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Three of the biggest improvements the Sony WF-1000XM6 brings to the table is, first, the switch from the WF-1000XM5’s 5-Band EQ with Clearbass dial to a more proper 10-Band Equalizer in the Sound Connect app, which really lets me dig in, and customize their sound properly.

Second, we can finally customize the controls down to individual gestures! That is something I’ve been requesting since the first gen model, so I’m happy to see Sony finally giving more control to the user.

And finally, Bluetooth connection is more reliable now. Where I used to get a few signal drops commuting on the train using the WF-1000XM5, I have not gotten any signal drops on the Mark 6, most likely due to the changes Sony made to the antenna system.

Changes That I Don’t Really Like

Some changes that I don’t really like are the size of the earbuds and the case. The case may not be thicker, but it is taller, so it’s going to take up more space in the pocket. In my case, I have a coin pocket and it’s barely holding together with the XM6 inside. And though the earbuds are slimmer, they are a bit longer and fatter. So if you like to sleep with earbuds and you’re a side sleeper, you’re going to feel them a bit more than the XM5 - and if you’re wearing a winter hat, it’s going to also jut out a bit more.

That being said, the new form factor may not be a bad thing because people have complained that the XM5 buds are too small, and they can’t get a snug fit. That glossy surface didn’t help either. This time, with the matte finish, they seem to grip better. And for people with smaller ears, they now come with XS size eartips.

Apart from that, there are also changes to their performance versus the WF-1000XM5, such as their sound, noise canceling, microphone and Ambient mode. We’re going to talk about that, and also compare them individually to some of the hottest earbuds in the market, the AirPods Pro 3, Bose QC Ultra Gen 2, Technics AZ100, and by popular request, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro, which I will also be reviewing in a separately.

Microphone Quality

In terms of microphone quality, the WF-1000XM6 is a noticeable improvement over the XM5 because in noisy, windy conditions, the voice capture on the XM5 sounded noisy and choppy. But now on the XM6, my voice sounds smooth and intelligible. It’s not perfect, because it does cut out the ‘S’ sounds, which hurts intelligibility, but much better overall than the XM5, which is why I’m giving it a Rank A in my mic quality ranking, right up there with the AZ100, the Samsung, and the Bose QC Ultra Gen 2. It did beats the AirPods Pro 3 because the AirPods sounded choppy in noisy conditions, but I also gave the AirPods Rank A because it supports super clear wideband voice capture on Apple devices.

👉 Have a listen to the mic quality samples

Active Noise Cancelling

As for active noise canceling, frequency sweeps show that the WF-1000XM6 is an improvement over the XM5 in the lower bass to mids region, but above 1kHz, it is noticeably weaker. This does mean that you should get better silence against loud, droning noises like the rumbling of public transport, vacuum cleaners and machinery, but not against the upper registers of high pitched sounds like the sound of birds, children.

It is however, more effective than the Technics AZ100, a bit quieter than the Bose QC Ultra Gen 2, and quite comparable to the Samsung Buds4 Pro, only that the Samsungs cut less noise than the Sonys above 2.5 kHz, because the Sonys use eartips made of a foam and silicone and not just silicone like the Samsung. The only one more effective overall in this comparison is the AirPods Pro 3 which cancels more noise in the lower and midrange regions, albeit a little weaker in the upper mids and highs.

👉 Have a listen to the ANC quality samples

Transparency Mode

The WF-1000XM6’s transparency mode is an improvement over the XM5. There’s more airiness and clarity to ambient sounds around me, even voices sound much less occluded, so it’s easier to have face to face conversations. Compared to the rest, it’s very close to the level of the AirPods Pro 3 and Bose QC Ultra Gen 2, just as transparent as the Buds4 Pro, and more transparent than the Technics AZ100. Again, a definite upgrade from the XM5.

Sound Quality

For sound quality, assuming that they’re all set to default EQ, the WF-1000XM6 has a brighter signature than the XM5. Frequency sweeps do show that it’s got more gain in the upper mids above 1.5kHz up to the 10kHz region. I don’t hate it, in fact I think it sounds more exciting, and I’m hearing more of the upper registers of vocals, strings and percussions in visceral detail.

