I've Tested Dozens Of Noise-cancelling Headphones On Flights - This One Is The Audio King

1 month ago

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones connection moreover amended sound and ANC performance.
They person nan champion recreation lawsuit for headphones successful 2025.
I emotion nan much comfortable, snug fresh of Sony's caller flagship headphones.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 were awesome but lacked a fewer features that I see basal for travel. That's why I chose nan Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones arsenic my go-to recreation headphones, for their comfortable fresh and foldable design. But 3 years aft nan XM5 launch, Sony has yet released a worthy successor. And it improves connected nan last-gen merchandise successful each way.

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Before nan Sony WH-1000XM6, nan Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 were my recreation companion, acknowledgment to their powerful ANC performance, comfortable fresh for long-haul flights, awesome sound, and mini shape factor. However, nan XM6's foldable earcups, redesigned easy-to-store case, fantabulous sound, and high-performing ANC made maine reconsider packing over-ear headphones earlier heading to nan airport.

I utilized these headphones for a week, and they're now apt to enactment successful my backpack for each travel -- here's why.

A long-awaited fresh upgrade

Prakhar wearing nan Sony WH-1000XM6 ANC headphones

I didn't usage nan Sony XM5 headphones aft nan first reappraisal play because nan fresh and comfortableness weren't arsenic bully arsenic those of nan XM4, my Bose QC Ultra, aliases nan Sonos Ace headphones. But Sony returns to glory pinch nan XM6.

They are 4 grams heavier than their predecessor, but I find them much comfortable to wear. This could beryllium because of nan wider headband and a much information earcup design. It sports nan aforesaid earcups, which thin to clasp sweat successful lukewarm environments, but I haven't had this rumor truthful far. Still, nan XM6 fresh maine much comfortably and securely than nan XM5.

Also: Why these headphones are still nan champion from Bose - moreover though they're a twelvemonth old

The XM4 sported a dual-hinge design, which allowed you to fold nan headphones up, not conscionable flat. Sony removed this creation characteristic successful nan XM5, which made them difficult to transportation around, particularly erstwhile walking done airports. With nan XM6, nan institution brought backmost nan dual-hinge design, truthful you tin fold nan earcups up. I miss this capacity connected nan Sonos Ace, too, and I'm gladsome headphone manufacturers are returning to a much convenient design.

The foldable earcups creation besides helps make nan lawsuit somewhat smaller, which now comes pinch a magnetic latch alternatively of a chain. This is nan astir intuitive lawsuit creation -- erstwhile you negociate to get utilized to storing nan headphones successful nan correct position wrong it. I besides noticed nan updated powerfulness fastener design. Sony has made it rounder and recessed, which makes it much intuitive to usage because it is easier to separate it from nan ANC toggle button. You still get nan aforesaid touch controls for volume, playback, etc.

Also: Here's really a free package upgrade made nan Sonos Ace worthy their value tag

I emotion that Sony yet sewage nan correct operation of a comfortable, snug fit, foldable earcups, fantabulous case, and touch and fastener controls. Overall, these features springiness it nan intuitive beingness features separator complete nan Sonos Ace and AirPods Max headphones.

Even amended ANC and sound performance

The Sony XM6 headphones are equipped pinch a caller QN3 chip, which is claimed to beryllium 7 times much powerful than nan QN1 spot utilized successful nan XM5. This spot is paired pinch 12 microphones (six connected each earcup), compared to 8 connected nan predecessor.

As a result, you get fantabulous progressive sound cancellation, moreover for higher frequencies, which is simply a challenging feat for galore ANC headphones. The ambient nationalist chatter is toned down moreover further, and I recovered nan ANC capacity to beryllium amended than that of my Bose QC Ultra. The aforesaid tin beryllium said astir voice-calling performance, acknowledgment to nan six AI-powered beamforming microphones.

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In position of sound, nan XM6 characteristic Sony's signature lukewarm and soft sound profile, pinch pronounced bass. I emotion nan clear vocals and tight bass consequence connected my favourite songs. The XM6 besides connection somewhat much extent arsenic compared to nan XM5, and instruments consciousness for illustration they're precisely wherever they're expected to be.

As noticed by ZDNET's Audio Editor, Jada Jones, successful her review, "Turning connected sound cancellation aliases ambient sound [on nan Sony XM6] brings much colour and vibrancy, creating a much enjoyable listening experience." I emotion wearing them connected commutes and flights.

As for artillery life, I've yet to afloat trial these headphones, but they're rated for 30 hours of artillery life astatine mean measurement levels pinch ANC on, and tin spell up to 40 hours pinch ANC off. The XM6's artillery life is expected to transcend nan 24 hours and 20 hours of rated artillery life connected nan Bose QC Ultra and AirPods Max, respectively. A 3-minute speedy complaint yields 3 hours of euphony playback, which whitethorn beryllium peculiarly useful if you hide to complaint them earlier a flight.

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The caller Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are my caller recreation basal for erstwhile I want to transportation my headphones alternatively of nan Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds. They connection a much comfortable and snug fit, fantabulous sound and ANC performance, agelong artillery life pinch speedy charging, somewhat much intuitive controls, and a lawsuit that's easier to use. In my 1 week of use, I've yet to find a woody breaker, but I'll person to spot really they fare against Bose's new QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2) successful nan coming weeks.