TECHNOLOGY
New Sony Headphones: A Fresh Look at Sound and Style
Sun May 18 2025
Sony has just released its latest noise-cancelling headphones, the WH-1000XM6. These new headphones are a significant upgrade from the previous model, the WH-1000XM5. One of the standout features of the new model is its foldable design. Unlike the previous models, these headphones can be folded in on themselves, making them easier to pack away and carry around. The hinge on the new model is sturdy and allows for a variety of folding positions.
The design of the headphones has also been tweaked for better comfort. The headband is wider and the angle of the hinge has been adjusted to bring the headband closer to your head. This should make the headphones more comfortable to wear for extended periods. The case for the headphones has also been redesigned, with a magnetic closure replacing the zip from the previous model. This makes the case easier to use and more convenient to carry around.
The new model also features more microphones than the previous one. There are six microphones on each earcup, compared to four on the previous model. This is designed to improve call quality by accurately picking up background noise and canceling it out. There is also a microphone inside each earcup to deal with noise from that direction.
The new headphones come in the same colors as the previous model: black, silver, and midnight blue. However, the previous model also came in smoky pink, which is not an option for the new model.
One of the features of the previous model, Speak to Chat, has been changed in the new model. This feature allows you to have a conversation without taking off your headphones. However, it could be activated accidentally if you were singing along to a song or shouting at a movie. In the new model, this feature is activated from the Sony app instead of the earcup.
The new headphones are powered by the QN3 processor, which is seven times faster than the chip in the previous model. This should deliver a significant improvement in sound quality, both with and without noise-cancelling. The new adaptive optimizer for noise-cancelling should also help to adjust air pressure, which can be a nuisance in noise-cancelling headphones.
The new headphones are available to purchase from May 17. The price is $449. 99 in the U. S. and £399 in the U. K. This is a slight increase from the original release prices for the WH-1000XM5 headphones. However, it is still noticeably less than the price of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones or Apple AirPods Max, which cost $499 and $549 respectively. The previous model, the WH-1000XM5, is still available for purchase at a reduced price of $349. 99. The WH-1000XM4 headphones are also still available, for $299. 99, a price drop of $50.
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questions
How does the increased number of microphones in the WH-1000XM6 enhance call quality and noise cancellation?
Will the new magnetic closure on the case finally put an end to the eternal struggle of zipping it shut?
What are the long-term implications of the new folding mechanism on the headphones' lifespan?