Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM5: Is it well worth the improve?

After three years, Sony lastly dropped a brand new pair of flagship headphones — the WH-1000XM6 headphones.

I exploit the XM5s as my every day headphones (as a lot as I can as somebody who exams headphones for a residing), so I used to be particularly curious to check out the efficiency distinction between the 2 headphones that, at first look, look almost equivalent.

I will not bury the lede: if you happen to’re somebody who owns the XM5s already, I do not assume the XM6s are a must-upgrade — they don’t seem to be completely different sufficient to justify a further $450. Nonetheless, I do assume there are professionals and cons to be weighed for folk upgrading from older fashions (or for folk coping with a foul case of FOMO). Under, you will discover my full comparability.

XM6 vs. XM5: Specs

At a look, listed below are the spec variations between the 2 headphones:

XM6 specs

• Processor: Sony QN3

• Microphones: 12

• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (LDAC assist)

• Battery: 30 hours with ANC (40 hours with out)

• Fast cost: 3 hours in 3 minutes

• Noise cancellation settings: Lively noise cancellation, transparency mode, off

• Spatial audio: Sure

• Colours: Midnight blue, black, silver

• Inputs: USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack

• Weight: Approx. 8.96 ounces

XM5 specs

• Processor: Sony QN1

• Microphones: 8

• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 (LDAC assist)

• Battery: 30 hours with ANC (40 hours with out)

• Fast cost: 3 hours in 3 minutes

• Noise cancellation settings: Lively noise cancellation, transparency mode, off

• Spatial audio: Sure

• Colours: Midnight blue, black, silver, smoky pink

• Inputs: USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack

• Weight: Approx. 8.82 ounces

From a spec perspective, you may discover proper off the bat that there aren’t that many variations. This is how that performs out in truly utilizing each pairs:

XM6 vs. XM5: Sound high quality

In line with the XM6 press launch, Sony labored with Grammy-winning and nominated audio engineers to make these headphones sound nearly as good as attainable.

Briefly, it does present. Out of the field, the XM6s typically sounded fuller and hotter, letting extra parts of the track shine by means of. Mashable’s Timothy Werth wrote in his standalone assessment for the XM6s that he discovered vocals to shine significantly, and I wholeheartedly agree.

That mentioned, it wasn’t as if each track featured a day or evening distinction — it was more durable for me to select main variations on a stay model of the Eagles’ “Resort California.” However for almost all of the songs I examined, like Corridor & Oates’ “Wealthy Woman,” to less complicated songs that closely function vocals like Feist’s “Now At Final,” and Natalia Lafourcade & Los Macorinos’s “Soledad y el Mar,” the variations stood out virtually instantly. Their vocals sounded extra dynamic — not fairly as in the event that they have been within the room with me, however marginally much less like I used to be streaming it from my telephone or pc.

With the app, each headphones supply loads of equalizer settings. With the XM6s, you will truly get fewer presets — eight in comparison with the XM5s’ 12 — however the identical two customized preset slots. The XM6s’ presets additionally really feel extra distinct and supply useful descriptions beneath every one, whereas the XM5s function a few extra imprecise names like “brilliant” and “excited.” The XM6s additionally function a gaming preset, displaying an effort to make these headphones extra seamlessly versatile for every day use.

Not like the XM5s, the XM6s supply three listening modes: commonplace, background, and cinema. You’ll be able to’t use the equalizer with the latter two, however each are supposed to simulate a sure expertise — for background, a “distant ambiance,” based on Sony’s app, and for cinema, a extra immersive expertise powered by Sony’s 360 Audio Upmix tech. Every of the three modes does truly present a definite sound, giving the XM6s an edge over the earlier era.

Winner: WH-1000XM6

XM6 vs. XM5: Noise cancellation

From a pure specs perspective, the XM6s ought to supply higher noise cancellation than the XM5s: They’ve 12 microphones in comparison with the XM5s’ eight microphones. The XM6s additionally function a brand new QN3 processor, which Sony says improves the headphones’ adaptive noise-cancelling capabilities.

In observe, I did not discover an unlimited world of distinction between the XM5s and XM6s. My accomplice information plenty of audio for his work, so noise-cancelling headphones are a necessity for our twin work-from-home house. With my first few wears of the XM6s, it was onerous for me to inform if any much less noise was getting by means of — solely after being very nitpicky did I feel his voice was barely extra dampened by the newer headphones.

This is not essentially a knock in opposition to the XM6s, contemplating that the XM5s do have actually spectacular noise cancellation. Extra so, it looks like a restrict of what noise cancellation usually can do — I’ve by no means examined a pair of headphones that supply pure silence in each scenario. Comparatively talking, although, each of those headphones sit close to the highest of the pack from what’s out there available on the market as of late.

Along with my house, I used each headphones at a park subsequent to a busy avenue, a restaurant with loads of music and patrons coming out and in, a busy press room at VidCon, and whereas taking walks in my neighborhood. In every of these conditions, I did not discover enormous efficiency variations.

Contemplating the XM6s are $50 extra, it is onerous to make a case for why they’re objectively higher. The addition of a function like manually adjustable ANC — one thing I have been seeing an increasing number of on cheaper choices like Skullcandy’s newest earbuds — may’ve helped justify the upper value level.

Winner: WH-1000XM5

XM6 vs. XM5: Consolation and design

As comparable as they give the impression of being, the most important distinction between the XM6s and XM5s is a design change: the flexibility to fold up the ear cups.

The XM5s did away with the folding design discovered on the XM4s, making them a bulkier possibility for touring. With this newer era, Sony introduced the function again whereas retaining the general look of the XM5s. Whereas there might be some private desire at play right here, in my thoughts, this brings collectively the perfect of each worlds.

This design distinction does end in an XM6 case that is each thinner and extra compact, making it a greater possibility for frequent vacationers.

On a much less dramatic notice, Sony additionally switched up the button designs on the XM6s, making the ability and Bluetooth button a circle. Although not drastic, it is a good quality-of-life improve that makes it simpler to determine which button is which with out trying, or memorizing their positions.

Each headphones additionally function the identical exterior contact controls that may be toggled on and off.

As for the precise put on of each headphones, the XM6s are ever so barely heavier, with a weight of 8.96 ounces in comparison with the XM5s’ 8.82. Does this end in any actual distinction in consolation? For me, not significantly. The headscarf on the XM6s was additionally barely thicker, leading to a extra cushioned really feel, however total, these headphones use the identical exterior supplies, making them nearly indistinguishable by contact alone.

Winner: WH-1000XM6

XM6 vs. XM5: App options

The WH-1000XM6s and XM5s each use Sony’s Sound Join app. The in-app features are principally the identical, with minor variations.

The XM6s have the listening mode part that the XM5s do not (as talked about within the sound high quality part), however past that, the app is just about equivalent. Sony’s app is not my favourite — although it affords a good bit of customization to your gadget, it in the end has so many alternative areas to navigate that it would not really feel probably the most intuitive.

The app itself affords the usual fare, together with automated powering off, voice management settings, multipoint toggling, and automated pausing. As somebody who prefers buttons to the touch controls, I want the XM6s allowed you to toggle the NC button to pause or play music, however just like the XM5s, it might probably solely be set to rapidly allow Spotify Tab, Endel, or Amazon Music Play Now. I will preserve my fingers crossed for a future replace.

Winner: Tie

XM6 vs. XM5: Worth

Sony nonetheless sells its circa-2020 WH-1000XM4 headphones for $350, so I assume it should not be a shock that it is holding the XM5s out there at $400, and upped the worth on the XM6s to $450. Then there’s the truth that opponents’ headphones are priced equally: Bose raised the worth on the QuietComfort Extremely headphones to $449 from $429 someday within the spring, whereas Apple’s AirPods Max proceed to take a seat on the impressively excessive $549.

However I am not so satisfied that we must always anticipate a $50 value increase with every era. If something, the XM6s’ new value makes the XM5s extra interesting, particularly in the event that they drop to the $300 sale value we see them hit with some regularity. Certain, you will not be getting absolutely the newest and biggest, however if you happen to do not significantly care about folding ear cups, it is a a lot better worth than going for headphones that do not make any vastly sweeping adjustments.

Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5

Winner: WH-1000XM6s for frequent vacationers, XM5s for everybody else

Like I mentioned up high, if in case you have the XM5s, there is no actual purpose to improve to the XM6s. In case your present headphones or on their absolute final legs otherwise you journey regularly, the XM6s are a worthy improve.

But when the folding ear cups do not name to you, I like to recommend saving the $50 (or much more, relying on out there offers) and grabbing the XM5s. The sound distinction between the 2 headphones is noticeable facet by facet, however the XM5s are nonetheless excellent-sounding headphones in their very own proper — you will simply seemingly should mess around with the equalizer a bit extra to attract out the very best sound. And do not get me incorrect, the opposite design variations are good upgrades to the XM6s, however in the end, they’re minor and do not fairly justify a value bump.

Regardless of being a 2022 launch, the XM5s are removed from feeling outdated at this cut-off date, making them a fantastic possibility for sound high quality, consolation, and noise cancellation.

Nonetheless cannot resolve? Try our full critiques of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones and WH-1000XM6 headphones.