say that these are king of the hill to date.
It seems to me if you had anything prior to the XM5, these have noticeable sound improvements and noise cancelling. If you have the XM5 previously, any improvement is not overly obvious to maybe a non-audiophile/obsessive. Maybe the hear through is better a pinch, but the noise cancelling, tuning, and overall sound is not vastly different. However, the build quality seems better and the folding is back.
Recommend, that’s for sure, even with the $50 price increase.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: King of the hill, noticeable sound improvements
detailedReviews 5: content: I’m upgrading from my well loved Sony XH1000XM3 headphones. The XM6 are a worthwhile upgrade, the sound quality is excellent to my untrained ears.
The noise cancelling is top notch and I often am surprised when I take off my headphones how much noise is being canceled (in this case a loud old ac).
I will say that these headphones are less comfortable than the XM3 over prolonged listening sessions. I find myself experiencing minor ear lobe discomfort, and I have been adjusting the headphones position to try and find the sweet spot. I have yet to eliminate the discomfort entirely but comfort improved after the first week. These headphones clamp slightly harder than expected. It is noticeable but it is not too much pressure in my opinion.
Lastly, I notice the ear cups show grease from my skin very easily. I don’t consider myself greasy and I haven’t noticed this with other headphones. It is not a big deal right now but I worry that it will become a problem after years of use.
I’m hoping to use these for 5 years or more!
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Good sound, but comfort issues over time
detailedReviews 6: content: The XM6 continues Sony's tradition of gradual refinement, delivering modest but meaningful improvements over the XM5. Whilst the enhanced call quality and noise cancellation are genuinely impressive, most users would be perfectly content with the XM5 at a lower price point. Only consider upgrading if you're a proper headphone enthusiast or if crystal-clear call quality is absolutely essential to you. The XM4 remains a solid choice for comfort, but the XM5 represents the sweet spot of performance and value in the range.
I don't intend to boast, but just to clarify: I own the XM3, XM4, XM5, and now the XM6. If you're not headphone-mad like myself, an upgrade from XM5 to XM6 is absolute overkill. I'm a super heavy all-the-time user, so reducing the wear by having several headphones makes sense for me, but probably not for most other people.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Gradual refinement, ANC and call quality impressive
detailedReviews 7: content: I upgraded to XM6 from XM5.
The new hinge system, potentially addressing the hinge issues seen with the XM5. I like the folding design and a smaller carrying case.
The improvement on noise-canceling is notice-able. Other than that, not so much difference on sound quality.
The touch control pad looks more responsive.
Did not get a chance to test Microphone yet.
Overall, if you like better noise cancellation and the folding design, go for it. Otherwise, XM5 is still good.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Improved ANC and folding design, sound similar
detailedReviews 8: content: Phenomenal sound clarity; a clear step up even from the XM5s I currently own. ANC is basically unparalleled at this point. When on, entire world is basically on mute (especially while music is playing). Comfort level is great, even if the clamping is a bit stronger than the xm5. Owned a pair of airpods max for a few years, and let me just say as an iphone user, the xm6s blow them out of the water in so many categories that matter most (sound, comfort, portability, ANC). These are by far the best headphones I’ve ever worn and it’s not even close.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Phenomenal clarity, unparalleled ANC, best ever
detailedReviews 9: content: Best Sony headphones yet, improved on all of the previous versions. I had the XM4's, and skipped on the XM5's because of hinge issues and the sound was not as good. Now the XM6's incorporate the foldable design from the XM4's, and also the sound is way better, super well balanced, treble and midrange is clear, bass is balanced. The XM4's had bad treble and midrange clarity but the XM6's improved on that. The bass on the XM6's is also not as boomy as the XM4's. Good upgrade
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Best Sony headphones yet, improved sound
detailedReviews 10: content: I have never had Sony’s noise cancelling headphone before. I have used a couple units that I think would be considered direct competitors to this pair, but I think this one is unique enough to stand on its own without comparisons.
The packaging is what I would expect in 2025, all paper, with a cool curved cover, I was able to open the box, take everything out and drop it all in the recycling. That’s the way it should be. Inside the box, you’ll find the lovely, compact case for the XM6 that has a little pocket for your cords and is also color-matched, classy.
The headphone’s finishes feel quite nice and the hardware all feels sturdy- except for what I thought was too much twisting or flex on the headband. Right has a little red dot and left has blue, so easy, classic. The padding on the headband and earcups is quite soft, yet firm enough that they don’t break down under compression. The outer finish likes to catch little marks every time I let the cups touch each other, but the little marks wipe off easily.
I have a big head, so it’s often a gamble when ordering headphones that I have not been into the store to try on. This time I did not need to worry about fit; they go right on and seem to have more room for larger head people or letting the headband rest around your neck when you are not listening. The fit is not like any other over-ears I’ve worn. They fit very close on the ears, the fabric touches on mine, but it’s not noticeable. The headband has an arc to it and the whole array sits close on the ears and head. It seems the twist/flex on the headband is helpful for fitting the cans, adding a little more adjustment flexibility. There is very little inertia that might make them feel insecure when turning your head or walking.
These headphones as well as their direct competitors are not waterproof in any way. The noise cancellation relies on microphones positioned around the outside of the earcups to listen to sound around you so it can apply “opposite” sounds, so your ears never hear most of the environmental noise around you. I can still hear incidental noises and voices, alarms, car horns, crosswalk signals… all the things you need to hear to be safe – the noise cancellation weeds out so much traffic noise it’s amazing. I was also amazed at how much background noise is just always present even when we think it’s quiet.
Connectivity is excellent, I have had no trouble pairing or operating the headphones with Windows 11, Windows 10, an iPhone 16, iPhone 12 Pro, iPad, Android, and my Mac with no trouble at all.
The sound quality is right there with what I would expect from Sony’s flagship headphones. First things first, to get the absolute best sound quality, I installed the app and went to the “System” section to disable “Connect to 2 devices simultaneously” – this allows the headphones Bluetooth radio run at it’s maximum bitrate. When I’m connected to 2 devices, the sound is very good, completely acceptable. When connected to just 1 device, there is a clear improvement in detail and airiness. With multipoint enabled, I did find some extremely demanding tracks like Florence & The Machine’s “Spectrum” will quickly show why the convenience of multipoint does have a cost in sound quality. Rumbling bass in Battlefield 2042, precision spatial positioning in movies and shows sounds great using the Cinema setting.
When listening to “wall of sound” sort of songs, I found the exterior noise level does affect the sound quality- as the noise cancellation is working very hard, but this has only shown itself a couple of times. It’s quite well controlled and better than a big name competitor I’ve used.
On reading about the 360 Reality surround feature, I thought I might be able to use it with any audio, but it seems to be limited to a few apps you have to install and use the content in there to enable the 360 Reality. I skipped it, I don’t need my new headphones to come with another monthly bill.
Using the XM6 for a very long time, I will notice pressure points on the back of the earcups, but a little bit of adjustment of the headband toward the front or back of my head will make that better. I didn’t find them to be particularly hot to wear, but they are the warmest of the ones I’ve tried (they’re all hot).
The Sony XM6 is my new daily driver, there are so many features and customizations with the app that these headphones are able to fill all of my needs with one pair. Recommended.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Expensive but worth it, not disappointed
