Transcript
0:00 Today we're going to compare the performance of the Sony WHhX Mark 6 to the top wireless headphones from Apple, Bose, Sennheiser, BMW, Kimbridge Audio, and also Sony's previous flagship, the WH000X Mark 5. Now, stay tuned because at the end of this video, I'm going to tell you which one you should buy, the XM6 or any of these competitors. So, buckle up. links in the pinned comment if you want to check the latest prices on Amazon. Now, I've got more XM6 videos coming, including my personal custom EQ settings. So, if you don't want to miss that, get subscribed. Now, before we get to the mic quality test, I want to talk a little about how different the XM6 is compared to the XM5. It's got a new noise cancelling processor, the QN3, 12 microphones, including two of those directly on the driver component. Very unorthodox. We're going to see in a moment if this does indeed improve noise cancelling, transparency, and mic pickup performance. We also see a whole bunch of new features like the background music and cinema modes, which are basically different versions of spatial audio. Now personally I don't really use cinema mode a lot even for watching videos but I do use background music mode a lot for working and I can tell you try combining that with lowfi hip hop lethal combination. We've also got new EQ presets which includes a game preset designed by Sony's Inzone team. a 10 band graphic EQ with four of those bands dedicated to tweaking the bass instead of the clear bass dial that we saw in the XM 5, the XM 4, and the XM 3.
1:52 And it's also got a new auto transparency mode. More about that later. It also has a voice control, and it's a pretty cool feature. The wake word is hey headphones, and there are a list of commands that you can use to operate these headphones hands-free. And now you also get the ability to turn off the microphone during phone calls. You can do that by double pressing the ambient button. However, the most anticipated change is to the hinge system. It's now foldable just like how the XM4 was, and there is a metal component in the middle which should improve tolerance. There's also a spring-loaded joint on the ear cup compared to the flippy flappy one of the XM5, which angles the ear cups to tighten the seal around the ears. As a result, the fit is a little tighter compared to the XM5, but not to the point of being uncomfortable because the XM6 cushions are quite plush and the headband is a little wider than the XM5, so there's better weight distribution.
2:57 My theory is that this spring-loaded system also serves to take some pressure away from the folding hench, which could mean better durability for the long term since it can fold now like so. The XM6 case is also smaller than the XM5 and it now has a magnetic clasp. So, closing the case is a simple shut and click. Now, I like this format better than the traditional zip cases, and it does seem secure enough that the lid is not likely to fly open if you happen to accidentally drop the case. In terms of mic pickup, the XM6 is a slight improvement over the XM 5. Well, the XM 5 could react to background noise and cancel it totally, but you could still hear a slight hint of background noise.
3:48 Whereas on the XM6, there's not even a hit of background noise. It's total silence all the way. My voice is also amplified fuller and louder compared to before on the XM5. Although the noise gating still cuts a little too deep into my voice. Compared to the rest, the XM6 and the XM 5 have the best mic pickup. Although the AirPods Max and the BMW PX7S3 comes very close. This was tested under both quiet and noisy conditions using really loud cafe noise and wind noise from this fan. I'm now making a phone call in a quiet place using the Sony WHXM6.
4:39 I'm now making a phone call in a quiet place using the Sony WHXM5. I'm now making a phone call in a quiet place using the BMW PX7 S3. I'm now making a phone call in a quiet place using the Cambridge Audio Melominia P100. I'm now making a phone call in a quiet place using the AirPods Max. I'm now making a phone call in a quiet place using the Bose Quad Comfort Ultra headphones. I'm now making a phone call in a quiet place using the Sennheiser Momentum 4. I'm now making a phone call using Sony WH76. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
5:36 I'm now making a phone call in a noisy place. I'm now making a phone call in a noisy place using the BMW PX7 S3. I'm not making a phone call in a noisy place using the Cambridge Audio Mumia P1. I'm not making a phone call in a noisy place using the AirPods Max. I've now made a phone call in a noisy place using the Bose QC Ultra. I've made a phone call in a noisy place using the Sennheiser Momentum 4. The quick. Now, in terms of active noise cancelling, the WH000X Mark 6 is the best in this group. The QN3 chip and those extra microphones are really making a difference here. As you can see from this measurement, compared to the XM5, it cancels more noise in the upper bass and mids and is more effective at cutting the treble region, which muffles even further sudden high-pitched noises, possibly due to the tighter fit around the ears, passively blocking those frequencies. Now, in that area, other headphones, with the exception of the PX7S3, don't even come close. But depending on the algorithm, the Bose QC Ultra and the AirPods Max are able to adapt and almost match the XM6 in terms of noise cancelling, although they still won't attenuate the high frequencies as much. Listen to the samples.
