
JBL Tour One vs Sony WH-1000XM6: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sony WH-1000XM6 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 89. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Sony WH-1000XM6 leads on 6 of 7 measures.
- JBL Tour One
- Sony WH-1000XM6
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?
Sony WH-1000XM6 (2025) against JBL Tour One (2021). The Sony WH-1000XM6 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.0, Top codec LC3 against AAC and LE Audio (LC3).
- Tour One2021
- WH-1000XM620254 yr newer
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- 5.3
- Top codec
- AAC
- LC3
- LE Audio (LC3)
- No
- Yes
Platform
Level on: ANC type, Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app.
Specifications
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $300
- $400
- HearWiki score
- 48
- 89
- Released
- 2021
- 2025
- Availability
- Discontinued
- Sold new
- Driver
- 40 mm dynamic
- 30 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- 30 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 40 kHz
- 4 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance
- 32 Ω
- 48 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 95 dB/mW
- 103 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- 5.3
- Codecs
- AAC
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Wireless range
- -
- 10 m
- Battery life
- 50 h
- 40 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 25 h
- 30 h
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- 210 min
- Quick charge
- -
- 3 min → 3 h
- Wireless charging
- No
- No
- 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
- -
- buttons
- Voice assistant
- Yes
- Yes
- Weight
- 273 g
- 254 g
- Water resistance
- none
- none
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Connector
- -
- 3.5 mm
- Microphones
- 4
- 12
- Microphone type
- -
- MEMS
What reviewers said
JBL Tour One
The JBL Tour One is a wireless over-ear headphone with active noise cancellation, designed for long listening sessions thanks to its 50-hour battery life. It delivers a balanced, neutral sound signature and a comfortable fit, with Bluetooth 5.0 and AAC support for reliable wireless streaming. The included detachable cable adds versatility for wired use when needed.
- Pro:Excellent battery life of up to 50 hours without ANC
- Pro:Comfortable over-ear design for extended wear
- Pro:Neutral sound profile suits various music genres
- Con:No water resistance rating
- Con:Only AAC codec support, no aptX or LDAC
- Con:Bulky weight at 273 grams may feel heavy for some users
Sony WH-1000XM6
This premium over-ear headphone delivers class-leading adaptive noise cancellation and a well-balanced sound profile, with support for high-resolution LDAC streaming. Its 30-hour battery life, multipoint Bluetooth 5.3, and intuitive button controls make it a versatile choice for both travel and daily listening. The lightweight build and 12-microphone array also ensure clear calls and effective transparency mode.
- Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Supports LDAC for high-quality wireless audio
- Pro:Comfortable and light at 254g
- Con:No water resistance rating
- Con:Battery drops to 24 hours with ANC on
- Con:No touch controls—buttons only
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.
