Sony
Sony WH-1000XM6
Ranked #2 of 7 in Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Best overall
From $449Approximate — prices change and we do not track them in real time
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Key specifications
- Type
- Over-ear, wireless with active noise cancelling
- Battery life
- 30 h with ANC on
- Wireless
- Bluetooth with multipoint
- Wired fallback
- 3.5 mm
- Hi-res codec
- LDAC
- Call mics
- 12-mic array
Our verdict
The most well-rounded pair here: reviewers consistently rate its sound as the best of the flagship over-ears, and its noise cancelling is excellent even if Bose edges it out. The default pick unless you have a specific reason to choose otherwise.
How it scores
Each criterion is scored 0-100 from published specs and lab-tested figures in the sources below, then weighted by the fixed formula this category uses. The weights are the same for every product here.
Noise Cancellation30% of score
90
Sound Quality25% of score
92
Battery Life20% of score
75
Comfort Build15% of score
88
Price Value10% of score
72
Strengths and limitations
Pros
- Best-in-class sound signature with LDAC hi-res support
- Excellent call quality (12-mic array)
- Bluetooth multipoint + 3.5mm wired fallback
Cons
- $449 launch price — $50 more than the previous XM5
- Mostly plastic build despite the price
- Battery life (30h ANC on) is merely average for the class
Where this product appears
Also worth a look
Sources: What Hi-Fi? (2026) · Tom's Guide review (2026)Last checked by Picksights 2026-07-29