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The Sony WH-1000XM6 are missing one big feature
10 hours ago
Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones launch today, and they are impressive in many ways. With excellent ANC performance, good sound quality, a comfortable redesign that addresses past complaints, and an impressive battery life of over 37 hours, they seem poised to continue Sony’s dominance in the premium noise canceling headphone market.
But there’s one significant feature missing: USB-C audio playback.
A serious omission in 2025
While the WH-1000XM6 does have a USB-C port, it’s used exclusively for charging. Sony’s flagship headphones cannot receive digital audio through their USB-C connection. This limitation is increasingly standing out in a market where wired USB-C audio has become a standard feature on premium headphones.
The ability to listen to music through a USB-C connection isn’t just a nice-to-have feature anymore – it’s becoming essential for several reasons:
- True lossless audio: Unlike even the best Bluetooth codecs (LDAC, LC3), a USB-C connection delivers bit-perfect audio without compression
- Future-proofing: As 3.5mm headphone jacks continue to disappear from devices, USB-C becomes the universal connector
- Extended lifespan: When your headphones’ battery eventually degrades, USB-C audio provides another way to keep using your $450 investment
How important is USB audio to you when buying headphones?
Everyone else is doing it
What makes this omission particularly noticeable is how many other manufacturers have already embraced USB-C audio. Apple has added USB-C audio to its AirPods Max. Sennheiser includes it on the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless. JBL offers it on the Tour One M3. Even budget brands like JLab include it on models like the JBuds Lux ANC. In fact, the list of major headphone manufacturers offering USB-C audio extends to Google, Shure, and many others.
A missed opportunity
Wireless headphones already contain most of the necessary components. The WH-1000XM6 already has digital-to-analog converters and amplification circuitry for wireless operation — adding USB audio primarily requires creating a signal path from the USB controller to these existing components.
Sony clearly listened to user feedback when addressing previous design complaints — the fragile hinge is gone, the power button is more accessible, and the ANC mic cover has been improved. But by focusing exclusively on fixing past issues, they’ve missed an emerging standard that will become increasingly important.
At $449.99, the WH-1000XM6 sits in the premium category where consumers expect complete feature sets. While they remain excellent headphones overall, this omission might be the deciding factor for informed buyers looking for headphones that will remain fully relevant for years to come.
