Review | Sony’s new XM6 headphones are incredible, but are they worth the price?

Elegance is sometimes defined by small details. In the case of Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones, it is the art of making a piece of technology look – and feel – like recycled cardboard while simultaneously being extremely high-quality. And all for the rather exclusive price of around US$450 (HK$3,699). Alongside offerings from other major players like Bose, Apple and Sennheiser, Sony’s WH-1000XM headphones are a kind of benchmark among high-priced Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC). Anyone who commutes a lot will notice the five previous models worn by many of their fellow travellers. They act as a shield against the noise and conversations of people outside and they do so pretty well. The XM6s look good, feel high-quality and with a little fiddling, fit neatly into their slim case. And unlike the previous XM5 generation, which removed the option to fold up the headphones – to the ire of fans – the headbands are hinged to make them easier to transport. Set-up is simple, either using the Sound Connect app (Android and iOS) or the Bluetooth menu. Once set up, the headphones will transport you to a truly beautiful world of sound, with rich bass, beautiful mids, clear highs and a balanced sound. Using the app, you can fine-tune the equaliser settings, but that is not really necessary unless you are a hard-core audio connoisseur. From bombastic metal and electronic music to Italo disco and string orchestras, it all sounds consistently good. You swipe and tap the right ear cup to start and stop play, to control the volume, or to move to the next song. Usually this works very precisely, and with a little skill, without disturbing the listening experience. The noise cancellation – already great in the predecessor to this model – has become even more precise. If you like, you can isolate yourself almost completely. The pen your colleague keeps clicking: gone. The laptop with its extra-loud ventilation during the weekly virus scan: gone. The drilling work in the neighbouring office: almost gone. The XM6s even block out the screeching of subway wheels, but low tones – like the roar of aeroplane engines – remain audible, albeit muffled. Transparency mode is there for those things you want to hear in addition to music or podcasts. This way, even while listening to entertainment, you still feel part of society, you can hear ambient noise, and you are not constantly surprised by events on the street that you would not notice with ANC turned on. The XM6s add another bonus to this good balance of solid sound, ANC and transparency mode. The headphones remain quite comfortable even after extended wear. Once correctly adjusted, the headphones stay in shape and firmly in place. Only in the area of the temples does the relatively high pressure of the ear cups sometimes force you to take a break. During our testing, the battery seemed to last forever. That included several hours in the office, at home and while travelling while listening to music, podcasts and phone calls, and making video calls on the computer. We got around 40 hours on a single charge. The associated app is supposed to enable the XM6s to develop their full potential. Using it, you can create sound profiles for places you have visited, adjust equaliser settings and more. If you like, you can even have your ears analysed using a photo and the sound will be adjusted accordingly. However, in reality, you can get by fine without using the app at all. The XM6s are a great combination of sound, noise cancellation, comfort and battery life. The simple design delights the senses. All in all, it is a very successful model update for over-ear enthusiasts, albeit with a painful price of around US$450, about a 12 per cent price increase. At the same time, if you have the XM5s, you do not have to rush to upgrade as the differences are not that big. In direct comparison, the XM6s’ Bluetooth connection is somewhat more stable and the bass feels a bit richer. For anyone looking to pick up their first pair of Sony’s flagship headphones, the XM5s are now quite a bargain and can be found for well under US$300. Anyone looking for a new pair of high-priced headphones certainly should not overlook Sony when contemplating the other big names of Sennheiser, Apple, Bose and JBL. Ultimately, it is a question of comfort and budget.

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones offer great sound, active noise cancelling and battery life, but should you upgrade your XM5s? How they review

Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones offer great sound, active noise cancelling and battery life, but should you upgrade your XM5s? How they review