Latest news with #SonyWH-1000XM6
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Get a whopping 34 per cent discount on these five-star wireless headphones from Sony
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The recently released, and excellent, Sony WH-1000XM6 will cost you $450; but if you're looking for a great deal on some of the best wireless headphones, consider the WH-1000XM4 from Sony instead. Both are five-star beauties, but the older XM4s are now half the price of the latest model. That means you can pick them up for only $228 at Amazon. In our review we say they deliver dynamic and detail-rich sound that could be described as a sonic masterclass. They also have a sensational sense of timing and are comfy to wear. This is the complete package at an unbelievably tempting price. What are you waiting for? After being superseded by the XM5s and now the XM6s, you might think these should be immediately dismissed. But the Sony WH-1000XM4 are still miles ahead of most of their rivals, and at this price, they are worth every penny. When we reviewed them, we were wowed by their sparkling sound and stellar construction. Winners then, winners now, winners until the very end. Deal on all black, blue, and silver colorwaysView Deal If you were to ask us if there's a more entertaining pair of premium wireless headphones than the Sony WH-1000XM4, in all honesty, we would struggle to think of any. The WH-1000XM5 brings Sony's premium line further into the future, of course, with enhanced features and sensational levels of sonic clarity, but the former Award winners have such a marvellous feel for your music that it's hard to tire of their sound. Some of our testing team still prefer the XM4 over almost all other cans, such is their stunning sonic prowess. They are also incredibly easy headphones to live with. They fold away, so they're perfect for daily commuting, while their soft earpads and nicely judged clamping pressure only add to their on-the-go credentials. You don't end up feeling short-changed on features either. A 30-hour battery life is a long way from a disgrace; the noise cancelling is excellent, the touch controls work nicely, and – this being a pair of Sony headphones – there's DSEE upscaling for cleaning up poor-quality audio files. What more could you want? To us, the Sony WH-1000XM4 could be all the headphones you need at this level. Grab them at Amazon now. MORE: Read our Sony WH-1000XM4 review These are the best Sony headphones that we recommend These are the best over-ear headphones you can buy
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
There's a big saving on these five-star headphones in the Memorial Day sales
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Memorial Day sales have thrown up another great deal. The five-star Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are now $102 off, dropping to just $277 at Amazon. They have been cheaper before – about a month ago, they dropped to $270. But this is still a good price on a sublime pair of headphones. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless was $379 now $277 at AmazonThe five-star Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones are a stellar set of cans that we praised for providing clean, neutral and musical sound, a mighty 60-hour battery life and effective ANC. Competition is fiercer than ever now, but these still hold up as a great pair of headphones. Five starsRead our Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review Deal also at Best BuyView Deal The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are getting on a bit now – we first reviewed them back in December 2022. At the time we declared them "one of the best-performing ANC over-ears at their price". Since then, the market has moved on, and competition is fiercer than ever. Not only do they have to compete with established models like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, but fresh rivals too like the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3. But the Sennheiser's appeal endures. That's largely down to the incredible 60-hour battery life that none of these rivals can, well, rival. The Momentum 4 Wireless also support the high-quality aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec, and the Sennheiser Smart Control app gives you a deep level of personalisation. Most importantly, when it comes to sound quality, they offer a clear, direct, detailed and lively profile. As we say in our review: "When first playing music through them, we are also struck by their tonal balance, which has shed a layer or two of the richness that has characterised older Momentums, in favour of more neutrality this time round. "That's no bad thing. They sound sharp and sprightly, and that added leanness hasn't come at the expense of substance across the frequencies: highs are well-honed, mids are pleasingly plump, and lows strike a good balance between being taut and tubby." Sound good, right? And with $102 off, dropping the price to just $277 at Amazon, we recommend them wholeheartedly. MORE: Read our full Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review Our pick of the best wireless headphones you can buy right now These are the best audiophile headphones on the market
Tom's Guide
20-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra: How do Sony's latest headphones compare to Bose's noise-canceling kings?