On the flipside, it can sound a bit fatiguing out of the box, especially if you’re used to mellow-sounding buds, but that can be fixed easily with its 10-Band EQ. Subscribe so you don’t miss my recommended EQ settings. Apart from that, they sound quite similar in terms of soundstaging, track separation as well as bass impact and extension to the Mark 5.

👉 Have a listen to the sound quality samples

Sony WF-1000XM6 VS Sony WF-1000XM5

So should you buy the Sony WF-1000XM6 or WF-1000XM5? Assuming that it’s now going for a cheaper price, the XM5, at this moment, still seems very compelling because of its more portable size, and performance wise, it’s still not that far away from the XM6. It can still be a valid purchase if the fit is good enough for you, and you don’t mind the occasional signal drops outside.

That said, while the upgrades from the WF-1000XM6 aren’t huge, they are meaningful, with better connectivity, better low frequency noise canceling and transparency, the fantastic 10-band EQ and fully customizable controls. They also have battery preservation settings to extend the lifespan of the XM6’s battery, which the XM5 doesn’t have. Background Music Effect is also a big plus. It turns the audio into a convincing overhead sound that feels like background music, which makes it easier to focus on work. Personally, I prefer the WF-1000XM6.

Check latest prices:

Sony WF-1000XM6 - https://amzn.to/4bgWGeA
Sony WF-1000XM5 - https://amzn.to/3JGI1uN

Sony WF-1000XM6 VS Samsung Buds4 Pro

Comparing the default sound quality of the Sony WF-1000XM6 to the Samsung Buds4 Pro, in certain ways, I prefer the Samsung because it sounds cleaner, tracks are better separated, and it’s able to reproduce a bit more air and depth in the soundstage. Great for metal and synthwave. The reasons I prefer the Sony is that it sounds more visceral in the upper mids so I could feel a bit more excitement in the sound, and although its bass is a little muddier, it has more gravity. It’s a groovier sound that flatters Jazz and vocal-centric music more.

Also worth mentioning that it's louder at the same volume level than the Samsung. I do think the Sonys might be better for audiophiles because there’s a lot more freedom, you can customize the Sony’s sound whether on iOS or Android with the Sony Sound Connect App, which also gives you features like audio upscaling with DSEE Extreme, custom settings and firmware updates, whereas the Buds4 Pro can only be customized on Android.

And even on Android, you can only get 24-Bit 96kHz Audio on Samsung devices with SSC-UHQ codec, whereas the Sony supports the more common Hi-Res codec, LDAC. The Sony’s Multipoint pairing also works with any device platform so you can pair both an iOS device and PC or Android at the same time, whereas Samsung restricts multipoint connection to Samsung devices only.

That said, some compelling reasons to get the Samsung instead is having Spatial audio with head tracking on Android, which makes watching videos and movies more immersive, and I do find them more comfortable to wear since it’s a lighter fit, and with the slimmer profile, it’s easier to sleep with them, in case you need some noise canceling. For people who want to use just one earbud, you can still access all the controls on the Samsung since it combines swipe and squeeze gestures. So those are reasons to get the Buds4 Pro, and reasons to get the WF-1000XM6.

Check latest prices:

Sony WF-1000XM6 - https://amzn.to/4bgWGeA
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro - https://amzn.to/4aH06Y1

Sony WF-1000XM6 VS AirPods Pro 3

The default tuning of the Sony WF-1000XM6 sounds very similar to the AirPods Pro 3. A mild V-shape with more emphasis on the upper mids. Bass response sounds similar but with A-B testing, it seems that the Sony’s bass sounds a bit more heavy and visceral, while bass on the AirPods sound a bit more clean and textured.

The AirPods could also deliver a bit more air in the soundstage, and I suspect that has to do with the usual cut off above 15khz with Sony earbuds, but only the most discerning listeners can really tell the difference since humans are much less sensitive to those high treble frequencies. There are 3 big reasons why I use the AirPods so often. Right now it has the best noise canceling performance of any earbuds, although the Sonys are very close. Second, the whole package is small and slim so it’s easy to carry, and the size of the buds are great for sleeping.

And third, since I’m a user of multiple Apple products, it’s so easy to connect to all of these devices at once, and transition between them, as well as have notifications read out to me. Although that can be annoying if you’re using them for sleeping - just be sure to disconnect them from all devices first. However, the reason I am using the Sony a lot more these days is because there’s more flexibility.

Whether it’s on iOS or Android, I’m getting all of the features, settings and updates, and using their 10-band graphic EQ, I’ve managed to make them sound even more dynamic, and more enjoyable than the AirPods Pro 3. Whereas even on iOS devices, the AirPods Pro 3’s sound is not as customizable. The Sonys also have true multipoint pairing so I can connect up to 2 devices at once, whether PC, Android or iPhone, and if I happen to use them with an Android device, there’s no sacrifice in sound quality because I’ll be streaming over the Hi-Res LDAC codec. Even on LDAC’s ‘Best Effort’ setting it’s a higher bitrate than AAC. As for noise canceling, they’re also better for blocking the sound of children because of the thicker foam tips.

Check latest prices:

Sony WF-1000XM6 - https://amzn.to/4bgWGeA
AirPods Pro 3 - https://amzn.to/4oB4xHL

Sony WF-1000XM6 VS Bose QC Ultra Gen 2

To me, the WF-1000XM6 sounds a little better than the Gen 2 Bose QC Ultra in the sense that its dynamic range is tighter, so the midrange is louder, so vocals sound a bit more engaging and details in the background are brighter. On the flipside, bass on the Bose sounds more fun. It’s tighter, cleaner and louder, and I’m feeling more tactility. Soundstaging is also a little more airy on the Bose.

But honestly, they sound a lot more similar than different. As an audiophile, I prefer the Sony because it supports LDAC streaming, and its sound is more customizable, from the different EQ presets it offers to the 10-band graphic EQ, as opposed to the 3-band EQ for the Bose. The Sony is also a slightly stronger noise canceler, it’s much more feature rich, and more portable because of the smaller case.

Sony WF-1000XM6 LDAC Codec Streaming (Samsung S25 Ultra)

But where the Bose is better is in terms of comfort. It’s a much lighter fit that’s also very stable, thanks to the wing tips. It’s easier to operate thanks to a big touchpad that you can swipe and tap to access all the controls on each earbud. It’s got better transparency, and you can enjoy great spatial audio with head tracking anytime since it works with any content on any device. The Sony restricts that to certain Android devices, apps and content.

Check latest prices:

Sony WF-1000XM6 - https://amzn.to/4bgWGeA
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 - https://amzn.to/46N1zsL

Sony WF-1000XM6 VS Technics AZ100

Comparing the default sound quality of the Sony WF-1000XM6 to the Technics AZ100, I like the Sony for having better dynamics, bringing up the subtle details of instruments and vocals, such that vocals sound a bit more natural and less recessed than the Technics. But where the AZ100 has the upper hand is that it just sounds cleaner. Not that the Sony sounds muddy, but the Technics sounds more resolved, better separated, and more spacious.

Its bass is also heavier with more grooviness. Now, I like both sound signatures in different ways, and I also like the fact that you can customize them just as much in their apps. What does keep me coming back to the Technics though, is their smaller case, and the fact that they’re great all round performers.

Technics earbuds are also the only ones that support 3-way multipoint so you can connect to 3 devices at once, whereas others like the Sony only connect up to 2. They support spatial audio with any content, and they’re also easier to wear and slightly more comfortable than the Sonys, which require some elbow grease to fit in the ears. Where the Sonys are the better choice, is better noise canceling and much better transparency mode. For many people, that could be the deciding factor to open their wallets for the Sony WF-1000XM6.

Check latest prices:

Sony WF-1000XM6 - https://amzn.to/4bgWGeA
Technics EAH-AZ100 - https://amzn.to/4hcKrQD

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