Headphones are a very personal choice – different heads, different ears – some like them hefty, some like them light. I know people who love certain headphones that are not a good match for me personally, and some of my favorites are unloved by people whose ears and opinions I respect. Another issue is price. Some may be in love with a pair of cans only to learn that they cost upwards of a thousand dollars. Sony Electronics may have found a real sweet spot with their latest headphone, the WH-1000XM6. I have some older Sony MDR-7506 headphones in the studio that I personally find a little too bright for long periods of listening; however, I know a ton of people who really love them, so they are there for those clients. I was perhaps expecting the WH-1000XM6s to be similar in terms of sonics, but boy, was I wrong.
The WH-1000XM6’s feature over-the-ear, closed-back design in wired or wireless modes, with a 10 meter range on Bluetooth, and come with a 1.2 meter cable that plugs into one side of the headphones. I actually like this flexibility for both studio use and pleasure listening, with the caveat that it must not be a compromise in audio quality. In this case, it is not an issue. These headphones are incredibly comfortable and quite light, weighing in at 254 grams. The headband and ear pads are soft faux-leather, and the outer ear cups are a hard, smooth plastic. Other than the flush power button and a smaller button to engage the noise-canceling, the design is sleek and uncluttered.
WH-1000XM6’s drivers utilize a neodymium magnet, with a claimed frequency response of 4 Hz to 40 kHz when using the headphones in wired/analog mode, or 20 Hz to 20 kHz at a 44.1 kHz sample rate, and 20 Hz to 40 kHz at 96 k/990 kbps when used wirelessly. They operate in passive mode if necessary, with the option for full noise-canceling or “ambient” mode, which allows outside sounds to be heard. The WH-1000XM6 comes with a stylish carrying case in eco-friendly recyclable packaging. They charge via USB and have a max battery life of nearly 30 hours with noise-canceling engaged, and almost 40 hours without. Speaking of noise cancellation, these headphones perform excellently in this regard. I used them in a semi-noisy car, on a plane, and while doing yard work. In all scenarios I was impressed. I even did some pre-mix work for a session during a flight, and loved the isolation and clarity, even at 30,000 feet!
For general mixing duties like checking for pops and clicks, and getting a different perspective from the mains, I found the WH-1000XM6s to be a good alternate pair of headphones to my main set, the Audeze LCD-X [Tape Op #119]. These are very different beasts in two very different price ranges. However, the Sonys provided a good deal of detail and covered the frequency spectrum top to bottom, so when I auditioned mixes made with these headphones outside of the studio (car, home stereo, and alternate sets of headphones, earbuds, etc.), the results felt good. Note: The WH-1000XM6s were co-created with mastering engineers Mike Piacentini from Battery Studios, occasional Tape Op contributor Michael Romanowski (Coast Mastering), and Sterling Sound's Randy Merrill and Chris Gehringer.
Fans of hip-hop, EDM, and other big bass genres will like the WH-1000XM6s. The low end was very focused, deep, and extended-sounding without feeling flabby; even with the closed-back design, I didn’t feel excessive ear fatigue from extended listens at a moderately loud volume. I thought the highs were smooth and pleasant, even when listening to tracks that were cymbal heavy. Overall, these headphones are a very balanced listen.
Since it now seems socially acceptable to walk around town wearing headphones, I took the WH-1000XM6s out for a walk around the lake. As mentioned above, they are so comfortable and light I almost forgot I had them on. I like taking my mixes for a walk, to get a sense of how they feel outside of the studio, almost listening passively as I take in the scenery. With or without noise-canceling engaged, the Sonys held their own out in the “real world.”
My one criticism is that the WH-1000XM6s were a little confusing to get back into their carrying case, requiring a series of folding maneuvers; because they are so light, I was slightly afraid I might break them. I figured it out after a few tries without causing any damage. I am a little ham-fisted, so if you are like me, you may find this origami headphone folding maneuver mildly frustrating. At a price point of under $450, the WH-1000XM6s are an ideal option for folks needing a pair of headphones for studio use, pleasure listening, and travel. They exceeded my expectations in all areas, and I’ll be sure to recommend them to friends and colleagues in search of an affordable high-performance headphone.