New noise cancelling headphones? (Sony xm6?)

413x

413x

413x

Caporegime
Joined
13 Jan 2010
Posts
33,469
Location
Llaneirwg
Looking for some new noise cancelling headphones. Gf wants my. Old xm3s.

I've been looking at xm6 but I've read a fair few comments saying they arent as comfy. And I can see why just looking at that odd headband.

Are there any other alternatives?
Or does anyone have xm6?

They are fairly new.
 
Last edited:
Get the XM4 for under £200 for 95% of it.

The ANC is marginally better on the XM6 and it is tunned slightly "better". Use the app's EQ to chaneg it to how you like and save your money. Oh, avoid the XM5 at ALL cost.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Get the XM4 for under £200 for 95% of it.

The ANC is marginally better on the XM6 and it is tunned slightly "better". Use the app's EQ to chaneg it to how you like and save your money. Oh, avoid the XM5 at ALL cost.
Click to expand...

Yeah I know the xm5s are a no go.

Are xm4s any better?

I guess my main issue is the call quality is poo on Xm3.
And the multipoint is a bit if a faff with only 2 devices.
 
413x said:
Yeah I know the xm5s are a no go.

Are xm4s any better?

I guess my main issue is the call quality is poo on Xm3.
And the multipoint is a bit if a faff with only 2 devices.
Click to expand...

Well, the call quality are not really that great on all of them tbh, there are youtube videos testing them side by side.

I have the 4, it's fine. Sound quality wise...i am not buying it for that, I think it sounds worse than the XM1 that I had, but the EQ fixes it. Is it the most comfortable? No, not on my head. But I just needed a good ANC headset and for £200 it is the one to get despite the drawbacks.

Not sure about multipoint though, i only use it on a flight.
 
413x said:
Looking for some new noise cancelling headphones. Gf wants my. Old xm3s.

I've been looking at xm6 but I've read a fair few comments saying they arent as comfy. And I can see why just looking at that odd headband.

Are there any other alternatives?
Or does anyone have xm6?

They are fairly new.
Click to expand...
I upgraded to the XM6s from the XM3s recently. Comfort wise, tricky one, the XM3s are maybe slightly lighter and less pressure, but mine have been really well used, had new ear pads and stuff.

The noise cancelling on the XM6s is a big upgrade, amazing on flights. Musically they are as good as any noise cancelling I’ve tried but not as good as open backs which I prefer for just music listening, but different use cases.

Really nicely made, nice case. I don’t like the Bose sound and the B&W cans I’ve tried are mega uncomfortable.

The Sonys are plenty comfortable enough for me. I’ve slept wearing them.
 
A lot to think about.

@Raymond Lin makes a good point.

XM6 are 399 and xm4 are 179.

Thats a lot of cash saved. I think I may well go for xm4 for now. It's less than half price vs the xm6!
 
XM6s are definitely a little better, but I wasn’t unhappy with my XM3s.

Probably be a little while before the 6’s start seeing some discounts
 
I've had the XM4, XM5 and XM6.

As others have said, avoid the XM5, I feel these were just released for a sake of keeping a refresh cycle going.

The XM6 do deliver better sound quality in the shape of better clarity, richer detail and cleaner performance overall. The ANC is better and it is noticeable (especially on flights). I have to disagree that the XM4 is 95% of the XM6.

That being said the XM4 is no slouch and will be a noticeable upgrade over your XM3.
 
OP, enjoy.

I have a set of the XM5 and felt that they have been good but unreliable and I'm having issues. I've had them since they released and I'm a bit hard on my stuff but I've always felt like the build quality wasn't great and they were built just good enough instead of what a flagship pair of headphones should be build wise, good to very good.

I'm starting a new much higher paying job soon and may upgrade to the XM6.
 
Think I'm going to keep the 6s

Id agree with most reviews. Better in sound (a bit) but require eq.
Better in ANC.

But more uncomfortable. Not too uncomfortable but the clamp force is a bit too much for me ideally. And I prefer the old head band too
 
From Rtings.com

The Sony WH-1000XM6 are the best noise cancelling headphones we've tested. These premium over-ears have outstanding noise isolation, blocking out everything from the low airplane rumble to high-pitched A/C whine. They also significantly outperform their predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless, at reducing the level of mid-range noise like office chatter. With their ANC on, their battery lasts over 31 hours continuously, and you can also use their ANC both wirelessly and via their cable. If you're using the wired connection, they'll even work passively with virtually no latency, but each different combination of connection type and ANC status produces a slightly different sound profile.

Out of the box, these cans have a warm sound that emphasizes thump and punch, though their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets if you prefer a different sound. They also support multi-device pairing, so you can connect them with your computer and smartphone simultaneously. If these headphones have one downside, it's that their shallow ear cups don't always form the best seal with your head, especially if you wear glasses. A broken seal means worse noise cancelling, so if you struggle to find headphones that fit your head snugly, or just know you like a roomy ear cup, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless are a great alternative. Their ANC performance is only slightly worse than the Sony's in our tests, and they're known for their comfort. In truth, both the Bose and Sony are excellent choices for ANC lovers, but the Sony's overall noise isolation performance means they're our top pick.
Click to expand...
 
