Sony
Sony WH-1000XM6 Review: Still the King of Noise Cancelling Headphones
The XM6 is iterative on the XM5, but it's still the best noise-cancelling headphone you can buy. Six weeks of daily testing, including a transatlantic flight.
What we like
- +Industry-leading ANC (still beats Bose and Apple)
- +30-hour battery is real, not marketing
- +Multi-device pairing that actually works seamlessly
- +Comfortable for full workdays — I forget I'm wearing them
What we don't
- −$449 is up from XM5's launch ($399)
- −Sound signature is warm, not neutral — bass heads only
- −No lossless over Bluetooth (LDAC is the ceiling)
The headphones I keep coming back to
I owned the XM5. I bought the XM6 the week they launched. Here’s what changed, what didn’t, and whether you should upgrade.
What’s actually new
Sony positioned the XM6 as a refinement, not a revolution. After six weeks, that framing is correct:
- Better ANC — not by a lot, but noticeable on planes
- Improved call quality — the XM5 was bad on calls, the XM6 is actually usable
- New hinge design — folds flat and folds up, like the XM4
- Touch controls feel snappier — minor but appreciated
What’s NOT new:
- Battery life (still excellent)
- App (same Sony Headphones Connect)
- Multipoint behavior (still good, still occasionally flaky on Windows)
ANC: still the king
This is the headline feature and Sony still wins it. On a recent NYC → SFO flight, the XM6 killed engine drone completely and reduced cabin chatter to a whisper. The AirPods Max (still my favorite for Apple ecosystem users) wasn’t close.
For working in cafes, on transit, in open offices — nothing else I’ve tested comes close.
The honest complaints
1. The price hike. The XM6 launched at $449. The XM5 launched at $399. In a market where competition is fiercer than in 2022, this is annoying.
2. The bass. The XM6 has Sony’s signature warm, bass-forward tuning. If you want analytical/neutral sound for mixing or audio work, look at the Sennheiser HD 660S2 or Audeze Maxwell instead.
3. No lossless. LDAC is the ceiling. For lossless audio, you need wired headphones (or the AirPods Max with Apple Music).
Should you upgrade from XM5?
Honestly? Probably not.
The improvements are real but incremental. Unless the XM6’s better call quality matters to your work (it does for me), the XM5 is 95% as good for $100 less now.
Should you buy XM6 vs AirPods Max?
If you’re all-Apple: AirPods Max, especially the USB-C version. If you split time between Apple and Windows/Android: Sony XM6, no contest. If ANC is your #1 priority: Sony XM6.
My final take
The XM6 is the best noise-cancelling headphone you can buy in 2026. The price is up, but only by $50 over the previous king. If you travel or work in noise, you will not regret this purchase.
Skip if you already own XM5. Buy if you don’t.
Our verdict
If you travel, work in cafes, or just want silence in a noisy house — buy these. Nothing else touches the ANC.
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