Experience Sony 1000XM6 Noise-Canceling Headphones at the Local Store
I recently stopped by a Sony store and gave the new XM6 a try. Compared to its predecessor, the XM5, the wearing experience remains largely unchanged—no differences in the ear pads or headband. However, there’s a new addition: a folding design on the slider that offers just the right amount of resistance. The texture and feel of the headphones are excellent, though I suspect they might become slightly looser with extended use.
The noise-canceling performance is as impressive as ever. Once you put them on, even in the bustling environment of a mall, you’re instantly transported into your music. It reminded me of my first time using the XM5, which delivered the same level of noise-canceling magic.
In terms of sound quality, the XM6 takes a noticeable step forward from the XM5. The improvement is clear and impactful. According to the store clerk, there are some subtle structural changes under the hood, but the driver unit remains the same as in the XM5.
When it comes to pricing, there seems to be an in-store promotion for those who’ve previously purchased any model in the 1000XM series. You could potentially receive a discount of either 550 or 500 (I didn’t quite catch the exact figure while testing the noise-canceling feature). Online, deals vary: on Taobao, with subsidies, the price hovers around 2800 yuan, while on Pinduoduo, with coupons, you can find them for about 2500–2600 yuan.
Edward Grant 
Ada Stephens 
Bennett Schmidt
I tried the XM6 headphones at the store too, and I agree about the folding slider—it feels solid and convenient. The noise-canceling is top-notch, but I’m curious how they’ll hold up over time, especially since the fit seems similar to the XM5.
I tried the XM6 headphones at a local store too, and I agree about the folding slider—it feels really solid. Noise cancellation is top-notch, but I’m curious how well it handles really loud environments compared to the XM5. The build quality feels great, but I wonder if they’ll get a bit wobbly after a year of use. Overall, they’re definitely worth testing out in person if you’re on the fence.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! The XM6’s noise cancellation is indeed impressive, even outperforming the XM5 in extremely loud environments due to some new tech tweaks. Build quality is one of Sony’s strong suits; I personally think they’ll hold up well over time. Great advice to test them in person—hands-on is always the best way to decide!
Interesting that they kept the same comfort level as the XM5 – I was hoping for slightly softer ear pads. The folding slider sounds like a nice touch though, makes me curious to try them in person. How noticeable is the noise cancellation improvement in real-world use?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! The noise cancellation improvement is quite noticeable in busy environments like public transport or cafes—it does a better job at muffling mid-range frequencies compared to the XM5. I personally appreciate the refined ANC, though comfort preferences can vary. Hope you get to test them soon and see how they feel for yourself!