We tested Sony's brand-new XM6 headphones, and they deliver the brand's best noise cancellation yet

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Sony's 1000X series headphones consistently rank among the best headphones you can buy. I've been a fan of the WH-1000XM5 (also called the XM5) since they launched in 2022, and now the brand has released a successor: the WH-1000XM6 (XM6).

The XM6 over-ear headphones deliver subtle enhancements to audio quality and a welcomed design update. They sound great and feel much sturdier than the previous XM5. The highlight of the XM6, however, is a serious improvement in active-noise-canceling (ANC) performance. They now go toe-to-toe with top competitors.

On the downside, the new cans come at a steep price. The XM6 retail for $450, $50 more than the XM5 when they debuted. Though I don't love the higher price point, it's in line with rival models from Sonos and Bose.

After various tests, I've been thoroughly impressed by the XM6. They're better than the XM5 in every way. That said, the XM5 are still available and often sold at a nice discount. Given their more affordable cost, I still give the older model an edge in overall value, but if the price bump doesn't deter you, the XM6 are a tempting treat for audio enthusiasts searching for ways to escape noise.

Tiny tweaks in design and comfort make a big difference

Immediately out of the box, I was struck by the sturdiness of the XM6 headphones. Comparatively, they make my three-year-old XM5 feel flimsy. The hinges on the new model don't bend or flop around in the same way. That's a meaningful change because there have been some user complaints about the long-term durability of the XM5, primarily around the hinges and how the ear cups connect to the headband. It's too early to make a full judgment on durability, but they feel sturdy for a plastic product.

The XM6's top headband doesn't look dramatically different than the XM5's, but you can sense its increased width on your head. It feels great and seems to disappear more than the XM5's band. While I didn't mind the previous model, the XM6's headband is better.

Not only is the XM6's band wider, improving comfort, but it tapers off on the sides, serving as a visual indicator as to which direction to put them on. The exterior of the ear cups is also angled to complement the directional cues. And unlike the XM5's ear cups, the XM6 cups can fold for more compact storage.

The padding on the ear cups is squishy and comfortable. I didn't particularly notice the ear cups getting sweaty, but they can get warm. If you've had other WH-1000X headphones, you'll probably find this area familiar.

The power button on the left cup has changed from identical to the ANC button to an indented circle. Having two distinct button shapes makes it infinitely easier to find the desired function.

At 254 grams, the XM6 weigh a bit more than the XM5. Thankfully, it's not enough to make the new ones feel heavy. Here are the weights of similar headphones to offer a point of comparison.

• Sony WH-1000XM5: 250 grams
• Bose QC Ultra Headphones: 252 grams
• Sonos Ace: 312 grams
• Apple AirPods Max: 385 grams

Sound quality is excellent

If you're spending $200 or more on a pair of headphones, it's fair to expect high-end audio quality. The WH-1000XM6 easily deliver on that expectation.

Using the default EQ, the headphones' bass is thick and full, capable of punching hard on tracks that have a pounding rhythm. "Chihiro" by Billie Eilish and "Echo" by The Marias are good examples. On the flip side, Childish Gambino's "Summertime Magic" is an example of the deep, cavernous bass that the headphones are also able to reproduce.

The midrange is crisp and clear, too. Vocals are present and on point. Haim's "Down to be Wrong" shows off this aspect with detailed sound and a big chorus containing clear acoustic guitar strumming. Really, no matter what you listen to, the XM6 sound fantastic.

However, the big question is how they compare to the previous-gen XM5 headphones. Sony says that it specifically worked with mixing engineers to improve audio quality when it was designing the new model. And to their credit, the XM6 do offer a touch more clarity, but the improvements are incredibly subtle.

Even when I was actively switching back and forth with lossless audio content, I found it hard to pick out specific, meaningful differences between them. The XM5 already sounded stellar, so that's not a bad thing, but there's little reason to upgrade to the XM6 from the XM5 if audio quality is your main focus.

The XM6 headphones support Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless streaming, and LE Audio is available if you have a compatible device. The LDAC, SBC, AAC, and LC3 codecs are all supported. Multipoint Bluetooth is available to connect to more than one device at a time. The headphones also come with a 3.5mm cable for wired listening.

