Sony Debuts Foldable ‘M6' Headphones with Better Noise Cancellation
Sony Group Corp. rolled out an upgraded version of its wireless over-ear headphones, bringing improved noise cancellation and a new design to an increasingly popular category.
The headphones, called the WH-1000XM6, are $450, $50 more than the prior WH-1000XM5 model that went on sale in 2022. To improve noise cancellation, the new model — which comes in black, silver and midnight blue — includes 12 microphones (up from eight on the prior version) and expands the use of artificial intelligence to continuously adapt to external factors such as changes in air pressure.
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Sony didn't change the overall look too much for the C710N, but the touch panels for the controls are easier to find since they're now concave circles. The company also introduced a transparent blue color option that allows you to see inside the earbuds and case. It's giving Beats Solo Buds and Studio Buds + vibes, but I'm all for it. In my opinion, the more transparent gadgets, the better. Compared to much of the competition, the C710N's smaller size also means it is more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The earbuds sit on the ridges of my ears nicely, and there isn't any unbalanced, excess weight projecting out from the side of my head. It's clear Sony fine-tuned the ergonomics for all-day use, and I had no trouble wearing them for the entirety of my battery tests. That's not always the case with larger, bulkier earbuds. The C710N might be a midrange set at $120, but the long list of features allows the earbuds to punch above their weight. 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In particular, I noticed these earbuds do an above average job of blocking human voices as I was able to greatly reduce the volume of nearby chatter in most instances. I'm not talking complete silence, but the amount of noise blocking is above average when you're in the vicinity of someone you'd rather not listen to at full volume. Constant distractions like loud fans are also reduced but not entirely thwarted, so that too is better than what you'll get from a lot of the similarly priced options. Billy Steele for Engadget Compared to other midrange earbuds, sound quality is slightly above average on the C710N, but it could be good enough to satisfy you at this price. The bass is tight and punchy, but oftentimes it overpowers the mix for hip-hop, rock and metal — basically any genre with a driving beat. And when you switch to something more mellow like bluegrass, the low-end tone still constrains the treble and mid range. 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