If you’ve come here seeking another gushing Sony WH-1000XM6 review, prepare to be disappointed. Make no mistake, Sony’s latest over-the-ear noise-canceling headphone is slightly better than its XM5 predecessor, which was slightly better (or slightly worse, depending on who you ask) than its XM4 predecessor — which was very good. The XM6 is also very good (though not without flaws), but it’s $450 and simply not worth it for most people. That’s right, I said it, and I’ll make my case below.
The exception: If you’re a tech-savvy audiophile with a budget that can accommodate these, I suspect you’ll love them — and invite you to read my esteemed colleague’s review over at Engadget for more on that perspective. My more “civilian” take is for people who merely enjoy music and wonder if fancy, high-falutin’ headphones are worth the splurge — and if state-of-the-art ANC (active noise-cancelling) can bathe them in total silence. Short answers: no and no. Here’s my Sony WH-1000XM6 review.
Rick Broida/Yahoo
VERDICT: Sony’s latest iteration of its popular headphone boasts a lot of sophisticated tech, but I didn’t find it demonstrably better than its predecessor. Instead, it’s priced $50 higher and still saddled with a poor companion app. It’s not the noise-canceling champ, either.
- Great overall sound
- Folding design
- Easy-to-use touch controls
- Lots of advanced features for those who want them
- Priced $50 higher than previous model
- No printed operating instructions
- Very little padding in the headband
- Some confusing operations/features
- Limited spatial-audio capabilities
Sony WH-1000XM6: Is it comfortable?
I don’t care how great a headphone sounds; if it’s uncomfortable, it’s not going on my head. Although the XM6’s earcups are cushy and pleasant about the ears, the headband has surprisingly little padding — especially compared with the XM5 and even Sony’s budget WH-CH720N. And although it’s also a little wider, which helps to “spread out” the contact with the top of your head, I think the lack of padding results in a little more pressure — not to the point of discomfort, but to the point of confusion: Why would a $450 headphone skimp out on this?
(I’ll admit to some bias here: As a general rule I find all over-the-ear headphones a bit uncomfortable, especially after extended wear. I can accommodate earbuds much more comfortably, for much longer periods. Your mileage may vary.)
Interestingly, in crafting the XM6, Sony returned to the hinged, folding design of the XM4 — ostensibly to address complaints with the non-folding XM5. But what was gained by the change? The XM6’s hard-sided carrying case is only a hair smaller than the XM5’s, so it doesn’t save any real space in your bag. I guess the upside is that now you have a choice: The XM5 is still available for purchase (and often at a discount).
Unlike the XM5 (but like the XM4), the XM6 has a folding design. But it really doesn’t net you much in terms of portability. I do like the case’s magnetic clasp, though — much better than a zipper. (Rick Broida/Yahoo)
Sony WH-1000XM6: Is it easy to set up and use?
In a word: no. The user experience here is mediocre at best, especially if you’re someone who struggles with technology. Sony provides no useful printed instructions, just a link to an online manual (which you can also access by scanning a QR code). That manual, a PDF, is too small to read comfortably on a phone — and it spans 145 pages. Do you really want to invest that kind of time learning to use a pair of headphones? I don’t.
Granted, you don’t need to study and master every single feature. Surely it can’t be difficult or time-consuming just to pair and start using the XM6? Well… On my iPhone 16e, I experienced the same mystifying setup hiccup as with other Sony audio products I’ve tested: Within the Sound Connect app, it took well over a minute for the headphones to appear. Thankfully, there’s now a warning that it might take this long, but why does that even happen? Most Bluetooth products are detected within seconds. This inexplicable delay makes you think something isn’t working.
With that initial step done, however, you can indeed start enjoying your tunes. The XM6’s physical controls are simple enough: double-tap the right earcup to play/pause; swipe up or down to raise or lower volume, forward or back to skip or repeat tracks. (You can disable these controls if you like, but you can’t modify them. That’s unfortunate, because I’d really like some way to quickly switch between the three listening modes, without having to use the app.)
The XM6 has just two buttons: power and NC/AMB (which toggles between noise-canceling and transparency modes). The power button design is much-improved over the XM5’s, and the right-earcup touch controls work very well. (Rick Broida/Yahoo)
As expected from a premium headphone, the XM6 will automatically pause playback if you remove them and then restart when you put them on again. I especially like the Quick Attention feature: If someone approaches you with a question or you want to hear an onboard announcement from the flight crew, you can just lay your palm flat against the right earcup. Doing so instantly disables ANC, lowers the playback volume to almost zero and enables the microphones so you can hear clearly.
Similarly, the press of the NC/AMB button on the underside of the left earcup toggles between noise-cancelling and transparency modes. You can also configure that button so a double-press performs a Quick Access action (explained below) or toggles the microphones on and off (which could be helpful if you’re on a work call and just need to listen). A triple-press can engage a second Quick Access if you like, but that’s it as far as control customization.
Unfortunately, that kind of simplicity is elusive in many other aspects of the XM6, largely due to Sony’s app. Let’s litigate it before moving on to sound quality and ANC — where, I assure you, these headphones step up.
Sony WH-1000XM6: What should I know about the app?
While the XM6 itself is reasonably uncomplicated, Sony’s app makes me feel like I need a degree in audio engineering to understand the various features and terminology. Explore a bit and you’ll encounter the likes of 360 Reality Audio, DSEE Extreme, LE Audio Priority, Adaptive Sound Control and so on. (Meanwhile, why does the app have a generic, non-branded name that makes it harder to locate than would, say, “Sony Audio”?)
Indeed, while Sound Connect has improved somewhat with recent updates, it remains a usability disappointment: Too many options and features scattered across too many different screens, many of them with confusing or incomplete explanations.
Screenshots from the Sound, System and Services pages in the Sony Sound Connect app. As you can see, some options have pull-downs, some have gear icons, some having nothing at all (see “Listening mode,” left). Whether you find this confusing or just annoying depends on your level of tech-savviness, but either way it’s unacceptable for a $450 headphone. (Rick Broida/Yahoo)
For example, in the Services menu, there’s something called Spotify Tap. I have a Spotify subscription, but I don’t recognize the “Tap” part. Sony’s little information-bug icon reveals this explanation: “Spotify Tap playback is music to play your ears [sic], quite literally.” Huh? It goes on: “Just tap on the headphones while you are putting them on or press the button on the speaker to play music directly.” Huh again? Tap where on the headphones? What button on what speaker?
It turns out Spotify Tap is a feature that instantly launches the service by way of the headphones, rather than having to manually open the Spotify app and start playback. (Think: Netflix shortcut button on your TV remote.) That’s cool, but Sony’s explanations left me scratching my head. For the record, this same Quick Access capability is now available for Amazon Music, Apple Music and YouTube Music as well.
Over in the Sound settings page,…