8:31 Now, if you want to compare its active noise cancelling and call quality to other products, For just $1 per month or more, you can access my secret weapon, my personal database, which lets you compare the samples A to B directly. Hundreds of people have joined up because this saves you so much time being able to just cut through all the marketing and compare the products yourself without visiting a store. Most stores don't even let you try the products due to hygiene reasons. So join now on YouTube or Patreon through the links below. Its transparency mode is also quite good. Look over here. Its ambient pass through follows the base noise level very closely up to the 2.5 kHz mark which makes it more useful than the XM5 for quick awareness and verbal exchanges. in transparency mode. Those can sound very close to not wearing headphones at all. The XM6 new auto ambient mode is also interesting. At first, I couldn't tell if it's switched on or not because it sounds like noise cancelling is on, but then it reacts to noises around me and transitions into full transparency mode without even needing to hit the ambient button. It's not something I really use because I do prefer to have control and who knows what the hit on his battery life is, but it is a cool hands-free feature nonetheless. In terms of sound quality on its default settings in many ways, the XM6 is similar to the XM5. It's bassy, has good spaciousness in the sound stage, quite forward sounding and detailed, but it has the same bloat in the lower mids and darkness in the treble that the XM5 had. Without tweaking, it could sound a little dull to folks who are more used to crisp and vibrant sounding headphones like the AirPods Max, the PX7S3, and even the Bose QC Ultra. Listen to the samples and after that I will go into more detail about how they sound compared to each competitor.
11:49 Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.
12:31 To compare the sound quality to other earbuds, go to loudwireless.com/soundsamples. Now, to add more vibrance and excitement to the XM6 sound, I chose the hard preset, which enhances the lower bass, cuts the upper bass a little to eat up some of that bloat and a little boost to the treble region. Aside from the find my equalizer feature, which often you have to tweak further manually, this is the easiest way to do it. just choose the hard preset. Or you could also do it manually if you know what those numbers mean. And as for me, I will be coming up with my own personal custom EQ preset.
13:13 So get subscribed if you don't want to miss that. Now, we're going to compare the XM6 individually to the others. So, should you buy the WZ XM6 or the XM5? Now, although they're very similar in terms of sound quality with deep A2B testing, the XM6 bass is a little heavier. Mids have a bit more focus and presence, so it sounds a bit more engaging than the XM5. And its upper mids sound more pronounced, so instruments and female vocals have more bite compared to the XM5. It's definitely an improvement, although not by much. As you can see in this frequency sweep, they've got a rather similar tuning overall. But that aside, even if the XM5 is going on a discount, just get the new version. It's not just that there's more features and more control over its sound quality. They've made the XM6 more like what people wanted the XM5 to have, which is a foldable design with a smaller case, hinges that have more tolerance.
14:21 Although it hasn't happened to me personally. I mean, we've seen pictures on Reddit and X of the XM5 breaking in this same spot. It seems to me that this new hinge system is meant to address that, adding to that even better noise cancelling and mic pickup. And what you've got is a more compelling product than the XM5. Now, comparing the WH000XM6 to the Bose QC Ultra, the XM6 sounds more engaging. It's got more gain, more body, and more presence in the mids and vocals. It is also about 5% louder than the Bose. Now, on the other hand, the Bose sounds a bit more laidback, but also sounds crisper with an area sound stage. Its bass, although not as heavy as the XM6, does sound tighter and more punchy. Now, if you ask me to pick them based on sound quality, it's a very tough fight, but based on features and performance, I choose the XM6. Its sound quality is more customizable than the Bose. Its noise cancelling is a little better, and it can be turned off unlike the Bose. Its mic pickup in noisy conditions is better. And for audio files, it uses a far more common high-res codec, LDAC, whereas the Bose being Snapdragon Sound certified only supports APX adaptive and regular APX. However, the Bose does have head tracking as part of its spatial audio upmix that works on any device and any content, whereas the Sony's head tracking only works with 360 reality audio content on certain devices. As for which one is more comfortable to wear for long haul flights, both clamp about as tightly, so they're quite comparable in terms of comfort. Overall, I do feel that the XM6 is a bit more compelling, but the QC Ultra does have its advantages. Compared to the Sennheiser Momentum 4, the WH000X Mark 6 has more vibrance in vocals and instruments, a heavier sound overall. On the other hand, the M4's vocals sound quite laidback and thin. The XM6 is also about 10% louder than the Sennheisers at 50% volume. Now, that being said, the reason you might prefer the Sennheiser is that its soundstaging is more open, and its bass is cleaner, less bloy, and more precise than the XM6 bass. Now, as for which one is a better purchase, I'm going to say pick the XM6 if you want better noise cancelling, transparency, and a mic pickup. The XM6 is also more featurerich, but I understand that not many people will use all of those extra features anyway. Nonetheless, in terms of allound performance, the XM6 is a stronger choice. Now, that being said, the Momentum 4 is pretty great value.
