Sony's XM6 over-ears get an official release date – and they're right around the corner
Not to sound like a broken record, but the Sony WH-1000XM5 really are a stellar set of cans. They're some of, if not the best noise-canceling headphones money can buy. Now, the hotly anticipated XM6 headphones are set to arrive as a follow-up. Better yet, we've finally got an official release date – and the cans are right around the corner.
After Dealabs shared a not-so-subtle leak involving Amazon Spain and a Reddit user with an eye for pulled product pages, Sony has come out and officially said what we've all been waiting for. The next pair of its ridiculously popular noise-cancelling headphones, the WH-1000XM6, will be unveiled on 15 May. The launch will take place at 5pm BST/12pm ET. It doesn't look like there's a live stream to follow along with, but expect the news to drop everywhere (including here at Stuff) at that time.
Sony's WH-1000X line is basically the iPhone of headphones at this point. Every model gets lapped up by the masses, and with good reason. The XM5 was more evolution than revolution – slightly better noise cancelling, a design facelift, and just enough of a spec bump to make you feel like your XM4s were looking a bit tired. So expectations for the XM6s are pretty high.
According to the leak, the XM6s pack a new QN3 HD processor – supposedly 7x faster than the QN1 chip in the XM5s. If it means genuinely better noise cancelling, we're in for something exciting this time. Plus, there's a new six-mic AI beamforming system for calls. It should mean you'll actually sound like a human being and not a muffled ghost on Zoom. There's also still a headphone jack present. No word yet on battery life improvements or other niceties, but Sony's track record suggests we'll see some polish.
The WH-1000XM6 will launch officially on 15 May. Thanks to the leak, we can expect pricing to start at $450 in the US (a $50 bump), and €388 in Europe. Expect them to be available to buy immediately after the launch.
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Takamura explained that the XM6's 30mm driver is structurally similar to the one found in the XM5, but with key upgrades. 'The dome is carbon fibre composite — more rigid now — so the high frequency response is more natural and clean,' he said. 'The diaphragm edge is soft, and we added airflow holes in the bobbin to make the sound smoother and more natural.' Unlike professional-grade studio headphones used by producers and sound engineers (where the goal is to use the flattest, most clinical-sounding pair of headphones possible), designing a pair of consumer headphones is a different beast entirely. 'With studio headphones, you know who you're building for. With these, you don't. They'll be used by people listening to everything from Dylan to EDM. So it's about making smart compromises that still feel musical.' Piacentini also spoke about the reference material used in testing — a tight selection of tracks he either worked on directly or knew intimately. 'You listen to the same songs 50, 60 times while tuning,' he said. 'You're listening for balance — does the snare hit the same way? Is the vocal sitting right? And more than anything, does it translate from the studio to these headphones?' Interestingly, other engineers brought in by Sony — including Randy Merrill, Chris Gehringer, and Michael Romanowski — all made similar tuning decisions. 'It was reassuring,' Piacentini said. 'We weren't working in a vacuum. The choices we made seemed to land with everyone.' The tuning process itself, once the hardware was fixed, also took time. 'We started with a few different EQs,' Takamura said. 'Then we brought it to Mike. He helped us tune it more precisely, and we saved that as a preset.' Naturally, one of the other key challenges was balancing ANC with sound quality. 'If the noise cancelling is too strong, you lose clarity,' Takamura continues. 'We worked on an algorithm that adapts to your head shape and your surroundings. That's new.' The sound of silence On that note, Sony's noise cancelling has long been among the best — and the XM6 pushes things further. The jump from eight microphones to 12 (six per earcup) gives the system more data to work with, and it's all handled by the new QN3 noise-cancelling processor, combined with a powerful, all-new algorithm. According to Sony, it's seven times faster than the QN1 chip used in the XM5, enabling more responsive real-time adjustments to changing environments. But it's not just about the hardware. Takamura explained how the new algorithm adapts not just to background noise, but also to head shape and air pressure — crucial for keeping ANC consistent in different situations. Still, he acknowledged the trade-offs. 'There's always a small difference between sound with ANC on and off — but we tried to keep it as small as possible.' In testing, the WH-1000XM6 delivered one of the most effective ANC performances I've used. On a flight, engine noise faded to near silence. In a busy home office, keyboard clacks and fan hum dropped to a distant murmur. Even without music playing, the XM6 created a noticeably quieter bubble — and once audio kicks in, external distractions all but vanish. The ambient mode (Sony's take on transparency) has been improved too. It now adjusts automatically based on surroundings — opening up more in quiet spaces, pulling back in louder ones — with no need for manual tweaks. Some power users may lament the lack of customisable ANC controls regardless, and I totally get that. For me, I have zero complaints about the ANC autopilot in the WH-1000XM6. Though I wouldn't mind seeing a future app update with customisation options. Power to the people, and all that. Nips and tucks While not a million miles away from the design of the XM5, there are some notable changes in the XM6 which, according to Sony designerChai Yee L., was led by a mixture of user feedback and stubborn attention to detail. 'We call it evolutionary, not revolutionary,' she said, 'but each change solves a specific problem.' One example, is the headband. On the XM5, it was perfectly symmetrical — sleek, but occasionally confusing. 'Some users wore them the wrong way round,' she admitted. 'That affects the seal, and sound quality. So the new headband is slightly asymmetrical, with a seam at the back to help you identify the correct orientation by feel.' Even the way the headphones fold was rethought. 'We brought back the folding design because people missed it,' she said. 'But we also reworked the hinge. There's less swing, more stiffness, a straighter profile. We wanted to reduce what we call the 'Mickey Mouse effect' — that triangular gap between the earcup and the head.' The carry case, too, has had a rethink — prompted by Sony's Inclusive Design Workshop in 2024. 'The old zip was hard for some people to use. Now it's a magnetic flap. You can open it with one hand.' Play Other small but considered changes include a redesigned power button (to avoid accidental presses), softer synthetic leather pads, and increased clamping force for better ANC performance. 'You can now wear it around your neck with closed cups too,' she added. 'We wanted it to look and feel more portable.' Sony WH-1000XM6: the best headphones for most people If someone were to ask me what headphones they should get, I'd point them in the direction of the WH-1000XM6 without hesitation — budget permitting, of course. They aren't exactly cheap. But if you're after a single pair of headphones for every conceivable task, and are willing to spend a premium, you won't be disappointed. And as for the inevitable XM7? I'm looking forward to what Sony's engineers and designers will cook up over the next few years.
