Review · Over-ear ANC
Sony WH-1000XM6
The WH-1000XM6 is the over-ear noise canceller to buy if you just want the right answer: it's Wirecutter's top pick and SoundGuys' best for most people. It backs that up with a 12-mic array, multipoint, LDAC, and a 10-band EQ, and it was selling well under its $459.99 list. The trade-off is a 30-hour battery, which trails the Sennheiser Momentum 5 by a wide margin.
Our take
The short version
Sony's WH-1000XM6 is where most people shopping for over-ear noise-cancelling headphones should start. Wirecutter named it the top pick in its noise-cancelling guide (updated Jul 20, 2026), and SoundGuys calls it the best for most people, with Bose's QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) a close runner-up. When two outlets land on the same answer, that's about as close to a consensus as this category gets.
The price helps. List is $459.99 (it launched at $449.99), but it was around $378 on Amazon in early October 2026, which undercuts the black Bose and the Sonos Ace Ultra, both ~$449. For that you get the things that matter day to day: 12 mics and multipoint for calls, a 3-minute charge that buys 3 hours, a 3.5 mm input for wired listening, and a folding design with a magnetic case.
It isn't the best at everything. In SoundGuys' testing, Apple's AirPods Max 2 had the strongest noise cancelling, and the Sennheiser Momentum 5 claims up to 57 hours with ANC against the Sony's 30. LDAC only helps on Android phones that support it; iPhones use AAC, so iPhone owners get no codec advantage. Sony also sells the 1000X The ColleXion ($649.99, released May 2026), which we don't review; the XM6 is the model the major guides recommend.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Wirecutter's top pick and SoundGuys' best for most people
- 12 mics and multipoint make it a strong office-call headset
- LDAC and LC3 support plus a 10-band EQ
- A 3-minute charge gives 3 hours of playback
- Folds into a magnetic case and keeps a 3.5 mm wired input
Trade-offs
- 30 h with ANC trails the Momentum 5 (57 h) and Space One (40 h)
- SoundGuys saw stronger noise cancelling from the AirPods Max 2
- LDAC is no help on an iPhone, which uses AAC
- An over-ear at ~254 g, so not a gym headphone
Who it's for
Buy it if…
- Frequent flyers who want top-tier ANC without paying AirPods Max money
- Remote workers who live on calls and switch between laptop and phone
- Android listeners who want LDAC and a detailed EQ
Skip it if…
- Battery hoarders: the Sennheiser Momentum 5 claims up to 57 h with ANC
- Sonos soundbar owners: the Ace Ultra adds TV Audio Swap
- Tight budgets: the Soundcore Space One is Wirecutter's budget pick
Spec sheet
WH-1000XM6 specs
| Battery | 30 h with ANC, 40 h without; 3 min charge = 3 h; full charge 3.5 h |
|---|---|
| Noise cancelling | Yes (QN3 processor) |
| Weight | ~254 g (8.96 oz) |
| Drivers | 30 mm |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Water resistance | Not specified |
| Wired / USB-C audio | 3.5 mm |
| Microphones | 12 |
| App / EQ | 10-band EQ |
| Also notable | Folds, with a magnetic case |
From the manufacturer sources listed below. “Not specified” means those sources don't state it.
Watch
WH-1000XM6 on video
Video by Marques Brownlee on YouTube. Their views are their own.
Cross-shop
Alternatives to consider
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Over-ear ANC
- ~$449
- 2025
- Any phone
Sony's closest rival, and a better deal than it looks if you'll take Desert Gold or White Smoke.
Pros
- Pro: SoundGuys' close runner-up to the Sony WH-1000XM6
- Pro: aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound and lossless USB-C audio
- Pro: Multipoint and Bluetooth 5.4
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Black was selling at full list price, above the Sony
- Trade-off: SoundGuys ranks it just behind the Sony
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
- Music
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless
- Over-ear ANC
- ~$399.95
- Jun 2026
- Any phone
The music lover's pick: warm, detailed sound and a claimed 57 hours from a battery you can swap.
Pros
- Pro: Warm, detailed, bass-rich sound, per reviewers
- Pro: Up to 57 h with ANC; a 10-minute charge gives 7 h
- Pro: User-replaceable 700 mAh battery
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: ANC still trails Sony and Bose
- Trade-off: No IP rating
- Music
- 5 out of 5
- Travel
- 4 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Sennheiser Momentum 5 WirelessApple AirPods Max 2
- Over-ear ANC
- ~$429
- Mar 2026
- iPhone
The quietest over-ears in SoundGuys' testing, for iPhone owners who can live with 386 g.
Pros
- Pro: Strongest ANC in SoundGuys' noise-cancelling testing
- Pro: H2 in each ear cup; Apple claims up to 1.5x better ANC than the original
- Pro: Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, and Live Translation
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Heavy at 386.2 g, with a firm clamp
- Trade-off: 20 h battery, no power-off control, and no user EQ
- Travel
- 4 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
- Music
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Apple AirPods Max 2
Related guides and comparisons
Sources
Manufacturer specs
- Sony WH-1000XM6 specifications (opens in a new tab) — Battery, charging, weight, driver, codecs, Bluetooth, mics, and EQ
Review consensus
- Wirecutter — Best noise-cancelling headphones, updated Jul 20, 2026: top pick
- SoundGuys — Best noise-cancelling headphones, Apr 2026: best for most people
Published reviews and manufacturer specs, researched October 5, 2026. We didn't test these headphones ourselves; judgments credited to an outlet are that outlet's.
Disclosure: Our picks are independent and editorial — a synthesis of published reviews and manufacturer specs, not our own lab measurements. Prices are approximate Amazon prices seen October 5, 2026, not live quotes. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.