Sony WH-1000XM6
VerifiedMPNs: WH-1000XM6, WH1000XM6B, WH1000XM6L and WH1000XM6S2 reviews
Using the Sony WH-1000XM6 has felt like stepping into a quieter, more comfortable world whenever I need it. From the moment I first put them on, the softness of the ear cushions stood out and the clamping force felt just right, firm enough to stay secure but gentle enough for long sessions. I quickly noticed how light they feel compared to earlier versions, which made a big difference during long work days and flights.
The noise cancellation impressed me the most. It cuts out low rumbles and background chatter so effectively that I often forget where I am, and the adaptive system adjusts smoothly without me having to think about it. Voices still slip through a little when I am in very loud places, but the overall effect is incredibly calming. The sound quality is full and rich with a clean separation between instruments, and the bass has a satisfying depth without overwhelming the mids. Whether I was listening to music, watching movies, or taking calls, everything came through with clarity.
Using the gesture controls took a little getting used to, but once I settled into the motions they felt natural. The quick attention feature, where covering an ear cup lowers the volume instantly, became one of the things I relied on most in daily life. Battery life has been strong and consistent, lasting me several days of mixed use before I even think about charging.
Call quality is better than I expected, especially in quiet environments, though windy areas can still cause slight issues. Still, conversations generally sounded crisp and natural. Switching between devices also works smoothly, which makes it easy to move from my laptop to my phone without interruption.
Overall, my experience with the WH-1000XM6 has been one of effortless comfort and reliable performance. They create a sense of calm whether I am traveling, working, or relaxing, and each feature feels refined rather than gimmicky. It is the kind of device that fades into the background and simply makes daily life a little better.
So far so good. After using the WH-1000XM2 for many years they finally died on me and so I decided to update to the latest model. Compared to the XM2, I finally can charge using USB-C and connect to multiple devices which is a the standard nowadays but still great nonetheless.
The headphones are a few grams lighter which is always good when wearing them for long hours. I think they could have use a slightly thicker foam on top of the headphones for added comfort though. They're still quite bulky headphones so they'll keep your ears warm but not uncomfortably so.
The noise cancelling is absolytely great it progressed several levels since the XM2. It's kills all the white noise around me. Compared to AirPods Pro 2 it's night and day, I couldn't be more pleased. The ambient noise feature is also great, it feels very natural. The sound quality is great as well. I haven't tinkered with the equalizers yet (available in the app) but the default profile suits me great. Regarding the battery life, they arrived with 73% and after mulitple days with 5/6h of listing I'm now still at 13%, so it's clearly good enough for me. I think I'll end up charging it once per week if not less.
Finally I considered getting the XM5 but they didn't fold which they rectified with this version. The case for transport is nice as well with a magnet to open/close it, which is way more convenient than a zip.
This is an early review as I've only been using the headphones for a week. I'll try to update it later but so far I can only recommend them to you.
6 months later I still love it!
Follow-up · Since the initial review I have used the headphones on a flight and multiple trains. I can confirm the ANC is really good. Once it is on at around 50% I cannot hear anything else but my music. Obviously it's not magical and sudden lound sounds aren't completely blocked but the background noises are. In terms of sounds quality the jump isn't as great but it sounds great to me. Overall a great set of headphones and a great update.
Purchased in at Sony Online store.
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