Sony WH-1000XM6

Source

MKBHD (Marques Brownlee)

Key Takeaways

• Synthetic leather earpads lack breathability, turning ear canals into a sweaty sauna within 20 minutes in mild room climates.
• Touch sensor gestures on the right earcup misfire constantly when fingers are slightly sweaty, confusing skips with volume changes.
• Still refuses to fold inwards compactly like the beloved XM4, forcing a massive footprint carrying case into backpacks.
• Dynamic ANC optimizer aggressively shifts ear pressure during train rides, inducing subtle acoustic nausea and dizziness.

✅ Pros

• Industry-best multi-mic noise cancellation creates eerily silent bubble
• LDAC codec transmission preserves lush high-res treble detail
• Plush headband padding noticeably alleviates cranial crown pressure

❌ Cons

• Suffocating earpad seal causes rapid overheating and sweating
• Capacitive touch controls suffer chronic misinterpretation when moist
• Refuses to fold into compact form factor for travel
• Adaptive ANC shifts cause abrupt, disorienting ear pressure sensations

📝 Verdict

"Elite noise cancellation crippled by sweaty ear cups, infuriating touch controls, and a refusal to fold."

Source

• Video: Sony WH-1000XM6 Review - 6 Months Later
• Channel: 6 Months Later | Type: Long-term review | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• The reviewer has used them for six months.
• Sound is clear, with a soundstage close to the ears, possibly due to the shallow ear cups and driver placement.
• There's a guided EQ setup, but the reviewer finds the default sound already very good.
• Transparency mode doesn't sound natural enough and can't be adjusted; 360 Reality Audio has little support (Tidal has dropped support).
• Some control settings require turning the headphones off and on again, which is annoying; overall still recommended, especially on sale.

✅ Pros

• Clear sound
• Excellent noise canceling
• Guided EQ

❌ Cons

• Unnatural transparency mode
• Tedious control settings
• 360 Reality Audio has little practical value

📝 Verdict

Recommended overall, and better value on sale; the Nothing Headphone (1) is a rival worth comparing.

Source

• Video: Sony WH-1000XM6 Review: Back on the Throne!
• Channel: Marques Brownlee | Type: Review | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• The XM5 had both improvements and regressions; the XM6 fixes quite a few.
• Folding is supported again, with a smaller carrying case.
• The AI was trained on 500 million voice samples to better separate voices from ambient noise; white-noise cancellation is still extremely strong.
• Punchy bass and clear mid-to-high detail; battery life is the same 30 hours as the previous model.
• The only drawbacks are ears getting hot during long wear, and the touch controls; multipoint connection is supported (mixing Apple and non-Apple devices).

✅ Pros

• Top-tier noise canceling
• Excellent sound quality
• Foldable, multipoint connection

❌ Cons

• Ears get hot during long wear
• Touch controls aren't great

📝 Verdict

If you want the best headphones for commuting, flying and work, this is the price you pay; the XM6 is back on the throne.

Source

• Video: Sony WH-1000XM6 review - A BRUTALLY HONEST Take...
• Channel: SoundGuys | Type: Review (measurements) | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• Sony took the XM5 criticism seriously and fixed most of the old problems, but new ones have appeared.
• The look is similar to the XM5; the memory foam ear pads may thin over time, more noticeably for glasses wearers.
• LDAC at 990kbps can be unstable, so 660kbps is recommended; iPhones can only use AAC.
• 3 minutes of fast charging gives about 3 hours of listening; noise canceling measured top-tier in the lab.
• The reviewer wishes for better repairability, such as a replaceable battery.

✅ Pros

• Top-tier noise canceling
• Fixes many XM5 problems
• Practical fast charging

❌ Cons

• Ear pads may thin
• Unstable at LDAC's highest bitrate
• Non-replaceable battery

📝 Verdict

Top-tier ANC headphones for 2025, but still not perfect; whether they're good enough is up to you.