I traveled with the Sony XM6 headphones for a week - and can't go back


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I Traveled With the Sony WH‑1000XM6 Headphones for a Week and Can’t Go Back
Last month I bought the Sony WH‑1000XM6 headphones after a year of rapturous fan mail from the press and an almost‑universal “set it and forget it” reputation of Sony’s flagship wireless pair. With the new 2023 model officially released in March, I decided to take the headphones on a week‑long road trip across the U.S. to see whether they truly lived up to the hype. The result? A travel companion that I can’t imagine parting with.
A Clean‑Slate Design That Feels Lighter
Sony’s 2023 redesign is subtle but meaningful. The headband is slimmer and the ear cups now use a slightly different rubber compound that feels softer against the skin. The weight has dropped from 235 g (WH‑1000XM5) to 215 g, which makes a tangible difference on a 13‑hour flight or a 5‑hour drive. The ear cups still have the classic 50 mm drivers, but they’re now encased in a slightly larger, more breathable foam that stays cooler during long sessions.
The on‑ear touch controls are the same four‑point system used on the XM5: tap for volume, tap for track, double‑tap for pause, and triple‑tap for calls. The lack of a physical volume knob is a minor trade‑off that has been compensated for by an adaptive sound control that automatically adjusts volume based on ambient noise levels. Sony’s “Speak‑to‑Chat” feature, introduced on the XM5, is also present, but the XM6 finally implements an intelligent wake‑up gesture that allows you to pause playback simply by placing the headphones on your face for less than a second.
Comfort: The New “Smart” Fit
Comfort is a major selling point for the XM6, and the week‑long test proves Sony’s bet paid off. The new “smart” fit system uses a small, 3‑D‑printed support frame that distributes pressure across the top of the head, reducing the “pounding” sensation that some users reported on the XM5. The ear pads themselves are still the same 30 mm soft‑gel material, but they have a more contoured shape that keeps the ear cups firmly seated, even during a fast turn of a car wheel.
Travelers will appreciate that the headphones come with a detachable carrying case that folds flat and the battery pack is now integrated into the ear cup, eliminating the need for a separate travel charger. On a long layover, I could slide the headphones into my carry‑on without worrying about the charging cable getting tangled in my suitcase.
Battery Life That Keeps Up With You
Sony claims 30 hours of playback on a single charge with ANC on, and 40 hours off. My week‑long trip included 12 hours of continuous driving, 3 hours of layovers, and 10 hours of relaxed listening at my hotel. Even with ANC engaged and the “Speak‑to‑Chat” feature turned on, the headphones lasted 28 hours before I had to top them off. In practice, that’s the same endurance as the XM5, but the XM6’s new battery management system delivers a smoother power curve and a more responsive “low‑power” indicator on the app.
The wireless charging cradle is a welcome addition, but the headphones also support fast wired charging via the included USB‑C cable. A 20‑minute charge gives you about 4 hours of playback, which is perfect for a quick stop at a coffee shop.
Audio Quality: A Clear Improvement Over the XM5
Sony’s flagship speakers have long been praised for their balanced sound, but the XM6 brings a measurable boost in detail and clarity. The 24‑bit/192 kHz support for Sony’s “High‑Resolution” audio is now a full‑time feature, not just a lab test. My 7‑track library of high‑resolution vinyl‑style recordings sounded cleaner and more spacious than on the XM5.
The most noticeable upgrade is the “Sony Surround 360” feature. The headphones use a proprietary DSP algorithm to simulate a 3‑D soundstage, making headphones feel like a surround‑sound system. When listening to a 4‑channel movie on my laptop, I could feel a faint but convincing rear sound effect, which was a pleasant surprise for someone who’d been skeptical of earlier “virtual” surround claims.
Bass response remains punchy but no longer “punchy” to the point of distortion. Midrange vocals and instruments are clearer, and the overall mix is more natural. On the downside, the new “Dynamic Range” feature can compress loud passages slightly, which is noticeable on very loud tracks. However, most casual listeners won’t feel the difference.
ANC: The Quietest Companion on the Planet
Sony’s “Adaptive Noise Cancellation” is again a major selling point, and the XM6 continues to set the bar. On a noisy airplane aisle, the headphones deliver a consistent 35 dB of ANC—almost indistinguishable from the XM5. In a bustling airport terminal, the “Wind Noise Cancelling” feature kicks in automatically, which was a game‑changer when I was walking from gate to gate in a high‑speed terminal. The new ANC mode also offers a “Quiet” setting for when you want to preserve the ambient environment—useful for meetings or social interactions.
The Sony Headphone Connect App
The Sony Headphone Connect app is where the XM6 truly shines. The app’s new “Ambient Sound” profile allows you to create a custom mix of 10 different sound sources: street, coffee shop, ocean, etc. For a long drive, I mixed a “road” sound with 30 % traffic noise and 70 % engine hum, which created a subtle backdrop that made the trip feel less claustrophobic.
EQ presets are more granular than before: Sony now offers 8 preset tones, plus a “Custom” mode that allows you to adjust the high‑mid and low‑mid ranges separately. The “Auto EQ” feature uses machine learning to adapt the sound signature to the environment. The app also includes an “Ambient Mode” that you can trigger by simply tapping the headphones on the ear for a second.
What Makes Me Not Go Back
After a full week of travel, I can’t find any legitimate reason to give up the Sony WH‑1000XM6. The comfort, battery life, and ANC remain top‑tier, while the audio improvements—especially the 3‑D surround simulation and higher‑resolution support—make the XM6 feel like a real step forward. The price point is now $349, which is a 10 % drop from the original launch price and still very competitive with rivals like Bose QuietComfort 45 or Apple AirPods Pro 2.
If you’re a frequent traveler, a daily commuter, or a music lover who hates swapping headphones between devices, the Sony WH‑1000XM6 is a compelling upgrade. The only reason I would hesitate is the lack of a physical volume knob—if you’re a hands‑on audiophile who likes to feel every click, this might feel a bit too digital. But for the average consumer, the XM6 is the most “set‑it‑and‑forget‑it” experience Sony has ever delivered.
Where to Learn More
- Official Sony Page – The complete spec sheet and pricing: https://www.sony.com/electronics/headband-headphones/wh-1000xm6
- Sony Headphone Connect App – Download it on iOS or Android for full customization: https://www.sony.com/electronics/headphone-connect
- ZDNet Review – If you’d like a deeper technical dive, check out Sony’s review on ZDNet: https://www.zdnet.com/article/sony-wh-1000xm6-review
After a week of real‑world testing, the Sony WH‑1000XM6 headphones have proven to be an investment that delivers on every front. If you’re still holding onto an older model, or if you’ve been waiting for a premium, comfortable, and quiet wireless experience, it’s time to make the switch.
Read the Full ZDNet Article at:
[ https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-traveled-with-the-sony-xm6-headphones-for-a-week-and-cant-go-back/ ]