- Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones launch on Might 15
- Virtually all the particulars have already leaked
- Anticipate deliveries to start in June
Sony‘s subsequent flagship headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM6, will launch on Might 15. Sony Australia shared a teaser for the launch on its Instagram account with no particulars aside from the date and time: for Australians it is 2am on the Might 16.
As a result of Australia is many time zones forward that is a day later than all people else: for nations additional west, it is 9am PDT / 12pm ET / 5pm BST on Thursday Might 15. We’re anticipating delivery to start in June 2025.
Virtually all the particulars have already leaked bar one key element: worldwide pricing. We all know the worth for the Spanish market courtesy of an Amazon leak on its Spanish web site, however the particulars of US and UK costs have not been equally shared – though we are able to take a reasonably good guess as to what these costs will likely be.
Here is the teaser, adopted by six issues to count on from subsequent week’s WH-1000XM6 launch occasion.
6 issues to count on from the Sony WH-1000XM6 (primarily based on rumors)
1. A small value hike
The Amazon leak included a value for Spanish patrons of €470 together with tax; with out tax that works out as €439.
That is roughly $499 / £439 / AU$770, which sounds about proper: rumors steered we would see a value hike for Sony’s 2025 mannequin. The present mannequin launched at $399 / £380 / AU$649.
2. The hinge is again! Again! BACK!
Newly leaked imagery on The Walkman Blog reveals the redesign, which incorporates redesigned earcups, a thick and foldable hinge and a wider headband.
That is good, as a result of one of many key criticisms of the present mannequin is what some customers have discovered to be a reasonably flimsy development.
3. Even higher noise cancelling
The leaked specification on Amazon highlighted a brand new HD noise cancelling processor, dubbed QN3. The QN3 is reportedly seven occasions quicker than the QN1 that is within the present WH-1000XM5.
That is accompanied by 12 microphones, Multi Noise Sensor expertise and an computerized noise cancelling optimizer; collectively that ought to imply an enchancment to Sony’s already wonderful noise cancellation.
4. Improved audio processing
The Built-in Processor V1 within the XM5s included the QN1 processor, so an up to date model of that processor ought to imply higher sound too.
Sony’s leaked advertising and marketing supplies say that the WH-1000XM6 have hi-res audio, DSEE Excessive, LDAC, Adaptive Sound Management, Customized Spatial Audio and 360 Actuality Audio with head monitoring.
5. Small, inflexible drivers
One of many surprises within the XM5 was that Sony moved to smaller drivers than those within the XM4, dropping the dimensions by 25% to 30mm. The drivers this time round are 30mm too.
As we mentioned in our Sony WH-1000XM5 review, smaller doesn’t suggest worse: the 30mm driver “makes use of a excessive rigidity dome and smooth edge to take a number of the chew off of higher-pitched sounds.”
We discovered the XM5 to sound higher than the XM4 (though there’s not loads in it, so in case you see the XM4s going actually low cost, then go for it).
6. A greater case
The Walkman Weblog stories that the case has been redesigned: the zipper is gone, changed by a magnetic closure, and there is a small pocket to your 3.5mm and USB cables.
A number of XM5 homeowners have been posting on Reddit concerning the zip on their circumstances (above) failing, so this can be a response to that; hopefully the magnet is as robust because the one on Apple‘s odd AirPods Max case.
We are going to after all be following the launch occasion and we’ll replace you with all of the confirmed particulars and the worth in your space, too.
