Sony WH-1000XM6 Review: The King Returns

The Sony WH-1000XM6 takes the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach to design, refining rather than reinventing its predecessor. The most significant change addresses one of the WH-1000XM5's biggest criticisms: the non-foldable design returns to a foldable mechanism, making the headphones far more portable.

The carrying case benefits immediately from this change. Now more compact, it features a clever magnetic closure system that eliminates the need to fumble with a zipper around the entire perimeter. This small detail makes daily use significantly more convenient, whether you're pulling the headphones out of a bag or securing them for travel.

Premium Materials and Impeccable Finishing

Sony hasn't compromised on build quality. The earcups feature thick, matte plastic that feels substantial and durable. The headband incorporates metal reinforcement for longevity, while vegan leather covers the textile components. The assembly is flawless, and the mechanisms feel robust enough to withstand years of folding and unfolding.

One minor caveat: the matte finish on the earcups, while elegant, attracts fingerprints and oils readily. If you handle your headphones with greasy fingers, you'll notice. It's a small price to pay for the premium aesthetic, but worth noting.

Comfort Taken to New Heights

Sony listened to feedback about the WH-1000XM5's headband pressure. The WH-1000XM6 features a noticeably wider headband that distributes weight more evenly across the top of the head, eliminating the pressure point that some users experienced with the previous generation.

Combined with thick memory foam ear cushions, the result is comfort that rivals even Bose's legendary QuietComfort series. During our testing period, we wore the WH-1000XM6 for hours on end without any desire to remove them. At just 254 grams, they're incredibly light, contributing to the disappearing-on-your-head sensation.

The earcups now angle slightly more to better match the natural shape of human ears. This subtle change improves both comfort and passive isolation. As a bonus, it eliminates the guessing game of which earcup goes on which ear—the orientation is now immediately obvious.

Sony has maintained a hybrid control approach that works brilliantly. Under the right earcup, you'll find a USB-C port exclusively for charging. Notably, you can now listen to music while charging, a restriction lifted from previous generations. However, the USB-C port does not support audio transmission—a baffling omission in 2025.

For wired listening, Sony includes a 3.5mm jack on the left earcup. While this provides universal compatibility, it feels anachronistic when most modern smartphones have abandoned the headphone jack. Users seeking lossless audio quality will need to rely on LDAC codec over Bluetooth, which is only supported by select Android devices. iPhone users are limited to AAC codec.

Physical Buttons and Touch Controls

Adjacent to the 3.5mm jack sits the power/pairing button and a dedicated ANC/transparency toggle. You can customize the toggle with double or triple press actions to launch Spotify Tap or Amazon Music directly—a thoughtful touch for frequent listeners.

The right earcup's entire surface functions as a touch-sensitive control panel. Large and responsive, it handles playback, track changes, and volume adjustment flawlessly. After years of refinement, Sony's touch controls are among the best in the industry, responding accurately without accidental activations.

Sony's companion app represents both a strength and potential weakness. Sound Connect offers the most comprehensive feature set of any headphone app on the market. The sheer number of options can overwhelm newcomers, but audiophiles and tweakers will find customization possibilities that competitors simply cannot match.

Equalizer and Sound Customization

The 10-band manual equalizer provides precise control over the frequency response. Sony includes numerous presets, including a new gaming mode specifically tuned for FPS titles that emphasizes spatial cues and footstep clarity. You can also personalize the sound signature through a series of hearing tests that account for your individual auditory characteristics.

Adaptive Noise Cancellation

The ANC system adapts to your activity automatically. Maximum isolation kicks in during transportation, while a more moderate setting activates when walking in the city to maintain environmental awareness. You can customize these profiles extensively or disable automatic switching entirely.

The "Speak-to-Chat" feature automatically engages transparency mode when you start speaking. It can be disabled for users who find it triggers too eagerly or prefer manual control, but when it works—and it generally does—it's remarkably convenient for brief conversations.

