If you want to block as much noise as possible, the Sony WH-1000XM6 provides an excellent combination of active noise cancellation to address low-pitched, sustained sounds (like airplane noise and traffic) and passive noise isolation to block higher-pitched noises (such as squealing train brakes). For those moments when you do want to hear your surroundings, the hear-through and quick-attention modes make it easy for you to hear traffic or engage in a conversation.
This pair sounds excellent, with crisp details and deep bass, and you can tailor the sound to your liking via the app. Your callers will also be able to hear you clearly, thanks to an array of beamforming microphones with smart noise reduction. You should be able to wear this lightweight, comfortable pair for hours without pinching or pressure, and the combination of touch-based and physical controls is intuitive and easy to use by feel.
The XM6 offers an OS-agnostic voice-activated assistant, so you can use the digital assistant on any device hands-free, plus you can control some basic functions without an internet connection. Thanks to the long, 30-hour battery life, you don’t need to worry about running out of power.
Unfortunately, this pair does have a few flaws. The intensity of the active noise cancellation is not adjustable, and the noise-reducing microphones can sound compressed in especially loud environments. The Sony Sound Connect app can be cumbersome, and we wish the WH-1000XM6 supported Auracast Bluetooth capability.
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Why you should trust me
I hold a bachelor’s degree in both music performance and audio production from Ithaca College, and I’ve reviewed nearly 2,000 pairs of headphones for Wirecutter alone. I also spent several years in terrestrial radio before becoming a professional voice actor in Los Angeles, so I’ve been in and out of recording studios for over a decade.
I’ve tested over 300 pairs of noise-cancelling headphones for this guide.
I engaged a listening panel of audio reviewers, musicians, and composers — including staff writer Brent Butterworth, who has decades of experience as an AV reviewer and provides measurement assistance.
Per Wirecutter’s standards, I don’t own stock or have any other financial interest in a company or industry that I cover or am likely to cover.
Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial
