The ultimate noise-canceling headphones for long journeys

When packing for travel these past few years, I always bring a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Isolating sounds like engine noise, crying babies on the plane, and some “sleep” sounds help me fall asleep more easily.

While there are now many in-ear headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC), I still prefer to wear over-ear models when possible, because the sound filtering performance and sound quality are usually better for the same price range. Many of my friends have also reported that the noise cancellation mode on small headphones can be uncomfortable, but with over-ear headphones, it is more comfortable.

That’s why I’m pretty excited about the WH-1000XM6, Sony’s latest high-end over-ear headphones. The folding hinge, which was removed in the WH-1000XM5, is back, allowing the headphones to fold into the case, reducing the size of the carrying case. Sony also promises improvements in noise cancellation, sound quality, and software for the new product.

Design fits

The XM6 has been adjusted in many points in the design, to bring a better and more comfortable wearing feeling. The most noticeable point is probably the power button on the left ear has been designed in a round shape, can be distinguished from the ANC on/off button and is no longer easily confused like the previous generation.

The design of this year's XM6 model can be folded more compactly, and the control buttons are also more reasonable.

The ear cushions of the new product are very soft, with moderate thickness. With an above average ear size, I find the earcups just enough to cover my ears, not too loose. The headband cushions are also not too thick, enough to provide comfort when worn for a long time. The clamping force of the two headphones on my head is strong, I have no problem wearing them while walking.

The XM6 feels “fit” to me, balancing comfort and lightness. When wearing the headset for most of the flight, which lasted more than 2 hours, I did not feel hot or heavy-headed, or uncomfortable even though I was wearing glasses the whole time. Sometimes, I could also wear the headset while lying on a pillow.

Of course, everyone’s experience will be different. Those who prefer a softer feel may want thicker padding. Some friends with larger heads have also reported that the headband extension joint is a bit stiff, which takes some getting used to when adjusting the size.

The ear cushions are a bit thin, but in return, they make the headphones lighter, reducing the feeling of heat in the ears when worn for a long time.

The XM6 inherits the control method from the previous generation, with gestures on the touch panel on the right ear. These gestures are very natural to me: double tap to pause/play, swipe up/down to adjust the volume, and previous/next to skip tracks. Even the gesture of covering the whole hand to clear the sound, clearly hearing others' speech is very easy to get used to. My friends can all understand the control even when using it for the first time.

The thing I don’t like about this product is that the shell is still prone to fingerprints, especially on the black version. Although the company says the new material has reduced fingerprints compared to the XM5, I still noticed shiny streaks on the headphones after a few hours of use. On the silver model, with its more matte shell, fingerprints are much less noticeable.

Good noise cancellation, customizable sound quality

The XM5 generation was highly appreciated for its noise cancellation ability, and in the XM6 Sony has made many improvements in hardware. The new headphones have 12 microphones (compared to 8 in the previous generation) to collect and analyze noise. The processor is also more powerful.

Whether I was wearing the XM6 on a plane, walking in the park, or sitting in a children's play area, I was pleased with the noise cancellation. The low hum of an airplane engine, the screams of children, or the roar of cars at night were all reduced to a pleasant low level, even without any sound being played. If I played music at a moderate volume, the noise was almost inaudible.

Another thing I noticed is that when I was walking with the headphones on, the noise cancellation was almost unaffected. In the past, some over-ear headphones with ANC that I have experienced felt unstable when I was moving.

Sony's Sound Connect software offers a variety of options, with EQ adjustments making a noticeable difference.

When the transparency mode is turned on, the surrounding sounds are amplified a little. The human voice through the transparency is natural, without the feeling of buzzing like the XM5 generation.

In terms of sound quality, the headphones, when first opened, have the typical sound quality with thick, bouncy bass of Sony, but the mid-high part such as vocals feels a bit muddy. After a little research, I found an effective solution: adjusting through the sound equalizer (EQ) in the Sony Sound Connect application.

The XM6 offers 10 EQ bands. The company offers 5 default options for audio genres such as “heavy”, “light”, and gaming, along with 3 options for users to adjust themselves. After trying some suggestions from audio sites, I noticed a clear difference in the sound quality after adjusting the EQ. For most music genres that are not rock/metal, I just need to adjust the high frequencies a bit to get a more distinct, more pleasing sound.

Sony's Sound Connect app also offers the option to create EQs based on your own music for the best sound possible. The process is simple and takes just over a minute.

In addition to the normal listening mode, users can choose the “Background Music” mode, which makes the sound more distant and like the music is playing in a coffee shop. With the Cinema mode, the sound field is significantly wider, making the feeling of watching a movie better.

Sony includes a cable to connect to the 3.5mm audio port, but the inability to listen to music via USB-C is still a shortcoming compared to some competing headphones.

Sony says the XM6's battery life is still 30 hours with Bluetooth and ANC on. That's plenty for long trips, even if you're on a plane all day. The headphones also support fast charging with the Power Delivery standard, so you can "rescue" them with spare batteries when needed.

The headphone model supports many smart features through the Sony Sound Connect application. The feature I find most useful is connecting multiple devices at the same time, in which the headphone can prioritize 2 audio devices, for example, you can connect to a phone and a laptop at the same time, easily switching between the two sources.

Advantage from the latest products

For those who travel a lot, over-ear headphones like the WH-1000XM6 series are still a worthwhile long-term investment. At $599, the XM6 can be considered Sony's most premium entry-level headphones. After three years since the XM5 series, Sony's upgrades to the XM6 are significant and worth the wait.

Sony's headphones also have the advantage of launch time, compared to many competitors in the same segment. AirPods Max was launched 5 years ago, and the 2024 update only changed the design port to USB-C. The advantage of AirPods Max is probably good compatibility, smooth switching between devices in the Apple ecosystem. However, if using a phone from another brand, this advantage is no longer available.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless has also been released for 3 years, and the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra for 2 years. The prices of the above headphones have now dropped below 10 million, but for those who want the latest technology, the WH-1000XM6 still has the advantage.

At a lower price range, Sony is still maintaining the old XM lines such as XM5 (7.8 million, market price about 7 million) or XM4 (6.3 million, market price about 5 million). For those who often travel and like the feeling of being separated from the surrounding noise, these can also be options worth considering.

Source: https://znews.vn/tai-nghe-chong-on-toi-uu-cho-nhung-chuyen-di-dai-post1576408.html