If you’re searching for a new pair of headphones this Black Friday, listen up, as this WH-1000XM6 deal will undoubtedly prove music to your ears, coming highly recommended from mine to yours. You can now grab Sony’s flagship wireless set for just $378, giving you a welcome 18% ($71) off their list price and a return to these cans’ lowest-ever price.
Sony WH-1000XM6
“Beyond quiet. Transcendent sound.” – Sony
The noise-cancelling capabilities of the WH-1000X series are legendary, with Sony’s latest iteration pushing these abilities further than ever before. Inside the headphones is an HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 chip, which the firm touts as being seven times faster than its predecessor, working in tandem with 12 microphones dotted across the shell for the best active noise cancellation (ANC) on the market. I’ve had the pleasure of zoning out on aeroplanes, trains, and walks with these cans on my head, and there’s no other pair I’d want on hand to shut the world out.
While the high-quality ANC impresses, sound quality is king in the world of headphones and this pair is no slouch in that regard. Despite their relatively small size, the 30mm drivers deliver plenty of kick and volume. As is typical of Sony audio, there’s a slight emphasis on low-end frequencies but mids and treble have enough room to shine too.
As someone with an eclectic library, I’ll happily listen to some heavy-hitting hip-hop or some sombre ambient on these cans, much as the balance certainly favours the former. Regardless, there’s room to tweak audio to your liking via the Sound Connect app’s equaliser if you’d prefer to curate some manual tuning.
Battery life is also strong on the WH-1000XM6. Sony claims you can expect up to 30 hours of continuous playback with ANC on a single charge, which lines up with my experience, and will easily see you through a few days of listening. The USB-C port on the right ear cup can charge the headphones from flat to full in just three-and-a-half hours, but it only takes three minutes to fill up with enough juice for three hours of uptime. I just wish the cable in the box was much longer, as it’s pitifully short.
That USB-C port sadly doesn’t serve as a wired connection, but there is a 3.5mm port available and you can use the headphones while they’re charging. Your WH-1000XM6 can conveniently connect up to two devices simultaneously via Bluetooth 5.3, but you’ll want to stick to a single device for the highest possible audio quality. Audiophiles will appreciate continued support for the LDAC codec, enabling hi-res listening sans wires via your local FLAC files or relevant streaming services.
Finally, a word on comfort. The cushioning on the WH-1000XM6 is plush across the headband and ear cups, and suits my large head perfectly with firm but measured clamping force. However, I’m aware that folks with larger ears may find the shallowness of the latter a touch difficult. Sony has also made changes to the hinge design from its prior generation, restoring the ability to fold and pivot the headphones, which also makes for a much smaller and more convenient travel case.
