Sony WF-1000XM6 Review: Has Sony Reclaimed the TWS Crown?

The wait is over: Sony has released new true wireless earphones! The already popular WF-1000XM5 has long been the standard for true wireless devices with active noise canceling, and it's been almost three years since its release. Now, in February of 2026, we have the new Sony WF-1000XM6 earphones, setting a new standard in how true wireless listening should be. These earphones retail for just $329.99, which is around the standard price of some good-quality earphones. Do these live up to the expectations Sony has set for themselves?  

Let's start by looking at the earphones' overall aesthetic. The XM6 adopts a new physical design, starting with the charging case. The charging case is slightly larger than the previous XM5, adopting an oval design with sharper edges. The earbuds themselves are also a new shape. They are larger and take up more space in your ear. If you were a fan of how small the previous model was, you may be surprised by the increase in size with the XM6. Despite it being larger, the XM6 still fits rather snugly in the ear and is comfortable for longer listening sessions. It is lightweight and perfectly shaped, so you can wear them in any environment without fear of them slipping out. With an IPX4 rating, these are also ideal for sports and active wear.

The XM6 comes in two different colors, black and silver, just as the previous model did. The colors are more matte and softer, so they don't stand out too much. With the different-sized eartips, it is easy to get a comfortable fit that has great passive isolation along with the active noise cancellation. If the foam eartips prove to be too stiff or not very comfortable for your personal taste, fear not: you can easily find XM6-compatible third-party eartips from brands like Azla, Strauss & Wagner, and Spinfit.

The main attraction of Sony headphones and earbuds is the many features they come with. The WF-XM6 is no different. These earbuds come with a host of capabilities that make them a stellar choice for people wanting maximum customization opportunities. When you connect to the Sony Sound Connect app, you have all the control at your fingertips to really adjust the sound to your liking. The personalized EQ is a feature everyone likes, especially with the preset filters for quick changes depending on what kind of music you prefer to listen to. You can also make the filters yourself and save them for later use. 

The active noise cancellation (ANC) is a feature that will definitely attract attention. Sony famously has very strong noise cancellation in their headphones, so people are wondering: Does the WF-XM6 live up to that standard? The short answer: yes. The Sony WF-1000XM6 has some truly stellar noise cancellation that will have you immersed in your listening with ease.  This is all thanks to the 8 adaptive microphones on each side, totally 16 microphones to pick up and cancel out the sound around you. You have the option to let this sound pass through in the Ambient mode, or just turn it off altogether. 

Another feature that was introduced in the over-ear WH-1000XM6 is the Listening Modes. Sony allows you to focus on your work or your music with the option of Standard listening or Background Music Mode. In this mode, your music gets special filters put onto it so it sounds like your music is farther back and in a different environment. The sound takes a step back and becomes much more spacious, which will allow you to focus on your work or activity as opposed to music listening. For people who prefer that laid-back sound, this mode is very effective and will do exactly what you expect it to. You can make it as if you are listening to the XM6 in your living room, coffee shop, or bedroom. 

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

When I first put on the Sony XM6 earbuds, my first thought was how smooth the sound was. I knew from the moment I put them on that I would want to listen to these for hours. The sound was immediately immersive thanks to the strong noise cancelling, and I was put right in the center of all my favorite tracks. The soundstage felt very wide with enough horizontal space for instruments to be placed, and the vertical height also gave nice dimension to the signature. I think the depth of the signature was also nice, allowing for other elements to stack nicely and not be as overwhelming in the front. 

The sound signature itself was very balanced, especially given how dynamic it is as well. There was enough drive and depth in the bass to be powerful, but the treble also had an equal brightness and airiness that stopped everything from becoming too heavy. The midrange was full of colorful detail that married the two sections together, which made the whole signature flow together and create a great foundation for any genre. I think the XM6 has great natural sound reproduction, though it leans more towards an entertaining listen than analytical. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

The bass in the XM6 was punchy and driving. Sony has always been one for delivering a powerful bass response, and the WF-XM6 is no exception. The low end is thick but still has punchy detail, so you aren't lost in a sea of muddiness in more bass-heavy tracks. The depth really comes out in this range, especially with the way the sub-bass extends to create a warm low end. Instruments get a grounding feeling, and even when the bass is boosted, it isn't reading as too much or overwhelming. I liked how mellow genres like R&B or smooth jazz had a low end that was equally as mellow, and high-energy pop or EDM tracks had a bass that was driving and matching energy. This versatility makes the XM6 a strong contender for every type of listener. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange was exceptionally detailed and had clarity that made everything stand out. The XM6 has excellent layering and a good sense of depth, and the midrange is where this stands out the most. Instruments sounded natural and not synthetic, and while the XM6 isn't really for analytical listening, at least you got an honest sound signature. You could hear all the individual textures and timbres of instruments with ease. With the depth from the soundstage, you could hear all the individual elements at their exact places, and there was room for everything to live without it sounding overcrowded in the stereo field. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

To round out the XM6 sound signature, we look at the treble. The treble is bright and gives you plenty of detail, which starts at the top end and runs throughout the frequency ranges. It is not abrasive or overly sharp, but instead brings precision. It would be easy to say that the sound signature of the XM6 is overwhelmed by bass, but the treble response makes sure that this isn't the case. The treble brings in just enough lightness and air to make sure the signature doesn't feel too heavy or overly swamped with a punchy bass. I really enjoyed how the XM6 felt uncompressed, and that's thanks to the treble having plenty of room on top to expand up and outward naturally. 

If you're a fan of Sony, you know they've almost mastered true wireless listening with their previous model. But with this new release, how does the XM6 compare to the already popular and well-known XM5? Or, more importantly, how does the new Sony stack up against its competitors? 

When we look at the XM6 versus the XM5, there are many similarities. People may mourn the loss of a small earbud if they choose to upgrade from the XM5 to the XM6, but the XM6 does have a very breathable feel to make it comfortable to wear. The Sony Sound Connect app still allows you to listen with all the same EQ settings that you could from one model to the next, but the XM6 has a refined response to put it a step above. You can see how the quality improves on busier tracks where more and more instruments fight to be heard, and the XM6 handles it all with ease to give each element their individual space. 

Against other brands, the Sony excels in its class. The XM6 is great for smooth sound that truly cancels out everything around it. You can see this kind of smooth sound in the MOMENTUM 4 by Sennheiser, or the Noble Amadeus. The Noble Amadeus is a heavier earphone, so the Sony XM6 beats it out by having a more lightweight build. It has features to match that of Sennheiser, and with a stronger emphasis on noise cancellation, the XM6 truly takes a step above. 

At the end of the day, the Sony WF-1000XM6 is a fantastic new true wireless earphone. The noise cancellation continues to impress, and Sony doesn't hold back when it comes to customizable features. The XM6's sound signature is a great foundation for all types of music, and it has room to be truly tailored to you. While the bigger size may scare some away, the fit is actually quite comfortable and will be good for long listening sessions. The lightness is good for workouts and any on-the-go listening. Sony is great for making products to accompany you in your day to day life, and that's exactly what the WF-1000XM6 aims to do. 

You can get the Sony WF-1000XM6 at Audio46.