What used to be an annual refresh with the first iteration of the Sony WH-1000XM series till the third became bi-annual from the XM3 to the XM4 and then to the XM5. Three years after the release of the latter, we’re finally getting the Sony WH-1000XM6 — and some might say it was worth the wait.
What It Is
The WH-1000XM series surely needs no introduction. Often touted as the best in its class when it comes to noise-cancelling headphones, each iteration has been a commercial and critical success. But the fifth generation — the XM5 — is often regarded as the odd one out.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 was the first Sony model to introduce sustainable materials for its packaging and recycled plastic components sourced from automotive parts. But perhaps more importantly (not that the environment isn’t important) was the design shift — it was the first in the series to lose the ability to fold. That alone was enough to polarise opinions, especially among users who valued portability.
Further isolating the XM5 from the rest of its brothers was the tuning Sony implemented. Many users coming from the XM4 felt that the XM5’s sound and noise-cancelling performance didn’t quite hit the same notes (pun intended) and saw no compelling reason to upgrade.
With the arrival of the WH-1000XM6, Sony has kept an ear close to the ground. The headphones now incorporate a hinge mechanism that allows them to fold once again, restoring that familiar and compact footprint. The carrying case reflects this new folding design — it’s more compact and has done away with the zipper, replacing it with a sleek magnetic flap. You can now open it with one hand, which sounds trivial but is genuinely convenient in daily use. Theoretically, this also means the flap could get snagged and accidentally open, potentially causing the headphones fall out, but this has yet to happen in my time with the XM6.
There are also some subtle but welcome changes to the headphone design itself. The ear pads are slightly thicker, which helps with comfort and passive isolation — though I’d argue they could still go a bit further with the padding. The headband now features wider cushioning across the top, distributing weight more evenly. Comfort overall is solid, but the pads do get noticeably warm and a little steamy after longer listening sessions — a typical challenge in hot and humid Malaysia. Unless you’re using them exclusively in air-conditioned environments, the pads could use a bit more breathability.
How Do They Sound?
For this sixth-generation model, Sony collaborated with engineers from three top-tier recording studios — Sterling Sound, Battery Studios, and Coast Mastering — along with GRAMMY Award-nominated artist Post Malone. The goal: to refine the tuning of the headphones.
If you’re familiar with Sony’s house sound, you’ll find much of that DNA still present in the XM6, but with a noticeably more restrained approach. The tuning here leans towards a tamer, more refined profile. To my ears, it has a U-shaped sound signature — elevated lows and highs, with the mids gently recessed. This is arguably Sony’s most “safe” tuning to date for the XM series, which perhaps reflects the input of studio engineers aiming for a more neutral sound akin to that of monitoring headphones.
Bass
The bass on the XM6 leans more toward mid-bass than sub-bass. While sub-bass extension isn’t particularly deep, there’s still a satisfying sense of weight and movement in the low-end. You get that punchy impact and quick decay that provides a solid rhythm without bleeding into other frequencies. It’s noticeably cleaner than the somewhat looser bass response found on the XM4 and XM5, making it a more controlled and pleasant experience. That mid-bass warmth also adds a gentle richness to the lower mids, giving body to instruments like cellos and baritones without muddying the mix.
Mids
The mids are clear and natural with good tonal accuracy. Both male and female vocals carry decent note weight, avoiding any sense of thinness. However, there’s a slight issue with vocal engagement. Vocals tend to sit further back in the mix, giving them a bit of a distant or withdrawn quality. They’re not veiled — just less forward than one might expect — and this makes them sound a little uninspiring or flat, especially on vocal-centric tracks. It’s not a dealbreaker, but definitely something to note if vocal intimacy is important to you.
Highs
Treble is crisp and detailed, offering just enough sparkle to keep things lively. However, like the sub-bass, it doesn’t extend particularly far. There’s a smooth roll-off that prevents it from becoming harsh or sibilant, which is great for fatigue-free listening — but it also means that micro-details in cymbals and high hats might not pop as much. Still, the balance is tasteful and will suit most ears, especially for casual and long-term listening.
Soundstage and Imaging
For a pair of ANC headphones, the XM6 does a surprisingly good job at soundstage and instrument separation. There’s a nice sense of space, both vertically and horizontally, that gives music a more open and immersive feel. Instrument placement is accurate and easy to pinpoint, which is rare for closed-back ANC headphones.
Noise Cancelling Performance
ANC is very solid here. The XM6 effectively cuts out low-end rumbles, such as engine noise or the hum of an airplane cabin. The soft hiss of air-conditioning units is still faintly audible, and human voices remain evidently present — but that’s true of most ANC headphones. In a back-to-back comparison with the XM4 and XM5, I found the XM4 still performs best in blocking low frequencies but comes with that “pressurised” feeling in the ears. The XM6 handles higher-frequency noise the best and feels more natural overall. The XM5, interestingly, feels the least effective of the three, especially in more dynamic environments.
Ambient Mode
Sony’s Ambient Sound mode has seen a welcome refinement. It’s now more natural-sounding and doesn’t have that artificial, boosted hiss and thin quality that previous models had. That said, you don’t quite “forget you have them on” the way you might with Apple’s Transparency Mode on the AirPods Max or AirPods Pro — which remain the benchmark here.
Sound Connect App
Sony’s latest application for their audio products remains a useful companion, offering a good level of customisation. You can switch between Noise Cancelling, Ambient Sound, or turn everything off. You also get five EQ presets and the ability to set your own using the 10-band equalizer. There’s also a “Find My EQ” feature that uses your feedback to determine your ideal sound profile, but I found that the default tuning (with EQ off) was the most balanced and enjoyable. The Speak-to-Chat feature — which automatically pauses music when you start speaking — is still present, though I personally turn it off in order to avoid it triggering unintentionally.
A new feature here is Listening Mode, which uses algorithms to simulate various environments. “Background Music” mimics how music would sound coming from a speaker in a cafe, living room, or bedroom. “Cinema Mode” uses Sony’s 360 Reality Audio Upmix to simulate a theatre-like experience. While these virtual spaces are fairly believable, I don’t think they’ll be heavily used. Most people using ANC headphones tend to want to block out the world, not recreate different versions of it. The XM6 also supports LE Audio, which offers a low-latency connection ideal for gaming — provided your device supports it.
Battery Life
Sony claims the XM6 can last up to 40 hours with noise-cancelling off and 30 hours with it on-which is the same as its predecessor. With a fast enough charger, you can even get back 3 hours of playback with charge 3 minutes of charge-impressive. In my usage, I’ve never had a an issue with running out of power as I usually give them a top-up the moment I notice there’s less than 30% left on the app.
Is It Worth It?
The XM6 is a well-rounded pair of headphones that sounds good across a wide range of genres. It’s tuned conservatively and doesn’t do anything radical, which means it probably won’t wow audiophiles or bassheads— but it will please the majority of listeners.
Noise-cancelling performance is Sony’s best to date, even if the jump from the XM5 isn’t monumental. But the improvements in comfort, design, and sound refinement all add up to make a compelling case for the XM6 — especially if you skipped the XM5 or are coming from the XM3 and XM4.
When the XM5 launched, it retailed for RM1,799. For RM300 more, the XM6 comes in at RM2,099. Is it worth the extra? I’d say yes, particularly when you factor in Sony’s habit of putting these on sale within a few months. That, combined with the RM50 Touch ‘n Go credit and premium headphone stand included during pre-orders, makes the XM6 a tempting package for anyone in the market for a high-end ANC headphone.