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The new Sony XM6 make the Beats Studio Pro look affordable (crazy, right?)
May 18, 2025
The Sony WH-1000XM6 are here, and they have a staggering price tag of $449, which somehow even makes the Beats Studio Pro look affordable in comparison. While both are competent in their own right, they differ significantly in features. After hands-on testing with both pairs, I can confidently say that choosing between them depends heavily on your priorities (and your budget).
This is the first version of this comparison article, and will be updated as needed.
What’s it like to use the Sony WH-1000XM6 compared to the Beats Studio Pro?
Sony has worked out many of the quirks from the previous Sony WH-1000XM5, fixing issues like fragile hinges and awkward controls. I appreciate the redesigned power button, improved folding hinge, and soft-touch case that, while minimalist, still offers good protection. The ear cups are shallow and the padding is minimal, so if you have large ears, you might experience comfort issues with the XM6.
The Beats Studio Pro are also not ideal for those with a large head or large ears. The small ear cups and tight fit caused discomfort in under an hour for some of our team members, and I don’t wear glasses. People with glasses, long hair, or larger heads will likely find these headphones especially frustrating. Build quality also feels cheaper, with odd decisions like thin headband padding and overly stiff hinges.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 have physical buttons for ANC/passthrough and power/BT, as well as capacitive touch controls on the right ear cup to control playback.
The Beats Studio Pro have physical buttons. While physical buttons are more intuitive, they require a firm press against your head, and the click sound is quite loud.
Do the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Beats Studio Pro have more features?
The Sony WH-1000XM6 is absolutely stacked with features. Through the Sony Connect app, you get access to a 10-band EQ, Spatial Audio via 360 Reality Audio, DSEE Extreme, advanced Bluetooth settings, and even head gestures. While the omission of Auracast and USB audio is disappointing, Sony’s software suite gives power users nearly everything else they could want.
Beats Studio Pro, on the other hand, provides a more streamlined experience. Despite lacking an H1 or H2 chip, it surprisingly includes a USB DAC for wired listening—something Sony doesn’t offer. You also get Apple’s Find My support, head-tracked Spatial Audio, and fast pairing with Apple devices, while Android users can download the Beats app for customization. Overall, the Sony WH-1000XM6 have the slight edge when it comes to features and customization options.
How do the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Beats Studio Pro connect?
Sony’s WH-1000XM6 supports Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC, AAC, SBC, and LC3. Multipoint works if you accept a drop in codec quality, and wired audio is supported through a 3.5mm jack. However, there’s no USB-C audio passthrough—a notable omission, especially in 2025.
Beats Studio Pro supports SBC and AAC via Bluetooth, plus both 3.5mm and USB-C wired listening. This USB-C DAC is a standout feature, offering lossless wired audio and EQ presets. The Beats headphones have the advantage when it comes to wired listening, while the Sony headphones have the advantage with wireless connectivity tech.
Is battery life better on the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Beats Studio Pro?
Sony takes the win here, though both headphones perform well. The WH-1000XM6 clocked in at 37 hours and 14 minutes in our battery test, easily covering long-haul flights or full workweeks. Fast charging is efficient too, giving you 3 hours of playback with a 3-minute charge.
Beats Studio Pro trails a bit with 31 hours and 25 minutes, but still offers strong endurance. It also supports fast charging—10 minutes yields 4 hours of playback. While the Studio Pro’s battery life is slightly shorter, it still holds up as a solid option, especially for commuters.
Do the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Beats Studio Pro block noise better?
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The Sony WH-1000XM6 are superior to the Beats Studio Buds Pro when it comes to blocking out noise. According to our testing, the Sony WH-1000XM6 block out an average of 87% of external noise with ANC enabled, whereas the Beats Studio Pro block out an average of 79% of external noise with ANC enabled. In most cases, this difference isn’t that extreme, but you will notice the benefit of the XM6 if you are on travelling or in otherwise noisy environments.
Do the Sony WH-1000XM6 sound better than the Beats Studio Pro?
Most people will enjoy the sound quality of both the Sony WH-1000XM6 and the Beats Studio Pro. Surprisingly, the Sony headphones offer slightly more bass out of the box, according to our testing data. You get a much better EQ experience with the Sony app than with the Beats onboard controls, so if you like tweaking the sound quality to your preferences, you’ll want to go with Sony. The XM6 support Sony 360 Reality Audio with select streaming services, whereas the Beats Studio Pro support Spatial Audio with Apple devices.
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)
Both headphones score equally high in sound quality according to MDAQS, with an Overall rating of 4.8 on a scale from 1-5. This means there is a very high chance that most people will enjoy the default sound of both of these headphones.
- Timbre (MOS-T) represents how faithfully the headphones reproduce the frequency spectrum and temporal resolution (timing information).
- Distortion (MOS-D) represents non-linearities and added noise: higher scores mean cleaner reproduction.
- Immersiveness (MOS-I) represents perceived source width and positioning: how well virtual sound sources are defined in three-dimensional space.
Objective Measurements
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Both headphones follow our SoundGuys Preference Curve relatively close. The Sony WH-1000XM6 have slightly more bass below 200Hz, whereas the Beats Studio Pro have more treble emphasis from 5-12kHz.
Do the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Beats Studio Pro have a better microphone?
Sony’s WH-1000XM6 microphone array uses AI noise extraction and six beamforming mics to excellent effect. In our tests, it performed admirably in windy and reverberant environments, delivering clear voice capture even outdoors. This is one of the best call experiences you can get from consumer headphones right now.
Beats Studio Pro, by contrast, offers underwhelming mic performance. Recordings came in low and weak, and background noise often overpowered the voice. While call quality might be passable in a quiet room, it falls short in any real-world scenario. That said, the microphone quality varies depending on what device you are connected to, with improved noise rejection when connected to Apple devices.
Sony WH-1000XM6 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Beats Studio Pro microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Sony WH-1000XM6 microphone demo (Windy conditions):
Beats Studio Pro microphone demo (Windy conditions):
Which microphone sounds better to you?
Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Beats Studio Pro: Price and availability
At $449.99, the Sony WH-1000XM6 sits at the premium end of the market. The Beats Studio Pro launched at $349, which makes it the cheaper option. Since the Beats Studio Pro are a few years older, you are also more likely to find them on sale. During big sale events such as Black Friday, we’ve seen the Beats Studio Pro dip below $200. At that price, the Beats Studio Pro are an excellent value.
Should you get the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Beats Studio Pro?
Ultimately, your decision here depends on your budget. If you want the best, the Sony WH-1000XM6 deliver, but they’ll cost you a lot. On the other hand, if you can find the Beats Studio Pro on sale, they are an excellent value buy. Unless you need the absolute best features and performance, you’re probably fine sticking with the Beats Studio Pro. For most people, the Beats Studio Pro are very serviceable noise canceling headphones.
Lossless and Spatial Audio
Big battery life