Sony's new ANC headphones are a step up from the previous model and feature improved sound, ANC, and comfort levels. They're more expensive than before and there are fewer colors, but they're an excellent pair of noise-canceling headphones. Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have long been the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy. They block out more noise than the competition, and feature a very comfortable fit. Battery life could be better, but they're an attractive deal considering Sony's $450 price point. After three long years, we've finally got them — Sony's brand new WH-1000XM6. They replace the venerable Sony WH-1000XM5, with a swathe of updates and incremental improvements that bring some extra features and a more comfortable fit to the table. They might be contenders for the best wireless headphones that you can buy right now, with plenty of reasons to add them to your Amazon basket if you're looking to upgrade your portable audio. But there's still some stiff competition, like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. The QC Ultra Headphones have been our pick for the best noise-canceling headphones since their release, but there are plenty of other reasons that you might want to pick them up over the XM6. But which pair of headphones is going to come out on top when we put them head to head? Let's find out. Sony WH-1000XM6 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Price $449 / £399 / AU$699 $429 / £449 / AU$645 Colors Black; Silver; Midnight Blue Lunar Blue; Deep Plum; White Smoke; Black Size Not specified Not specified Weight 8.9 ounces 8.8 ounces Battery life (rated) Up to 40 hours Up to 24 hours Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDAC support Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDAC, aptX HD support support Special features Adaptive ANC, Ambient Sound Mode, DSEE Extreme Audio, Bluetooth multipoint, customizable sound, quick charge, passive mode, 360 Reality Audio ANC, Immersive Audio, Bluetooth multipoint, customizable EQ, quick charge Let's not beat around the bush — Sony has risen the price of the XM series this time around. The Sony WH-1000XM6 cost $449, a full $50 more than the XM5 that came before them. Interestingly, that also brings them up in price when you compare them to their closest competitors. They're now only $100 cheaper than the AirPods Max, and the same price in the U.K. as the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3, a new favorite for the top spot on our best wireless headphones list. You can also still buy the XM5, so if you really want the Sony brand and don't want to spend the $449 for the XM6, you should pick up a pair of those instead. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones cost $429, which previously made them one of the more expensive pairs of over-ear headphones in the sector. They've also been out long enough that we've now seen them start to drop in price during deals events like Black Friday and Prime Day, giving you ample opportunity to get yourself a pair at a good price. Both pairs of headphones are easy to get a hold of, thanks to availability at Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra are going to take the win here — they're cheaper than the XM6 buy $20, and we've seen them drop even lower. If you where expecting some form of big design step up with the WH-1000XM6, you might be dissapointed. Rather than a complete refresh of the look, you get a more iterative update with more features for increased useability and comfort than outward style. They've got a new hinge which lets them fold up into their newly designed carrying case. The hinges are a welcome return to compact form, although Tom's Guide's Managing Editor of TV and AV, Nick Pino, was concerned for the greater longevity of the design now that there's a new failure point on the headband. The headband itself is nice and wide for a comfortable fit, and Nick found them more comfortable to wear over a longer period of time compared to the XM5. Overall, the XM6 are a fairly nondescript pair of headphones, with few accents to help them standout. Build is good if a little plasticky, and there are some concerns about the new folding headband mechanism. All that said, the QC Ultra are a more attractive pair of headphones (in my eyes, at least). There's more visual interest from the different materials used in the headband, armature and earcups, and a greater range of color options. The metal hinge feels sturdier than the folding mechanism on the M6, yet still lets you fold them up into the included carrying case. That carrying case might not be quite as futuristically magnetic as the Sony case, but it is just as protective and slightly smaller. There are a couple of small issues worth noting: They rattle slightly more when shaken than the Sony headphones, and I've got a weird mark on my left ear cushion thanks to some strange pinching in the case. Overall though, build is similar. This one goes to the QuietComfort Ultra and their more attractive design overall. Sony has got touch controls down to a fine art, with some of the finest on-ear, non-physical controls around. I still don't like them, but they are flexible, sensitive, and customizable. Swipe up and down for volume, left and right to skip tracks, and tap to control the playback of your music. The best touch control of all though is the instant transparency mode, activated when you hold your hand over the right earcup. That drops the volume and activates transparency to make it easier to quickly have a chat with someone. The power and ANC buttons are different shapes and sizes to make them easier to tell apart. The round power button and smaller ANC button make sure you don't turn the ANC off when you want to turn the headphones off, and vice versa. Good controls, if you like touch controls. The QuietComfort controls are not good. There's a single button to control playback, which relies on multiple presses for skipping and pausing. It also controls the ANC with a long hold. It's the same size and shape as the power button too, making sure that you accidentally disconnect your headphones when you want to pause your music. The touch control element is a sensitive slider that you can swipe. It's a bit inaccurate, leading to wild movements in volume on occasion. The winners in this round are the Sony WH-1000XM6. With the XM6, Sony has changed its sound profile: Instead of a wider soundstage Sony has opted for vocal clarity. They're still bassier than the Tom's Guide audio team would prefer, but they're a decent audio experience in the long run. Vocal clarity is so good that Nick even commented that "the clarity in the vocals was unmatched." That's a big bonus for the XM6, although you do have to sacrifice soundstage and imaging to get it. Codec support is excellent too, including LDAC, SBC, AAC, and LC3. there's also Sony's proprietary DSEE extreme, which can raise the bitrate of some tracks when activated. The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones don't sound bad — although they don't sound as good as the Sony option. They're very bassy, with what I've come to call a 'wall of bass' that has a habit of taking attention away from the rest of your music. Some will really like it — if you listen to R&B and pop, for example — but it does struggle with other genres that need better representation across the frequency range. There's plenty of detail up top and the mids are decent enough though, so you'll still likely enjoy the sound of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Sony takes the win in this category though, on account of the more subdued and welcoming sound signature. The Sony WH-1000XM6 continues the line's legacy of a dizzying array of features, from the aforementioned codec support and range of different touch controls. The XM6 hide some excellent features inside the solid Sony Sound app. There are noise-canceling modes aplenty so that you can really dial in the ANC to your liking depending on where you are. There's still the option to let the ANC change depending on your GPS location as well, which is pretty cool. There's loads of sound modes as well, including a very well-equipped EQ customizer. There are pre-customized modes depending on genre, but there's a 10-band adjuster should you want to change it according to your taste. Bluetooth version is up-to-date at 5.3, giving you support for Bluetooth extras like Auracast. There are some spatial audio options too, although you'll only find support for Sony 360 Reality Audio tracks on Amazon Music Unlimited at the moment. The Bose use the Bose app, as you might imagine, and it's super easy to use thanks to well set out buttons and images. Inside the app you'll find the headphones many features, all accessible with a tap. There's the noise-canceling modes, which are more simplistic than the Sony option. You'll find different ANC levels, although there aren't as many as there are on the XM6. It'll still let you dial in your ANC, though, which is helpful. Then there's the EQ, which is again not as fully featured as the Sony. There are only 3 bands here as opposed to the XM6's 10, so you can't quite dial in the sound as much as you might like if you're a frequent genre-switcher. There's also the spatial audio component, although this will come down to personal preference. It uses Bose's proprietary spatial audio mixing called "Immersive Audio," which takes all music you listen to and spreads it out. Your mileage may vary here — I don't like how it thins out the mid-range, but others like the artificially increased soundstage. Overall, the Sony WH-1000XM6 pack in more features than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, and take home the features section. With an increase in microphones from 8 to 12 from the old model, the XM6 feature improved noise canceling. They'll dynamically read the environment around you so that the ANC is always working at its best — at least that's what Sony claims. The result is good noise canceling, although we found that it wasn't quite as big an improvement as we where perhaps hoping. There's a definite reduction in the higher-range this time round, making louder environments easier to handle while listening to a podcast or an audio book. ANC does still struggle with louder sounds like crying children, and Nick found that flights won't be completely blocked out. The ANC is still very good however, and the transparency modes match the performance with natural sound audio pumped back through to you. However, Bose wins out here every time though. Despite the improved noise canceling of the WH-1000XM6, they still can't compete with the noise canceling of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. It really is like magic when you turn the ANC of the Bose on, and every single sound just... goes away. It's closer than it was before, but the ANC performance of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra takes them the win this time around. Sony hasn't made any great strides in battery life in the XM6: They'll last you 30 hours with ANC switched on, and 40 hours if you switch it off. That's about what you'd expect from the price point, although its disappointing we didn't get a little more staying power. Still, I'd wager that 30 hours is still going to be plenty for most people. If you're in a rush, 3 minutes of charging gets you 3 hours of use as well, which is helpful should you need to juice up super quickly. Bose's battery isn't... good. You get 24 hours of staying power out of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones — a whole 6 hours less than the Sony headphones. You can't increase this number either, because you can't turn the ANC off, only switch between on and transparency mode. Quick charge isn't as impressive either, giving you 2.5 hours after a 15 minute charge. The Sony headphones take the crown here in all aspects of battery life. At the end of the competition, the Sony WH-1000XM6 take the cake as the better pair of headphones. They might not look as good or have noise canceling as good as the Bose QC Ultra, but the improvements in sound quality and feature set make sure they retain their place above the QuietComfort Ultra on most headphones list. However — if you like ANC above all else, or don't want to spend the extra when deals events come around, then the Bose headphones might just be the better option for you. Personally, though, I'd recommend you pick up the XM5 if you're looking to save some money over the XM6. You get similar performance and looks for a lower price and Sony is going to leave them on sale. Sony WH-1000XM6 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Price and value (5) 3 3 Design (15) 13 14 Controls (10) 7 5 Sound quality (25) 22 20 Active noise cancelation (20) 15 20 Call quality (10) 9 9 Connectivity (5) 5 5 Battery life (10) 8 5 Total Score (100) 84 80
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Business Standard
19-05-2025
- Business Standard
Nothing to launch premium over-ear headphones this year: What to expect
