The Sony WF-1000XM6 are the latest installment in Sony's popular, flagship line of noise cancelling in-ear buds. This edition features some incremental performance upgrades over the previous-generation Sony WF-1000XM5, as the manufacturer claims to have improved the noise-cancelling engine, re-tuned the sound profile, and enhanced the quality of the built-in microphone. There have been some changes to the design: the buds themselves are wider and more contoured, while the case is a little bulkier.
Our Verdict
The Sony WF-1000XM6 are very good for sports and fitness use. They're lightweight, wireless buds, with an IPX4 rating to protect them against the odd rain shower. While their comfort and the stability of their in-ear fit depend somewhat on the anatomy of your ear, most people will find them comfortable and stable enough as long as they pick the right-sized ear tips. Those with smaller ears might struggle with the new, bulkier design, though, which can cause the buds to pop out of your ears during runs and bike rides.
Amazing noise isolation performance.
Bluetooth LE support.
Bulkier design can pop out of small ears.
The Sony WF-1000XM6 make for a great travel companion. These portable, lightweight buds can easily be slipped into a shoulder bag, purse, or pocket for easy transportation. Their main selling point here is the stellar noise isolation performance. The combination of a high-powered ANC system and the memory foam tips means these buds can tune out everything from airplane engine rumble to the high-pitched whine of a noisy AC unit. They're decently comfortable, though those with smaller ears might find them popping out from time to time. While there's been no improvement in battery life from the previous generation, you still get over eight hours of juice, enough for all but the longest of long-haul flights. Plus, there are two extra charges in the case.
Amazing noise isolation performance.
Graphic EQ and presets in app.
Bluetooth LE support.
Build quality feels a little cheap.
The Sony WF-1000XM6 are great for office work. They're decently comfortable, though those with smaller ears might struggle to get a consistent fit. The redesigned microphone captures your voice in a more natural way than the previous generation and does a good job of separating your voice against all but the busiest backdrops. But the star of the show here is the noise isolation performance, as the passive seal created by the memory foam ear tips combines with a powerful ANC system to effectively block out water cooler talk, creaky swivel chairs, and clacking mechanical keyboard strokes.
Amazing noise isolation performance.
Mic has good noise handling.
Bluetooth LE support.
Bulkier design can pop out of small ears.
The Sony WF-1000XM6 aren't suitable for wireless gaming as they lack compatibility with consoles and the latency is too high for PC gaming via a Bluetooth connection.
The Sony WF-1000XM6 can't be used with a wired connection.
The Sony WF-1000XM6 are very good for audio reproduction accuracy. The frequency response doesn't deviate much from their warm sound profile, providing a healthy boost in the bass range, flat mids, and a treble range well aligned with our target. If you're not a fan of the default sound, there's also plenty of scope to adjust it via the graphic EQ and presets in the companion app. The L/R drivers are extremely well-matched in terms of amplitude and frequency, indicating tight tolerances between the drivers. These buds exhibit very little harmonic distortion, so there's no audible coloration of your audio, even if you listen at unsafe volumes.
The Sony WF-1000XM6 have outstanding noise isolation. The convenient marriage of the memory foam ear tips and powerful ANC system means they can attenuate external noise across the entire frequency range, whether it's low-frequency engine rumble or the high-pitched whine of an older AC unit. The ANC performance is a step up from their predecessor, the Sony WF-1000XM5, with particular improvement seen in the low-frequency attenuation. These buds don't leak much either, so there's no need to worry about your tunes disturbing others, even in a crowded place.
The Sony WF1000-XM6 have an okay microphone performance. The built-in mic captures your voice with more detail and clarity than the previous-generation Sony WF-1000XM5, with less bass and treble roll-off. It does a good job of separating your voice from its background, though particularly loud noises, like passing trains, can cause the noise gate to kick in and obfuscate your voice.
