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It’s been almost three years since Sony dropped a new pair of flagship earbuds, and now the Sony WF-1000XM6 are finally here. And honestly? They were worth the wait.

Quick disclaimer: I’m not an audiophile or sound engineer. I’m just a New Yorker who listens to music or some form of audio for about 50% of my waking hours. Whether I’m commuting, editing videos, walking through the city, or just zoning out, I’ve got something playing.

I’ve used the XM6s for about three weeks straight, on trains, at my desk, on long walks and I can confidently say they’re some of the best earbuds I’ve used.

Noise canceling: Surviving the NYC subway

If earbuds can’t handle noise canceling, they’re already losing in New York.

Anyone who rides the Metropolitan Transportation Authority subway (MTA) knows it’s loud. According to the Hearing Health Foundation, average subway platform noise levels range between 72–76 dB, with maximum readings hitting as high as 119–120 dB. That’s not just loud, that’s borderline dangerous.

So I put the XM6s through the ultimate test: rush hour on the subway.

Powered by Sony’s new HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3e and Adaptive Noise Canceling Optimizer, the XM6s actively adjust to your environment in real time. You can actually hear them shift when you move from a quiet street into a roaring station platform.

Once they lock in? The outside world practically disappears.

It’s a noticeable step up, Sony claims a 25% reduction in noise compared to the previous model, and I believe it. The screeching rails, the conversations, the “stand clear of the closing doors” announcements, all muted.

Pro tip: try all four included ear tips. A proper seal makes a huge difference. I was surprisingly an XS.

Call quality

If you take calls in the city, you already know the struggle.

With other earbuds, I’ve had people tell me they can’t hear me clearly, especially outside with traffic flying by. With the XM6s, that hasn’t been an issue. Sony says this is their best call quality yet, thanks to a bone conduction sensor, dual mics with AI beamforming, and AI noise reduction.

All I know is: I can take calls on a busy street and people hear me clearly. That’s a win.

Design & fit: Different, but comfortable

The XM6s keep Sony’s pebble-style shape instead of the typical stem design most brands use. They’re slimmer than the previous generation and follow the natural curve of the inner ear for a more ergonomic fit.

At first, they take some getting used to.

When you adjust stem-style earbuds, you grab the stem. These don’t have one — so you grab the body. The issue? They use touch controls. So sometimes when you adjust them, you accidentally pause music or toggle noise canceling on/off.

It’s a learning curve. But after a few days, it becomes muscle memory.

Comfort-wise, I’ve worn them for long editing sessions, traveling around the city, without fatigue.

Sound quality: Built for R&B and hip-hop

Now the part I really care about. I listen to R&B and hip-hop heavy. That means I’m paying attention to bass, vocal clarity and how full a mix feels.

Normally, to hear a song at its absolute best, you go to a studio. If you don’t have studio access, the next best thing is a car, it’s a tight, enclosed space where bass builds naturally and you’re close to the speakers.

So I wanted to see: Can these earbuds recreate that fullness?

The XM6s deliver rich detail and clarity without overdoing anything. The bass is present and controlled, not muddy, not overpowering. Kicks hit clean. 808s feel full. Vocals sit right where they should.

To really test them, I ran through J. Cole’s latest double-disc album, The Fall-Off. Some are already calling it his greatest work to date — and on these earbuds, it absolutely sounds like it.

What stood out most was the balance. The production never overpowers Cole’s voice. The beats blend in and sit exactly where they’re supposed to, letting his bars breathe. The soundscape feels surprisingly restrained, layered and detailed, but never crowded. That restraint is what makes the clarity shine.

The XM6s don’t overemphasize mids or bass just to impress you. Everything feels balanced out of the box. Sony worked with Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated engineers like Randy Merrill, Chris Gehringer, Mike Piacentini, and Michael Romanowski to fine-tune the sound and it shows. The tuning feels intentional, not gimmicky.

For hip-hop and R&B listeners who want full, balanced, clear sound without needing to tweak EQ settings immediately, these are easily among the best earbuds you can buy right now.

Connectivity & performance

Sony improved Bluetooth performance with an antenna that’s 1.5x larger than the previous model. In real-world terms? Fewer random cutouts, even in crowded areas like Midtown.

The look: Clean, but not flashy

I care about style. I’m from New York — how things look matters.

The XM6s have a clean, premium, minimalist aesthetic. They come in Platinum Silver and Black and retail for $329.99 USD.

But if I’m being honest? They’re not the most fashionable earbuds out there. They look sleek, but they don’t make a statement in your ear. They stand out but not in a way that adds to your outfit.

I wouldn’t mind a little more visual personality.

Final verdict

As a New Yorker who lives in headphones and runs mostly R&B and hip-hop through them, the Sony WF-1000XM6 check the boxes that matter most:

• Elite noise canceling (subway approved)

• Clear, reliable call quality

• Balanced, detailed sound with strong bass presence

• Comfortable for long wear

• Stable connectivity in crowded environments

They’re not the flashiest looking earbuds, but sonically and functionally, they’re top-tier.

If you care about blocking out the chaos of New York and hearing your music the way it was meant to sound, these are absolutely worth considering.