Advanced Features

Head gesture controls allow you to answer calls by nodding or decline by shaking your head. Automatic wear detection pauses playback when you remove the headphones. Multipoint connectivity seamlessly switches between two devices.

Thanks to Bluetooth 5.3, the WH-1000XM6 supports LE Audio and Auracast (currently in beta). This future-proofs the headphones for the next generation of Bluetooth streaming, allowing you to connect to public Auracast broadcasts at airports, gyms, or venues. During testing, we couldn't connect to a JBL Smart Tx transmitter, suggesting the beta implementation needs refinement before full compatibility is achieved.

It's difficult to imagine a feature Sony hasn't included. The depth of customization is unparalleled in the category.

While Bose pioneered active noise cancellation, Sony and Apple have caught up and, in some cases, surpassed the Massachusetts company in recent years. Sony couldn't rest on the WH-1000XM5's laurels, even though it remained competitive against newer challengers.

The WH-1000XM6 incorporates the HD QN3 chip, which Sony claims processes audio seven times faster than the previous generation. More impressively, the headphones pack 12 microphones—four times more than the WH-1000XM5—to capture and cancel ambient noise from all directions.

Real-World Performance

The results speak for themselves: the WH-1000XM6 delivers the most effective active noise cancellation we've tested. On airplanes, train journeys, and daily commutes, aerodynamic rumble and rolling noise simply vanish, creating a profound bubble of silence that lets you focus entirely on your music or work.

Like all ANC systems, it cannot completely eliminate human voices, but it attenuates them significantly. In open-plan offices, conversations become muffled whispers rather than distracting interruptions. For constant low-frequency drone—airplane engines, HVAC systems, subway rumble—the cancellation borders on magical.

Natural Transparency Mode

The 12-microphone array pays dividends in transparency mode as well. The external sound reproduction sounds remarkably natural, accurately preserving spatial positioning and timbre. You can hold conversations without removing the headphones, and the system handles wind noise admirably during outdoor use.

For phone calls, Sony employs six of the 12 microphones in a beamforming array directed toward your mouth. Combined with noise reduction algorithms, your voice remains clear and intelligible even in very noisy environments. Some artifacts appear in extreme conditions, but your voice stays isolated and comprehensible—exactly what matters for communication.

Sony has built its reputation on audio engineering, and the WH-1000XM series has consistently delivered performance that punches well above typical Bluetooth headphone standards. While these aren't audiophile-grade open-back headphones, they bring impressive fidelity to the wireless category.

The 30mm drivers feature carbon fiber composite domes engineered for high rigidity. For the first time, Sony consulted three renowned mastering engineers to tune the sound signature, and their influence is audible.

Bass Response: Powerful Yet Precise

True to Sony's house sound, the bass takes a forward position in the mix. But don't mistake "forward" for "bloated." The low-frequency response is powerful, tight, and remarkably articulate. Each kick drum impact has weight and definition without bleeding into the midrange or creating muddiness.

The headphones excel with bass-heavy genres like electronic music and hip-hop, delivering satisfying impact and rumble. But they're equally adept with jazz and funk, where the bass line needs to be present and precise without overwhelming. Acoustic bass instruments sound natural and lifelike, with proper texture and decay.

Midrange: Warmth and Nuance

The midrange frequencies shine with exceptional detail and presence. Vocals sound warm and full of nuance, capturing the subtle inflections that bring performances to life. Whether it's Leonard Cohen's gravelly rasp or Alison Krauss's crystalline clarity, the WH-1000XM6 reproduces vocal timbre with fidelity.

Acoustic guitars have body and resonance. Pianos sound full-bodied and natural. String instruments achieve the right balance of warmth and definition. The midrange never feels recessed or scooped, even with the emphasized bass response.

