October Prime Day has Tech Reader’s favorite wireless headphones on sale. You can get Sony’s excellent WH-1000XM6 for $20 off. While that’s far from the steepest tech discount you’ll see this week, it’s a record low for this product. (After all, Sony only launched the XM6 in March, so this is still new gear.) You can get them today for $430.
The WH-1000XM6 takes a leap forward in sound quality, active noise cancellation (ANC) and other features. Our audio reviewer, Billy Steele, called them the best headphones you can buy right now. “The crown is safe once again,” he wrote. “Sony has managed to overhaul its flagship headphones in all the right ways that keep the 1000X line atop our best headphones list.”
The XM6 has a powerful new chip, the QN3, that unlocks much of its potential. Sony also developed new drivers for this model, resulting in richer details, clearer vocals and a better overall balance. The headphones added four extra microphones to enhance ANC. The XM6 is especially improved at blocking out voices.
If you’re a fan of spatial effects, which simulate a wider soundstage, Sony added that for this generation. The (optional) 360 Spatial Sound feature transforms regular stereo content into something with a surround-sound effect. It’s similar to what Apple and Bose have in their models. It’s yet another audio effect option in Sony’s app, alongside 360 Reality Audio and DSEE Extreme upscaling.
The headphones are no slouch in the battery life department. The XM6 is rated for up to 30 hours with ANC on and up to 40 hours with it off. In Tech Reader’s testing, we had no problem hitting those advertised figures.
If you’d rather save more money for a lesser (but still great) pair of cans, Sony’s last-gen model is also on sale. You can get the WH-1000XM5 for $100 off. The 2022 flagship headphones offer premium sound, ANC, and battery life. Typically $400, you can get them during October Prime Day for $300.
