TL; DR
- The Sony WH-1000XM6 have 30mm driver units with a 4 Hz – 40,000 Hz frequency response range.
- An Adaptive Sound Control feature recognizes what you’re doing and where you are, and uses AI to change the ambient sound settings.
- The main highlight of the Sony WH-1000XM6 is the QN3 HD Noise Canceling Processor, which, per the brand, is seven times as fast as the QN1 chip used on the WH-1000XM5.
- Per the official specifications page, the Sony WH-1000XM6 provides up to 40 hours of music playback time with noise cancelation off and up to 30 hours with noise cancelation.
- The flagship Sony headphones are available in the United States, costing $449.99, $50 more than the Sony WH-1000XM5.
After months of leaks and anticipation, the Japanese entertainment giant Sony has revealed the next in the line of its flagship headphones: the Sony WH-1000XM6. With a few notable design changes, the headphones focus on portability, noise cancelation, and audio quality. Without any further ado, here’s everything you need to know about the new headphones.
Sony WH-1000XM6 Design: What’s New?
While the WH-1000XM6 look mostly like the WH-1000XM5, Sony’s latest headphones have regained the ability to fold up, making them easier to carry. The headphones come with a new, smaller carrying case, which, instead of having a zipper, has a magnetic flap that holds the lid in place.
Apart from that, the headband is a bit wider, making the headphones even more comfortable. Lastly, the Sony WH-1000XM6 are available in three colors: Platinum Silver, Midnight Blue, and Black.
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Sony WH-1000XM6 Specifications And Features
Sound Quality
First and foremost, the Sony WH-1000XM6 have 30mm driver units with a frequency response range of 4 Hz – 40,000 Hz. Sony says the headphones are precision-tuned for studio-quality clarity and feature noise-shaping D/A conversion technology that reduces distortion and increases bass.
The Adaptive Sound Control feature recognizes what you’re doing and where you are, and uses AI to change the ambient sound settings. With Edge-AI and DSEE Extreme, the headphones can upscale compressed music. Along with audio formats like SBC, AAC, LDAC, and L3, the headphones also support High-Resolution Audio and LDAC.
New Background Music Effect
You also get head-tracking functionality that offers a 3D surround sound experience. It is worth mentioning that the WH-1000XM6 provide a new feature called Background Music Effect. Instead of playing an audio in the foreground (like headphones and earphones usually do), the Background Music Effect throws the audio in the background (like it is coming from distant speakers).
QN3 HD Noise Canceling Processor
However, the main highlight of the Sony WH-1000XM6 is the QN3 HD Noise Canceling Processor, which, per the brand, is seven times as fast as the QN1 chip used on the WH-1000XM5. The processor and 12 microphones (vs. eight on the predecessor) offer better noise cancelation (and sound quality).
An Adaptive NC Optimizer automatically adjusts the noise cancelation according to the external noise, air pressure, and wearing style. In addition, you can use the Sony Sound Connect app to customize the level of noise cancellation, ambient sound, or access a personal equalizer.
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Ambient Sound Mode
In addition to adaptive noise cancelation, the over-ear headphones offer an auto Ambient Sound Mode. Like Transparency Mode on the AirPods, the feature uses the microphone to capture the ambient sound and relay it inside the earcups for better spatial awareness. Sony claims that the ambient mode is better at picking up useful sounds, like an announcement or conversation.
Out of the 12 microphones, the headphones use a system of six beamforming microphones to filter out background noise and isolate the user’s voice for clear audio calls. The headphones also reduce wind noise.
Battery Life
Per the official specifications page, the Sony WH-1000XM6 provides up to 40 hours of music playback time with noise cancelation off and up to 30 hours with noise cancelation. However, when used for constant communication, the headphones last up to 24 hours with noise cancelation.
For the first time since the inception of the flagship headphones, you can plug in the USB cable and charge the headphones while listening to songs. However, Sony hasn’t included audio-over-USB yet.
Intuitive Controls
To control playback, users get touch controls on the right ear cup (double-tap to pause and swipe up/down to adjust volume). Users can also temporarily cover the right ear cup to enable the ambient sound mode.
The headphones also offer intuitive controls, including wear detection for pausing the music when you take them off, head gestures (nodding yes or shaking no) to accept/reject calls, automatic Speak-to-Chat (much like Conversation Awareness), and voice control.
The device supports Swift Pair for Windows PC, Fast Pair for Android devices, multipoint connection, and next-generation ultra-low latency Bluetooth audio for seamless connectivity. Besides, the headphones also have a new, round power button (to distinguish from the ANC button).
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Sony WH-1000XM6 Price And Availability
The flagship Sony headphones are available in the United States, costing $449.99, $50 more than the Sony WH-1000XM5.
Although there’s no word on the Indian launch, the headphones should debut here in the next three to four months. The WH-1000XM5s, for instance, arrived in India four months after their global debut. Unfortunately, the price hike could also be applicable in India.
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