True Wireless
JBL Live Beam 4
85Outstanding
$240
Full review dataJBL Live Beam 4 vs Sony WF-1000XM6: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sony WF-1000XM6 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 85. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Sony WF-1000XM6 - Outstanding overall at around $278.
True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM6
85Outstanding
$280
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Sony WF-1000XM6 leads on 4 of 7 measures.
- JBL Live Beam 4
- Sony WF-1000XM6
HearWiki score
85
85
Sound
9.2
9.3
Noise cancelling
7.8
9.2
Battery
9.0
8.4
Calls
6.8
8.4
Value
8.2
8.1
Price (USD)
$240
$280
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Half a step newer
Sony WF-1000XM6 (2026) against JBL Live Beam 4 (2024). The JBL Live Beam 4 edges ahead on platform, but only just: Bluetooth 6.0 against 5.3. It also adds Water resistance IP55 against IPX4.
- Live Beam 42024
- WF-1000XM620262 yr newer
What differsLive Beam 4WF-1000XM6
- Bluetooth
- 6.0
- 5.3
- Water resistance
- IP55
- IPX4
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: ANC type, Multipoint pairing, Wireless charging, USB-C, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app.
Specifications
Live Beam 4WF-1000XM6
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $240
- $280
- HearWiki score
- 85
- 85
- Released
- 2024
- 2026
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 10 mm dynamic
- 8.4 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 10 mm
- 8.4 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 40 kHz
- 20 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance
- 16 Ω
- -
- Sensitivity
- 98 dB/mW
- -
- Bluetooth
- 6.0
- 5.3
- Codecs
- -
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Wireless range
- -
- 10 m
- Battery life
- 12 h
- 12 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 10 h
- 8 h
- Battery incl. case
- -
- 24 h
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- 90 min
- Quick charge
- 10 min → 4 h
- 3 min → 1 h
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- Yes
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- adaptive
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- Yes
- Wear detection
- -
- Yes
- Controls
- touch
- touch
- Voice assistant
- Yes
- Google Assistant
- Weight
- 9.7 g
- 6.5 g
- Case weight
- 73 g
- 47.1 g
- Water resistance
- IP55
- IPX4
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Microphones
- 6
- 8
- Microphone type
- beamforming
- -
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- Yes
What reviewers said
JBL Live Beam 4
The JBL Live Beam 4 are feature-packed wireless earbuds that deliver lively, well-balanced sound and a snug, secure fit, all wrapped up in a distinctive charging case with a built-in touchscreen for quick control. While they boast long battery life, adaptive noise cancellation, and multipoint connectivity, their call clarity and noise suppression aren't class-leading, and the spatial audio implementation falls short of expectations. Still, for the price, they offer a compelling mix of versatility and performance for everyday listening.
- Pro:Excellent sound quality with punchy bass and clear highs
- Pro:Comfortable, secure fit for extended wear
- Pro:Innovative touchscreen case adds convenient control
- Con:Call quality is mediocre in noisy environments
- Con:Adaptive noise cancellation is not the strongest in its class
- Con:Spatial audio mode sounds artificial and lessens immersion
Sony WF-1000XM6
The Sony WF-1000XM6 true wireless earbuds deliver a top-tier audio experience with adaptive noise cancellation and a robust feature set, including LDAC support and multipoint connectivity. They perform exceptionally well for music and calls, though their premium price and case size are minor trade-offs. With strong battery life and IPX4 water resistance, they are a versatile, high-performance choice for most listeners.
- Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Rich, detailed sound with LDAC support
- Pro:Solid battery life and wireless charging case
- Con:Premium price point
- Con:Included ear tips may not suit all ear shapes
- Con:Charging case is somewhat bulky
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.