Customer Ratings & Reviews

I use Airpods pro 2 and bought this one thinking the drivers are bigger and should sound better than the apple ones but the sound is quite ordinary.

I'm genuinely impressed by the Sony WH1000XM6 headphones. The build quality, comfort, sound, noise cancellation, look, and app customization options are all top notch. I also recently purchased the Bose QC Ultra so I have been able to compare the two. There is no doubt that the Sony's are my favorite, and I've already returned the Bose. The WH1000XM6 are more comfortable, with a better fit for my large head, but they also fit my daughter's head well. The Sony's are also less flimsy and seem more durable, so I'm confident they will last. As for sound, The EQ customization is superior in the Sound Connect app making. They also sound better to my ears right out of the box. The noise cancellation is about the same, but with the Sony's, I have not experienced the "ear suck" that was so bad with the Bose. With the inclusion of the Find Your Equalizer feature in Sony's Sound Connect app, I was easily and quickly able to dial in the sound to my personal preference. Out of the box, I felt that the bass was a little lacking, but I prefer a bass heavy profile. I have listened to music, shows, and games post EQ adjustment, and all sound spot on, clear, and crisp. I have listened for hours and my ears do not get sweaty and I have not had any ear or head pressure fatigue. The padding is comfortable and not overly thick or thin. It's taking a while to get used to the touchpad controls on the right earpiece, but I think I'll get used to it. You really have to properly tap or swipe to get the right response. One feature I really appreciate is passive wired mode. I often plug into my Switch or PlayStation Portal, and being able to listen without powering on the headphones is a must for me—something the Bose can’t do. Adaptive Sound Control is a feature I do not use. I tried it out but it switches modes just getting up off the couch and moving around, so it's a bit much for use around the house. I could see it being useful out and about though. I also do not use the different listening modes. They seem unnecessary. Battery life has been solid. I haven’t pushed it to the limit, but I’ve listened all day on multiple occasions and only charged them at night. No issues there. The WH-1000XM6 are, without a doubt, the best wireless headphones I’ve ever owned. Highly recommended.

Sony took a few years to make the jump to light speed from their WH-1000XM5 to their new flagship ANC 'phones, the WH-1000XM6. I am something of a headphone enthusiast and while I belong to the wonderful online community at head-fi, I am nowhere near as, shall we say, "intense" in my pursuit of Headphone Heaven as some folks are. That said, I have owned the XM4 version of these headphones albeit briefly as I was far from impressed with them, choosing to keep my Sennheiser Momentum 3 headphones for the superior looks and playback of my music. I later moved to the excellent Bose QC45 headphones and found their ANC to be superior to the Momentum 3 and then I bought the Momentum 4s and thought that was it for me! Nope. The Sony WH-1000XM6 is vastly superior in both ANC and musical reproduction to anything else I have bought with my own money. Outside of looks the Sony is a MAJOR upgrade from the Momentum 4 'phones. Looks are subjective I know but so too are personal perceptions on sound quality and I can only state that I prefer the Sony WH-1000XM6. They are light in weight, never fatigue even after several straight hours of listening to music and did I mention their ANC is excellent? Well, it is. I own a diesel pickup and it can be kinda loud. Not as loud as my Harley but still...With my truck idling the WH-1000XM6 reduced the level of noise to an acceptable (to me) level. The Harley? Ummmm...Not so much. That thing is too loud. The new processor on the WH-1000XM6 is said to be several times faster than the previous generation XM5's setup. And in my case, the battery lasts for even more hours than my other wireless headphones! Over several days use with the ANC engaged, I made it past 32+ hours of total time on a single full charge! That is impressive. I listen at low to moderate levels but again, I left the ANC on all the time I used the headphones. WoW! The two DSP modes, "Background" and "Cinema" seemed a bit gimmicky (in use) to me. Background makes the music sound as if it were in another room, just down the hall if you will. No thanks. "Cinema" seems to be an "expander" of sorts in the same was as my late '80s Sony TV had with the Hughes SRS, Sound Retrieval System, activated on the built in speakers. Expaaaaanisve. It's different and it may sound great to some folks. No harm in trying it, really. I did not use these for movies as I have a 9.2 Atmos setup for viewing films but that is my preference. I took walks in and around my neighborhood during peak traffic hours and the Sony did just fine handling the ever changing dynamic of traffic noise hurled at it. It has 12 microphones to "listen" and then adapt its Active Noise Cancellation to and it flat out WORKS! Mind you, these are residential and small business oriented surface streets but early morning traffic is quite busy and sometimes will back up for a mile or more. Real world noisy. I like the ease of use on these headphones. I turn it on and it instantly connects to my iPhone 16 Pro Max. I can request Siri to call or text anyone I know and the Sony's microphones conveyed my requests flawlessly. Using the headphones for phone calls was also quite good. No problems at all with any facet of your standard phone call. Build quality is excellent and I expect them to last for years so long as they are not mistreated/neglected. As a retired Electronics Technician, I take care of my equipment. I have a 50+ year old Sony stereo receiver that still works as new! Sony makes a quality product and I have no doubts that the WH-1000XM6 will live up to my reasonable expectations in the years to come. I can say without reservation that I recommend these because they really are the new standard for Wireless ANC Headphones. I think their looks are nowhere near as classic as headphones such as my Sennheiser Momentum 3s (and 4s!) but again, looks are highly subjective ergo I would not mark the Sony WH-1000XM6 down for that as it looks very nice in a high-tech purposeful manner. They look fine and work fabulously! Time and technology march on. With the new Sony WH-1000XM6, you will be able to block out the background noise of the world and do as the Doobie Brothers sang so many years ago and "Listen To the Music". The new Sony WH_1000XM6 lets you do just that. Highly recommended? Indeed!

