After 3 years, Sony after all dropped a brand new pair of flagship headphones — the WH-1000XM6 headphones.
I take advantage of the XM5s as my day by day headphones (up to I will be able to as any person who exams headphones for a residing), so I used to be particularly curious to check out the efficiency distinction between the 2 headphones that, to start with look, glance just about an identical.
I may not bury the lede: if you are any person who owns the XM5s already, I don’t believe the XM6s are a must-upgrade — they are no longer other sufficient to justify an extra $450. Then again, I do suppose there are professionals and cons to be weighed for other people upgrading from older fashions (or for other people coping with a nasty case of FOMO). Beneath, you can to find my complete comparability.
Are you able to inform which is which?
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable
XM6 vs. XM5: Specifications
At a look, listed here are the spec variations between the 2 headphones:
XM6 specifications
Processor: Sony QN3
Microphones: 12
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (LDAC strengthen)
Battery: 30 hours with ANC (40 hours with out)
Fast rate: 3 hours in 3 mins
Noise cancellation settings: Lively noise cancellation, transparency mode, off
Spatial audio: Sure
Colours: Middle of the night blue, black, silver
Inputs: USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack
Weight: Approx. 8.96 oz.
XM5 specifications
Processor: Sony QN1
Microphones: 8
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 (LDAC strengthen)
Battery: 30 hours with ANC (40 hours with out)
Fast rate: 3 hours in 3 mins
Noise cancellation settings: Lively noise cancellation, transparency mode, off
Spatial audio: Sure
Colours: Middle of the night blue, black, silver, smoky purple
Inputs: USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack
Weight: Approx. 8.82 oz.
From a spec point of view, chances are you’ll realize proper off the bat that there are not that many variations. Here is how that performs out in in reality the usage of each pairs:
XM6 vs. XM5: Sound high quality
In line with the XM6 press unlock, Sony labored with Grammy-winning and nominated audio engineers to make those headphones sound as just right as imaginable.
In brief, it does display. Out of the field, the XM6s most often sounded fuller and hotter, letting extra parts of the music shine via. Mashable’s Timothy Werth wrote in his standalone overview for the XM6s that he discovered vocals to polish in particular, and I wholeheartedly agree.
We put each headphones to the check with quite a lot of other songs.
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable
That mentioned, it wasn’t as though each music featured an afternoon or night time distinction — it was once tougher for me to pick main variations on a are living model of the Eagles’ “Lodge California.” However for almost all of the songs I examined, like Corridor & Oates’ “Wealthy Woman,” to more effective songs that closely characteristic vocals like Feist’s “Now At Remaining,” and Natalia Lafourcade & Los Macorinos’s “Soledad y el Mar,” the diversities stood out virtually straight away. Their vocals sounded extra dynamic — no longer reasonably as though they had 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 be offering quite a few equalizer settings. With the XM6s, you can in reality get fewer presets — 8 in comparison to the XM5s’ 12 — however the similar two customized preset slots. The XM6s’ presets additionally really feel extra distinct and be offering useful descriptions beneath each and every one, while the XM5s characteristic a few extra obscure names like “vivid” and “excited.” The XM6s additionally characteristic a gaming preset, appearing an effort to make those headphones extra seamlessly flexible for day by day use.
The Sony XM5 equalizer presets.
Credit score: Screenshot: Sony
As opposed to the XM6 equalizer presets.
Credit score: Screenshot: Sony
In contrast to the XM5s, the XM6s be offering 3 listening modes: same old, background, and cinema. You’ll be able to’t use the equalizer with the latter two, however each are supposed to simulate a definite enjoy — for background, a “far-off atmosphere,” consistent with Sony’s app, and for cinema, a extra immersive enjoy powered via Sony’s 360 Audio Upmix tech. Every of the 3 modes does in reality supply a definite sound, giving the XM6s an edge over the former technology.
Winner: WH-1000XM6
XM6 vs. XM5: Noise cancellation
From a natural specifications perspective, the XM6s must be offering higher noise cancellation than the XM5s: They’ve 12 microphones in comparison to the XM5s’ 8 microphones. The XM6s additionally characteristic a brand new QN3 processor, which Sony says improves the headphones’ adaptive noise-cancelling features.
In observe, I did not realize an infinite global of distinction between the XM5s and XM6s. My spouse data numerous audio for his paintings, so noise-cancelling headphones are a need for our twin work-from-home area. With my first few wears of the XM6s, it was once laborious for me to inform if any much less noise was once getting via — simplest after being very nitpicky did I believe his voice was once fairly extra dampened via the more recent headphones.
This is not essentially a knock in opposition to the XM6s, bearing in mind that the XM5s do have truly spectacular noise cancellation. Extra so, it seems like a prohibit of what noise cancellation normally can do — I have by no means examined a couple of headphones that provide natural silence in each state of affairs. Moderately talking, despite the fact that, either one of those headphones take a seat close to the highest of the pack from what is to be had available on the market this present day.
Along with my rental, I used each headphones at a park subsequent to a hectic boulevard, a restaurant with quite a few song and consumers coming out and in, a hectic press room at VidCon, and whilst taking walks in my group. In each and every of the ones eventualities, I did not realize large efficiency variations.
Each headphones give the correct amount of noise cancelling so you’ll focal point when you paintings.
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable
Making an allowance for the XM6s are $50 extra, it is laborious to make a case for why they are objectively higher. The addition of a characteristic like manually adjustable ANC — one thing I have been seeing increasingly more on less expensive choices like Skullcandy’s newest earbuds — may’ve helped justify the upper value level.
Winner: WH-1000XM5
XM6 vs. XM5: Convenience and design
As an identical as they give the impression of being, the most important distinction between the XM6s and XM5s is a design alternate: the facility to fold up the ear cups.
It is more uncomplicated to inform the adaptation between the 2 pairs now.
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable
The XM5s did away with the folding design discovered at the XM4s, making them a bulkier possibility for touring. With this more recent technology, Sony introduced the characteristic again whilst preserving the whole glance of the XM5s. Whilst there will likely be some private choice at play right here, in my thoughts, this brings in combination the most efficient of each worlds.
This design distinction does lead to an XM6 case that is each thinner and extra compact, making it a better choice for widespread vacationers.
The WH-1000XM6 case were given a just right downsizing because of the foldable ear cups.
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable
On a much less dramatic notice, Sony additionally switched up the button designs at the XM6s, making the facility and Bluetooth button a circle. Even though no longer drastic, it is a great quality-of-life improve that makes it more uncomplicated to spot which button is which with out having a look, or memorizing their positions.
The XM5s (left) have two oblong buttons, in comparison to the circle and rectangle combo at the XM6s.
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable
Each headphones additionally characteristic the similar external contact controls that may be toggled off and on.
As for the real put on of each headphones, the XM6s are ever so fairly heavier, with a weight of 8.96 oz. in comparison to the XM5s’ 8.82. Does this lead to any actual distinction in convenience? For me, no longer in particular. The scarf at the XM6s was once additionally fairly thicker, leading to a extra cushioned really feel, however general, those headphones use the similar external fabrics, making them just about indistinguishable via contact on my own.
Winner: WH-1000XM6
XM6 vs. XM5: App options
The WH-1000XM6s and XM5s each use Sony’s Sound Attach app. The in-app purposes are principally the similar, with minor variations.
Reviewing those headphones facet via facet is largely one lengthy recreation of spot the adaptation.
Credit score: Screenshot: Sony
Credit score: Screenshot: Sony
The XM6s have the listening mode segment that the XM5s do not (as discussed within the sound high quality segment), however past that, the app is just about an identical. Sony’s app is not my favourite — despite the fact that it provides a good bit of customization in your tool, it in the long run has such a lot of other spaces to navigate that it does not really feel essentially the most intuitive.
The app itself provides the usual fare, together with computerized powering off, voice keep watch over settings, multipoint toggling, and automated pausing. As any person who prefers buttons to the touch controls, I want the XM6s allowed you to toggle the NC button to pause or play song, however just like the XM5s, it may simplest be set to temporarily allow Spotify Tab, Endel, or Amazon Track Play Now. I’m going to stay my palms crossed for a long term replace.
Winner: Tie
XM6 vs. XM5: Price
Sony nonetheless sells its circa-2020 WH-1000XM4 headphones for $350, so I suppose it should not be a wonder that it is preserving the XM5s to be had at $400, and upped the fee at the XM6s to $450. Then there is the truth that competition’ headphones are priced in a similar fashion: Bose raised the fee at the QuietComfort Extremely headphones to $449 from $429 someday within the spring, whilst Apple’s AirPods Max proceed to take a seat on the impressively top $549.
The Sony headphones and the Bose QuietComfort Ultras, so as in their unlock date (from left to proper).
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable
However I am not so satisfied that we must be expecting a $50 value lift with each and every technology. If anything else, 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 largest, but when you do not in particular care about folding ear cups, it is a a lot better price than going for headphones that do not make any massively sweeping adjustments.
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5
Winner: WH-1000XM6s for widespread vacationers, XM5s for everybody else
Like I mentioned up best, in case you have the XM5s, there is no actual reason why to improve to the XM6s. In case your present headphones or on their absolute closing legs otherwise you go back and forth continuously, 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 to be had offers) and grabbing the XM5s. The sound distinction between the 2 headphones is noticeable facet via facet, however the XM5s are nonetheless excellent-sounding headphones in their very own proper — you can simply most probably must mess around with the equalizer somewhat extra to attract out the most efficient imaginable sound. And do not get me improper, the opposite design variations are great upgrades to the XM6s, however in the long run, they are minor and do not reasonably justify a value bump.
In spite of being a 2022 unlock, the XM5s are a ways from feeling out of date at this day and age, making them an excellent possibility for sound high quality, convenience, and noise cancellation.
Take a look at the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones
Nonetheless cannot make a decision? Take a look at our complete critiques of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones and WH-1000XM6 headphones.