Nothing is going to launch its first over-the-ear headphones this summer and it plans to deliver similar audio quality to Apple AirPods Max and Sony WH-1000XM6 but at a lower price. Nothing posted a video on its YouTube channel that showed its design team having a behind-the-scenes discussion about the upcoming headphone and sharing key details of what we can expect from the London-based brand. Notably, Nothing CEO Carl Pei, back in 2022, shared some fan-made concept images of the 'Crazy Cool Nothing Head (1).' Now, after more than two and a half years, the London-based consumer electronics brand has finally confirmed that it indeed has been working on over-the-ear headphones and is set to launch it this year. Nothing Over-the-ear headphones: What to expect In the video, Nothing designers were quite vocal about their dissatisfaction with the kind of choices that exist today in the headphone market. They expressed that they don't like the design of the headphones in the present times and some of the headphones like Apple AirPods Max carry a hefty price tag which makes its accessibility tough for the masses. Apparently, they have taken care of this aspect as they aim to release a product at a lower price. The upcoming headphones are expected to feature simplified and distinct buttons. The reasoning behind this is to make the wearer aware of what control they are touching on the headphones while having them on. Additionally, the team also said that the upcoming headphones will be unique as it will 'say something about you.' The designers said that after making five generations of audio wearables, namely- Nothing Ear, Nothing Ear (1), Nothing Ear (2), Nothing Ear (a), and Nothing Ear (Stick), the company has developed a fair expertise in the segment. They will be putting this expertise to good use by delivering premium quality audio in the upcoming over-the-ear headphones. They have stated that the sound quality is their top-most priority. A team member went on to say: 'I think they are better than AirPods Max." To know whether this is a market fit or not, the company plans to engage with its community for feedback to refine the final product before launch.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sony's new flagship XM6 headphones are here — but there's a catch
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. On May 15, Sony released its newest flagship headphones, the noise-cancelling WH-1000XM6 headphones. The new headphones have improved noise cancellation and sound, but there's a catch — they cost $449.99. That's about $50 more than the previous version, and hardly a surprise in the tariff era. Still, that's a big ask for music lovers. As I noted in my full review, "other flagship headphones from brands like Bose, Dyson, Sonos, and Apple have all come in at $449 and above. If you're a music lover who wants the best possible sound, that's the new price of admission, folks." Mashable has been testing the new wireless headphones over the past couple weeks, and you can read our full review of the new cans (spoiler alert: they sound fantastic). But if you're ready to pass go, drop $450, and collect your new headphones, you can already purchase them at Sony, Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers. Sony's flagship headphones always rank among the very best noise-cancelling headphones, and the XM6 are no exception. In this post, we'll cover what's new, what's not, and other need-to-know details on the latest Sony noise cancellers. Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones $449.99 at Amazon Shop Now You can't release a new product in 2025 without adding some type of AI feature, even if you have to use the term AI liberally. However, Sony really did add a faster chip (seven times faster, the company says), the Sony QN3 processor. That chip powers improved noise cancellation, particularly for phone calls. The other improvements definitely fall into the iterative category, with one big exception: these headphones now fold. Meet the new Sony flagship headphones. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable And here are the specs: Processor: Sony QN3 Microphones: 12 Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (LDAC support) Battery: 30 hours with ANC (40 hours without) Noise cancellation: Active noise cancellation Spatial audio: Yes Colors: Midnight blue, black, silver For the new headphones, Sony audio engineers worked with mastering engineers here in the United States to improve the overall audio quality. And when directly comparing them to the XM5 headphones and wireless earbuds, there is a noticeable improvement. (How much better? Read our full XM6 review to find out.) For call quality, additional microphones and "AI beamforming" provide clearer, more directional sound. For calls, the headphones also feature two additional microphones. Most importantly, the new headphones are more travel-friendly. The case is slimmer and smaller than the XM5 case. They also trade the terrible, easily broken zipper for a magnetic latch. While the case might not look much smaller, in person, it's significantly more compact. And here's the big news: The headphones now fold up for storage. The XM6's case is more travel-friendly. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Unlike the previous model, the XM6 headphones fold up for easier storage. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable While Dyson's OnTrac headphones were able to achieve a mighty impressive 55 hours of battery with ANC, the XM6 headphones have exactly the same battery life as the previous model. That's pretty disappointing. (Though, unless you're taking back-to-back 20-hour flights, I'm not sure anyone really needs more than 30 hours of playback at a time.) I would also class the noise cancellation and audio improvements as a matter of degrees, not miles. Considering it's been three years since the previous model, I was hoping for a little more. Honestly, it's looking like noise-cancelling headphones like this have pretty much plateaued. Just look at the non-existent changes Apple made to the "new" AirPods Max headphones. At least Sony included noticeable audio quality improvements, a new processor, and a big new design change. If you've been eagerly waiting for Sony's new headphones, you can order them now from Sony, Amazon, and Best Buy. The headphones have a $449.99 price tag and come in three colors, Midnight blue, black, and silver. Get the Sony XM6 headphones Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones (Midnight Blue) $449.99 Shop Now Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones (Black) $449.99 Shop Now Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones (Silver) $449.99 Shop Now The previous-gen model Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones $348 (Save $50) Get Deal
