Wireless headphones are a tricky business to get right simply because sound is a very personal experience. Everyone has different tastes, and a headphone that sounds right to you might not be good for others. But there’s one that consistently wins the hearts of audiophiles and regular users alike: Sony. Their flagship XM headphones are, for lack of a better word, a technological marvel that delivers sound no one else can match. The last XM5s were a great example of this, but that was back in 2022.

Since then, competition in the form of the Sennheiser HDB 630 and the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra (2nd gen) has caught up. And that’s exactly the reason Sony launched the XM6 headphones a few months back. Most reviews are published after a few weeks of testing (or when the embargo lifts), but I wanted to give a little more time to learn about these headphones. Specifically, what makes them better than others, and how has Sony improved on the XM5s to justify this upgrade? Well, it’s been a couple of months since I started testing the XM6, and it’s safe to say that these are the best-sounding headphones I’ve ever tested. Here’s why.

Design & Hardware

The last generation of Sony XM5s was amazing for sound, but the design was a bit controversial. That’s because Sony decided it didn’t need hinges anymore. This meant the XM5s couldn’t be folded, which inherently limited their appeal to travellers who value their space. Fortunately, Sony has gone back to the drawing board with the XM6s. The redesign now includes hinges, meaning you can fold them any way you want. The headphones come with a very premium hard-body fabric case that stores them folded flat and closes via magnets. I tested the strength of these magnets by violently jolting them back and forth, and they held up well. That said, when I accidentally dropped the headphones, the case opened after impact, so just be careful.

Coming back to design, I’m not usually a fan of overly flashy tech, and that’s something the Sony XM6 headphones do very well. They keep the understated look while still being premium. It’s difficult to put it in words how much better the new XM6 headphones feel. The redesigned, wider headband distributes the 254 g weight so perfectly that you can forget that they’re sitting on your head. For someone with a bigger head like me, even the clamping pressure wasn’t too much.

The hinges make room for adjustable sliders that can be set at any height you want. This, coupled with the slight angle of the earcups, makes a perfect seal from the outside world. The earcups are made from vegan leather (no animals harmed) and are super soft. There’s no seam on the leather, which decreases the chances of flaking.

That all being said, leather is a less breathable material than, say, cloth. I have very sensitive ears that heat up quickly, and the same happened with the XM6. I could only go for a couple of hours before needing to take a break and give my ears some fresh air. While this is still a lot better than some other headphones I’ve tested, it’s something to keep in mind. Beyond that, while Sony said they’ve worked hard to reduce the fingerprinty nature of last generation’s finish, it’s still there, at least, in the dark blue version. Greasy fingers leave an everlasting mark that’s difficult to clean every time. I suggest sticking with the silver color.

Controls & Features

If you’ve read my previous reviews, you might know how much I don’t like touch controls. They don’t work half the time and activate accidentally, interrupting your music session. But if touch controls vs. physical buttons were a game of football (not soccer), the Sony XM6 headphones would be the Lionel Messi of the touch-controls team. The headphones nail the combination of both touch and physical controls. The latter are used to turn the headphones on/off and switch between the different ANC modes. On the flip side, the entire right earcup is a touch panel where you can double-tap to play/pause music, swipe left or right to skip tracks, and slide your finger up or down to adjust volume.

Like other Sony products, every control can be customized through the Sound Connect app. It’s not the prettiest, like Sonos, but it gets the job done and, surprisingly, has a lot of features. At the top, you get options to adjust the noise-cancellation levels, followed by the sound modes. The modes, of which you get three, can drastically alter the sound. The standard mode is pretty self-explanatory and is selected by default, while the Background Music option mimics how sound would feel in different settings, such as a cafe or living room. There’s also a Cinema mode for movies. There’s also a Cinema mode for movies. You also get a full equalizer, but if you don’t know the game, Sony has bundled presets like Heavy, Clear, and Game.

The features don’t stop just yet. The new XM6 gives you access to DSEE Extreme, which can remix lower-quality audio to sound much better. It’s something you might want to enable if your streaming app is YouTube Music, since it still doesn’t support high-res audio. All my fellow Apple Music users will be pleased to hear that there’s support for SBC, AAC, and LDAC. Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast are also making their debut.