These are a lot better than my xm4 that they’re replacing

Good product just didn’t connect to my Apple devices efficiently.

Great product but after the update in a month one side stopped working. Sony was helpful in replacing the product.

Definitely good for the price, but the touch sensor works sporadically and there is room for improvement

Watched all the YouTube reviews and decided to try it out. Needless to say, I was not impressed with the audio. I tried it on my Galaxy device to get the LDAC audio codec since the iPhone doesn’t support it, but I still wasn’t impressed. Noise canceling is not as good as the videos make it seem to be. My AirPods Max sound way better in every aspect.

Not as noise canceling as their competitors. Sound leaks and the fact that I have to download an app to use them infuriates me

Touch sensor started pausing and starting music and hanging up calls. I've owned this pair for only three months. Because they're over $400 I baby these things so much - no water, no oils, no sweating... I wear them in the office for a few hours each day, no running, no banging them against stuff - they just sit on my head and in the case... I had XM5s - battery stopped charging after a year. I had a second pair of XM5s, touch sensor started acting up after a year. And then this pair starts acting up after 3 months, I shouldn't have to have a $400 annual headphone budget. I originally purchased these because of ANC and music quality - which is very, very good. But at this price point, there should be zero hardware issues for several years.

Connectivity could be better. Otherwise, a decent product.

Good quality, swiping isnt very accurate. The 4000 verison is definitely the better option. Cheaper and more reliable. The 6000 gets dirty fast with this color if youre using it for any other needs beside studio.

Ill start by saying I have never been a big Sony fan when it comes to Audio. But they got it right with these. First when they say that the active noise canceling is the quietest out there, its not a lie. I have used these is several different noisy environments and everytime they block out 99.9 percent of the noise. They are light weight and comfortable. They adjust in several different ways to fit your head perfectly. Volume and skips or answering the phone is done with a simple swipe of the ear piece. Sound quality is pretty amazing as well. The downloadable App for sony gives you control over the EQ, active noise canceling and several other options. They come in a very nice case for when not being used, a 3.5 to 3.5mm headphone cable for connecting to non-bluetooth devices like when on an airplane, and a usb-c to usb-c cable for charging. I have used these while mowing the lawn and could barely hear my gas powered lawn mower. Again the active noise canceling is amazing. Battery life is great, I have used these for well over 12hrs and they are still above 50% battery life. So if youre looking for a Comfortable, high sound quality pair of bluetooth headphones. Look no further.

