Sony has a very long tradition of making excellent wireless headphones. The Japanese firm’s WH-1000XM4s (launched in 2020) are still much-loved by those who own them. The award-winning WH-1000xm5s (which arrived in 2022) then refined the experience further, adding better sound and a new look. Now, there are some new cans to choose from, and they appear even more impressive than anything Sony has launched before.
Unsurprisingly, they are called the Sony WH-1000XM6, and they look set to improve on what were already some of the best headphones money could buy.
Firstly, Sony says its Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) is now its most “advanced” yet, meaning owners should only hear the music and not annoying background sound.
This has been achieved thanks to an advanced processor and 12 clever microphones that are dotted all over the headphones.
When you don’t want ANC, you can tap a button on the side to let audio in or simply place your hand over the ear cup to hear what’s going on around you. That’s perfect for those times when you walk into a coffee shop to order a latte and don’t want to take them off.
Next, there’s improved audio with Sony saying the upgraded sound has been developed in collaboration with world-renowned mastering engineers. The collaborative team of Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated engineers includes Randy Merrill (Sterling Sound), who has worked with the likes of Ed Sheeran; Chris Gehringer (Sterling Sound), known for his work with Lady Gaga and Mike Piacentini (Battery Studios), who has mastered tracks for Bob Dylan.
To help boost things further, the new WH-1000XM6 also supports the best formats, including High-Resolution Audio and High-Resolution Audio Wireless. Plus, there’s DSEE Extreme, which upscales compressed digital music files in real time to restore high-range sound lost in compression.
If you don’t like what you are hearing, all the settings can be adjusted in the Sony Connect app with the WH-1000XM6 even featuring a 10-band EQ for the ultimate precision.
Of course, many of us now use headphones for videos as well as music. To help make a boxset binge feel more immersive, 360 Reality Audio Upmix for Cinema has been added that brings spatial sound experience just like you are in a movie theatre.
Along with sounding great, another vital feature of headphones is the way they look and feel.
Sony has refined things again this year with the WH-1000XM6, which features a soft-fit wider headband infused with vegan leather and earpads designed for all-day usage. They also fold up neatly like origami and can be popped into their carry case.
At launch, you’ll find three colours including Black, Platinum Silver and Midnight Blue.
Other extras worth a mention include long battery life, fast charging, improved voice calls and Scene-based Listening.
This new intuitive feature uses sensing technology to automatically play music according to your activity and adjust noise cancellation level based on your environment
They sound pretty mighty, but so does the price. They cost £400, which is pretty expensive, especially as you can currently get the older WH-1000xm5s for just £279.
“Sony today announced the WH-1000XM6 wireless noise cancelling headphones – latest edition of its award winning 1000X series that set a new standard for premium audio and personal listening experiences,” Sony explained in an email sent to Express.co.uk.
“Building on the legacy of the 1000X series, this latest model combines premium sound with the best noise cancelling1 in a seamless design to create an unparalleled audio solution for music lovers, fashionistas, travellers and professionals alike.”