Every editorial hub, scoped to earbuds.
Every editorial hub, scoped to headphones.
Scores, specs, lab measurements and owner reviews side by side. Up to 3 at a time.
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Lab tested
Lab tested36 of 54 specs differ — shared specs are hidden
| Spec | Sony WH-1000XM6$399 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen)$369 |
|---|---|---|
| OverallOur verdict after lab tests and daily use, out of 10. | 8.3 / 10Highest ↑ | 8.2 / 10 |
| Noise cancellingHow much background noise disappears with ANC on — trains, planes, office chatter. | 8.7 / 10 | 8.7 / 10 |
| IsolationNoise blocked with ANC off, by the fit alone — matters if the battery runs out. | 7.6 / 10Most ↑ | 7.1 / 10 |
| Battery lifeHow long one charge lasts in our playback test, scored against the class. | 9.8 / 10Longest ↑ | 9.4 / 10 |
| Comfort & fitFrom our reviewers’ wear tests. Fit still depends on your head size, ears and glasses. | 8.0 / 10 | 9.0 / 10Most comfy ↑ |
| ConnectivityBluetooth codecs, multipoint, app support and how reliably they pair. | 9.0 / 10 | 9.7 / 10Best ↑ |
| DesignLooks, controls and how sensible the case and fold are. | 7.0 / 10 | 8.0 / 10Best ↑ |
| Battery Life Wireless | 37.23 h | 30 h |
| Charging Method | USB-C · same on all 2 | |
| Full Charge Minutes | 3 min | 180 min |
| Battery Life Anc On | 30 h | 27.2 h |
| Battery | Yes · same on all 2 | |
| Fast Charging | Yes · same on all 2 | |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth wireless | Bluetooth wireless, wired USB-C, wired 3.5mm |
| Bluetooth Codec | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Multipoint Devices | Yes - 2 devices · same on all 2 | |
| Headphone Jack | Yes · same on all 2 | |
| USB Charging | Yes · same on all 2 | |
| Latency | 30 ms | Not specified |
| Weight | 254 g | 250 g |
| Color Options | Black, silver, midnight blue | Black, white, blue, midnight violet, driftwood sand, desert gold |
| Ear Pad Type | Pleather | Synthetic |
| Foldable | Yes · same on all 2 | |
| Headband Type | Adjustable over-head | Not specified |
| Spatial Audio | Yes · same on all 2 | |
| Companion App | Yes · same on all 2 | |
| Control Type | Physical buttons, touch controls | Physical buttons, touch controls, mobile app |
| Eq Customization | Yes · same on all 2 | |
| Auto Pause | Yes · same on all 2 | |
| Voice Assistant Support | Alexa, Bixby, Google Assistant, Siri | Not specified |
| IP Rating | None · same on all 2 | |
| Material Chassis Primary | Plastic, stainless steel | Plastic with thin metal casing |
| Sweat Resistance | No | Not specified |
| Water Resistance | No · same on all 2 | |
| Material Ear Cups | Not specified | Protein leather |
| Count | 6 | 10 |
| Microphone | Yes · same on all 2 | |
| Noise Reduction Type | AI-powered | Active noise cancellation |
| Type | 6-mic beamforming array | Not specified |
| Acoustic Design | Closed-back · same on all 2 | |
| Ambient Mode | Yes - adjustable level · same on all 2 | |
| Driver Count | 1 | Not specified |
| Driver Size | 30 mm | 35 mm |
| Driver Type | Dynamic driver | Not specified |
| Frequency Response | 20-20000 Hz | 10-22000 Hz |
| Frequency Response High Hz | 20000 Hz | 22000 Hz |
| Frequency Response Low Hz | 20 Hz | 10 Hz |
| Impedance | 48 Ω | 32 Ω |
| Noise Cancellation Type | Active · same on all 2 | |
| Frequency Response Signature | Not specified | Balanced with slight forward midrange |
| Date | May 15, 2025 | September 12, 2025 |
| Msrp Usd | 449.99 USD | 449 USD |
| Year | 2025 · same on all 2 | |
No means we confirmed it’s missing. Not specified means neither the maker nor our lab has published it — we don’t count it against the product.
Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab. Pick a band to see where these products differ.
Sony WH-1000XM6 Frequency Response (measured on a B&K 5128)
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Measured frequency response (dB relative) against the SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve. When the measurement goes above the dashed line, that frequency is louder than our preference curve, and when it goes below: it's quieter. Use the curve for comparison purposes only, as your taste may vary.
Sony WH-1000XM6 Attenuation (measured on a B&K 5128)
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Solid lines: passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Dashed lines: total attenuation (dB) with ANC on — passive isolation plus active noise cancelling. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
Sony WH-1000XM6 MDAQS
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores, Scale 1 - 5
Virtual mean opinion scores (MOS) on a 1–5 scale, modeled from the measured response by HEAD acoustics’ MDAQS (Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score) model. Higher is better across timbre, distortion, and immersiveness.
Straight from each SoundGuys review.
By Christian Thomas · Reviewed May 2025
The Sony WH-1000XM6 is every bit a worthy successor to Sony's other ANC headphones as you'd hope. They sound very good, have excellent ANC, and are equipped to handle demanding users. However, the lack of cutting-edge connection options might be an issue as the years go by.
By Christian Thomas · Reviewed October 2025
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen.) are a solid set ofheadphones that compete well with the current ANC leaders. Though there are some rough edges, these are good headphones for those who don't want to tinker too much.
Owner reviews from readers who own them, after real use.
Every author writes under a generated pseudonym. A signed-in author’s email is never shown. Read more · A moderator saw a photo of this reader’s unit and it matched the product. Proof of possession, not purchase. Read more · Owned 1–6 months · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Would not buy againDidn't research much, but the earcups being very shallow was something I regret
Every author writes under a generated pseudonym. A signed-in author’s email is never shown. Read more · The reader says they own it. We have not seen proof, and we say so — no label here is proof of a purchase. Read more · Owned 1–6 months · Still using it: sometimes · Posted
Would not buy againThe buttons are difficult to use. Also, the overall plastic quality is very poor. Everything else is almost perfect, but the poor quality of the plastic alone is enough to make me not want to buy it.