Over-Ear
Sony WH-1000XM6
89Outstanding
$400
Full review dataSony WH-1000XM6 vs STAX SR-404: 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
STAX SR-404
55Average
$320
Full review dataScore 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.
- Sony WH-1000XM6
- STAX SR-404
HearWiki score
89
55
Sound
9.0
7.2
Noise cancelling
9.6
-
Battery
8.1
-
Calls
9.6
-
Value
8.2
-
Price (USD)
$400
$320
Specifications
WH-1000XM6SR-404
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $400
- $320
- HearWiki score
- 89
- 55
- Released
- 2025
- 1999
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 30 mm dynamic
- electrostatic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- electrostatic
- Driver size
- 30 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 1
- -
- Frequency response
- 4 Hz - 40 kHz
- 7 Hz - 41 kHz
- Sound signature
- -
- neutral
- Impedance
- 48 Ω
- 145000 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 103 dB/mW
- 100 dB/mW
- 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
- Yes
- -
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- Yes
- -
- Controls
- buttons
- -
- Voice assistant
- Yes
- -
- Weight
- 254 g
- 295 g
- Water resistance
- none
- -
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- -
- USB-C
- Yes
- -
- Connector
- 3.5 mm
- -
- Microphones
- 12
- -
- Microphone type
- MEMS
- -
What reviewers said
Sony WH-1000XM6
The Sony WH-1000XM6 is a premium over-ear wireless headphone that combines adaptive active noise cancellation with a long-lasting battery and support for high-quality audio codecs. It features multipoint Bluetooth connectivity and a transparent mode, making it a versatile choice for both focused listening and everyday commutes. With a lightweight build and tactile controls, it balances comfort and functionality for extended use.
- Pro:Adaptive active noise cancellation for personalized silencing
- Pro:Multipoint Bluetooth 5.3 for seamless device switching
- Pro:Transparency mode for ambient awareness when needed
- Con:No water resistance rating for wet conditions
- Con:No wireless charging option
- Con:Relies on physical buttons rather than touch controls
STAX SR-404
The STAX SR-404 is a wired electrostatic over-ear headphone with an exceptionally transparent and neutral sound signature, delivering remarkable detail and speed across a wide frequency range. It offers a very high impedance of 145,000 ohms, requiring a dedicated electrostatic amplifier to perform, and is lightweight at 295 grams for comfortable listening sessions. This model is a solid entry point into high-end electrostatic audio, prioritizing precision and clarity over warmth or bass impact.
- Pro:Exceptional clarity and detail retrieval
- Pro:Neutral, accurate sound signature
- Pro:Very lightweight for an over-ear design
- Con:Requires a specialized electrostatic amplifier
- Con:Very high impedance limits portability
- Con:Lacks deep bass punch compared to dynamic headphones
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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