Sony WH-1000XM6 the MOST UNCOMFORTABLE headphones? 🤔 (vs Px7 S3, XM5, QC Ultra, AirPods Max)
One of the most common feedback about the WH-1000XM6 is its clamping force, in that it clamps too tightly. And I do agree that the clamp could be more gentle, preferably as gentle as the WH-1000XM5. But does it actually clamp tighter than the most popular headphones like the Px7 S3, AirPods Max, and Bose QC Ultra?
To find out, I’m going to use my latest invention - basically a weighing scale and some boxes put together. But don’t be deceived, this is carefully calibrated to be as thick as a typical human head, so when I clamp on the headphones, I can get an accurate reading of how much force is being applied. And these are the results:
Sony WH-1000XM6 : 355g
Sony WH-1000XM6
Sony WH-1000XM5 : 297g
Sony ULT Wear : 406g
ULT Wear
Bose QC Ultra : 299g
Bose QC Ultra
B&W Px7 S3 : 442g
B&W Px7 S3
Sennheiser Momentum 4 : 446g
Sennheiser Momentum 4
Cambridge Audio Melomania P100
AirPods Max : 492g
AirPods Max
So that’s how all of these headphones compare in terms of clamping pressure. Surprisingly, the XM6 headphones aren’t even in the top 3 hardest clampers, which are the AirPods Max, Px7 S3 and the Sennheiser Momentum 4.
The 3 most gentle clampers are actually the WH-1000XM5, QC Ultra and, surprise surprise, the WH-1000XM6. So why does the WH-1000XM6 feel so tight? Well, first it’s the cushioning. The cushions are too thin and too stiff, and that’s why you feel the clamp more. On the other hand, headphones like the ULT Wear and the AirPods Max which clamps harder, don’t feel so tight because their cushions are very plush.
And second, the way the hinge is designed applies two angles of clamp, sideways and upwards against the jaws. It's kind of like Apple’s design. The only difference is the AirPods Max has deep cushions, which mitigates the pressure.
Hope this brings more clarity, and if someone says ‘the XM6’ has a really tight clamp, point them to this article so that they can get some clarity too. You may check their latest prices in the links below, also click here for my full comparison between the WH-1000XM6 and these very same headphones.
Check latest prices:
Sony WH-1000XM6 - https://amzn.to/4n6OcuL
B&W Px7 S3 - https://amzn.to/4mn593q (UK)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones - https://amzn.to/3UecNzS
AirPods Max - https://amzn.to/3AoiHX3
Sony WH-1000XM5 - https://amzn.to/4bIqJtZ
Sennheiser Momentum 4 - https://amzn.to/3TAxQOb
Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 - https://amzn.to/4f8HmAL
Sony ULT Wear - https://amzn.to/4khqVV1
