WH-1000XM6

"The bass is deeper and punchier which I absolutely love. Vocals feel clearer too definitely not muddy..."

While some find the out-of-the-box tuning muffled, many users report that with EQ adjustments, the sound quality becomes a significant improvement over previous models, offering clearer vocals, deeper bass, and better instrument separation.

"I've got a big head, but these were way too tight and uncomfortable. I had to return mine and repair my XM5."

Comfort is a major point of contention, with many users experiencing significant discomfort due to tight clamping force, while others find it snug or eventually get used to it.

"Battery life is as advertised...feels like it never dies!!"

Battery life is consistently praised as excellent, with users reporting it lasts as advertised and feels like it 'never dies'.

"I will never buy another pair of Sony Headphones. Got Bose QC Gen 2's. We'll see, but initial impressions are they don't feel as cheap and flimsy as the XM5s or 6s did."

While some users report improved hinge sturdiness, many express concerns about the overall build quality, citing plastic materials and potential durability issues, with some experiencing breakage.

"while on a call with my girl I was physically having to yell for her to hear me but the update says it fixed the mic for calls and such so need to try that again"

Call quality receives mixed feedback, with some users reporting clear calls and no background noise, while others experienced issues where people couldn't hear them properly.

"The multipoint connection is also buggy. For users who have an Apple ecosystem (specifically iPhone and Mac), if you are playing something from Spotify on your Mac, it will show up on your iPhone's Spotify..."

Features like multipoint connection are noted as buggy by some users, causing connection prioritization issues, though other features like transparency mode are generally well-received.

"The XM6’s soundstage is grand and epic, the earcups are snug, the dual Bluetooth-connectivity is so convenient, and the battery life is long."

The sound quality is generally described as well-balanced, improved over previous models, and highly customizable via the app, though some find the stock tuning slightly bass-heavy or veiled.

"Sony has made some admirable improvements to the XM6, but they still struggle to match the comfort of similar competitors."

While some find the fit comfortable, multiple reviews mention issues with clamping force, shallow earcups, and an uncomfortable headband, suggesting comfort is a significant drawback for some users.

"Sony claims that the XM6 can get up to 30 hours of battery life with ANC on and 40 hours with ANC off, and I’m inclined to believe that."

The battery life is consistently reported as excellent, meeting or exceeding the claimed 30 hours with ANC on, and offering convenient fast charging.

"The all-plastic construction arguably feels less high-end than the metal accents on similarly priced headphones from Apple and Bose, and certainly less so than a brand like Bowers & Wilkins."

The build is generally seen as sleek and modern, with improvements like metal hinges, but some reviewers note the plastic construction feels less premium than competitors and lacks water resistance.

"The Sony XM6 delivers one of the best call qualities we've seen. Whether calling from a quiet office or a busy subway platform, these headphones effectively reduced background noise and relayed voices loud and clear."

Call quality is frequently praised as excellent, with improved noise isolation and voice clarity due to the increased number of microphones.

"The Sony WH-1000XM6 carries over nearly every feature from the XM5 and builds on it with better spatial audio capabilities and improved app controls."

The headphones offer a robust feature set via the app, including customizable EQ and spatial audio, with Bluetooth 5.3 and multipoint support, though some note the lack of aptX and the app's occasional clutter.

"I love my xm4s, had them for 3 years and never had an issue, insane sound quality, top of the shelf NC, long battery life and surprisingly i rarely use the case because they're too compact they're either on my head or in my hand bag barely taking any more space than a powerbank, easily my favorite tech product."

Users generally find the sound quality to be excellent, with descriptions like 'amazing,' 'fluid and balanced,' and 'insane sound quality,' though some audiophiles might seek more precision.

"I was going to replace my 4-year-old XM4s with XM6s. Unfortunately, I found the XM6s very uncomfortable to wear and the headphones caused me pain after just a quarter of an hour."

A significant number of users report discomfort, with complaints about clamping force, pressure points, and small earcups, making them less wearable than older models for extended periods.

"The battery back up is CRAZAYYY .. have travelled with these over flights too! And they work GREAT! I MEAN no noise from the airplane at all."

Battery life is consistently praised as excellent and long-lasting, with users reporting great performance during travel and extended use without needing frequent charges.

"The XM5s were notorious for the plastic snapping at the rotating hinges. It looks like the XM6 reinforced that area with metal pieces which is great to see."

While generally seen as well-built, with improvements over the XM5's hinge issues, concerns remain about the non-replaceable battery and potential long-term wear on materials like the headband.

"What destroys my brain is that we are in 2025, we can chat with an AI that sounds like a human, but if you want to use the mic while listening on a Bluetooth headset, the audio quality sounds like a Vietnam radio, wtf"

Users express significant dissatisfaction with the microphone quality during calls, describing it as sounding like a 'Vietnam radio' and being unusable in noisy environments.

"I'd pick 3.5mm jack over usb every single day. It operates entirely passively, without requiring power. You don't need to buy any extra gadgets just to conventionally connect to a piano or a computer with a long cable."

The inclusion of a 3.5mm jack is appreciated for its passive operation and versatility, though the lack of easily replaceable battery and some users' preference for USB-C audio create a mixed reception.