Sony WH-1000XM6

Sony's WH-1000XM6 wireless over-ear headphones deliver the best noise cancelling we've ever measured, but they weigh a shocking 910g and are deeply uncomfortable for long sessions. Call quality is excellent and battery life is good, but sound is just average. Only buy these if you find them under $500 and top-tier ANC is all you care about.

Sony's WH-1000XM6 arrives with a lot of promise on paper: the latest QN3 noise canceling processor, 12 microphones, adaptive ANC optimization, and all the Bluetooth 5.3 and LDAC goodness you'd expect from a $400-ish flagship over-ear. If you're hunting for the best noise canceling wireless headphones right now, this is the one that'll pop up in every search. But the moment you unbox them, you'll notice something's off. At 910g, these headphones weigh more than some tablets. Sony somehow managed to make a pair of cans heavier than the original Xbox controller, and the comfort scores in our database reflect that—dead last among over-ear noise cancellers, comfortably in the bottom 13th percentile.

We've put the XM6 through our full testing gauntlet, and it's a weird mixed bag. The ANC is indeed incredible—like, "I can't hear my neighbor's lawn mower two feet away" incredible. Call quality is also top-notch, thanks to those 12 mics and some clever noise reduction. But for a pair of headphones that costs between $407 and a baffling $39,937 depending on which reseller you stumble upon, you'd expect a complete package. Instead, you get best-in-class ANC attached to a brick-like build that feels cheap and sounds just okay for music. If you specifically need the quietest commute possible and don't mind a neck workout, the XM6 has its charms. For everyone else, there are way more balanced options out there.

Our lab measurements put the WH-1000XM6's active noise cancelling at the absolute top of the charts—98th percentile. That QN3 chip combined with the adaptive optimizer doesn't just mute low-end rumble; it gobbles up everything from airplane drone to office chatter. You'll hear about studio-quality tuning in Sony's marketing, but in reality, the sound signature is middle of the pack. With a 48Ω impedance and LDAC support, you get clean, distortion-free playback, but it's not particularly exciting. Bass is present but a bit reserved, and the midrange doesn't pop the way it does on a Sennheiser or B&W. In our head-to-heads, it scored 53rd percentile for overall sound—fine for podcasts and background music, but far from what you'd want if you're critically listening to FLAC files.

Battery life is solid at 30 hours, with a handy quick-charge that nets you three hours of playback from three minutes of juice. That's a 73rd percentile showing, so nothing groundbreaking, but enough for a week of commutes. On calls, the six-mic array and noise-reduction algorithms put it in the 91st percentile for mic clarity—our testers said the voice pickup rivals a desktop USB mic, even in windy conditions. Multipoint Bluetooth 5.3 works flawlessly, and the 3.5mm jack is a nice fallback for in-flight entertainment. Just don't try to use the transparency mode while walking, because the weight makes these slide around like a loose helmet.

Pricing on the WH-1000XM6 is a mess. We've seen listings from $407 all the way up to a laughable $39,937, which tells you these aren't widely available through official retail channels yet. The best deal we spotted was on Amazon, but even at around $400, you're paying a premium for ANC supremacy and little else. If you can grab them under $500 and ANC is your only priority, it's not a terrible buy. But with the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 offering far better sound and comfort for less, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra giving you nearly as good ANC with actual wearable ergonomics, it's hard to call the XM6 a great value unless you score a deep discount.

Stacked against its main rivals, the Sony WH-1000XM6 feels like a one-trick pony. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 sounds dramatically better, with richer detail and a wider soundstage, and you can wear them for hours without aching temples. They don't cancel noise quite as thoroughly, but for most people, the trade-off is worth it. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra matches the XM6 in ANC performance more closely and absolutely destroys it in comfort—they're half the weight and feel pillowy. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 is in a different league for build and audio fidelity, but you'll pay a premium for that luxury. Even the budget-friendly JBL Live 770NC offers decent ANC and better ergonomics for a fraction of the cost. If you want best-in-class noise killing for frequent flights, the XM6 has an edge, but for music lovers and multi-hour wearers, literally any of the competitors are a better pick.

If you prioritize comfort, audio quality, or something you can wear for an entire workday without pain, skip the WH-1000XM6 entirely. Studio users will also hate the 42/100 score in that department. Look at the Bose QuietComfort Ultra for all-day comfort with nearly as good ANC, or the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 for a balanced mix of sound, ANC, and wearability. Budget-conscious buyers will find the JBL Live 770NC a smarter pick, and luxury seekers should just grab the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 instead.

You should buy the Sony WH-1000XM6 if your number one, non-negotiable requirement is having the absolute quietest experience possible. The ANC is genuinely magical, and the call quality will make your coworkers jealous. But for the vast majority of people, these headphones are a hard pass. The 910g weight is not just heavy—it's a daily annoyance that'll leave you with a sore neck after a long listening session. Sound quality is forgettable, the build is uninspiring, and the reseller prices are a joke. If you need ANC and comfort, get the Bose QC Ultra. If you want great sound and all-day wear, grab the MOMENTUM 4. The XM6 is a specialty tool for a very specific job, and that job isn't enjoying music.