Just popping in to say the AirPod max are godlike for noise cancelling if that’s your main concern - even though they are now quite old, their capabilities are frankly astonishing:

Nitefly said:
Hi chaps - long time no post from me (in here anyway) *waves*

Well, I have solved my 5090 coil whine problem at last :eek:

After returning a Suprim, an Astral, an Aorus Master and a Palit Mirror Infinity, I finally settled on a MSI Gaming Trio. Still a bit noisy with the fans, so I water blocked it… this is the way for temps. :cool:

I still wasn’t satisfied with the overall noise though and, lo and behold the solution is… a pair of Apple AirPod Max. These are aggressively expensive and due a product refresh but the noise cancelling is the absolute ****. It’s like god himself installed himself into the AirPods and said “all noise, be gone!!!” - far superior to my Momentum 4 headphones.

It’s almost supernatural - I can sit next to my machine with it blaring whine and fans over 1000 rpm and I can’t even hear it.

I can actually sit there and enjoy a game. It know it sounds a bit sad, but I almost cried when I realised the struggle was over.

So for anyone else distraught - this is a real solution to the problem.

Currently running the card overclocked with a 350hz boost, nicely hitting 3100-3200. Temps at low 50s degrees, can’t hear it. Winning :cool:
Click to expand...

If budget is not strict and you have medium/larger ears that will more comfortable in a larger ear cup, this is the way to go.

Edit: the last pair of Sonys I tried had ear cups that pressed my ears… instant heat, no thanks. Not sure if the newer ones have bigger cups.
 
Last edited:
Nitefly said:
Just popping in to say the AirPod max are godlike for noise cancelling if that’s your main concern - even though they are now quite old, their capabilities are frankly astonishing:



If budget is not strict and you have medium/larger ears that will more comfortable in a larger ear cup, this is the way to go.

Edit: the last pair of Sonys I tried had ear cups that pressed my ears… instant heat, no thanks. Not sure if the newer ones have bigger cups.
Click to expand...
My head is big. But my ears are normal.

So I feel the pressure from these new xm6s but it's not too bad. But I would prefer it to be xm4 level.

Noise cancelling isn't my main concern. But when I want it. I want it good. But l my old sonys were fine for it really.

For me, the main thing is SQ, easy to travel with and comfort.

These are a great for SQ, seem great for travel (as were my old pair) but less comfortable.


Kind of hoping the clamp pressure fades over time.


Yeah I have read how good the apple ones are. Crazy, considering how ancient they are. But they weren't really a consideration. Not a fan of the apple premium price and if I remember they don't fold into a little case like xm6/xm4?
Folding is important for travel. Xm5s weren't even considered due to this
 
Last edited:
Yeah the AirPods don’t fold.

It may sound obvious but there is a good way of relieving clamp pressure - adjust the headphones to fit a ‘bigger head’ (i.e. extend the earpiece arms). You can take quite a lot of pressure off that way… you may have already tried this but I thought id mention it!
 
Nitefly said:
Yeah the AirPods don’t fold.

It may sound obvious but there is a good way of relieving clamp pressure - adjust the headphones to fit a ‘bigger head’ (i.e. extend the earpiece arms). You can take quite a lot of pressure off that way… you may have already tried this but I thought id mention it!
Click to expand...
It works. Makes sense, pesky physics.
Obviously not ideal on the move (slippage) . But at my desk it will be fine.
 
I should be banned from buying headphones but on my desk today I have

PX7 S3, Sonos Ace and Airpod Max USB-C. I have just sold my PX8s and have had XM3, XM4 and XM5, not tried the XM6...yet. I also have airpod pro 2 and B&W PI8 just for good measure...its an addiction...

Personally I am currently torn between the Airpod Max and PX7 S3, the Ace's are not quite at the same level sound wise, but we are at personal preference level of sound difference they all sound really good, even using AAC from an iPhone, although Lossless from Apple Music makes a significant difference to the audio quality particularly on the Aces strangely. I have a BTD600 that I use as well to enable Apt-X Adaptive which on the PX8's opened up the sound quality even further, just not tried on the PX7 yet, but it didn't make such a big difference on the Aces as the PX8s.

ANC on them all is very good, again the difference is there but not enough that I'd be overly bothered about picking any of them. I use them on the train and flights and the PX8s were more than good enough (PX7 S3 is meant to be better again) the Airpod Max are really good and the Sonys we all know how they perform. Aces seem to be very good since the latest update as well.

Comfort is where the biggest difference comes, the Airpod Max are the least comfortable and heaviest, but properly adjusted I can watch a 3 hour film easily enough, Aces are light and comfortable but don't feel cheap, PX7 S3 are somewhere between the 2 fell very well constructed of very nice materials but have a bit more weight to them and similar comfort level. Clamping force goes in a similar order Max, PX7 then Aces.

I've paid about the same for the PX7 and Ace and the Max were a fair bit more but will hang on to their value better so it's swings and roundabouts. I did buy a better carry case for the Maxs which is a bit bigger than the other two but not massively and still easily fits in my backpack.

Ultimately these things are very subjective so if you can get them from somewhere where you can try them and return them..., as people have different hearing and respond differently to the sound profiles.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom