We reviewed Sony's WH-1000XM6 headphones – here's our take

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We previously reviewed the Samsonite TOIIS XP trunk and this time around, we’re reviewing yet another travel essential: Sony’s WH-1000XM6 wireless noise cancelling headphones . If you’re a music lover with high standards for your listening experience, you’ll want the inside track before committing. Read on to see if these are the right choice for you, then head to the Cathay Shop to purchase them.

A little bit of background

Sony’s headphones and earbuds are known for their superior noise cancelling ability, but the WH-1000XM6 offer the biggest step forward yet. What you get with these headphones is exceptional audio clarity and sound quality that eliminates distractions so you can focus on what’s most important. An Adaptive NC Optimiser adjusts the noise cancelling performance to external noise and air pressure, while the Adaptive Sound Control recognises places you frequent and tailors ambient sound settings to suit the location. 

The WH-1000XM6 headphones are calibrated to extract your voice from ambient noise in a range of environments using Precise Voice Pickup Technology. They also contain six beamforming microphones on each earcup and an AI-based noise reduction algorithm that isolates your voice while filtering out background sound. 

Music stops when you take them off and begins once you place them on again. Similarly, with the Speak-to-Chat feature, your headphones detect when you’re speaking and stop playing music to allow ambient sound in. When the conversation ends, music resumes after 15 seconds. 

The handy touch control settings mean there’s no need to control sound from your phone. A touch panel on the right headphone can be used to play or pause music, receive or end a call, play the previous or next song and adjust the volume. Push a button on the left to switch from Noise Cancelling to Ambient Sound modes. 

First impressions

The headphones, made of smooth vegan leather and recycled materials, feature a wide headband and a sleek design; their technical features are concealed behind a deceivingly simple exterior. I was concerned they might feel heavy, but they were more comfortable to wear than expected and I got used to them quite quickly. 

True to the headphones’ specs, I was immediately impressed by the audio quality and noise cancellation. They allowed me to fully enjoy and appreciate every note of my favourite tunes – even during rush hour on public transport – delivering a strong, deep bass and warm, rich sound.

What else?

With state-of-the-art tech, you may worry about battery draining quickly – but these headphones promise an impressive 30 hours of battery life. I was surprised to find that even after using the headphones on and off for a few days, the battery had only gone down by 10 per cent. And if you do need to charge in a hurry, you can get 3 hours' worth of charge in just 3 minutes. You can even listen to music and charge them simultaneously. 

The headphones are both durable and foldable, made using advanced metal injection techniques. The compact carrying case, meanwhile, features a magnetic closure for easy access – and is ideal for protecting them during travel.

The pros and cons

There is a plethora of great things about these headphones – being able to listen to music and make calls with great clarity even in noisy environments is obviously a priority. I loved being able to connect to two devices simultaneously: when you pause a song or a video on one device and hit play on the other, the audio playing from your headphones will automatically switch over. The same applies to any incoming calls. Another great feature is the Equaliser setting, which allows you to select your preferred sound balance and create a custom sound profile for future listening.  

While these headphones offer many bonus features, there are a number of hoops to jump through to use them. For instance, you need to download Sony’s Sound Connect app to switch on features including the multipoint connection, Speak-to-Chat and Adaptive Sound Control. Calibrating the Adaptive Sound Control feature is a bit difficult and requires making an account and permanently allowing location access on your device.  

Final thoughts 

I've never been a headphone user, but the Sony WH-1000XM6 wireless noise cancelling headphones may have converted me. It was interesting to explore all of the customisable features and enjoy high-quality tunes and calls in my peaceful little bubble – while still having the choice to let in more of the world when needed. Plus, wearing these cool headphones just boosts my confidence and adds a touch of style to my everyday look.