Sony’s WH-1000XM6 vs WH-1000XM5: Is It Worth the Upgrade?

Sony has long been a dominant force in the world of premium wireless noise-canceling headphones, and with the release of the Sony WH-1000XM6, many fans of the popular WH-1000XM5 are wondering whether it’s worth making the switch. In this in-depth review, we compare the Sony WH-1000XM6 vs WH-1000XM5 to help you decide which pair of headphones is best suited for your needs in 2025. From noise-canceling performance and soundstage expansion to comfort, build quality, and Bluetooth enhancements, we cover every angle. If you’re debating between the outgoing favorite and the latest flagship model, read on to find out which one deserves your next upgrade.

What You Get

Look & Feel

The XM5 and XM6 share a similar construction, but the XM6 makes some significant upgrades to the overall build quality of the 1000x series. If you prefer a lighter headphone, you might still prefer the XM5 over the XM6, but in terms of construction, the XM6 seems more put together. They have a much tighter fit and won’t wobble around as much as the XM5 does. The XM6 is more refined and comfortable in almost every way.

Design & Functionality

Not only is the best noise-canceling on the market even better with the XM6, but the sound is much louder than the XM5. It uses a better chip with the QN3, but the XM6’s driver just outputs more volume than the XM5, which is great for people who think their wireless headphones don’t get loud enough. One of the biggest upgrades for me is the XM6’s touch gestures. Activating Talk-Thru and sliding your finger up and down to increase and decrease volume is much more responsive on the XM6 compared to the XM5. The XM6 has other advantages for controls, like its inclusion of a wear sensor.

Bluetooth

The XM6 is a version up from the XM5, using Bluetooth version 5.3. It will have better range and stronger stability, but it’s not the biggest upgrade. Both headphones still offer quality wireless enjoyment through multipoint and LDAC capabilities.

Battery Life

One area where the XM6 doesn’t make any significant improvements from the XM5 is its battery life. Both headphones can be enjoyed for around 30 hours, depending on factors like ANC and spatial audio. For the XM5, which should be heavily discounted with the release of the XM6, this is fairly average. However, for the increased price of the XM6, this battery life is a bit disappointing considering the competition.

Soundstage

With each new Sony 1000x model, the stereo imaging has been getting marginally better. It’s like every new edition of these headphones, the sound escapes from the middle more and more. The XM6 displays the widest soundstage with the tallest individual sounds compared to the XM5. Both headphones have spatial audio, but the XM6 is the only option to have that feature available for all audio. Almost everything about the XM6’s soundstage feels like an upgrade to the XM5, from its expanded height to its utilization of 360 Reality Audio.

Low End

The 1000x headphones are known for their prominent bass performance. Between the XM5 and XM6, I was actually surprised by the slight change in tone. If you’re looking for the most bass possible, no matter the clarity, the XM5 offers more. Although both headphones are slightly muffled in their timbre, the XM5 makes up for it with a thunderous response. While the XM6 matches the usual thickness of the 1000x series bass tuning, it’s also surprisingly reserved compared to the XM5. Using EQ gets you close, but it never quite matches the same ferociousness that the XM5 is capable of.

Mids

Neither the XM5 nor the XM6 is going to have the most elegant midrange clarity. From the benefit of being more open, the XM6 has a tighter frequency response. You get more identifiable instruments even with a persistent haze putting a veil over the tone. This cloudiness is more prominent on the XM5, even with EQ. If you EQ the XM6, you’ll get better note clarity and more physical shape within its sound signature.

Highs

Both the XM5 and XM6 are relatively inoffensive when it comes to the highs. They add height and detail to the sound signature without extending into bright territory. I usually like to boost the highs on these headphones, and the XM6 gave me better results than the XM5. With the XM6, I got crisper frequencies with more shimmery properties.

Summary

When it comes to the Sony WH-1000XM6 vs WH-1000XM5, the XM6 clearly brings meaningful upgrades in build quality, soundstage, and overall control responsiveness. Features like improved touch gestures, better stereo imaging, and support for 360 Reality Audio across all content make the WH-1000XM6 a refined successor. However, if you crave the most powerful low-end or are looking for a great deal, the WH-1000XM5 still holds its ground, especially as its price drops. Ultimately, if top-tier noise cancellation, a wider soundstage, and modern Bluetooth performance are priorities, the WH-1000XM6 is well worth the investment. But for budget-conscious audiophiles who love deep bass and proven performance, the XM5 remains a stellar choice in 2025.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 and WH-1000XM5 are available at Audio46.