I should start by reiterating that Sony's WH-1000XM6 are good headphones. They're the whole package — solid sound, excellent ANC, and a comfortable fit. I'm not really even sure if Sony is capable of making bad headphones, but some issues hold them back from a full mention on our best headphones list.
I'm not going to go into detail (yet), but they aren't enough of a step up from the old version to make much sense if you're an XM5 user. Sure, there are some nice extras and improvements, but not enough to justify buying a completely new pair of headphones.
Still not quite on board? Let me try and save you $449 and let you stick with your already excellent headphones.
Minor design updates
Yes, there are some nice upgrades here over the previous model. That horrible, thin headband has been widened and softened to make them more comfortable for long-term wear, and... they've got a new shape?
Pop the two headphones side by side without their cases nearby, and I'd say that most people would be hard-pressed to work out which is which. I can, but I'm a headphone nerd that has to spend 8 hours a day poring over press images and spec sheets. I'm a sucker for details, and it still took me a while to get to the point that I could tell.
The headband is now slightly more comfortable, but it still impacts the same pain point as the old model. It just takes a bit longer to become uncomfortable. Alas, the covering on the headphones still picks up skin and hair grease from across the room in a zeptosecond.
The earpads still get far too warm during use, and the folding hinges are even more concerning than the well-documented weak point on the XM5. That feels... not good?
Admittedly, if you're a hard case connoisseur, then the excellent protective case that comes with the XM6 is potentially reason alone to upgrade. Is it worth the extra, however? I'm going to go with "probably not."
A new sonic profile, for better or worse
The WH-1000XM5 sounded good. So good, in fact, that they were probably the best sounding headphones at their price when they first launched, perhaps only bested by the bulkier Bowers & Wilkins option that cost slightly more.
Now, however, the XM series has far more competition, from the now similarly priced Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3, Sennheiser's noise cancelers and even the old model. Which remains very much on sale and available for potential buyers.
To stand up to this new competition, the Sony headphones should sound better than the old model. But they don't. Instead, they sound different from the old model, and I've discovered that your mileage may vary when it comes to their sound profile.
They're less spacious and airy than the XM5, and there's less emphasis on the lower mid-range. Instead, Sony has focused on vocal clarity. That means vocals sound incredible, but the focus has left some interesting sonic gaps. There's some roll-off at the very top end, leaving the detail feeling flat. There's still too much low-end emphasis as you skate down the frequency range, which affects the balance with those effervescent vocals.
Personally, I actually prefer the sound of the XM5, and they're not a pair of headphones I reach for when I'm looking for good sound. If you choose to upgrade to the XM6, you're not going to get a big jump up in sound, but rather a lateral step in audio focus. And it's one that might leave you feeling hollow.
ANC improvements, but the same battery
Look, the ANC out of the WH-1000XM6 is excellent. It does a fantastic job of keeping out the noise of your commute, or your busy office or the plane engine that's just outside your window seat. They're a great option if you want some of the best noise canceling around, but they are by no means the only option.
The XM5's noise canceling is almost as good as that found in the XM6, with only some of the higher range sounds making it through where the XM6 block them out. They still rank amongst some of the best noise-canceling headphones, however, particularly if you don't want to spend over $400.
Proving that even better ANC is possible are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Bose has pretty much cemented its place in the noise-canceling throne room at this point with the Ultra Headphones, with ANC that's better than literally everything else you can buy right now.
That's not to mention that other brands are starting to catch up as well. The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 block out nearly as much noise, but don't have the sound-profile shifting issue that both Sony and Bose still contend with. Sennheiser's noise-canceling steps it up with each release as well.
If you've already got the XM5, the ANC upgrades simply aren't worth it. Your headphones have ANC that gets as close as possible.
30 hours of battery life is the same as the previous model, unfortunately. It's always nice to see improvement in this area, but this doesn't massively warrant any kind of upgrade.
Apart from a repositioned and reshaped power button, the controls are exactly the same as well. Given they worked well with the XM5 and all those that came before, this is hardly an issue — although I still wish that the more accurate and tactile physical controls that other brands stick with were present here.
Should anyone upgrade?
If you're still wielding a pair of WH-1000XM4, then the XM6 become far more tempting. The step up of the XM5 and the XM6 combined makes them a big upgrade for you, with drastically better ANC, a completely different design and better battery life. They're arguably more attractive as well, and they'll feel like something completely new compared to your aging headphones.
If you're fresh in the market for a new pair of headphones and want to spend flagship money, then the XM6 are also a compelling option. There are other headphones I recommend you look at first — the PX7 S3, namely — but the Sonys are still a great option.
But if you've already got a pair of XM5s, it's not the time to upgrade yet. The XM6 are different, and they are better — but not enough to warrant spending $450 when your headphones are likely still fine.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
More from Tom's Guide
- 'Peacemaker' star reveals if you need to watch 'Superman' before season 2
- I test headphones for a living — here are the 3 most exciting upcoming rumored headphone and earbud launches
- I tried Pro Res Zoom to capture 100x zoom photos with Pixel 10 Pro XL — and the results are unbelievable
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
