SonyWH-1000XM6 The Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones, HD NC Processor QN3, 12 Microphones, Adaptive NC Optimizer, Mastered by Engineers, Studio-Quality, 30-Hour Battery, Midnight Blue

I'm not an audiophile and couldn't articulate the difference between timbre and tone, or wax eloquent on why some headphones have great mids but poor highs. What I can do, is tell you how they work for someone who uses headphones all the time for music, audiobooks and calls.I'm one of the subset of the population where earbuds simply do not stay in my ears, so I'm left with over-the-ear headphones. I use them all the time when I'm working in the yard or driving. I've used a number of brands, and have been using higher-end ones for about six years, starting with Bose 700, and then moving to the WH-1000XM5.Since I loved the WH-1000XM5, and was ready for an update, I ordered them on launch day. I've only had them a day, but here are my thoughts.1. The noise canceling is noticeably better than the WH-1000XM5.2. The sound is a littler better, but not enough to justify a purchase.3. I really like the folding ability and the hinges seem strong - still TBD if they last as well as the non-hinge version.4. The fit is a little bit better. This may be that my other pair have been used for many, many hours, but I don't remember them, when new, fitting quite as well - it feels like a gentle hug on your head and feels really good.5. The magnetic case is not the reason to choose headphones, but it's really awesome and unexpected bonusAre they good enough to justify buying over my current WH-1000XM5? If I were still in college or had limited disposable income, no - I would keep the WH-1000XM5 and be very happy. Since I have kids that are eagerly waiting for some hand-me-down headphones, it makes sense for me to upgrade.What about if you don't already have some earphones? If you have some flexibility with disposable income, I would definitely pay the premium and get the WH-1000XM6 over the WH-1000XM5. If you are really trying to maximize your dollar and get the best deal, get some refurbished WH-1000XM5 headphones.My next comments apply about the same to the WH-1000XM5 as well as the WH-1000XM6.These are the best headphones I've tried for voice calls - I haven't used every ANC headphones out there, but these do very well. The do a phenomenal job blocking ambient noise making it easy to hear what's being said. They also do a great job picking up my voice and not noise around me, so the person I'm speaking to can hear me clearly. Since I regularly use these for work, they are incredible.The earcups are great for people with larger ears. My ears must be a little anatomically odd since they are on the larger size, yet I can't use earbuds, and these headphones fit over them very comfortably.I can use these even when I'm working outside in the summer sun and they remain comfortable. Sure, I sweat where I'm wearing them, but I'm also sweating everywhere else, and they are not overly hot. I really like the noise cancellation when working with gas equipment (like lawnmowers) as they do a great job allowing me to still hear what's going on with my audiobook.

I have a headphone problem, or so my wife says. I’ve owned the Apple AirPods Max, the Sony XM5’s, the Bose QC and QC Ultra the QC 45’s and 35’s both I and II, the Sonos Ace, and the Beats Studio Pro. Going into my XM6 purchase, my favorite are/were the Bose QuietComfort. I bought the QuietComfort during Prime Day for an unbelievable $199! I have found that they offer the best combination of comfort, sound and ANC for the price. So, how does the XM6 compare? The ANC is second to none. I augment our central air with a window unit, which sits right behind my head, and I can completely eliminate its sound. But static sounds are pretty easily muffled by most of newer ANC headphones, so how about dynamic sounds like a tv or normal conversation? The XM6 excel there, too. Put simply, they offer the best ANC of any of the aforementioned headphones. They are also very comfortable and clamp down tight, though I haven’t found anything to be as comfortable as either the QC or QC Ultra. The sound is well-balanced and pretty good right out of the box, though I had to make use of the ten-band EQ to get them to sound just a tad better than my QC. With my current EQ settings, I would say they offer the clarity of the Apple AirPods Max, but with the bottom end of my Bose QuietComfort. The bass isn’t overpowering, it’s actually pretty accurate (after EQ tinkering). In the final analysis, the XM6 offer the best sound of any of the headphones I mentioned, but not by much. Furthermore, the ANC is superior to everything else I’ve owned, but not by a staggering amount. So, which should you buy? If you’re like me and in search of the best possible sound, and won’t settle for anything less than the best ANC, then get the XM6. If, however, you prioritize comfort and value, and don’t mind making some very minor concessions regarding sound and ANC, then get the Bose QuietComfort or the QC Ultra (wait until you catch them on sale, which is pretty often). I hope that helps. Happy listening!

Having owned and extensively used the AirPods Max, Bose QC Ultra, and Sony's previous WH-1000XM4 and XM5, I can confidently state that the Sony WH-1000XM6 is, by far, the best pair of headphones I've experienced.While sound quality and wear comfort are always subjective due to individual differences, the XM6 truly hits the mark for me. I found the XM5's sound a bit muddy and the QC Ultra's highs a little too pronounced. The XM6, however, resolves these issues beautifully, delivering a clear, balanced, and engaging sound that I absolutely love—reminiscent of what I enjoyed in the AirPods Max, but even more refined to my ears. AND it supports LDAC!The Active Noise Cancellation on the XM6 is simply in a class of its own; it's the best I've encountered. An interesting detail I've noticed is how it activates: upon putting them on, about 90-95% of ambient noise is cut out in less than a few seconds, with the remaining 5-10% or so gradually fading away over the next 30 seconds for truly deep silence. Furthermore, the transparency mode is impressively natural and right up there with the excellent performance of the AirPods Max.Considering the overall package, the price of the WH-1000XM6 feels completely justified, especially when you compare it to the outdated & overpriced AirPods Max. If you're looking for the pinnacle of noise-canceling headphones right now, the XM6 is it. Highly recommended!