WF-1000XM6

Headphones

Sound Quality

Sound quality, at its best

Tuned with mastering engineers, the acoustic design delivers natural balance and fine detail. From the lightest breath to deep resonance, every element sits in its place.

Four black-and-white photos of men facing the camera put side by side.

Sterling Sound

Coast Mastering

Battery Studios

Hear it as the artist intended

Developed in collaboration with mastering engineers, the WF-1000XM6 refines every note for studio-level accuracy and also delivers music in its best form. From deep bass to crisp highs, its tuning unlocks the full potential of every song—delivering the emotion, energy, and detail the artist intended.

Two men wearing glasses are sitting in a studio-like setting, pointing and looking at a laptop, with an additional screen in the background.

Three men are sitting in a studio-like setting, looking at laptops. In the foreground there are processors and a pair of earbuds and in the background there is a turntable and other audio equipment.

Three men are sitting at a desk looking at a laptop with processors and a pair of earbuds in front of them. One man is wearing earbuds, while another points at the screen.

Two younger men and an older man are sitting in a studio-like setting behind a mixer, looking at a laptop. In the background there are speakers on the wall.

Two Sony earbud cases are in focus on a table, with audio equipment in the background. The black case is closed and the earbuds are on the table, while the white case is open to reveal the earbuds.

A white earbud case and earbuds are on a table next to a pair of white headphones. In the background there are two mixers.

A middle-aged man wearing glasses and a blue shirt is sitting in a studio-like setting, holding a Grammy Award and surrounded by seven others.

Delivering the artist’s intent unchanged

The sound the artist approves should reach the listener unchanged—that’s what a consumer product must ensure. You should hear detail at low volumes and never feel fatigued at high volumes. Smooth, non-irritating sound is essential. The WF-1000XM6 earbuds are really easy to listen to. I find that I can listen to the same songs multiple times without getting bored or tired. Sony truly considers both consumer and professional needs—and designs products that meet both.

A middle-aged, bald man in casual clothes is sitting in a studio-like setting. There are two sets of Sony earbuds on a table next to him, in black and white.

The power of co-creation with 4 mastering engineers

Sony’s collaboration with 4 mastering engineers represents a groundbreaking approach to translating true studio sound into earbuds. By working inside the engineers’ own studios, Sony captures exactly what we hear and feel, bringing those nuances directly into product development. To honour the months of creativity poured into every song, the WF-1000XM6 earbuds deliver a “felt” and emotionally resonant sound that comes remarkably close to the studio experience—so that all the passion artists pour into their music can now be experienced anywhere.

A man in a denim shirt and white T-shirt is sat at a mixing table in a studio with his fingers interlocked in front of him.

Studio-level sound in a small form

The WF-1000XM6 delivers sound astonishingly close to studio-quality, all within a remarkably compact package. I’m always checking whether the emotional impact I feel in the studio is preserved when listening through headphones. Often it’s the 1dB adjustments that make the biggest difference. Micro-EQ tweaks, not major redesigns, are what truly refine the final sound. Our feedback in the US gets woven into the design in Tokyo and returns as the next prototype. Seeing that evolution is incredibly rewarding.

A man in a black shirt is sitting on a chair in a studio-like setting, holding a pair of white earbuds in their case. There is a speaker on the wall behind him and a sign that says "coast mastering".

Beyond technology, into the music

The ideal sound is one that is easy to listen to and completely natural. The most fulfilling listening experience is when the equipment disappears, and you can simply immerse yourself in the music itself. Great headphones allow the art—not the technology—to take centre stage. Success is when the listener forgets the device and is naturally guided straight into the music.

Engineered for superior sound

A refined original driver* brings lifelike depth to your music. Smooth, full-bodied lows blend seamlessly with clear highs for an authentic, high-resolution sound.

A diagram of a small circular earbud part. There is a brown central ring with curved yellow lines. In its centre there is another transparent disk, and outside of it there is a black ring that comes to a triangular point on one side.

Clarity, elevated

Powered by the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3e, with an improved DAC and amplifier, to delivers cleaner, richer sound that reveals every nuance. It’s audio that feels true to the moment.

A black rectangle with "Sony HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3e" written inside.

Logos of Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless

Enjoy High-Resolution Audio without wires

The WF-1000XM6 supports High-Resolution Audio Wireless thanks to LDAC, our industry-adopted audio coding technology. LDAC transmits approximately three times more data⁰ than conventional Bluetooth® audio for exceptional High-Resolution Audio quality.¹

Learn more about LDAC (English only)

Real-time restoration of all your compressed files

Using Edge-AI (Artificial Intelligence), DSEE Extreme™ upscales compressed digital music files in real time. Dynamically recognising instrumentation, musical genres and individual elements of each song, it restores high range sound lost in compression.⁰

Fine-tune your entertainment experience

With the Sony | Sound Connect app it's easy to personalise your sound. Compare settings, tweak the details, and find the perfect balance for every song, scene, and game session.

Settings interface of the Sony | Sound Connect app for WF-1000XM6 headphones

A new sound experience for AR gaming

If you’re looking for new entertainment options beyond music and movies, the WF-1000XM6 uses new sensors and spatial sound technology to deliver immersive sound for Augmented Reality games like “Ingress" from Niantic Spatial.⁰

When playing "Ingress" with the WF-1000XM6, sensor and spatial sound technologies deliver a new experience: using head tracking, the sound is conveyed from different directions to line up perfectly with the action on the screen.

Head tracking function

Head tracking ensures a realistic and compelling listening experience by automatically adjusting sound fields to compensate for your head movement. Sounds are precisely aligned with your earbuds, even as you move, to completely involve you in your listening, when paired with compatible devices and services.⁰

A digital illustration showing a mannequin wearing conventional headphones. Sound moves with the head.

Conventional use

With conventional earbuds, when your head moves, the sound moves with the earbuds. This disconnects the sound from its position in space, impairing the 3D effect and presence.

With head-tracking capability

With head tracking, when you move your head, the sound field retains its original position in 3D space, for a realistic viewing and listening experience.

Experience head tracking for yourself

Experience the immersive power of head tracking for yourself with this simulation. Pop on some headphones and watch the video to learn more and hear how head tracking makes your listening more realistic.

A digital spherical soundscape surrounds a person, featuring floating images of musicians playing instruments, symbolising an immersive audio environment.

Certified earbuds for a personalised experience

With 360 Reality Audio Certified earbuds and our Sony | Sound Connect app you can optimise your experience by analysing your individual ear shapes, and enjoy the ultimate immersive music experience.

An advanced personal optimisation algorithm gives an even greater sense of sound space, distance and height, allowing you to become even more immersed in the music.⁰¹