Latest news with #WH1000X
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Sony WH 1000XM6 review: best noise canceling headphones yet but with a higher price tag
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel For many longtime Sony headphone users, portability and comfort are non-negotiables. With the WH 1000XM6, Sony has brought back the much missed folding design, along with hardware refinements that address several pain points from past models. The result is a headset designed for commuters, travelers, and audiophiles who need high performance audio without unnecessary has been three years since the last major release in the WH 1000X series. While the WH 1000XM5 introduced a fresh design, the WH 1000XM6 sticks to the same look but focuses heavily on improved sound quality, stronger noise canceling technology, and comfort upgrades. All this now comes at a premium. The WH 1000XM6 are priced at 449 dollars, which is 50 dollars more than their predecessor and 20 dollars above the latest Bose QuietComfort Ultra read: 10 Best Headphones under 4,000 for Exceptional Sound and Value (2025) One of the most welcomed updates is the return of the foldable hinge, missing from the previous model. This addition allows the headphones to collapse neatly into a smaller case, now upgraded with a magnetic clasp instead of a zipper. It is a small change but one that makes a real difference when you are juggling bags or boarding a headband is now wider and places less pressure on the top of the head. The ear cups, still wrapped in soft pleather, are now removable and replaceable. The power button has been redesigned to be round, making it easier to differentiate from the noise canceling button by touch subtle upgrades make the WH 1000XM6 not just more travel friendly but also more durable and practical for daily the surface, Sony has made big changes. The WH 1000XM6 features upgraded drivers and a new noise canceling chip. Sony says the new ANC system outperforms not just the WH 1000XM5 but also every other noise canceling headphone available today. That includes strong competition from Apple and read: Google to integrate Gemini AI into cars, watches and headphones by 2025 Sound tuning was informed by Sony's in-house music studio engineers. The headphones offer clearer vocals, more detail, and lively bass performance. Users can customize their sound through a 10 band equalizer in the Headphones Connect transparency mode continues to feel natural, and users can activate it easily by covering the right ear cup with a hand. Multipoint Bluetooth and LDAC codec support are still present, offering convenience and high resolution audio only disappointment here is the spatial audio upmixing features in the app, which simulate different environments like coffee shops or movie theaters. These effects feel artificial and are likely to be ignored after one life remains unchanged, with 30 hours of playback with noise cancellation and 40 without it. That will still meet the needs of most users. For the first time in the 1000X series, you can now charge the headphones and listen to them at the same time. However, since the WH 1000XM6 does not support audio over USB C, you will need to plug in both a charging cable and a separate 3.5 millimeter audio calls should also see an upgrade. Sony now uses six microphones for voice pickup, compared to four on the previous model. AI powered beamforming helps isolate speech from surrounding WH 1000XM6 does not reinvent the wheel but improves on nearly every important aspect of its predecessor. With better sound, stronger noise cancellation, and smart ergonomic improvements, it stands out as one of the best noise canceling headphones available today. But at 449 dollars, it also asks more than ever from loyal customers. For those with aging headphones or frequent travel needs, the investment might still be worth it.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Reviewed: Sony's latest WH-1000XM6 headphones deliver booming bass and a battery life that lasts 30 hours
Sony has been on the forefront for some of the best headphones ever made with its WH-1000X series, but ever since its last release in May 2022, fans have been wondering when the next iteration will hit the market. Well, worry not, because the Sony WH-1000XM6 have finally released and they've been well worth the wait. Sony WH-1000XM6 These Sony headphones have been a long time coming and the newest gen is finally foldable again. It packs 30 hours of battery life, a lightweight design, and you can currently shop it in three colors. I tested it for a week and loved the lengthy battery life and stellar sound quality — including the booming bass. $449.99 Shop Boasting a similar over-ear design to the previous gen, you can shop these headphones in midnight blue, black, and silver. They have plush leather ear cups, an adjustable design, and are surprisingly lightweight, weighing just 254 grams. One of my favorite parts is the included book-fold case it comes with (an upgrade from the previous gen's regular zipped case), which easily snaps open and close and can hold the now foldable headphones with ease. The WH-1000XM5 were not foldable, which was a gripe for many users, so it's nice to see that Sony introduced the foldable design again. I spent the past week consistently listening to music at work, at the gym, and even during my morning commute with these headphones to really see how they stacked up against every other pair on the market. Let me start by saying yes, they are on the more expensive end. But, they are 100 percent worth it and here's why. First off, they're incredibly comfortable. The