Sony WH-1000XM6 review: The right harmony between sound and silence

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You know a pair of headphones is good when you forget you’re wearing them. That’s what happened with the Sony WH-1000XM6. I slipped them on during a long flight and by the time we landed, I’d stopped thinking about noise, people, or even the seatbelt sign.

Sony’s XM series has always been the gold standard for noise cancellation, and with the XM6, it feels like the company is fine-tuning the experience rather than trying to start over. The changes aren’t dramatic, but they do make a difference in ways that are easy to miss until you’ve lived with them. So, what exactly makes the WH-1000XM6 feel more refined, more balanced, and somehow more useful? Read my full review to find out.

Design and Comfort

Sony clearly believes in the “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” philosophy. The XM6 looks very similar to the XM5, if you have seen the XM5, you have basically seen the XM6. It is sleek, minimalist, and almost anonymous in its design. You still get the soft matte finish, the elegant curves, and the smooth headband that feels premium without being showy. But the moment you wear it, you realise the difference lies in the subtleties.

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It feels slightly lighter, better balanced, and more comfortable during long stretches of use. The memory foam padding around the earcups has been redesigned just enough to improve breathability, and it helps if you wear glasses. I wore them through a full workday, including video calls, writing sessions, and breaks in between and never once felt the need to take them off.

The earcups rotate flat and fold into a compact carry case that feels sturdy and travel-ready. The case now has a softer fabric lining and better compartmentalisation for the cable and adapter .

Touch controls on the right earcup remain reliable and intuitive. Swipe up or down to adjust volume, tap to play or pause, and cover the cup with your hand for instant ambient sound. I’ve used plenty of headphones that make gesture controls feel like guesswork.

Sound Quality

The same 30 mm carbon-fiber composite drivers from the XM5 are here, but with better acoustic damping and airflow. The result is a sound that feels more relaxed and natural, yet full of life.

Let’s start with the bass. It’s present, strong, but never overbearing. On Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy”, the thump is deep and tight, not boomy. You can feel the pulse of the beat without it swallowing the vocals. The XM6 keeps the low end polished. Switch to Daft Punk’s “Lose Yourself to Dance”, and the bass groove feels warm and rounded, exactly how it should in a funk track.

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Moving into the mids, this is where the XM6 really shines. Vocals are crisp, instruments sound clean, and there’s room for everything to breathe. Listening to Adele’s “Love in the Dark”, her voice comes through with emotion and texture, you can almost hear her inhale before hitting the high notes. The mids are neither pushed forward nor recessed.

On John Mayer’s “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room”, the guitar tones are smooth and full-bodied. The XM6 captures that gentle shimmer in the strings without making them too sharp.

Now, the highs. Sony has refined the treble to sound more open and less compressed. Cymbals and hi-hats in The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” sound crisp but never sibilant. There’s more sparkle than the XM5, which helps create a sense of space around the music. On Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida”, the strings and percussion rise beautifully, giving the track a stadium-like airiness.

Where the XM6 really impresses is in its soundstage, it feels wide and layered. Each instrument has its own position, and you can sense distance and direction. On Pink Floyd’s “Time”, the opening clock sounds circle around your head, while the guitars and synths gradually fill the space. You can actually close your eyes and visualise where everything is placed.

Codec Support and Audio Performance

Sony has upgraded the Bluetooth to version 5.4, which brings faster pairing and stronger connections. You get support for SBC, AAC, and LDAC, the last one being Sony’s own high-resolution codec.

With LDAC enabled on a compatible Android phone, you can genuinely hear the difference, you will notice better layering, more defined vocals, and the highs sound better too. On Norah Jones’ “Come Away With Me”, the piano sounds cleaner, the subtle brush strokes on the drums are clearer, and the vocals sit beautifully in the middle.

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On iPhones, you’re limited to AAC, but even then, the XM6 doesn’t lose much of its charm. The DSEE Extreme feature does a decent job of restoring detail in compressed tracks from Spotify or YouTube Music. It adds a bit of sparkle and dimension without making it sound artificial.

In wired mode, there’s a slightly tighter bass response and marginally more detail retrieval. The internal amplifier is quieter this time around, which helps during soft acoustic or instrumental pieces.

Noise Cancellation

Sony continues to lead the pack in noise cancellation, and the XM6 builds on that legacy. The new QN2e processor works alongside the V1 audio chip to cancel out a wider range of frequencies.

In everyday use, that means quieter flights, calmer commutes, and more focused work sessions. The low hum of engines disappears, conversations fade into the background, and even unpredictable noises like a passing scooter or a barking dog are softened naturally.

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What stands out is how comfortable it feels. There’s no ear pressure, no artificial silence, just a natural kind of quiet. It’s easy to wear for hours without fatigue.

Sony’s adaptive sound control automatically adjusts how much noise it blocks based on where you are. Walking outside, it lets in a bit of ambient sound, sitting at your desk, it shuts the world out. The transitions are seamless and genuinely smart.

Calls, and Connectivity

The XM6 connects instantly and smoothly, with support for multipoint pairing. Switching between devices is effortless, you can be watching a video on your laptop and instantly answer a call on your phone without doing anything.

The touch controls remain consistent and accurate. And when you start talking, the Speak-to-Chat feature automatically pauses your music and activates ambient sound. It’s one of those features you don’t realise you’ll use until you do.

Call quality is much better than before. Sony has added an upgraded mic setup and AI-based noise reduction, which filters out wind and background chatter. Even in a noisy café, my voice sounded crisp and natural to the person on the other end.

Battery life stays solid at around 30 hours with ANC on and up to 40 without it. During testing, I charged it once a week. A quick 10-minute charge gives about five hours of playback, which is perfect for travellers.

Should you buy the Sony WH-1000XM6?

If you're someone who travels frequently, works in noisy environments, or just wants the best possible combination of silence and sound quality, the XM6 makes a strong case for itself. The noise cancellation alone is worth serious consideration if you spend time on planes or trains.

They're also excellent for remote workers who take a lot of calls. The call quality genuinely sets them apart from most competitors, and features like easy mute control and reliable voice pickup make them practical tools, not just entertainment devices.

For music lovers who want to hear their favourite tracks the way artists intended, the XM6 delivers a refined, detailed sound that respects the source material without being clinical or boring.

Are they worth Rs 39,990? If you value the combination of best-in-class noise cancellation, excellent sound, and crystal-clear calls, yes. You're paying premium prices, but you're getting premium performance across the board. If you only care about one or two of these aspects, you might find better value elsewhere. But if you want the complete package, the XM6 currently sits at the top of the heap.