Sony India has introduced the WH-1000XM6, the latest entry in its flagship 1000X headphone lineup, marking what the company describes as its most significant upgrade yet in noise-cancelling performance and adaptive sound intelligence. The launch strengthens Sony’s position in the premium audio segment in India, where demand for high-end wireless headphones continues to grow among commuters, travellers, gamers and remote workers.
The WH-1000XM6 adds a new processor, redesigned microphone architecture and more advanced tuning algorithms that together deliver what Sony says is its “most advanced noise cancelling yet.” The headphones build on the WH-1000XM5 but incorporate a faster HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3, now seven times quicker than its predecessor. The chip calibrates inputs from 12 microphones—50% more than the previous model—in real time, allowing the system to track ambient sound changes more precisely across different environments.
Sony says the new Adaptive NC Optimiser further boosts accuracy by factoring in variations in external noise and air pressure, enabling the headphones to adjust continuously whether users are in transit, working in shared spaces or outdoors. Auto Ambient Sound mode has also been upgraded to respond more quickly to real-world situations, letting in announcements or conversations while maintaining overall sound balance. Users can manually refine these parameters through the Sony | Sound Connect app.
The company is positioning the audio capabilities as another major step forward. Sony collaborated with mastering engineers from three well-known studios—Sterling Sound, Battery Studios and Coast Mastering—to tune the WH-1000XM6 for what it describes as “studio-level precision.” A newly developed driver unit uses a rigid carbon-fibre composite dome and revised voice-coil structure to enhance clarity across frequencies, and the updated digital-to-analog processing is designed to reduce quantization noise using an advanced look-ahead noise-shaping method inside the QN3 processor.
High-Resolution Audio and wireless Hi-Res playback are supported through LDAC, Sony’s proprietary codec. DSEE Extreme, powered by Edge-AI, upscales compressed files in real time to retrieve higher-range harmonics often lost to compression. For entertainment, the headphones offer 360 Reality Audio Upmix for Cinema, which applies Sony’s 360 spatial processing to standard stereo tracks to simulate a theatrical surround-sound environment.
Communication features receive notable upgrades as well. A six-microphone, AI-based beamforming system captures the user’s voice with greater precision while suppressing background noise. Sony says the system is built to maintain call clarity even in crowded or noisy settings. A physical mute button on the headset gives users immediate control during calls.
Sony has also revised the industrial design. The WH-1000XM6 keeps the familiar aesthetic of the 1000X line but introduces an updated headband using vegan leather, designed for a lighter and more uniform fit. New stretchable earpad material reduces pressure during long sessions. The folding mechanism has been re-engineered using metal injection molding to improve durability, and the compact carry case now includes a magnetic closure.
A range of new software-driven features aim to make the headphones more adaptive in everyday use. Scene-Based Listening uses sensing technology to automatically adjust sound profiles based on activity, location or noise level. The headset supports Quick Access to major music services such as Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube Music, enabling playback without unlocking a device. LE Audio compatibility allows for lower-latency performance, including Auracast broadcast reception, and multipoint connectivity lets users switch across devices without interruption.
The WH-1000XM6 supports listening while charging and offers rapid charging that provides up to three hours of playback from a three-minute charge.
Sony has made sustainability a notable focus in the packaging, which uses 100% paper materials, including the company’s proprietary Original Blended Material derived from bamboo, sugarcane fibre and recycled paper.
The WH-1000XM6 is available in Black, Platinum Silver and Midnight Blue, priced at ₹39,990.