memory foam-style, soft plush design keeps these headphones feeling snug and comfortable on my ears and head, all day long. And I mean all day, as I had them glued to my head for the eight hours I was at work. Battery life was stellar too, with Sony saying they boast 30 hours with noise cancellation on, and up to 40 hours with noise cancellation off. Given I only lost about 20 percent of battery life after eight hours of use, I'd say this stacks up. You definitely need to download the Sony Sound Connect app to get use out of these headphones though. While they come with an included wired cable, using the Connect app will help you with a bunch of things, like keeping track of battery life, toggling listening modes, and setting up something called 'Scenes.' Scenes helps you set up automatic detection via location and time so that your chosen music starts playing exactly at that moment. Like listening to 'Cowboy Carter' when you're driving to work? No problem, the app can help you set that up. It functions with Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music, and can usually just resume your favorite music or play from a specific playlist — if your music streaming service supports it. I'm not going to lie — I barely used this feature. First off, I have shuffle syndrome, so playing back a specific playlist is never really of interest to me. And two, I pretty much always have my headphones on, so I didn't really need to program them to only play at specific times. That said, it could be a useful feature for some, especially those trying to limit their music listening time, or those who only enjoy listening to tunes while they're on a run or at the gym for example — and only have a specific running playlist in mind. Without the app too, you can use on-ear cup touch controls to play/pause your music, toggle noise cancellation, or even skip songs. And, like other headphones on the market, these do support voice assistant compatibility to control your sound and music. Head gestures is another way you can control your headphones. If you toggle this on in the app, you can nod to accept incoming calls or shake to reject. The app has lots of small nifty features that really make a difference to your listening experience if you do use them. Software updates and other device control setups are also through your app — it's also an easy way to discover what all your headphones can truly do, since we know no one is reading the manual they come with. Now we're getting to the real nitty gritty though: the sound. I wouldn't consider myself an audiophile truly, but I do like a good bass and clear vocals on all my tracks — I want to really listen to the lyrics! The best part about this Sony gear is truly their bass. It's balanced, booming, but never overwhelming. Songs like 'Take My Breath' by The Weeknd, and 'Darkroom' by You Not Us — which has a particularly bass-heavy tune — stack up quite well and were a generally enjoyable listening experience for me. I had them set to 'standard' mode most of the time and didn't play with the equalizer much so it's nice to see that sound quality still held up. Vocals sounded pretty clear to me, and overall I was pretty impressed with the 'surround sound' quality of these headphones. It felt just immersive enough, without giving me that plugged-in 'private concert' experience — which honestly, I've never been a fan of. I do think highlighting instruments is where these headphones truly shine though. All Time Low's deep drum beats sounded amazing on these headphones, and I was able to pick up every individual guitar riff — something which I probably never paid attention to before. Noise cancellation works pretty well too. When I was at the office, the typing of my keys and background chatter of my coworkers was fully muffled. Outside, I could still hear traffic and birds chirping, but it was substantially muted. It wasn't a super vacuum-y experience like some other headphone brands but I liked that, as it meant I could keep an eye on my surroundings even with noise cancellation on. Of course, you do also have an ambient mode and you can turn on adaptive sound so your headphones automatically adjust to your surroundings. One place I did have trouble with these Sony headphones is during phone calls though. While I could hear the other person just fine, a ton of people told me my voice didn't sound super clear and a little more muddled than they're used to. It's a very small con, but definitely something to keep in mind if you take most of your meetings on headphones — like me. As someone who's been a fan of Sony headphones for years, I do think they're worth the price. They pack great sound, stellar noise cancellation, and are incredibly comfortable. I would easily pick these up over the previous gen for their compact, foldable design, and convenient extended 30-hour battery life that works well for a person like me who always forgets to charge her devices. I know a lot of you readers are probably wondering why it's worth going with Sony, when there are wireless earbuds or other over-year options for half the price. Well, unlike earbuds, these are truly an accessory that aid your style, have much, much longer battery life, and can be charged simultaneously while they're used — a game changer for me. And, unlike other on-ear headphones, their sound quality is truly one of the best I've ever tried — and anyone who knows me is familiar with the fact that I'm ALWAYS testing a new pair of audio gear, so this is high praise. You can shop the new Sony WH-1000XM6 in three colors now for $449.99, and orders should ship ASAP. Shop now and give them a try for yourself.
