Over-Ear
Sennheiser HD 480 PRO
86Outstanding
$400
Full review dataSennheiser HD 480 PRO 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.
Our pick: Sony WH-1000XM6 - Outstanding overall at around $398.
Over-Ear
Sony WH-1000XM6
89Outstanding
$400
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Sony WH-1000XM6 leads on 7 of 7 measures.
- Sennheiser HD 480 PRO
- Sony WH-1000XM6
HearWiki score
86
89
Sound
8.9
9.0
Noise cancelling
-
9.6
Battery
-
8.1
Calls
-
9.6
Value
8.1
8.2
Price (USD)
$400
$400
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
Sennheiser HD 480 PRO (2026) against Sony WH-1000XM6 (2025). The Sony WH-1000XM6 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- HD 480 PRO20261 yr newer
- WH-1000XM62025
What differsHD 480 PROWH-1000XM6
- ANC type
- None
- Adaptive
Platform
Specifications
HD 480 PROWH-1000XM6
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $400
- $400
- HearWiki score
- 86
- 89
- Released
- 2026
- 2025
- Availability
- Sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 38 mm dynamic
- 30 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 38 mm
- 30 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 3 Hz - 28.7 kHz
- 4 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance
- 130 Ω
- 48 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 98 dB/mW
- 103 dB/mW
- Sensitivity (dB/Vrms)
- 107
- -
- Bluetooth
- -
- 5.3
- Codecs
- -
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- -
- Yes
- Wireless range
- -
- 10 m
- Battery life
- -
- 40 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- -
- 30 h
- Full charge time
- -
- 210 min
- Quick charge
- -
- 3 min → 3 h
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- Yes
- ANC type
- -
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- -
- Yes
- Companion app
- -
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- -
- Yes
- Wear detection
- -
- Yes
- Controls
- -
- buttons
- Voice assistant
- -
- Yes
- Weight
- 272 g
- 254 g
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- Yes
- USB-C
- -
- Yes
- Pad material
- velour
- -
- Connector
- 6.35 mm
- 3.5 mm
- Model code
- 700499
- -
- Microphones
- -
- 12
- Microphone type
- -
- MEMS
What reviewers said
Sennheiser HD 480 PRO
The Sennheiser HD 480 PRO is a wired, over-ear headphone built for professional studio work, offering a clear and detailed sound signature tuned for critical listening. Its lightweight design and comfortable fit make it suitable for long sessions, while the sturdy build ensures reliability in demanding environments. However, its premium price and minimal accessory package may give some buyers pause, and it lacks modern conveniences like wireless connectivity or noise cancellation.
- Pro:Accurate and detailed sound reproduction
- Pro:Lightweight and comfortable for extended use
- Pro:Solid, durable construction for studio settings
- Con:Premium price point for the included features
- Con:No active noise cancellation or wireless options
- Con:Limited accessories in the box
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.
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