So I've had the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 and the Sony WH-1000XM6 for about half a year. I've thoroughly put both through their paces, and they've each taken a turn as my primary pair of headphones.
I started off preferring the noise canceling of the Bose headphones — it really does block everything. But time makes fools of us all (or so I'm told), and the 1000XM6 have slowly crept their way into my heart. So much so that I'd say they're my pick of the two — if you're looking for buying advice, that's about as good as you're going to get.
But what's my journey been like, and why has it taken this long to make a final decision? Let me tell you all about it.
A matter of style
You're going to be wearing your headphones a whole lot, so I still think that the way that they look is very important. Both the Sony and the Bose headphones look pretty good from any distance — but I've managed to come to a conclusion on which I prefer.
First and foremost, if you're going to buy some QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, make sure you go for one of the colors without shiny armatures: The chrome covered metal ones are nice to look at for all of three seconds before you accidentally cover them in greasy fingerprints. Your hair (if you've got enough, or any for that matter) will add some extra grease too. They quickly look gross.
The Sony headphones, in my eyes at least, look better. They're a simpler affair, with a more pleasingly minimal design. Build is similar between both, with lightweight construction that can make them feel cheap.
They've held up well with months of wear and tear, and the more I use them, the less I'm concerned about the glaring weak point of the WH-1000XM6's folding hinge. The XM5 felt a whole lot more flimsy, so I'm glad these are more confidence-inspiring.
Both are about as comfortable as the other, although Sony's headband starts to dig in a little after many hours of listening. It does take many hours, though — like, tens. I felt it after wearing them nonstop during a particularly long work day.
For a pair of headphones that people are going to see me wearing, the XM6 have my vote.
A matter of noise canceling
Sony's noise canceling is very good, make no doubt about it. The firm popularized the idea with the X mark series, and the XM6 follow a very solid legacy indeed. They do a great job at blocking just about anything you could hope for, with little sound getting through.
The transparency mode is great for hearing what's going on around you, making it easier to chat to shop clerks and bus drivers without them sounding like a robot. It's good — but it's still not the best.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones gen 2 are the best. They block out everything, bar none. Play some music, and you're in a world of your own making, filled with your favorite tunes and just about nothing else. If you want the best noise canceling? Buy these, no question. Nothing comes close. Apart from the WH-1000XM6. Which don't come close enough.
If it were just down to their ability to cancel noise, I'd be using the Bose. But it's not.
Sound quality, battery life and features
There's only so much that noise canceling and build can make turn you towards a pair of headphones — you've also got to actually live with them. And the Sony headphones are just nicer to live with. There's more sound customization with a superior 10-band EQ to Bose's measly 3 bands.
There are more noise-canceling modes, and the spatial audio, while slightly more restricted, sounds better. There's more battery life, so you don't have to charge them as much. The case and its magnetic flap are a genuine game-changer for daily usability.
In our review, Tom's Guide's Managing Editor of TVs and AV said the XM6 trades a wide soundstage for better clarity. They may not have the fullest sound, but they are exceptionally clear, especially in the mid-range.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones gen 2 are good, but not great in terms of sound quality. In my review, I said they're "perfect for some background listening, but not quite as good if you want to sit down and get involved with your music," and I stand by that sentiment. They're fine. Mostly. But, when it comes down to the meat and potatoes of things, the Sony WH-1000XM6 are the better pair of headphones.
In short, buy the XM6 — if you can afford their hiked prices.
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