Sony WH-1000XM6 hands-on: again to the fold

Sony’s WH-1000XM6 noise-canceling headphones have arrived three years after their well-liked predecessors. That’s an extended hole than standard for the lineup, however don’t count on any earth-shattering modifications. Whereas the 1000XM4 to 1000XM5 improve introduced a major design overhaul, this time Sony is generally specializing in sound, noise cancellation, and quality-of-life {hardware} refinements, moderately than messing with the visible type.

The 1000XM6 are an amalgamation of the very best traits from Sony’s previous fashions and needs to be the very best of the sequence. However they’re additionally the costliest. Sony has raised the value to $449, a $50 soar in comparison with the prior mannequin and $20 greater than Bose’s QuietComfort Extremely Headphones. That’s some huge cash for headphones which are unabashedly plastic.

Apple’s AirPods Max have a design befitting of their worth, even when they’re overly heavy consequently. However very like Bose, Sony sticks to a special sport plan by prioritizing long-term consolation for frequent flyers, commuters, and anybody who must dial down the skin world for a couple of hours.

The 1000XM6 borrow most of their DNA from the 1000XM5 with one extraordinarily welcome change: they’ll fold up once more. Sony added a joint to every arm that lets the headphones collapse down and take up much less room of their carrying case; comparable joints had been discovered on earlier fashions however had been absent on the 1000XM5. I’m already leery about how sturdy these hinges will show over a number of months or a yr; Sony has a blended observe document there, so keep tuned.

However the return of folding means the case is noticeably smaller than final time, and Sony has additionally utterly ditched the zipper for a magnetic clasp. I’ve actually come to like this tweak. It’s doable to shut the case and lock the clasp with only one hand, which you’re clearly not going to drag off with a zipper. And the material case is designed in such a approach that it stays tightly shut even on the far ends away from the clasp. Nicely achieved, Sony. There’s a “proper approach” to place the headphones when placing them in, which takes a beat to memorize, nevertheless it’s a vastly higher scenario for headphones you’re meant to tote all over the place.

Sony has made a number of different sensible revisions: the scarf is wider and places much less strain on the highest of your noggin. Each pleather ear cups are detachable (although it takes tug) and simple to clip again in do you have to want replacements. The facility button is now spherical, so you’ll be able to rapidly distinguish it from the ANC button simply by really feel. And for the primary time within the 1000X lineup — don’t ask me the way it took this lengthy — you’ll be able to cost the headphones and take heed to them on the similar time. Nevertheless it’s not the method I’d’ve most popular. Bafflingly, Sony nonetheless doesn’t assist audio over USB-C with these $450 headphones, so it’s important to use two cables on this situation — USB-C for charging and the three.5mm jack in your music.

These are the purposeful variations, however Sony additionally upgraded its silicon this time round. The 1000XM6 use the corporate’s newest noise-cancellation chip, which produces class-leading ANC that surpasses the 1000XM5 and, in line with Sony’s claims, all rivals in the marketplace as we speak. In the event you had been already impressed by how properly the 1000XM5 dialed down the skin world, listening to that these do a fair higher job may push you towards upgrading. (The transparency mode on the 1000XM6 stays natural-sounding, and you’ll nonetheless briefly activate it by overlaying the best ear cup with a hand.)

Sony says its newest headphones outshine all earlier 1000X fashions in sound high quality. This may be attributed to 2 elements: first, the corporate says it consulted audio engineers at Sony’s numerous music studios for enter on tuning the headphones. And second, the 1000XM6 contains new drivers that output clearer vocals and richer particulars. I haven’t spent sufficient time with them to succeed in a full verdict, however these nonetheless sound each bit like Sony headphones. They’re dynamic, full of life, and don’t shrink back from bass. If the default sound profile isn’t your jam, Sony provides you a 10-band EQ for customizing the sound, and I’m certain homeowners shall be evaluating their favourite settings on Reddit and elsewhere. The AirPods Max nonetheless have a wider soundstage to my ears and win out on total readability, however I don’t assume Sony followers shall be upset. Multipoint Bluetooth and Sony’s signature LDAC codec stay current.

This being Sony, there are at all times some gimmicks tossed in, and with the 1000XM6, the gimmick is spatial audio upmixing. Contained in the Sound Join app, you’ll discover new choices for simulating a room, espresso store, or movie show — with every impact adjusting the “immersion” and ambiance of stereo content material with virtualized fakery. These are all horrible. I imply, dangerous dangerous. They’re simply the low level of the 1000XM6 however are straightforward to utterly ignore or strive as soon as and by no means once more. It’s beginning to really feel as if Sony has run out of concepts for competing with the ecosystem benefits that Apple, Google, and Samsung can supply.

As for voice calls, the corporate says it’s utilizing AI beamforming to raised isolate your speech from the encompassing surroundings. And Sony’s additionally throwing extra microphones on the downside: the 1000XM6 use six mics for voice pickup in comparison with 4 final time. (There are 12 in complete, with the others devoted to noise cancellation.) I’m certain you’ll quickly be capable of discover all types of mic checks round YouTube to gauge any enhancements for your self. Battery life is one space that’s utterly unchanged from the 1000XM5. You’ll nonetheless stand up to 30 hours with ANC on or 40 with it off.

Sony’s 1000XM6 headphones don’t include one other head-turning visible makeover, however they correctly deliver again a folding design whereas enhancing consolation, noise cancellation, sound constancy, and small touches just like the bodily controls. Their higher-than-ever worth may push Sony loyalists to discover what else is on the market, and 1000XM5 homeowners shouldn’t really feel any rush to spend the $450. But when your older Sony earbuds are on their final legs, these could possibly be price saving up for.

Images by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge