After a two-year hiatus, Sony finally announced a new pair of flagship wireless earbuds. The WF-1000XM6 arrive on the scene as the replacements to the WF-1000XM5, and Sony is confident that these are its best earbuds to date.
So what’s new?
Sony is bringing an updated version of its Integrated Processor V2, which now features 32-bit audio processing, up from the XM5’s 24-bit depth. Thanks to this change, Sony claims the XM6 offers improved clarity, dynamic range and detail.
WF-1000XM6 in black
The buds are equipped with 8.4mm dynamic drivers and get custom sound tuning from Sony’s acoustic engineers in collaboration with several Sony Music-affiliated recording studios. You get support for the AAC, SBC, LC3 and LDAC audio codecs as well as Sony’s DSEE Extreme, which uses an AI algorithm to upscale compressed audio files.
For users who prefer to tweak their audio output, Sony is bringing an updated 10-band EQ inside the Sony Sound Connect app. You also get multipoint pairing via Bluetooth 5.3 (LE), Auracast, Fast Pair, and Swift Pair capabilities. The buds also support 360 Reality Audio with head tracking.
The other key update with the XM6 is the QN3e noise-cancelling chip, which is inherited from the over-the-ear WH-1000XM6. The XM6s offer 25% more effective noise reduction compared to their predecessors, specifically in mid-to-high frequencies.
WF-1000XM6 in silver
The ANC system features an adaptive noise canceling optimizer, which analyzes external noise and adapts the sound and noise canceling in real time according to how you wear the earbuds. The updated ANC system takes advantage of two additional outward-facing microphones, bringing the total to four per earbud.
Sony also claims the ambient mode on the XM6s sounds more natural and lifelike. The internal antennas inside the buds are now 1.5x larger than the ones in the XM5 generation, offering a more reliable connection.
Battery life is rated at 8 hours from the earbuds just like the XM5 generation. The charging case brings two full recharges for a combined battery life of 24 hours. The XM6 retain wireless charging support as well as IPX4 ingress protection.
Sony WF-1000XM6 will be available in silver and black colors for €300/$330.