Wasn’t impressed with the way they fit and the volume and noise cancelling wasn’t noticeably different from series 5’s. I brought them back.

These are just awful. If you wear glasses it changes the soundstage with the ear cup struggling with your lenses. They have a very cheap plasticky feel about them. Sound stage is MEA!

Recently got these to replace my bose and theyre not as intuitive and instantly noice cancelling as Bose. Might return

Bass is mid and the mic is questionable. Not as good as Apple mic wise. Great ANC by the way and the hand gestures are awesome

The Sony WH-1000XM6 noise-canceling headphones represent a significant step forward in Sony’s flagship line, building on the legacy of the acclaimed XM5 with refined design, enhanced audio, and industry-leading noise cancellation. After spending considerable time with these headphones, they aim to set a new standard in the premium wireless headphone market. Priced at around $450, they compete directly with top-tier options like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Apple AirPods Max, offering a robust feature set for music lovers, travelers, and professionals. This review evaluates their performance, comfort, and features, weighing both strengths and weaknesses for a balanced perspective. Sound quality is a standout feature of the WH-1000XM6. Sony’s collaboration with mastering audio engineers and including a new “soft edge” dome driver delivers a balanced, detailed soundstage. The bass is controlled yet impactful, mids are clear with a slight warmth, and highs are crisp without being harsh. The 10-band equalizer in the Sony Sound Connect app allows for precise customization, making it easy to tailor the sound to genres like jazz or electronic music. However, some listeners may notice a slight treble sibilance out of the box, which can be mitigated with EQ adjustments but might bother audiophiles seeking a neutral profile. Compared to competitors like the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3, the XM6 offers a more dynamic and expressive sound, though it may not match the AirPods Max’s wider soundstage for certain tracks. The adaptive noise cancellation (ANC) is among the best available, powered by the HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3 and 12 microphones (up from eight in the XM5). It excels at suppressing low-end and midrange noise, such as airplane hums or office chatter, creating a near-silent listening environment. In variable noise conditions, like commuting in a bustling city, the adaptive NC optimizer adjusts seamlessly, though it lacks the manual ANC control found on Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra. Transparency mode is equally impressive, offering natural ambient sound, and call quality is exceptional, with AI beamforming ensuring straightforward voice pickup even in noisy settings. However, the ANC can feel slightly less aggressive than Bose’s for constant droning sounds, and some users may experience a subtle pressure sensation during prolonged use. Design and comfort see meaningful upgrades. The return to foldable earcups makes the XM6 more travel-friendly, fitting into a slimmer, magnetic-clasp case that’s a joy to use. The wider, asymmetrical headband and plush earpads enhance comfort for extended wear, though the faux leather earpads may feel less premium than the genuine leather on higher-end models like the Focal Bathys. Battery life remains strong at 30 hours with ANC on, and the ability to listen while charging is a welcome addition. Touch controls are intuitive, but the Sound Connect app can feel cluttered, and features like 360 Reality Audio Upmix for Cinema are underwhelming, adding artificial effects that detract from the listening experience. The lack of aptX codec support may disappoint some Android users seeking high-resolution audio over Bluetooth via that codec. Overall, the Sony WH-1000XM6 is stellar for most users, offering top-tier noise cancellation, versatile sound, and thoughtful design improvements. It shines for travel, work, and casual listening, but its $450 price tag and minor drawbacks, like the finicky spatial audio and absence of manual ANC adjustments, keep it from true perfection. That said, these really are the best you can get in the market as of this writing. If you own the XM5, the upgrades may not justify the cost, but for new buyers or those upgrading from older models, the XM6 delivers a premium experience that’s hard to beat.

They hurt my ears, which is disappointing. Cool app, but I bought some Dyson OnTrac headphones to replace these and those are much more comfortable. If you’re more worried about your headphones falling off than you are about your ears being comfy, these are probably fine for you. The OnTrac isn’t as snug, but that makes it easier for me to wear.

The delivery service is a little slow compared to other providers, but the product itself arrived well.