Review Sony WH-1000XM6: In almost everything better (but with a disadvantage)

Sony has released a new headphone! In this review you can read why the Sony WH-1000XM6 is the best headphones of the moment.

Review Sony WH-1000XM6

Every time Sony releases a new headphone, we are again curious about what has been improved. The WH-1000XM4 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 were actually already excellent headphones that could not be improved much more.

Sony did not agree with that and that is why the company now comes with the WH-1000XM6. These brand new wireless headphones with Noise Cancelling has a considerable list of improvements and new functions. But is that also enough to the fierce price tag of 449 euros Good to talk?

Well -known looks, but slightly different

When you see the XM6 for the first time, you think that not much has changed. But if you put it next to the XM5, a few things stand out immediately. The headband is a bit thicker and somewhat wider. In addition, the buttons have been given a slightly different shape, but they are still in the same place. The earcups are also slightly different and have a slightly different shape.

That the buttons have a different shape may sound negligible, but secretly that is very nice. You can now feel the shape on which button your finger is. With the previous version it was sometimes difficult to distinguish the on/off button from the button for switching on and off the noise reduction.

This XM6 has also resolved a small annoyance of the XM5. When you hung the previous headphones around your neck, the opening of the earcups was forward. That was not handy and it looked quite weird. With the XM6 the openings of the shells are facing your chest again, as it should be.

The WH-1000XM6 headphones are available in black, blue and silver. There is no pink variant at the moment, but it could come later. With the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones you will again get a handy storage box.

In the box there is also a USB-A to USB-C cable to charge and headphone cable (mini-jack) to listen to music. It is not possible to listen to music via the USB-C cable.

To optimally use the headphones, you must also install the Sound Connect app. The app is also available on Apple and Android, but not for Windows computers.

Sound and noise reduction

To fall immediately with the door: the Sony WH-1000XM6 sounds good. Very good even, but we also expected that. The XM5 was already pleasant to listen to, but the bass always dominated a bit.

That is a thing of the past with the Sony WH-1000XM6, because the sound sounds a lot better balanced. Do you like more Bas more beautiful? Then you always have the option to set the sound more to your taste with the equalizer in the app.

The active noise reduction (or noise canceling) was already very good with this series of headphones. And with every iteration, Sony knows how to get a little more out of the noise reduction. That is also the case with the XM6.

During the review of the Sony WH-1000XM6 we regularly changed to the XM5. After attentive listening, the Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) of the XM6 could block slightly more ambient noise. This also partly has to do with the improved closure of the headphones around your ears.

Biggest improvements and other functions

The Sony WH-1000XM6 has a number of improvements compared to the predecessor. We have listed the most important different ones for you.

• Foldable design: You can fold the XM6 again, making it easier to carry;
• Headband is firmer and wider: The headphones feel a bit firmer because of the wider headband;
• Improved Noise Canceling: With twelve microphones (instead of eight) and a new chip, the noise reduction of the WH-1000XM6 has become a bit better again;
• Better balanced sound: The sound of the XM6 sounds a bit better and feels more balanced.

• Bluetooth 5.3: The XM6 has support for Bluetooth 5.3, LC3 and Le Audio (and soon also Auracast);
• Charging and listening at the same time: Unlike the XM5 you can listen with the XM6 music via Bluetooth while charging the headphones via USB-C;
• Improved conversation quality: You can now be heard better in noisy environments;
• New Luistermodi: The XM6 has three different modes to listen to music, these are ‘standard’, background music ‘and’ cinema ‘;
• More compact carrying case: The new, more compact carrying case now has a magnetic closure.

Many things also remain the same. For example, the headphones still have headphone connection (mini-jack) to listen to music wired. Unfortunately, the XM6 has no IPX classification.

In addition to noise reduction, the XM6 again has a kind of transparency mode, called ambient noise. Because of this you still hear everything in your area when you wear the headphones.

In addition, the ‘speak-to-the-chat’ function is back. With this the music is temporarily put on mute (actually it is very soft) when you start talking. The headphones also automatically break the music when you take it off and turn off automatically after a while. You can adjust all these functions in the app as desired.

Furthermore, the XM6 can be connected with two devices at the same time and switch itself between the two devices. The right ear shell is still touch sensitive, and with that you can, among other things, turn the music harder or softer or skip it to another song.

The battery life is again good enough, because it is thirty hours (with noise reduction). But it would be nice if Sony could get something out of this. Some headphones from other manufacturers are more than passed over this.

Wearing comfort Sony WH-1000XM6

If you were wearing the XM5 for a longer period of time, the headband could feel a bit annoying. The headband of the XM6 is now somewhat wider and flatter. That is why it is (especially if you wear it longer) a bit nicer on your head than the previous version of Sony’s headphones.

The ear cushions are soft and feel good. The closure around your head is good, even when you wear glasses. It is a pity that the cushions feel a little thinner than with the previous version of the headphones. Also this time the cushions can sweat if you wear the headphones for longer periods.

Do you have to switch?

Do you already have a Sony WH-1000XM5? Then you don’t have to run to the store yet. The upgrades are fun, but it is better to wait a while until the WH-1000XM6 is reduced. The WH-1000XM5 is now a lot cheaper to be found and that is also a very good headphone from Sony.

• View the Sony WH-1000XM5 at Amazon
• View the Sony WH-1000XM5 at Bol

Do you have an older version, such as the Sony WH-1000XM4 or the Sony WH-1000XM3? Then the switch to the WH-1000XM6 is definitely worth considering. The noise reduction and sound quality is then a lot better with the newer model.

• View the Sony WH-1000XM6 at Bol
• View the Sony WH-1000XM6 at Amazon
• View the Sony WH-1000XM6 at Coolblue

Review Sony WH-1000XM6

We have to be honest: the Sony WH-1000XM6 is a very good headphone. The new functions, the more compact storage box and excellent noise reduction makes this one of the best headphones you can now buy.

The speaking-to-chat function still works great and the improved conversation quality is a plus. Just keep in mind that your voice will sound a bit artificial in a very loud environment. The new listening modes are nice to try once, but then you can safely ignore them.

The sound quality is of course the most important thing you buy headphones for and that was already good with the previous version. But the XM6 has that little bit extra, which makes listening to music even better and feels more balanced.

Yet there are also some disadvantages at Sony’s newest showpiece. The battery life of (again) 30 hours with noise reduction is sufficient, but that may be a bit better. You can also not listen to music via a USB-C cable.

In addition, the headphones have become more expensive and that is a bit of a swallow. The previous XM5 was already quite pricey with the launch and this new version is even a bit more expensive.

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