by Ian Carlos Campbell from Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics on (#6XAG9)
It's been over two years since Sony had a new pair of headphones in its 1000X lineup, but the newly announced WH-1000XM6 seem worth the wait. From the outside, the new ANC headphones look similar to the streamlined WH-1000XM5 from 2022, with the only major change being the return of ear cups that rotate and fold flat. Inside, though, Sony's packed in improvements that put the WH-1000XM6 ahead of the competition in terms of both sound quality and active noise cancellation.That's mostly thanks to the new QN3 processor on the inside, the addition of four new built-in microphones (from eight on the 1000XM5 to 12 on the 1000XM6) and an updated system for adapting ANC performance around fit and pressure. All three combine for noticeably better ANC. Those changes haven't led to shorter battery life either - you'll get the same 30 hours with ANC activated on the WH-1000XM6 that you were able to get on the WH-1000XM5.The WH-1000XM6 is not only able to play spatial audio tracks like the WH-100XM5 and AirPods Max can, the headphones can also convert any stereo track you throw at it into 360-degree audio. For most people, though, the more immediately useful new feature will be the ability to keep using the headphones while you charge them, something oddly missing from previous models.At $450, the WH-100XM6 are a good $50 more expensive than WH-1000XM5 and tiptoeing closer to the exorbitantly priced AirPods Max. The best way to know if Sony's new headphones are right for you is to read Engadget's review and ideally, try them for yourself. Until then, we've put together an overview of how the WH-1000XM6 compare to the WH-1000XM5 and the AirPods Max.WH-1000MX6WH-1000MX5AirPods MaxPricing (MSRP)$450$400$549Active noise cancellationYesYesYesTransparency modeYesYesYesAdaptive audioYesYesYesMultipoint connectivityYesCan switch between 2 Bluetooth connectionsFast Pair with Android devicesSwift Pair with Windows 11 and Windows 10 devicesYesCan switch between 2 Bluetooth connectionsFast Pair with Android devicesSwift Pair with Windows 11 and Windows 10 devicesNoAutomatic device switching between Apple devices onlyBattery life (rated)Up to 30 hours with ANC onUp to 40 hours with ANC offUp to 30 hours with ANC onUp to 40 hours with ANC offUp to 20 hours with ANC onUp to 20 hours with ANC and Spatial Audio onUp to 20 hours of talk timeWired chargingUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CWater & dust resistanceNoNoNoSize & weight8.96 oz8.82 oz13.6 ozChip(s)Sony QN3Sony QN1 + V1Apple H1BluetoothBluetooth 5.3Bluetooth 5.2Bluetooth 5.0Bluetooth codecsSBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3SBC, AAC, LDACAAC, SBCSpatial audioYes360 Audio360 Spatial Sound Upmix for converting stereo audioYes360 AudioYesControl typeTouch controls for playback and volumeNC/AMB button for ANCTouch controls for playback and volumeNC/AMB buttonDigital Crown dial for playback and volumeNoise control button for ANCMics & sensors12 microphones total: six microphones for callsTouch sensorsAccelerometerGyroscopeEight microphones total: four microphones for callsTouch sensorsAccelerometerGyroscopeNine microphones total: eight ANC mics, three mics for voice pickup (two shared for ANC)Optical sensorPosition sensorCase-detect sensorAccelerometerGyroscopeThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/heres-how-the-sony-wh-1000xm6-compare-to-the-wh-1000xm5-and-airpods-max-193706730.html?src=rss