the secrets behind Sony’s best headphones Leave a comment

The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones aren’t designed for audio obsessives. Not less than, not completely. They’re additionally made for commuters, distant employees, informal players, frequent flyers, and anybody who needs nice sound — and noise cancellation — with minimal faff.

And it’s exactly this versatility that makes them attention-grabbing. As a result of, because it seems, they weren’t simple to make. At a press occasion held at Sony’s slick 5020 Studios in Madrid, the corporate pulled again the curtain on how the WH-1000XM6 got here to be. What emerged was an image of a product formed as a lot by collaboration, restraint, and problem-solving as by cutting-edge innovation, worthy of topping our listing of the best headphones.

Shaping the sound

The sound of the WH-1000XM6 wasn’t grown in a sterile lab. It got here from repeated classes between Sony’s engineers and mastering engineer Mike Piacentini, who works at Sony Music’s Battery Studios in New York. 

Having mastered data for artists together with Bob Dylan, Depeche Mode, Rage Towards the Machine, and extra, Piacentini’s job was to assist tune the XM6 in order that they sound good with any style, on any pair of ears — a process that’s simpler mentioned than performed.

“Koji’s group came visiting twice,” Piacentini mentioned, referring to Sony audio engineer Koji Takamura. “They introduced prototypes — totally different driver designs, totally different tuning profiles — and we simply listened. We’d sit in my room, evaluate them to different headphones, my speaker setup, and argue about EQ. That’s sort of the job.”

He wasn’t simply tweaking software program presets. “They’d come again after I gave them notes and actually change the bodily design — airflow, diaphragm form, supplies,” he mentioned. “Like, I’d say ‘make the snare pop a bit extra,’ and some weeks later they’d present up with a completely reworked prototype that really did it. It’s all the time spectacular how they flip summary EQ suggestions into actual, bodily modifications.”

Takamura defined that the XM6’s 30mm driver is structurally just like the one discovered within the XM5, however with key upgrades. “The dome is carbon fibre composite — extra inflexible now — so the excessive frequency response is extra pure and clear,” he mentioned. “The diaphragm edge is delicate, and we added airflow holes within the bobbin to make the sound smoother and extra pure.”

Not like professional-grade studio headphones utilized by producers and sound engineers (the place the objective is to make use of the flattest, most clinical-sounding pair of headphones potential), designing a pair of client headphones is a special beast completely. “With studio headphones, you realize who you’re constructing for. With these, you don’t. They’ll be utilized by folks listening to every little thing from Dylan to EDM. So it’s about making good compromises that also really feel musical.”

Piacentini additionally spoke concerning the reference materials utilized in testing — a good choice of tracks he both labored on immediately or knew intimately. “You hearken to the identical songs 50, 60 occasions whereas tuning,” he mentioned. “You’re listening for steadiness — does the snare hit the identical method? Is the vocal sitting proper? And greater than something, does it translate from the studio to those headphones?”

Apparently, different engineers introduced in by Sony — together with Randy Merrill, Chris Gehringer, and Michael Romanowski — all made related tuning selections. “It was reassuring,” Piacentini mentioned. “We weren’t working in a vacuum. The alternatives we made appeared to land with everybody.”

The tuning course of itself, as soon as the {hardware} was fastened, additionally took time. “We began with a couple of totally different EQs,” Takamura mentioned. “Then we introduced it to Mike. He helped us tune it extra exactly, and we saved that as a preset.”

Naturally, one of many different key challenges was balancing ANC with sound high quality. “If the noise cancelling is simply too robust, you lose readability,” Takamura continues. “We labored on an algorithm that adapts to your head form and your environment. That’s new.”

The sound of silence

On that be aware, Sony’s noise cancelling has lengthy been among the many finest — and the XM6 pushes issues additional. The bounce from eight microphones to 12 (six per earcup) provides the system extra knowledge to work with, and it’s all dealt with by the brand new QN3 noise-cancelling processor, mixed with a strong, all-new algorithm. In accordance with Sony, it’s seven occasions quicker than the QN1 chip used within the XM5, enabling extra responsive real-time changes to altering environments. However it’s not simply concerning the {hardware}.

Takamura defined how the brand new algorithm adapts not simply to background noise, but in addition to move form and air strain — essential for preserving ANC constant in numerous conditions. Nonetheless, he acknowledged the trade-offs. “There’s all the time a small distinction between sound with ANC on and off — however we tried to maintain it as small as potential.”

In testing, the WH-1000XM6 delivered some of the efficient ANC performances I’ve used. On a flight, engine noise light to close silence. In a busy residence workplace, keyboard clacks and fan hum dropped to a distant murmur. Even with out music enjoying, the XM6 created a noticeably quieter bubble — and as soon as audio kicks in, exterior distractions all however vanish.

The ambient mode (Sony’s tackle transparency) has been improved too. It now adjusts routinely based mostly on environment — opening up extra in quiet areas, pulling again in louder ones — without having for guide tweaks. 

Some energy customers could lament the shortage of customisable ANC controls regardless, and I completely get that. For me, I’ve zero complaints concerning the ANC autopilot within the WH-1000XM6. Although I wouldn’t thoughts seeing a future app replace with customisation choices. Energy to the folks, and all that.

Nips and tucks

Whereas not 1,000,000 miles away from the design of the XM5, there are some notable modifications within the XM6 which, in response to Sony designerChai Yee L., was led by a mix of person suggestions and cussed consideration to element. “We name it evolutionary, not revolutionary,” she mentioned, “however every change solves a particular downside.”

One instance, is the headscarf. On the XM5, it was completely symmetrical — smooth, however often complicated. “Some customers wore them the improper method spherical,” she admitted. “That impacts the seal, and sound high quality. So the brand new headband is barely asymmetrical, with a seam on the again that can assist you determine the right orientation by really feel.”

Even the way in which the headphones fold was rethought. “We introduced again the folding design as a result of folks missed it,” she mentioned. “However we additionally reworked the hinge. There’s much less swing, extra stiffness, a straighter profile. We needed to scale back what we name the ‘Mickey Mouse impact’ — that triangular hole between the earcup and the pinnacle.”

The carry case, too, has had a rethink — prompted by Sony’s Inclusive Design Workshop in 2024. “The previous zip was arduous for some folks to make use of. Now it’s a magnetic flap. You may open it with one hand.”