Since, spoiler alert, the ANC is super strong, the XM6 headphones come with Speak-to-chat, which reduces volume when you or someone around you starts talking. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of this, as I like to hum along with my music, and the headphones picked it up as talking. The better feature is the Quick Attention Mode, where you can place a hand on the right earcup to quickly drop the volume and hear someone nearby.

Sound

Sound is a very subjective matter, as we are often told. Surprisingly, that’s not the case with the Sony XM6 headphones, as everyone whom I’ve given them to try has absolutely loved them. In fact, the XM6s are the best headphones I’ve ever tested, period. This praise stems from the new 30mm soft-edge dome drivers, coupled with a custom QN3 processor.

It’s hard to describe on paper, but the Sony XM6 headphones sound like they have more of everything. It’s a sound profile I haven’t heard before, since the last XM4s weren’t like this either. Still, I started my testing with more relaxed love songs, like Made in Japan. The focus was on the vocalist, aka the mids. The XM6 handles those absolutely perfectly. I could hear fine details in the vocals and the subtle changes in the singing style that would absolutely go unnoticed with any other pair. In Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, the cymbal in the background hit like a bowl of candy, with me wanting more of it. The drum bass was tightly controlled, so that it didn’t interfere with the vocals while still carrying that oomph we all love.

Another thing to love about the XM6 headphones is the soundstage. It’s as wide as you want, and the pair do a very good job of placing various elements around you without making it feel cramped. Switching genres up with The Weeknd’s Heartless, and the Sonys have no problems ramping everything up. The software synthesizers hit the spot, delivering cohesive output that stays dynamic regardless of what’s happening in the song.

And this isn’t all. As we have yet to talk about Spatial Audio. The XM6 headphones support Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, which can be enjoyed with the Amazon Music Unlimited or Tidal app. I even splurged on an Amazon Music subscription, and the experience was simply lovely, with sound that moves all around you while still being high-fidelity. This feature pays much more dividends for movie buffs, as the Cinema mode on the Sony really does bring the feeling of watching a movie in a theater, with excellent separation between instruments.

Noise Cancellation

Bose QuietComfort headphones used to be the kings of noise cancellation. After all, these guys invented ANC back in 1999. Unfortunately, Bose’s days of dominance are long gone, and there’s a new king on the throne, and that’s the Sony WH-1000XM6. This time, the ANC is handled by 12 microphones (six on each side), and it’s the best in the business. To back up my claim, I travelled in a busy metro during the 7 pm rush hour. The screeching of the metro brakes was handled exceptionally well. I couldn’t hear the annoying announcements with songs playing at 50% volume.

Then I went and sat down in a busy cafe to work on this review. The XM6s dampened the chatter of people around me to perfection, to the extent that the server was standing next to me with my order, and I couldn’t hear a thing. The same happened to me at home, when I was in the middle of a music session, and my mum stood in front of me, saying something. All I could see was her lips moving, but no sound. Recently, I took the headphones on a work trip to Delhi, where the ANC worked immaculately to cancel out the swoosh of a jet engine, which, let’s be honest, is extremely irritating.

This is partly thanks to the new adaptive NC optimiser, which continuously adjusts ANC levels based on your surroundings. Beyond that, Sony’s ANC implementation is different, too. If you’ve used ANC headphones, you might know that weird suction feeling that can be super uncomfortable to some. While the suction is still present on the Sony XM6 headphones, it’s managed much better, with the ANC leaning more towards a natural feel. If it still bothers you, you can always turn it down using the app. The only gripe I have with the ANC is that wearing glasses significantly affects the seal.

Verdict

The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones cost a premium at ₹39,999 or about $400 on Amazon. But they are the most complete headphones money can buy. There’s just nothing to fault and so much to love. The design is understated yet premium and supremely comfortable. The Sony app is packed with helpful features you can’t find anywhere else. And the sound is a symphony to the ears, with a level of clarity and detail that simply can’t be found anywhere else. Not to mention the insane ANC, which cancels just about everything without making you uncomfortable. If you’re in the market for premium headphones, the Sony XM6 is the pair to buy.