Sony WH-1000XM6 Review: Back on the Throne!

Summary

The Sony WH-1000XM6 is a flagship wireless noise-canceling headphone that builds on the success of its predecessor, the Mark 5. With a sleek design, improved sound quality, stronger noise cancellation, and more advanced features like a new transparency mode, it offers excellent comfort and convenience for long-term wear. The headphones also come with a smaller, magnet-sealed case, and new app features for a customizable listening experience. Despite a higher price tag at $449, they remain superior to most competitors, making them a top choice for anyone seeking premium noise-canceling headphones for travel or work.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Sony WH-1000XM6s are the new flagship wireless noise-canceling headphones, offering improvements over the previous Mark 5s.
• 😀 The headphones feature a new design, better comfort, and a more portable case that now folds and closes with magnets.
• 😀 The headphones are lightweight, with vegan leather earpads and a flexible headband, making them comfortable for long-term wear.
• 😀 The Mark 6s bring back the ability to fold, improving the travel experience compared to the Mark 5s, which didn’t fold.
• 😀 The new case is much smaller, fits cables, and features a faster, more convenient magnetic closure compared to the previous zipper case.
• 😀 The design of the headphones includes updated buttons and microphones, with a bigger power button for easier identification.
• 😀 The Mark 6s feature 12 microphones (up from 8) and the Sony QN3 chip for enhanced noise cancellation and transparency mode.
• 😀 Noise cancellation is significantly improved, and transparency mode now offers clearer and more natural sound, similar to AirPods Max.
• 😀 The sound quality has been enhanced with punchier lows, better sub-bass, and improved overall clarity, especially for genres like pop, electro, and hip hop.
• 😀 Sony has updated their app to Sound Connect, adding features like background music modes, custom EQs, and virtual room modes like cafe, living room, and cinema.

Q & A

What is the name of the new Sony noise-canceling headphones introduced in the video?

The new headphones are the Sony WH-1000XM6, often referred to as the XM6 or Mark 6s.

How does the Sony WH-1000XM6 compare to the previous Mark 5 model?

The Mark 6s offer significant improvements in design, sound quality, noise cancellation, and usability compared to the Mark 5s. Notably, the sound has better bass and clearer transparency mode, and the case is now more compact and easier to use.

What are some of the key design improvements in the WH-1000XM6 compared to the Mark 5?

The WH-1000XM6s are now able to fold up for easier storage in a smaller case, which wasn’t possible with the Mark 5s. Additionally, the new case features a magnetic clasp instead of a zipper for faster access.

What is the benefit of the larger power button on the Mark 6 headphones?

The larger power button makes it easier to distinguish between the power button and the noise cancellation button when you can’t see them, improving usability.

How does the noise cancellation technology in the WH-1000XM6 compare to the Mark 5?

The WH-1000XM6 offers improved noise cancellation, with 12 microphones (up from 8 in the Mark 5) and a more powerful Sony QN3 chip, which processes noise better and uses AI to distinguish human voices from background noise.

What is the difference in sound quality between the WH-1000XM6 and the Mark 5?

The WH-1000XM6s have stronger low-end performance, particularly in the sub-bass and bass areas, whereas the Mark 5s had weaker bass and sometimes spiky midranges, making the Mark 6s superior for bass-heavy genres like pop, electro, and hip hop.

What are some of the new features in the transparency mode of the WH-1000XM6?

The transparency mode in the WH-1000XM6 has been significantly improved to sound much more natural and clear compared to the Mark 5s, allowing for a better listening experience when you want to hear your environment or engage with others.

How has the Sony Headphones Connect app been updated for the WH-1000XM6?

The app has been renamed to 'Sound Connect' and still offers key features like ambient sound controls, custom EQ settings, and various listening modes, including background music and cinema modes, allowing users to personalize their audio experience.

What is the new 'listening mode' feature in the Sony headphones app?

The listening mode feature offers different sound experiences, such as background music mode, which makes audio sound like it's coming from a distant set of speakers, or cinema mode, which upmixes stereo sound into a 360-degree immersive sound mix.

How does the price of the WH-1000XM6 compare to other premium noise-canceling headphones?

At $449, the WH-1000XM6s are priced higher than the Mark 5s but still provide great value compared to competitors like Bose QuietComfort Ultras ($429), Sonos headphones ($450), and AirPods Max ($550), offering superior performance for the price.