The Sony WF1000-XM6 have excellent frequency response consistency. As long you take the time to select the right size tips and ensure the buds fit snugly in your ears, you'll be rewarded with consistent audio delivery.
Performance Usages
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony WF-1000XM6 are available in two color variants: 'Black' and 'Platinum Silver'. We tested the 'Platinum Silver' variant, and we were able to take a picture of our unit's label. If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sony WF-1000XM6 are flagship noise cancelling wireless earbuds. Compared to their predecessor, the Sony WF-1000XM5, they offer an improved noise isolation performance and slightly better call quality and noise handling. That said, their new design won't be for everyone: those with smaller ears might find that the bulkier design causes them to pop out during everyday use. Sony's primary competition in the market comes from premium offerings from the likes of Apple and Bose. Both the Apple AirPods Pro 3 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) offer a more comfortable, stable fit and better build quality. While the Bose's ANC system lags slightly behind the other two, their mic offers the best recording quality of the bunch. Though the Apple comes with novel features, like a heart rate monitor and the ability to function as a hearing aid, these features are locked behind iOS compatibility, which limits their functionality with other devices. Those who favor next-gen codec support and connectivity might ultimately prefer the WF-1000XM6 for their Bluetooth LE support and LDAC compatibility.
Still pondering your options? Check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds, the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds, and the best Sony headphones.
The Sony WF-1000XM6 feature incremental upgrades on the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless. The headline here is their improved ANC system and re-tuned sound, so if you're an XM5 owner who's happy with the sound and ANC performance, it might not be worth upgrading. The upgrades to the ANC do propel the XM6 to the top-tier of noise cancelling in-ear buds, though; they're highly effective at tamping down on external noise across the entire frequency spectrum. Depending on your ear shape and size, the new design could be a step backwards in terms of ergonomics, though. Their larger size means they can easily pop out of smaller ears. Otherwise, the newer generation introduces Bluetooth LE connectivity and improves mic quality while retaining the same battery life. Some will find that the recycled material used for the XM6 buds and case feels cheaper and less solid.
The Sony WF-1000XM6 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) have very similar feature sets, and choosing between them will come down to minute differences. Both have warm default sound profiles, with further customization options available via their companion apps, and both feature outstanding ANC systems. The Sony's memory foam ear tips allow them to attenuate more treble range noise, though. However, the Bose are more comfortable and stable for most people, with a better build quality. They also have a slightly better mic recording quality. That said, if battery life is important to you, you'll want to take the Sony for their 8.6-hour battery life (compared to the Bose's 6.5). The Sony also have broader wireless connectivity support, as they're compatible with the LC3 codec as well as LDAC.
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 and the Sony WF-1000XM6 have similar strengths, so choosing between them will come down to what devices you already own and the features you most value. Both buds offer top-tier noise isolation that provides plenty of attenuation across the entire frequency range. The Apple are more comfortable, better-built, and more stable for runs, plus their design will suit a great variety of ear shapes. That said, features like the heart rate monitor and hearing aid function are only available to iOS users, and there's no graphic EQ or presets regardless of your operating system. In this sense, the Sony are more customizable, and their Bluetooth LE compatibility gives you more connection options, while future-proofing you somewhat. Both buds have a warm sound profile by default, though the Sony boost the bass a bit more than the Apple.
The Sony WF-1000XM6 and the Technics EAH-AZ100 are both premium wireless earbuds with clear strengths and drawbacks that can dictate a buying decision. The Technics offer a much longer continuous battery at over 12 hours, compared to the Sony's 8.6. They're also more comfortable and stable for most people and feel a bit better-built. And they offer Bluetooth multipoint connectivity with three devices, which is rare. However, the Sony offer a better noise isolation performance, aided by their memory foam ear tips. They have a better-quality mic, too, which could be a clincher if you need buds suited to calling. Both buds feature a similar bass-heavy default sound, with customization available via the companion app, though, and both are compatible with hi-res codecs like LC3 and LDAC.
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