Sony WH-1000XM6 wi-fi headphones hands-on: Sony performs the hits

Sony’s WH-1000XM6 noise-canceling headphones have arrived three years after their in style predecessors. That’s an extended hole than typical for the lineup, however don’t anticipate any earth-shattering adjustments. Whereas the 1000XM4 to 1000XM5 improve introduced a major design overhaul, this time Sony is generally specializing in sound, noise cancellation, and quality-of-life {hardware} refinements, slightly than messing with the visible model.

The 1000XM6 are an amalgamation of the perfect traits from Sony’s previous fashions and must be the perfect of the collection. However they’re additionally the costliest. Sony has raised the value to $449, a $50 leap in comparison with the prior mannequin and $20 greater than Bose’s QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds. That’s some huge cash for headphones which might be unabashedly plastic.

Apple’s AirPods Max have a design befitting of their worth, even when they’re overly heavy in consequence. However very similar to Bose, Sony sticks to a distinct recreation plan by prioritizing long-term consolation for frequent flyers, commuters, and anybody who must dial down the skin world for just a few hours.

The 1000XM6 borrow most of their DNA from the 1000XM5 with one extraordinarily welcome change: they’ll fold up once more. Sony added a joint to every arm that lets the headphones collapse down and take up much less room of their carrying case; related joints have been discovered on earlier fashions however have been absent on the 1000XM5. I’m already leery about how sturdy these hinges will show over a number of months or a 12 months; Sony has a combined monitor file there, so keep tuned.

However the return of folding means the case is noticeably smaller than final time, and Sony has additionally utterly ditched the zipper for a magnetic clasp. I’ve actually come to like this tweak. It’s potential to shut the case and lock the clasp with only one hand, which you’re clearly not going to drag off with a zipper. And the material case is designed in such a means that it stays tightly shut even on the far ends away from the clasp. Effectively achieved, Sony. There’s a “proper means” to place the headphones when placing them in, which takes a beat to memorize, but it surely’s a vastly higher state of affairs for headphones you’re meant to tote in every single place.

Sony has made a number of different sensible revisions: the scarf is wider and places much less strain on the highest of your noggin. Each pleather ear cups are detachable (although it takes a great tug) and simple to clip again in do you have to want replacements. The ability button is now spherical, so you’ll be able to rapidly distinguish it from the ANC button simply by really feel. And for the primary time within the 1000X lineup — don’t ask me the way it took this lengthy — you’ll be able to cost the headphones and hearken to them on the identical time. But it surely’s not the method I might’ve most popular. Bafflingly, Sony nonetheless doesn’t help audio over USB-C with these $450 headphones, so you need to use two cables on this situation — USB-C for charging and the three.5mm jack in your music.

These are the practical variations, however Sony additionally upgraded its silicon this time round. The 1000XM6 use the corporate’s newest noise-cancellation chip, which produces class-leading ANC that surpasses the 1000XM5 and, in keeping with Sony’s claims, all opponents in the marketplace as we speak. In the event you have been already impressed by how nicely the 1000XM5 dialed down the skin world, listening to that these do a fair higher job may push you towards upgrading. (The transparency mode on the 1000XM6 stays natural-sounding, and you may nonetheless quickly activate it by masking the fitting ear cup with a hand.)

Sony says its newest headphones outshine all earlier 1000X fashions in sound high quality. This may be attributed to 2 components: first, the corporate says it consulted audio engineers at Sony’s numerous music studios for enter on tuning the headphones. And second, the 1000XM6 contains new drivers that output clearer vocals and richer particulars. I haven’t spent sufficient time with them to achieve a full verdict, however these nonetheless sound each bit like Sony headphones. They’re dynamic, vigorous, and don’t draw back from bass. If the default sound profile isn’t your jam, Sony provides you a 10-band EQ for customizing the sound, and I’m positive house owners might be evaluating their favourite settings on Reddit and elsewhere. The AirPods Max nonetheless have a wider soundstage to my ears and win out on total readability, however I don’t assume Sony followers might be dissatisfied. Multipoint Bluetooth and Sony’s signature LDAC codec stay current.

This being Sony, there are at all times some gimmicks tossed in, and with the 1000XM6, the gimmick is spatial audio upmixing. Contained in the Sound Join app, you’ll discover new choices for simulating a room, espresso store, or movie show — with every impact adjusting the “immersion” and ambiance of stereo content material with virtualized fakery. These are all horrible. I imply, dangerous dangerous. They’re simply the low level of the 1000XM6 however are straightforward to utterly ignore or attempt as soon as and by no means once more. It’s beginning to really feel as if Sony has run out of concepts for competing with the ecosystem benefits that Apple, Google, and Samsung can supply.

As for voice calls, the corporate says it’s utilizing AI beamforming to raised isolate your speech from the encompassing surroundings. And Sony’s additionally throwing extra microphones on the drawback: the 1000XM6 use six mics for voice pickup in comparison with 4 final time. (There are 12 in complete, with the others devoted to noise cancellation.) I’m positive you’ll quickly be capable of discover all kinds of mic exams round YouTube to gauge any enhancements for your self. Battery life is one space that’s utterly unchanged from the 1000XM5. You’ll nonetheless stand up to 30 hours with ANC on or 40 with it off.

Sony’s 1000XM6 headphones don’t include one other head-turning visible makeover, however they correctly deliver again a folding design whereas enhancing consolation, noise cancellation, sound constancy, and small touches just like the bodily controls. Their higher-than-ever worth may push Sony loyalists to discover what else is on the market, and 1000XM5 house owners shouldn’t really feel any rush to spend the $450. But when your older Sony earbuds are on their final legs, these could possibly be price saving up for.

Images by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge