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 day by day headphones (as a lot as I can as somebody who exams 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: in case you’re somebody who owns the XM5s already, I do not suppose the XM6s are a must-upgrade — they are not completely different sufficient to justify an extra $450. Nevertheless, I do suppose 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 may discover my full comparability.
Are you able to inform which is which?
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable
XM6 vs. XM5: Specs
At a look, listed here are the spec variations between the 2 headphones:
XM6 specs
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Processor: Sony QN3
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Microphones: 12
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Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (LDAC assist)
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Battery: 30 hours with ANC (40 hours with out)
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Fast cost: 3 hours in 3 minutes
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Noise cancellation settings: Energetic noise cancellation, transparency mode, off
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Spatial audio: Sure
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Colours: Midnight blue, black, silver
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Inputs: USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack
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Weight: Approx. 8.96 ounces
XM5 specs
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Processor: Sony QN1
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Microphones: 8
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Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 (LDAC assist)
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Battery: 30 hours with ANC (40 hours with out)
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Fast cost: 3 hours in 3 minutes
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Noise cancellation settings: Energetic noise cancellation, transparency mode, off
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Spatial audio: Sure
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Colours: Midnight blue, black, silver, smoky pink
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Inputs: USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack
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Weight: Approx. 8.82 ounces
From a spec perspective, you would possibly 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
Based on the XM6 press launch, Sony labored with Grammy-winning and nominated audio engineers to make these headphones sound nearly as good as attainable.
In brief, it does present. Out of the field, the XM6s usually sounded fuller and hotter, letting extra components of the tune shine by way of. Mashable’s Timothy Werth wrote in his standalone overview for the XM6s that he discovered vocals to shine significantly, and I wholeheartedly agree.
We put each headphones to the check with quite a lot of completely different songs.
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable
That stated, it wasn’t as if each tune featured a day or night time distinction — it was more durable for me to select main variations on a stay model of the Eagles’ “Lodge 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 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 pc.
With the app, each headphones provide loads of equalizer settings. With the XM6s, you may 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 provide useful descriptions beneath every one, whereas the XM5s function a few extra imprecise names like “shiny” and “excited.” The XM6s additionally function a gaming preset, displaying an effort to make these headphones extra seamlessly versatile for day by day use.
The Sony XM5 equalizer presets.
Credit score: Screenshot: Sony
Versus the XM6 equalizer presets.
Credit score: Screenshot: Sony
In contrast to the XM5s, the XM6s provide 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 line 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 truly present a definite sound, giving the XM6s an edge over the earlier technology.
Winner: WH-1000XM6
XM6 vs. XM5: Noise cancellation
From a pure specs viewpoint, the XM6s ought to provide 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 follow, I did not discover an enormous world of distinction between the XM5s and XM6s. My associate information loads 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 exhausting for me to inform if any much less noise was getting by way 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 towards the XM6s, contemplating that the XM5s do have actually spectacular noise cancellation. Extra so, it appears like a restrict of what noise cancellation normally can do — I’ve by no means examined a pair of headphones that provide pure silence in each state of affairs. Comparatively talking, although, each of those headphones sit close to the highest of the pack from what’s obtainable available on the market today.
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.
Each headphones give the correct quantity of noise cancelling so you possibly can focus whilst you work.
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable
Contemplating the XM6s are $50 extra, it is exhausting 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 worth 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 flexibility to fold up the ear cups.
It is simpler to inform the distinction between the 2 pairs now.
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable
The XM5s did away with the folding design discovered on the XM4s, making them a bulkier choice for touring. With this newer technology, 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 the most effective of each worlds.
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This design distinction does lead to an XM6 case that is each thinner and extra compact, making it a greater choice for frequent vacationers.
The WH-1000XM6 case acquired an excellent downsizing due to the foldable ear cups.
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable
On a much less dramatic observe, 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 wanting, or memorizing their positions.
The XM5s (left) have two rectangular buttons, in comparison with the circle and rectangle combo on the XM6s.
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable
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 scarf 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 just about 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 mainly the identical, with minor variations.
Reviewing these headphones aspect by aspect is actually one lengthy recreation of spot the distinction.
Credit score: Screenshot: Sony
Credit score: Screenshot: Sony
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 provides a good bit of customization in your gadget, it in the end has so many various areas to navigate that it does not really feel essentially the most intuitive.
The app itself provides 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 could actually solely be set to rapidly allow Spotify Tab, Endel, or Amazon Music Play Now. I will maintain 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 obtainable at $400, and upped the value on the XM6s to $450. Then there’s the truth that opponents’ headphones are priced equally: Bose raised the value 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.
The Sony headphones and the Bose QuietComfort Ultras, so as of their launch date (from left to proper).
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable
However I am not so satisfied that we should always anticipate a $50 worth elevate with every technology. If something, the XM6s’ new worth makes the XM5s extra interesting, particularly in the event that they drop to the $300 sale worth we see them hit with some regularity. Certain, you will not be getting absolutely the newest and best, however in case you 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 modifications.
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5
Winner: WH-1000XM6s for frequent vacationers, XM5s for everybody else
Like I stated up prime, in case you have the XM5s, there isn’t any actual cause to improve to the XM6s. In case your present headphones or on their absolute final legs otherwise you journey steadily, 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 obtainable offers) and grabbing the XM5s. The sound distinction between the 2 headphones is noticeable aspect by aspect, however the XM5s are nonetheless excellent-sounding headphones in their very own proper — you may simply probably should 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 in the end, they’re minor and do not fairly justify a worth bump.
Regardless of being a 2022 launch, the XM5s are removed from feeling outdated at this time limit, making them an important choice for sound high quality, consolation, and noise cancellation.
Try the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones
Nonetheless cannot resolve? Try our full critiques of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones and WH-1000XM6 headphones.