Treble: Refined Without Harshness

Sony has found an ideal treble balance. The high frequencies extend well, bringing airiness and sparkle to the presentation without ever becoming harsh or sibilant, even at high volumes. Cymbals shimmer naturally. Hi-hats cut through the mix clearly. Violin harmonics extend with proper texture.

This refined treble tuning makes the headphones suitable for extended listening sessions. There's no fatigue, no harshness, just smooth, detailed high-frequency reproduction that complements rather than dominates.

Soundstage and Imaging

For closed-back headphones, the soundstage is admirably spacious. Instruments occupy distinct positions in the stereo field, creating good separation and depth. While they can't match open-back headphones for sheer expansiveness, the WH-1000XM6 creates an engaging spatial presentation that draws you into recordings.

The imaging is precise enough to pinpoint individual instruments and sounds within the mix. Live recordings and immersive electronic tracks benefit particularly from this spatial accuracy, creating a convincing sense of being surrounded by the performance.

Dynamic Range and Codec Performance

The dynamic contrast is superb, as demonstrated by classical music that transitions from delicate passages to explosive climaxes. The headphones handle these shifts with aplomb, never compressing or losing control.

Using the LDAC codec with compatible Android devices unlocks even more dynamic range and detail. The difference is subtle but noticeable, particularly with high-resolution audio files. Unfortunately, iPhone users are limited to AAC codec, which, while competent, doesn't match LDAC's fidelity.

Special Mention: 360 Upmix Cinema Mode

The new 360 Upmix algorithm for cinema mode deserves special recognition. When watching films or series, it emphasizes dialogue clarity and creates a more enveloping soundstage. The effect is so convincing that switching back to music mode feels restrictive. It's a brilliant implementation that makes these headphones exceptional for video content.

Sony rates the WH-1000XM6 at approximately 30 hours of playback with ANC enabled. In real-world testing, we approached this figure consistently, which is respectable if not class-leading. The Marshall Monitor III ANC offers longer endurance, but 30 hours is more than sufficient for most users—covering several days of commuting or multiple long-haul flights.

The quick charge function provides excellent convenience: three minutes of charging yields three hours of playback. A full charge from empty takes approximately 2.5 hours.

Notably, you can now listen to music while charging, a limitation Sony has finally removed from previous generations. However, the USB-C port only supports charging, not audio transmission. For wired listening, you must use the 3.5mm jack, which feels increasingly anachronistic in 2025.

At €449 (or $399 in the US), the WH-1000XM6 sits firmly in the premium tier alongside the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Apple AirPods Max, and Sennheiser Momentum 4. You're paying for Sony's decades of audio expertise, best-in-class noise cancellation, and the most feature-complete experience available.

Compared to alternatives:

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra (€400): Excellent comfort and ANC, but less detailed sound and fewer features
• Apple AirPods Max (€579): Superior build and spatial audio for Apple users, but significantly more expensive and heavier
• Sennheiser Momentum 4 (€350): Great sound and 60-hour battery, but ANC lags behind and less refined app
• Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 (€429): Audiophile sound quality, but weaker ANC and fewer smart features

The WH-1000XM6 offers the best all-around package, excelling in every category without significant weaknesses. If you prioritize ANC and features, it's the clear choice. If you value only pure sound quality for quiet environments, the Px7 S3 might appeal more.

Sony has reclaimed its throne. The WH-1000XM6 doesn't revolutionize the category—it refines an already excellent formula to near perfection. The return of the foldable design addresses a major criticism. The improved comfort rivals Bose. The 12-microphone ANC system sets a new benchmark. The audio quality showcases Sony's engineering prowess.

While the complex app might intimidate casual users and the lack of USB-C audio feels like a missed opportunity, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise stellar package. At €449, it's expensive, but you receive the most complete, most capable premium wireless headphone available.

For those who demand the absolute best and refuse to compromise on noise cancellation, audio quality, or features, the Sony WH-1000XM6 delivers on every promise. The king has returned, and the crown fits perfectly.