Sony WH-1000XM6: The New Benchmark in ANC Headphones

Product: Sony WH-1000XM6 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones

By: Matthew (September 19, 2025)

Rating: 4/5

The Sony WH-1000XM6 takes the crown for noise-canceling over-ears, building on the XM5 with foldable hinges for better portability, a wider headband for all-day comfort, and a new QN3 processor that delivers richer, more controlled audio from its 30mm drivers—think smoother treble, punchier bass without boom, and crystal-clear mids that shine in vocals and podcasts. ANC is class-leading, blocking out airplane roar (up to 80dB) and office chatter better than Bose's QuietComfort Ultra, thanks to adaptive processing and a "noise shaper" for seamless transitions. The 10-band EQ in the Sony Sound Connect app lets you fine-tune everything, while features like 360 Reality Audio Upmix add immersive spatial sound to movies and music. Battery lasts up to 40 hours (30 with ANC on), with a quick 3-minute charge yielding 3 hours of playtime via USB-C. Touch controls are intuitive (swipe for volume/skip), and head gestures for calls are a fun touch. Call quality is improved with better wind noise reduction. At $450, it's pricier than the XM5's current deals, and it lacks multipoint Bluetooth 5.3 or IP rating for workouts, but for travelers and commuters craving silence and quality sound, these are unbeatable.

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Category: Headphones