Sony WF-1000XM6 Underwhelms on ANC

Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM6 fall short on ANC and voice quality, revealing a tight market gap nobody can ignore.

In hands-on testing summarized by Engadget, the XM6 remains a polished好-sounding earbud but fails to pull away from rivals where it matters most: active noise cancellation and call quality. The reviewer notes that Sony doesn’t clearly separate itself from the competition this time, marking a notable departure from the XM4 era when Sony’s ANC set the standard. Add to that ongoing dissatisfaction with the fit offered by Sony’s foam tips, and you’ve got a package that’s technically strong but not universally convincing. The result: the XM6 can sound excellent in music, but its noise-canceling and mic performance aren’t the best in class, and you’ll notice more listening-fatigue if you’re seated in a noisy commute or open-plan office.

Price and practical costs are straightforward. The XM6 carry a $299 list price, with no mandatory subscription fees or cloud tithes to unlock core features. What you get is an app-driven, customizable experience: adaptive noise control you can tweak, an equalizer, and ambient-pass-through controls that work well when you actually take calls or need to hear a friend in a cafe. Setup is ordinary—pairing is quick, and the Sony Headphones Connect app offers deeper sound tailoring, though none of these extras change the core tradeoffs that risk disappointing performance-seekers: ANC that isn’t class-leading and a mic setup that won’t always translate voices clearly in real-world calls.

From a practitioner’s view, several tensions stand out. First, there’s the classic tradeoff between seal, fit, and ANC effectiveness. Foam-tips can deliver a tighter seal—crucial for noise reduction—but they’re not comfortable or reliable for every ear. If you don’t love foam or struggle to find a snug fit, you’ll likely notice less effective cancellation and uneven mic pickup, which is a real-world pitfall for daily commuters and remote workers. Second, Sony’s sensors, processing, and mic array remain excellent for music fidelity, but that won’t erase the reality that rival earbuds have planted a stronger flag for noise cancellation and voice clarity in the past year. Third, the ecosystem factor matters. If you own a lot of Sony gear and rely on the Headphones Connect app for EQ and feature toggles, XM6 can feel harmonious; if you’re in an Apple-centric environment, you’ll likely gravitate toward AirPods Pro (2nd gen), which often edge out on ANC and mic reliability and offer deeper integration with iOS. Finally, there’s price pressure. At the current price, consumers are weighing whether the XM6’s refined sound justifies a “second-best” level of isolation when alternatives can deliver stronger silence or crisper calls for a similar or lower upfront cost.

The obvious alternative in this market tier is Apple’s AirPods Pro (2nd generation). The XM6’s strongest claim remains sound quality, but it’s not enough to supersede the quieter, more consistently canceling experience that many listeners expect from the top competing model at a similar price. For those who are deeply committed to Sony’s ecosystem or who prize a certain warmth and balance in tonal delivery, the XM6 might still be appealing; for most buyers focused on best-in-class ANC and dependable voice calls, waiting for a firmware push or considering a rival can be a smarter move.

Verdict: wait. If you’re chasing top-tier noise suppression and flawless call performance, you’ll likely be happier with alternatives, especially if you’re in an ecosystem other than Sony. If you’re invested in the Sony sound signature and want a robust, well-built earbud with solid customization, the XM6 still earns its place—but not as the definitive leader in the category.

Sources

Engadget review recap: Sony WF-1000XM6, ASUS Zenbook Duo and more