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

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

I take advantage of the XM5s as my each day headphones (as a lot as I can as somebody who assessments headphones for a dwelling), so I used to be particularly curious to check out the efficiency distinction between the 2 headphones that, at first look, look almost similar.

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 people upgrading from older fashions (or for people 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 help)

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

• Fast cost: 3 hours in 3 minutes

• Noise cancellation settings: Energetic 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 help)

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

• Fast cost: 3 hours in 3 minutes

• Noise cancellation settings: Energetic 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. Here is how that performs out in really utilizing each pairs:

XM6 vs. XM5: Sound high quality

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

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 overview for the XM6s that he discovered vocals to shine significantly, and I wholeheartedly agree.

That stated, it wasn’t as if each track featured a day or evening distinction — it was tougher for me to select main variations on a stay model of the Eagles’ “Hotel California.” However for almost all of the songs I examined, like Corridor & Oates’ “Rich Girl,” to easier songs that closely function vocals like Feist’s “Now At Last,” and Natalia Lafourcade & Los Macorinos’s “Soledad y el Mar,” the variations stood out nearly 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 laptop.

With the app, each headphones supply loads of equalizer settings. With the XM6s, you will really 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 each, whereas the XM5s function a few extra obscure names like “bright” and “excited.” The XM6s additionally function a gaming preset, displaying an effort to make these headphones extra seamlessly versatile for each day use.

Not like the XM5s, the XM6s supply three listening modes: normal, background, and cinema. You may’t use the equalizer with the latter two, however each are supposed to simulate a sure expertise — for background, a “distant ambiance,” in keeping with Sony’s app, and for cinema, a extra immersive expertise powered by Sony’s 360 Audio Upmix tech. Every of the three modes does really 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 data plenty of audio for his work, so noise-cancelling headphones are a necessity for our twin work-from-home area. With my first few wears of the XM6s, it was laborious for me to inform if any much less noise was getting by means of — solely after being very nitpicky did I believe 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 appears like a restrict of what noise cancellation generally 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 lately.

Along with my condo, I used each headphones at a park subsequent to a busy road, 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 big efficiency variations.

Contemplating the XM6s are $50 extra, it is laborious 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 — might’ve helped justify the upper value level.

Winner: WH-1000XM5

XM6 vs. XM5: Consolation and design

As comparable as they appear, the largest distinction between the XM6s and XM5s is a design change: the power to fold up the ear cups.

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

This design distinction does lead to an XM6 case that is each thinner and extra compact, making it a greater choice for frequent vacationers.

On a much less dramatic observe, Sony additionally switched up the button designs on the XM6s, making the facility 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 wanting, 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 lead to 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 general, 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 capabilities 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 similar. Sony’s app is not my favourite — although it affords a good bit of customization in your system, it finally has so many alternative areas to navigate that it does not really feel essentially the most intuitive.

The app itself affords the usual fare, together with computerized powering off, voice management settings, multipoint toggling, and computerized 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 am going to hold 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 suppose 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 sit down on the impressively excessive $549.

However I am not so satisfied that we should always count on a $50 value elevate 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. Positive, you will not be getting absolutely the newest and best, 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 massively sweeping modifications.

Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5

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

Like I stated up prime, you probably have the XM5s, there isn’t any actual motive 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 possible need to mess around with the equalizer a bit extra to attract out the absolute best sound. And do not get me fallacious, the opposite design variations are good upgrades to the XM6s, however finally, 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 an incredible choice for sound high quality, consolation, and noise cancellation.

Nonetheless cannot resolve? Take a look at our full opinions of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones and WH-1000XM6 headphones.