Like many Sony headphones, the XM6 support Hi-Res Audio playback, and they feature spatial audio upmixing using Sony's 360 Reality tech. That latter function creates a simulated surround sound effect. I'm not a fan of this mode as I prefer the quality of regular stereo playback, but it's there if you want it.

Stellar ANC performance rivals top competitors

Plenty of headphones sound good, but only a few can do a truly great job of blocking out external noise. The ability to do so is a hallmark of premium headphones and one of the reasons to consider spending top dollar. The WH-1000XM6 are among the best in this regard. Their high-end ANC performance offers instant relief from the world's distractions.

To achieve such impressive noise canceling, the XM6 rely on a new QN3 processor. Sony says it's seven times as fast as the hardware used in the XM5 and earlier models. This increased power allowed Sony to add four more microphones (12 in total) to the headphones, along with the ability to enable more adaptive ANC that can continually monitor and adjust the frequencies being blocked.

The results are fantastic. To be clear, ANC performance was already good on Sony's previous WH-1000XM5. But comparing the XM5 and XM6 immediately makes it obvious that the new headphones are significantly improved in this area.

I also compared the XM6 against the Sonos Ace and Bose QuietComfort Ultra. That latter model is the reigning champ in Insider Reviews' guide to the best noise-canceling headphones.

The QC Ultra, Ace, and XM6 all performed competitively. My testing process included using airplane cabin noise, a running vacuum cleaner, café bustle, and street sounds. Though certain models performed better in certain situations, the Bose QC Ultra still edged out the XM6 ever so slightly in blocking the most noise in most circumstances. However, it's close enough to be arguable.

The XM6 did the best at blocking out the noise of a busy café with chatter and clanging silverware. The QuietComfort Ultra were unmatched at silencing the hum of an airplane cabin. In each of these cases, I relied on raw ANC performance rather than the combination of noise canceling and music playing.

However, despite the Bose offering slightly better performance overall, no matter where I tested them, the WH-1000XM6 did an excellent job of silencing distracting sounds. On the flip side, the headphones' aware mode, which uses the integrated microphones to let in outside sound, made it easy to hear people speak when I needed to talk to them.

Beyond ANC and aware modes, the built-in microphones are also used for voice calls. The XM6 use six microphones for calls, two more than the XM5. The company also uses new AI beamforming tech to improve call quality. In practice, the XM6 perform admirably for voice, especially in comparison to other earbuds and headphones I've tested.

I even recorded audio clips to hear the results for myself. I thought my voice sounded natural in normal, quiet settings. The headphones also silenced background noise and focused on my voice well in less controlled environments. So you can feel free to use these for calls in public if that's your style.

Battery life is solid, and the included case is fantastic

Though I love a lot of the tweaks Sony made to the headphones themselves, my favorite design upgrade is actually on the included case.

It's smaller than past ones and trades the zipper for a magnetic latch. This works great. It never got hung up like a zipper can, and it securely latched closed. A case is just a case, and probably not a huge selling point for most people. But it's a big part of use while traveling and can impact how you feel about the product in the long run.

The case also includes a handy compartment to store the headphones' USB-C charging cable. Sony says that battery life is rated for 30 hours with ANC and 40 hours without it — the same as the previous generation. So far, that matches my experience as the two models have drained at a similar rate.

Should you buy the Sony WH-1000XM6?

In case there's any doubt, the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are a ringing success. If you want headphones with high-end ANC, fantastic sound, and stellar call quality for under $500, these should be among your top considerations.

Like their predecessor, the XM6 shine as a versatile pair of headphones that excel across the board. That said, certain headphones are better in specific ways. For instance, the Bose QC Ultra still deliver the best overall ANC I've tested. But few headphones can combine such impressive performance in so many different areas.

Ultimately, the XM6's biggest drawback is their price. Their cost is on par with the full retail price of a few competitors, like the Sonos Ace and Bose QC Ultra, but those models are often on sale for less. It remains to be seen if the XM6 will get similar discounts.

It's also important to remember that Sony's older XM5 are still available, and sell for about $100 less than the XM6. The XM6 are superior headphones, but the XM5 remain a better overall value for most people. For now, the XM6 are best for enthusiasts willing to splurge for a better design and improved ANC.