Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM5: Is it well worth the improve?

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 checks headphones for a residing), so I used to be particularly curious to check out the efficiency distinction between the 2 headphones that, at first look, look practically similar.

I will not bury the lede: for those who’re somebody who owns the XM5s already, I do not suppose the XM6s are a must-upgrade — they don’t seem to be totally different sufficient to justify a further $450. Nonetheless, I do suppose there are professionals and cons to be weighed for people upgrading from older fashions (or for people coping with a foul case of FOMO). Under, you may discover my full comparability.

XM6 vs. XM5: Specs

At a look, listed here are the spec variations between the 2 headphones:

XM6 specs

• Processor: Sony QN3

• Microphones: 12

• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (LDAC help)

• Battery: 30 hours with ANC (40 hours with out)

• Fast cost: 3 hours in 3 minutes

• Noise cancellation settings: Lively noise cancellation, transparency mode, off

• Spatial audio: Sure

• Colours: Midnight blue, black, silver

• Inputs: USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack

• Weight: Approx. 8.96 ounces

XM5 specs

• Processor: Sony QN1

• Microphones: 8

• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 (LDAC help)

• Battery: 30 hours with ANC (40 hours with out)

• Fast cost: 3 hours in 3 minutes

• Noise cancellation settings: Lively noise cancellation, transparency mode, off

• Spatial audio: Sure

• Colours: Midnight blue, black, silver, smoky pink

• Inputs: USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack

• Weight: Approx. 8.82 ounces

From a spec perspective, you may discover proper off the bat that there aren’t that many variations. This is how that performs out in really 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 doable.

Briefly, it does present. Out of the field, the XM6s typically sounded fuller and hotter, letting extra components of the track shine by means of. Mashable’s Timothy Werth wrote in his standalone assessment for the XM6s that he discovered vocals to shine significantly, and I wholeheartedly agree.

We put each headphones to the check with a wide range of totally different songs.
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable

That mentioned, it wasn’t as if each track featured a day or evening distinction — it was tougher for me to select main variations on a reside model of the Eagles’ “Lodge California.” However for almost all of the songs I examined, like Corridor & Oates’ “Wealthy Woman,” to easier 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 cellphone or laptop.

With the app, each headphones provide loads of equalizer settings. With the XM6s, you may really 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 each, whereas the XM5s function a few extra imprecise names like “brilliant” 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’ll be able to’t use the equalizer with the latter two, however each are supposed to simulate a sure expertise — for background, a “distant ambiance,” in response to Sony’s app, and for cinema, a extra immersive expertise powered by Sony’s 360 Audio Upmix tech. Every of the three modes does really 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 standpoint, 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 apply, I did not discover an unlimited world of distinction between the XM5s and XM6s. My accomplice information a variety of audio for his work, so noise-cancelling headphones are a necessity for our twin work-from-home area. With my first few wears of the XM6s, it was laborious for me to inform if any much less noise was getting by means 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 in opposition to 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 scenario. Comparatively talking, although, each of those headphones sit close to the highest of the pack from what’s out there available on the market nowadays.

Along with my condominium, 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 may focus when you work.
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Contemplating the XM6s are $50 extra, it is laborious 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 value level.

Winner: WH-1000XM5

XM6 vs. XM5: Consolation and design

As related as they give the impression of being, the most important 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 possibility for touring. With this newer technology, Sony introduced the function again whereas retaining the general look of the XM5s. Whereas there will likely be some private desire at play right here, in my thoughts, this brings collectively one of the best of each worlds.

This design distinction does lead to an XM6 case that is each thinner and extra compact, making it a greater possibility for frequent vacationers.

The WH-1000XM6 case received a very good downsizing because of the foldable ear cups.
Credit score: Bethany Allard / Mashable

On a much less dramatic word, Sony additionally switched up the button designs on the XM6s, making the facility 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 general, 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 facet by facet is basically one lengthy sport 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 gives a good bit of customization to your gadget, it in the end has so many alternative areas to navigate that it does not really feel essentially the most intuitive.

The app itself gives the usual fare, together with computerized powering off, voice management settings, multipoint toggling, and computerized 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 may solely be set to rapidly allow Spotify Tab, Endel, or Amazon Music Play Now. I will preserve 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 out there 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 value elevate with every technology. If something, 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 best, however for those who 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 mentioned up prime, you probably have the XM5s, there is no actual cause to improve to the XM6s. In case your present headphones or on their absolute final legs otherwise you journey ceaselessly, 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 out there offers) and grabbing the XM5s. The sound distinction between the 2 headphones is noticeable facet by facet, however the XM5s are nonetheless excellent-sounding headphones in their very own proper — you may simply possible must mess around with the equalizer a bit extra to attract out the absolute best sound. And do not get me mistaken, the opposite design variations are good upgrades to the XM6s, however in the end, they’re minor and do not fairly justify a value bump.

Regardless of being a 2022 launch, the XM5s are removed from feeling outdated at this time limit, making them an awesome possibility for sound high quality, consolation, and noise cancellation.

Try the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones

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