Sony - WH-1000XM6

I have the Sony XM6, I am happy with it, I had a couple of Boses in the past. I think I would have bought the HDB 630 instead of the Sony if I was about to buy a new one today, but since i travel a lot I really need good ANC for long flights. I also have a Sundara which is alright. I think I am still looking for that pair of headsets that become my end game so I focus more on the music and less in the endless rabbit hole this hobby is :D

5 improved the ANC and call quality though. 6 seem to be a little more durable than 5,so let's hope the next iteration will be the big Sony's comeback.

Ur getting some wild answers from ppl who know a lot more than me; I have Bose QC45s and I love them. I’ve tried Sony XM6s and they’re also great.

Nah i tried both and the xm6 actually stays in place but it doesn’t put pressure to where it’s uncomfortable. Maybe i just have a big head but the xm4 kept slowly sliding off my head.

The XM5s suck. They were markedly worse than the XM4s and the XM6s blow them out of the water

NC700 are pretty light headphones (around 254 grams) so this surprises me a bit. The XM6 weight about the same, the QC a bit less and the really good ones I have (Bathys/Px8) and the Px7s3 a lot more. Would look at the XM6 which has a phenomenal microphone and ANC solid (if a bit bass forward) sound (EQ helps) and pretty comfortable although I don't like the shallow earpads. The Bose QC Ultra and QC are also right around the XM6 and NC700 in weight but may feel more comfortable for you as they don't use the same headband.

I have three of these and will give my opinions. Best for music is clearly the Focal Bathys with the onboard DAC. This rivals my DCA Noire and LCD-3 headphones for separation and clarity. Not as detailed as the LCD-3 but still clearly the best sound profile of the three. The ANC is the worst of the 3 especially for low dB noises. Microphone also worst of the 3. Comfort is ok but not phenomenal. Most comfortable with the best ANC for me is the Bose QC Ultra with the Sony right behind. Bose and Sony both need EQ and I don't see much of a difference between them for that. Sony has more bells and whistles with the APP with a better environment for adaptive sound control if that is of interest to you. And out of the box Sony sound better but for me still needs a lot of EQ to even out the low and high frequencies. Also I'm not a huge fan of the lack of deep cups for the WH1000X6 but that is just my preference for comfort. But agree just test all three by going to big box store or ordering and returning them. I also agree that the #2 for sound is the Sennheiser Momentum 4 which is the best deal of the four.

To be clear no "wired" headphone has ANC capabilities but almost all bluetooth headphones have wired abilities. Your pick for best in show ANC should come down to XM6 (stay away from the hinge issue with the XM5 unless you get the three year warranty), or the Bose QC Ultra. Step in price would be the Airpod MAX. And I think that studies have shown that for blocking out upper range noise (like crying) the XM6 is the best headphone although the differences are quite modest between it the Bose and the Apple.

ANC titans are clearly Bose and Sony. QC Ultra II and the XM6 are the best you can get for ANC headphones in 2025 if ANC is the key part to the purchase.

Try these and find the one that works for your use case (and ears). You won’t go far wrong with any at this price point. Wireless: Sony WH-1000 XM6 - arguably best all rounder. Supports LDAC on android, so hi-res music! Can be used wired. Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra (Gen 2) - anc king. Lots of great reviews. Comfortable for long haul. Sennheiser Momentum 4 - Good sound, 60 hr battery life, but I’ve seen some negative build quality stories. Bowers & Wilkins Px7s3: Solid build, great sound. High quality. Wired: Assuming closed back rather than open without anc. Meze 99 classics - beautiful build quality. Check design. Warm sound. Focal Azurys - Punchy. Have a look at design to see if it works for you. Solid sound quality. Sony MDR-M1 - comfy for long periods. Personal note: The Bowers & Wilkins are the most elegantly designed and arguably have the best sound quality. The Sony have the best anc and support hi-res, with Bose very closely behind. Take these 3 as strong options and head to a shop for a listen. Happy listening!

Sony XM6 are the best headphones out there and are made for long wear time. I have the XM5’s which are excellent. However, when I want true hearing protection, I go to my 3M Worktunes.

I sold mine recently for 200 USD and then bought the XM6 for three hundred-ish. It was worth it because I got newer technology for almost the same as you, but if it wasn't for that, I would never give up on my XM4s. They are awesome. You won't regret it!

Have you tried different ear tips to find something more comfortable? A lot of folks prefer the memory foam tips you can get vs silicone as they can be more comfortable/less irritating/stay in your ears better. I can’t justify the size over ears take up in my bag now that anc has gotten as good as it is on earbuds. AirPod pros are the only ones I’ll bring now on a flight. I used to bring Sony xm3 overears. The xm3/4 fold up pretty well and I don’t see anything else taking up much less space (I believe the xm5 went backwards in design from a foldability/compactness standpoint, but the latest xm6 remedied that). I don’t think the xm6 price is justifiable over the 4s for instance as these are still just consumer grade/mediocre sounding headphones (just like all Bluetooth stuff for the most part outside of a few like the Focal Bathys). My go to these days from a cost vs sound quality perspective is a pair of refurb sennheiser momentum 4, but the anc isn’t nearly on par with Sony/bose/Apple stuff, and they aren’t the most compact