Highly acclaimed, repetitively award-winning noise-cancelling earphones lost their throne following a three-year reign.

Highly acclaimed, repetitively award-winning noise-cancelling earphones lost their throne following a three-year reign.

For the past three years, the Sony WH-1000XM5 has been our top recommendation for premium wireless headphones. However, Sony has recently launched an upgrade – the WH-1000XM6 – which has taken the crown, largely due to enhancements in design, features, noise-cancellation, and sound quality.

Since their release in May 2022, the Sony WH-1000XM6 have claimed the Best Overall spot in our 'best noise-cancelling headphones' buying guide. They have been followed by more affordable, premium, and earbud-style options to cater to various budgets and preferences. These recommendations are based on the expert reviews team's collective experience spanning over 150 years, who have thoroughly tested and compared multiple models.

Notable competitors from brands like Bose, Sennheiser, and Bowers & Wilkins have emerged since the release of the XM5. While these new entrants have received five-star reviews from our in-house team, only the most recent has managed to dethrone the XM5 – its own successor.

New Noise-Cancelling Kings

The WH-1000XM6 have set a new benchmark in the premium headphone market due to improvements in comfort, design, features, noise-cancellation, and sound quality. Read our comprehensive review for a detailed look at the ins and outs of the XM6.

The main upgrades include enhanced comfort, a return to a foldable hinge design, improved noise-cancellation, the addition of next-gen Bluetooth features such as LE Audio, LC3, and Auracast, and increased sonic detail and dynamic expression.

At £400 / $450 / AU$699, the new XM6 are slightly pricier than the XM5, which have been available at a 30% discount for the past year, and still are. For those who cannot afford the new model's outlay, the XM5 continue to be the front runners in the market. However, those with a budget to spend on the XM6 can enjoy the latest features for the next two to three years, as Sony typically does not replace flagships within this timeframe.

Competitors to Consider

If you are considering alternatives, the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 offer stiff competition. These headphones are more stylish and come close to matching the XM6’s sound, particularly in precision and fine detail. However, the XM6 outperform the PX7 S3 in noise-cancellation ability, a crucial factor according to our expert team.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are another option to consider. While they sound notable better, the Sonys outshine them in battery life (30 hours vs 24) and noise-cancellation performance. One of the Bose’s strengths is its compatibility with aptX Bluetooth codecs, while the XM6 support LDAC instead.

In terms of ANC rivalry, the XM6 now edge out the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, with a performance that is "more natural, sophisticated, and subtle," according to our experts. This is the first time the Bose pair has not been deemed the best in ANC performance.

The XM6 have also widened the gap between Sony’s wireless flagships and Apple’s AirPods Max, surpassing them in sound quality, noise-cancellation performance, battery life, Android friendliness, and Bluetooth codec support.

However, for those who prefer iOS devices, the AirPods Max’s iOS device slickness and features, such as spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, may still attract many users. While the XM6 support Sony’s 360 Reality Audio Upmix for Cinema, the mature anti-spatial offering from Apple may still be more appealing.

In summary, the premium noise-cancelling market is more competitive than ever, with Sony managing to remain at the top by excelling in every area, bar a few minor weaknesses – lack of wired USB-C connectivity and the absence of aptX Bluetooth support. Otherwise, the Sony WH-1000XM6 are a resounding success and the Best Overall pick in our 'best ANC buying guide.'

For more in-depth comparisons, check out our analysis of the new Sonys compared to the Bose QC Ultra Headphones, the XM6 vs XM5, and the XM6 vs XM4.

1. The Sony WH-1000XM6 have been our top recommendation for premium wireless noise-cancelling headphones, outperforming the previous XM5 in various aspects.
2. In our 'best noise-cancelling headphones' buying guide, the XM6 have claimed the Best Overall spot since their release in May 2022.
3. To cater to different budgets, Sony has introduced more affordable premium and earbud-style options.
4. Despite receiving high ratings from our in-house team, competitors like Bose, Sennheiser, and Bowers & Wilkins have yet to dethrone the XM5 – until the launch of the XM6.
5. The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 are notable competitors, offering stylish design and sound quality similar to the XM6, but falls short in noise-cancellation ability.
6. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are another option, but are surpassed by the XM6 in battery life, noise-cancellation performance, and Bluetooth codec support.
7. The Apple AirPods Max may still appeal to those who prefer iOS devices, offering unique features like spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, but are surpassed by the XM6 in sound quality, noise-cancellation performance, battery life, and Android friendliness.

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