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@dxdiaag · Owner-reported
Owned under a month · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Earbuds body is too fat and it cant sit in my ears it is kind of uncomfortable it sticks out from my ear and i hate it
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At 8.8, its noise cancelling beats 98% of wireless earbuds we've measured.
Measured on 91 of the 252 we've cataloged.
A 4.8 puts its audio quality in the top half of wireless earbuds we've measured.
Measured on 64 of the 252 we've cataloged.
Would buy it again and still uses it daily.
Owned under a month.
above average for wireless earbuds — based on 236 of 252 we've cataloged.
below average for wireless earbuds — based on 235 of 252 we've cataloged.
IPX4 is the most common — on 36% of the 232 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 252).
Adaptive appears on 6% of the 172 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 252).
Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
Sony WF-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.
| Frequency (Hz) | Response (dB) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 1.4 |
| 25 | 4.6 |
| 32 | 5.4 |
| 40 | 5.6 |
| 50 | 5.4 |
| 63 | 4.8 |
| 80 | 3.7 |
| 100 | 2.7 |
| 125 | 1.8 |
| 160 | 0.4 |
| 200 | -0.6 |
| 250 | -1.2 |
| 315 | -1.4 |
| 400 | -0.7 |
| 500 | -1.6 |
| 630 | -4.2 |
| 800 | -3.3 |
| 1000 | -2.1 |
| 1250 | -0.9 |
| 1600 | 2.6 |
| 2000 | 5.3 |
| 2500 | 7.1 |
| 3150 | 7.2 |
| 4000 | 6.6 |
| 5000 | 6.3 |
| 6300 | 5.6 |
| 8000 | 4.2 |
| 10000 | 0.1 |
| 12500 | 1.4 |
| 16000 | -4.8 |
| 20000 | -29.5 |
Sony WF-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.
| Frequency (Hz) | Attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | 0.5 |
| 26 | 1.7 |
| 33 | 2.0 |
| 41 | 2.7 |
| 52 | 3.2 |
| 65 | 3.4 |
| 82 | 3.6 |
| 103 | 3.7 |
| 130 | 4.4 |
| 163 | 3.5 |
| 205 | 3.6 |
| 259 | 6.0 |
| 325 | 6.8 |
| 410 | 13.2 |
| 516 | 10.0 |
| 613 | 9.6 |
| 772 | 11.2 |
| 972 | 14.4 |
| 1220 | 17.5 |
| 1540 | 24.2 |
| 1940 | 36.5 |
| 2440 | 44.8 |
| 3070 | 43.6 |
| 3870 | 31.5 |
| 4870 | 41.9 |
| 6130 | 45.1 |
| 7720 | 35.9 |
| 9720 | 43.1 |
| 12200 | 34.4 |
| 15400 | 37.6 |
| 19400 | 46.3 |
| Frequency (Hz) | Total attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | 2.0 |
| 26 | 14.4 |
| 33 | 15.8 |
| 41 | 20.9 |
| 52 | 25.8 |
| 65 | 33.3 |
| 82 | 41.1 |
| 103 | 43.9 |
| 130 | 43.3 |
| 163 | 34.5 |
| 205 | 32.3 |
| 259 | 37.5 |
| 325 | 32.8 |
| 410 | 24.8 |
| 516 | 18.5 |
| 613 | 16.5 |
| 772 | 18.1 |
| 972 | 24.2 |
| 1220 | 22.8 |
| 1540 | 27.3 |
| 1940 | 34.9 |
| 2440 | 49.5 |
| 3070 | 49.2 |
| 3870 | 36.6 |
| 4870 | 29.6 |
| 6130 | 37.9 |
| 7720 | 33.3 |
| 9720 | 35.5 |
| 12200 | 27.6 |
| 15400 | 33.5 |
| 19400 | 44.8 |
Sony WF-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 — add other models to see where this one lands.
The verdict
The WF-1000XM6 are Sony's best wireless earbuds to date, with meaningful improvements to ANC, sound quality, microphone performance, and fit. Battery life and codecs remain unchanged, and at $329.99, you're paying a premium for focused upgrades. If you're on the XM4 or older, they're easy to recommend. XM5 owners may want to wait for a sale.
✓Liked: Great sound quality, Excellent ANC and Isolation, Solid features, Comfortable fit
✕Could be better: Price, Sound changes with ANC off
What a reader who owns the Sony WF-1000XM6 reports after living with it. Owner-reported, checked before publishing; ordered photo-verified first, then newest.
Owner reviews are not paid for, not solicited from specific owners, and not rewritten by us: at most we proofread typos, which is shown on the review’s own page and which the author can undo. The commission SoundGuys may earn on this page comes from retail links, never from owner reviews.
1 owner review
DEvery author writes under a generated pseudonym; a member can choose to show their name and photo beside it. 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 under a month · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Would buy againEarbuds body is too fat and it cant sit in my ears it is kind of uncomfortable it sticks out from my ear and i hate it
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What readers ask about the Sony WF-1000XM6, answered by the people who own it.
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Ask the first question →See how the Sony WF-1000XM6 stacks up against the competition.
Sony WF-1000XM6
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Adam BirneyManaging EditorI ditched my AirPods Pro 3 for Sony's WF-1000XM6 and only lasted a weekI thought the more expensive earbuds would win. I was wrong.
Dave CarrVideo Producer/WriterHow would hundreds of people rate the Sony WF-1000XM6's sound quality?If you could ask 200 people to rate sound quality at once, what would they say?
Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeMost of you aren't buying the Sony WF-1000XM6. Here's whyThe votes are in, and Sony's flagship earbuds have some convincing to do.Adam BirneyManaging EditorHow long does the Sony WF-1000XM6's battery last? We tortured it to find outHow long can you listen on a single charge?Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeYou asked for cheaper Sony earbuds. The WF-1000XM6 cost $30 more instead.Sony is now the most expensive option in the flagship wireless earbud category.Adam BirneyManaging Editor3 reasons why I won't buy the Sony WF-1000XM6They're almost impossible to recommend if you already own the XM5.
Tom TriggsContributorSony WF-1000XM6 frequency response: The ANC quirk you need to know aboutWe took the earbuds through the lab to find out how they measureChristian ThomasEditor-at-largeWhat do the Sony WF-1000XM6's EQ presets sound like?Earbuds with an in-app EQ are a tweaker's dreamChristian ThomasEditor-at-largeThe 5 best headphones to look forward to in 2026Strap in — we're in for a wild year.Tom TriggsContributorSony brought back its original Walkman headphones, but they don't work with WalkmansNostalgia or fashion statement? Sony's new MDR-3R headphones bring a 1979 classic into 2026 with USB-C audio and a dash of irony.Dave CarrVideo Producer/WriterThe Sony XM4C prove we don't need a new headphone model every yearSony's newest headphones aren't new at all, and that's kind of the point.Adam BirneyManaging Editor
1 of 2 would buy again
2 owners
The battery beat their expectations
Comfort beat their expectations
2 of 2 would buy again
2 owners · owners report ~10 h per charge vs 8.73 h claimed
Comfort beat their expectations
The battery beat their expectations
0 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Comfort beat their expectations
0 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Expected more from the noise cancelling
2 of 2 would buy again
2 owners
The battery beat their expectations
The battery beat their expectations
1 of 1 would buy again
1 owner · owners report ~7 h per charge vs 10 h claimed
Comfort beat their expectations
