[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] Sony's flagship wireless headphones, the WH-1000XM6, have been rated as the most balanced product in the premium headphones market even a year after launch. Analysts said it outperforms rival products in key areas including noise cancelling, sound quality, battery life and portability.

On June 23, local time, IT outlet TechRadar said in a long-term review that the WH-1000XM6 still serves as a benchmark in the premium wireless headphones market. Comparisons included Bose's QuietComfort (QC) Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen, Apple's AirPods Max 2 and Sony's higher-end lineup, the 1000X The Collection.

The review focused on long-term user experience rather than a simple comparison of specifications. TechRadar said the WH-1000XM6 addressed the non-folding design that had been cited as a drawback of the previous WH-1000XM5, and combines the practicality of the WH-1000XM4 with the refined design of the XM5. A user said, "Sony has finally made headphones that surpass the XM4."

Noise-cancelling performance received the highest marks. The WH-1000XM6 was rated as effectively blocking a range of environmental noise, including airplane engine sounds, traffic noise and door-closing sounds, using Sony's QN3 noise-cancelling processor and 12 microphones. In an office setting, it also significantly reduced keyboard typing and nearby conversation, helping users focus on work. TechRadar called it "the best noise-cancelling performance among Sony headphones I have used so far."

Sound quality was also cited as an advantage over rivals. The WH-1000XM6 supports LDAC, a high-quality wireless audio codec, and was rated as delivering balanced sound from bass to treble. The review also cited strong bass, clear highs, dense mids and a wider sense of space than the previous model. In particular, it was rated as outperforming Bose products in detail, soundstage and user customization features.

Comfort and portability also improved. The newly designed headband reduced strain during long listening sessions, and the return of a folding structure improved mobility and storage convenience.

Call quality was also rated as a strength. The WH-1000XM6 has 6 beamforming microphones to deliver voice more accurately during calls, and a user said, "It has the clearest call quality among the headphones I have used so far." It also retains strengths of previous Sony headphones, including DSEE Extreme upscaling, ambient sound mode and touch controls.

Comparisons with rivals highlighted different strengths. Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen was rated at a similar level to the XM6 in noise-cancelling performance. But the XM6 was assessed as somewhat stronger at blocking low-frequency noise, while Bose was assessed as slightly better at blocking high-frequency noise.

Apple's AirPods Max 2 showed strengths in spatial audio and integration with Apple's ecosystem. But its battery life is shorter at 20 hours with noise cancelling, compared with 30 hours for the XM6, and its price is higher, leading to an assessment that the XM6 is more competitive overall.

Sony's premium lineup, the 1000X The Collection, delivered a wider sense of space and strong instrument separation, but was rated as falling short of the XM6 in noise cancelling and battery life.

Durability also received a positive assessment. TechRadar said there were no major scratches or malfunctions even after repeatedly folding and carrying it for a year, and that the ear pads maintained comfortable wear without noticeable wear.

Overall, the WH-1000XM6 was rated as maintaining competitiveness in the premium headphones market by balancing key elements including noise cancelling, sound quality, call quality, battery and portability. It was also assessed as positioning itself as a model that raises both practicality and overall completeness for users who felt disappointed with the direction of Sony headphones after the WH-1000XM4.