17:33 It's not new, so you can often catch them on promo. They also support 16bit 48 kHz audio over USB type-C. And what I really like about the M4 is that they're very tunable. So, it's pretty easy to tweak them to sound better as per individual preference. Comparing to the AirPods Max, the WH000X Mark 6 has a heavier sound with more body and bass, more presence and impact, which some people may prefer. It's also fully supported on iOS and Android, so it doesn't matter which ecosystem you're on, you can have full access to its settings and features. Well, except for high- res codec support that is only available on Android devices. It's also lighter and more comfortable for long periods of wearing. And in terms of portability, it's also easier to pack this away in your bag because it folds into a smaller package and has a fully enclosed hard carrying case. The AirPods Max, on the other hand, has cleaner track separation and has more emphasis on crispness, clarity, and aireriness, which compared side by side can make the XM6 seem dark and dull. Its transparency mode is also far cleaner than the XM6.
18:56 Almost like not wearing headphones at all. It's that impressive. And if you're on Apple's ecosystem, the AirPods Max works like a dream because you can seamlessly switch and transition between devices without going through any pairing process. You can also share audio with other AirPods users. And even if it doesn't support high- res wireless streaming, it does support wired 24-bit 48 kHz audio over USB type-C. So, after considering all of these factors, yes, the XM6 seems like better value to me in terms of features and performance, but the AirPods Max has its own special appeal. Comparing the WHX Mark 6 to the PX7S3, there really is no competition in terms of sound. The PX7S3 sounds more hi-fi, period. The XM6 is simply not as resolving in terms of detail retrieval, and vocals sound blunt compared to the crispness, focus, clarity, and clean track separation of the PX7S3. Such that if you were to compare them side by side, the XM6 actually sounds bloated.
20:09 Even in terms of bass performance, the PX7S3 delivers more bass accuracy and depth by default. So, I much prefer the way the PX7S3 sounds. Its build quality also feels more premium. They support 34bit 96 kHz audio over USB type-C. And what I love also about the PX7S3 is its multi-point pairing. It's super seamless. Don't even have to press pause on one device first to play on the other. Just press play right away and the second device takes over instantly.
20:49 Easy. With the XM6, you'll have to pause first on device A before you can play on device B. And even so, there is a bit of delay before the audio starts playing on the second device. Not as seamless. Butter controls is another reason to get the BMW because it can be operated even if you're wearing gloves. So, the BMW, all things considered, is very compelling. But in terms of value toerformance ratio, the XM6 is the stronger choice. At a lower price, you're getting better noise cancelling, more features, and more custom options.
21:31 Whereas the BMW's app, by comparison, is very bare bones considering its high price point. It's also more comfortable to wear than the BMW for long sessions because the BMW clamps harder and the ear cups are not as roomy. Comparing the WHX Mark 6 to the Melomania P100, the XM6 doesn't sound as hi-fi because it doesn't resolve details as well. separation is not as clean and it sounds more bloated compared to the P100. The P100 definitely has more focus and clarity in the mids, but where it really shines over the XM6 and all the others in this comparison is soundstaging.
22:17 Soundstaging simply more layered and more realistic on the P100. Now, how the XM6 is better though is in terms of bass. It's heavier, fuller, punchier, which makes them far better for bass heads than the P100. They're also about 10% louder than the P100 in case you prefer more muscle behind the drivers. Now, sound quality aside, there are many reasons to choose the XM6. Whether it be in terms of noise cancelling, mic quality, transparency, their affordable design, which makes them more portable, whether it be their feature set and custom options, the XM6 is a stronger choice compared to the P100. Whereas, the main reason why you should buy the P100 is its sound quality. I definitely enjoy listening to the P100 more than almost every other headphone in this comparison. Only the PX7S3 comes close. Aside from that, audio files may also prefer the P100 because they support 24bit 96 kHz audio over USB type-C. That's how the XM6 compares to the rest. Now, I want to hear your thoughts. Let me know in the comments why you should or shouldn't buy the WHX Mark 6. Now, if you want to check the latest prices on Amazon, links in the pin comment. Shopee buyers from Singapore also get a 30% off voucher through the product tags below. And if you found this video helpful, get subscribed and tap the bell button for more videos like this one. Also click here for more XM6 related content.