Sony Unveils the WH-1000XM6 Headphones
Sony just unwrapped its latest flagship over-ear headphones, the WH-1000XM6, and they appear to be raising the bar on personal audio. Carrying on the tradition of their popular "thousandth" line, these new cans provide a more comfortable fit, sound quality upgrades, and even smarter noise cancellation, all with that long battery life we've come to expect.
What's New Under the Hood (and On Your Head)
Alright, onto what powers the WH-1000XM6. First of all, they come with 30mm neodymium magnet drivers that are designed to offer a complete frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Audiophiles will love hearing about high-resolution codec support such as LDAC (for near high-res audio at 96 kHz / 990 kbps), along with the common denominators SBC, AAC, and LC3. And bonus features such as Google Fast Pair, DSEE Extreme to upscale your tunes, and 360 Reality Audio Upmix for that movie-going feel are all included.
Sony hasn't forgotten about comfort. They've apparently redone the headband design to fit better – a thoughtful addition for all those extended listening sessions. They've also made it easier to push buttons on the earcups, a small but appreciated change in daily use. Even the carrying case included is a bit slimmer now, making them that much more convenient to bring with you.
Silence the World, Even Better
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) has historically been among the best things about this series, and the WH-1000XM6 aims to carry on its evolution. How By bumping up the microphones from eight on the previous model to a whopping twelve on this one. More mics means more data for the system to work with, leading to better noise blocking. Sony has also updated the AI algorithm that remembers to modify the noise cancellation automatically based on where you are. So, if you're on a busy street or a quiet flight, the 'phones will adjust to isolate you from the distractions.
The Finer Details and How Much They'll Cost
Beyond the headline specifications, the WH-1000XM6 also offers the benefit of wired connectivity via a simple 3.5mm jack (though the USB-C port is reserved for charging). You can expect up to 30 hours' playback when ANC is enabled, and an astonishing 40 hours when it's disabled. Remarkably, Sony claims that professional mastering engineers from some of the world's top studios, including Sterling Sound, Battery Studios, and Coast Mastering, assisted with fine-tuning these headphones.
So how much is it to your wallet. In the US, the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones will cost you $449, while in Europe they will cost you €450.
