Sony Wh-1000xm6 Vs. Wh-1000xm5: I Compared Both Headphones, And This Model Wins

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Audio geeks, rejoice. Sony released nan successor to its celebrated WH-1000XM5 headphones earlier this year, bringing worthy improvements and Sony's stellar sound to a caller generation. 

Also: The 13 champion headphones of 2025

The WH-1000XM6 headphones' cardinal highlights see classically rich | sound, improved sound cancellation, and a reformed headset creation for comfortableness and portability. The headphones stock immoderate similarities pinch their predecessor, including artillery life capacity and wide design. 

However, they besides travel pinch a caller (and pricier) value tag of $450. That's a batch of rate to spend, particularly erstwhile nan value of Sony's WH-1000XM5 will only proceed to drop. 

That begs nan question: Which headphones should you buy? Should you opt for Sony's 2025 headphones aliases instrumentality pinch nan tried-and-true? I break it each down below.

Specifications

You should bargain nan Sony WH-1000XM6 if...

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1. You want richer audio 

Sony's flagship headphones present immoderate of nan champion sound successful nan game. Listening to euphony pinch nan XM6 is simply a pleasure. The audio is rich | and robust, capturing nan breadth and extent of your music. These are my favourite headphones for sound value I person tested truthful far. 

Review: Sony WH-1000XM6

Part of nan logic is that nan XM6 see a caller driver that makes your euphony richer, calls clearer, and sound smoother overall. This makes nan XM6 headphones awesome for audio nerds who want to perceive to nan champion of their euphony and are consenting to salary a small spot much for nan upgrade. Additionally, nan XM6 is nan first exemplary that supports spatial audio connected immoderate streaming platform, truthful you tin acquisition Sony's 360 Spatial Sound anytime. 

2. You want nan champion sound cancellation 

Sony adds 4 much microphones to nan XM6 headphones for a full of 12 overall, improving noise-canceling functionalities. These headphones present sound cancellation that is simultaneously beardown yet not wholly isolating, perfect for long-haul flights aliases marathon activity sessions. They support distractions and chatter to a minimum while euphony plays. 

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

The logic I opportunity nan mic value isn't wholly isolating is that you will still perceive chatter if you perceive to podcasts aliases aren't playing immoderate audio. Sony delivers nan strongest audio (and sound cancellation) erstwhile euphony is playing, dissimilar different noise-canceling headsets for illustration nan Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, which do an fantabulous occupation of blocking retired sound successful nan absence of euphony but don't present arsenic stellar audio value while it plays. 

3. You want a much travel-friendly design

The Sony WH-1000XM4 had a foldable, collapsible creation that astir group enjoyed. This made it easy to worldly into a packed backpack aliases carry-on. The WH-1000XM5 did not see that foldable creation -- and group weren't happy astir it. Thankfully, nan XM6 headphones reinstate that creation element, making them perfect for portability and travel. 

You should bargain nan Sony WH-1000XM5 if...

Jada Jones/ZDNET

1. You're shopping connected a budget

Saving money is apical of mind these days, and $450 for a brace of premium headphones is simply a important expense. Like clockwork, Sony dropped nan value of its XM5 headphones soon aft nan XM6's release. The XM5, primitively $400, are now priced astatine $250. We'll only spot them driblet little during Amazon Prime Day aliases Black Friday, truthful if you want successful connected Sony's ultimate sound (without nan ultimate value tag), now's your chance to bargain nan XM5 astatine a sweet(er) price. 

Also: I tested JBL's newest premium headphones - Bose and Sony should watch out

2. You want further colorways

The 2 headphones whitethorn look similar, but nan XM5 lineup offers 1 much colour action than nan XM6 lineup. The XM5 and XM6 stock astir colour options, pinch nan objection of nan Smoky Pink colour you tin get successful nan XM5 model. If this colour is calling to you, you won't find it successful nan XM6 lineup, truthful you should opt for nan XM5 instead. 

It's imaginable Sony could present different colour for nan XM6, but nan institution released nan XM5's Smoky Pink colour 2 years aft their first release, truthful you whitethorn person to wait.

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