It’s BETTER! 🔥 Sony WF-1000XM6 vs WH-1000XM6 | Review
It makes total sense comparing the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds to the WH-1000XM6, because you might be wondering if it’s worth paying more to get the full sized headphones, or should you just buy the far more portable earbuds version of the Mark 6.
So what are the pros, what are the cons, and how do they compare in terms of performance? I’m going to talk about that so buckle up!
Microphone Quality
In terms of microphone quality in quiet conditions, the WH-1000XM6 headphones do a much better job at voice capture. My voice sounds clearer and fuller for sure. But in noisy, windy conditions, the WF-1000XM6 earbuds perform better at reducing background noise, as well as voice filtering.
👉🏻 Have a listen to the mic quality samples
Active Noise Cancelling
In terms of active noise canceling, the WH-1000XM6 is quieter than the WF-1000XM6 because it cuts more noise in much of the midrange frequencies where most noises are, and which humans are more sensitive to. However, frequency sweeps do show that the WH-1000XM6 doesn’t cut as much low frequency rumble as the WF-1000XM6, this is definitely because of the space in the earcups and the low frequencies resonating inside, whereas earbuds, like earplugs, don’t have that kind of resonances.
Transparency Mode
For transparency mode, the WH-1000XM6 feels cleaner, and more natural than the WF-1000XM6 earbuds. Both are just as great at voice passthrough, so face to face conversations feel easy and natural, but the WF-1000XM6 amplifies the upper midrange more, so transparency feels a bit brighter than the actual ambient sounds, whereas the WH-1000XM6 keeps the upper midrange more under control.
Sound Quality
In terms of sound quality, both of their tunings are roughly comparable. The WH-1000XM6 measures a little more bass heavy, but in actual listening, they share similar characteristics in terms of texture, impact, it’s just that the WH-1000XM6’s bass feels a bit cleaner. The midrange sounds a bit different too, vocals sound a bit better separated and visceral while the WF-1000XM6, by default, has vocals sounding a bit more recessed.
But the real differences lie in the way the audio is presented. Since the WH-1000XM6 headphones have much larger drivers, and the drivers are sitting outside the ears, making full use of the ears’ Pinnae to deliver a spacious, enveloping feeling with more realistic reproduction of space and distance. In shot, it’s a bigger, more enveloping sound. The WF-1000XM6 feels more narrow, more ‘in-the-head’ because it bypasses the pinnae altogether, channeling all that sound straight to the eardrums.
Why You Should Pick WF-1000XM6
So why choose the WF-1000XM6 earbuds? The most obvious reason why somebody might pick the XM6 earbuds over the headphones is its portability. It’s pocket-sized which means it’s super easy to have it with you anywhere. That is a big deal, especially if you’re like me and you don’t like carrying bags. Whereas with the Mark 6 headphones, it’s either going to be on your head, your neck, or in your bag.
Furthermore, if you live in a tropical country and you’re often going out, earbuds don’t feel as warm as headphones, for obvious reasons. The mic quality of the WF-1000XM6 is also better in noisy conditions, and although it doesn’t have the spatial quality of the Mark 6 headphones, it sounds more intimate. Those are very good reasons to get the WF-1000XM6 earbuds.
Why You Should Pick WH-1000XM6
The reason to pick the WH-1000XM6 over the earbuds is because its noise canceling is better, and it offers a very different experience when it comes to sound, being more enveloping and immersive. Not to mention, it also has Cinema Mode which spatializes any stereo audio.
It may not be as portable as the earbuds, but what you do get is much better battery life on a single charge. So it doesn’t just last for up to 8 hours before recharging, it could go on for up to 30 hours with noise canceling which is far more convenient if you’re on a long haul flight, or if you have the tendency to wear your headphones all day long. Its controls are definitely easier to operate than the XM6 earbuds which only have tap controls. So those are the reasons I would pick the WH-1000XM6 headphones.
