Over-Ear
Sony WH-1000XM6
89Outstanding
$400
Full review dataSony WH-1000XM6 vs Technics EAH-A800: 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
Technics EAH-A800
75Great
$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 6 of 7 measures.
- Sony WH-1000XM6
- Technics EAH-A800
HearWiki score
89
75
Sound
9.0
8.5
Noise cancelling
9.6
6.7
Battery
8.1
9.3
Calls
9.6
7.8
Value
8.2
5.2
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?
New platform
Sony WH-1000XM6 (2025) against Technics EAH-A800 (2022). The Sony WH-1000XM6 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.2, LE Audio (LC3) and ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid.
- WH-1000XM620253 yr newer
- EAH-A8002022
What differsWH-1000XM6EAH-A800
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.2
- LE Audio (LC3)
- Yes
- No
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- Hybrid
Platform
Level on: Top codec, Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Wear detection, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app.
Specifications
WH-1000XM6EAH-A800
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $400
- $400
- HearWiki score
- 89
- 75
- Released
- 2025
- 2022
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 30 mm dynamic
- 40 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 30 mm
- 40 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 4 Hz - 40 kHz
- -
- Impedance
- 48 Ω
- 34 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 103 dB/mW
- 105 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.2
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC
- SBC, AAC, LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Wireless range
- 10 m
- 10 m
- Battery life
- 40 h
- 60 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 30 h
- 50 h
- Full charge time
- 210 min
- 180 min
- Quick charge
- 3 min → 3 h
- 15 min → 10 h
- Wireless charging
- No
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- adaptive
- hybrid
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- Yes
- Wear detection
- Yes
- Yes
- Controls
- buttons
- touch
- Voice assistant
- Yes
- Yes
- Weight
- 254 g
- 298 g
- Water resistance
- none
- none
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Connector
- 3.5 mm
- USB-C
- Microphones
- 12
- 8
- Microphone type
- MEMS
- MEMS
- Call noise reduction
- -
- Yes
- Call NR technology
- -
- beamforming
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
Technics EAH-A800
The Technics EAH-A800 over-ears blend long-lasting battery life with a sturdy build and solid wireless performance, including LDAC support. While their sound is detailed and dynamic, the bass can overshadow other frequencies, and the noise cancellation isn't the absolute best in class. They're a strong competitor for those prioritizing audio quality and endurance over top-tier ANC, though the price feels a bit steep for what's offered.
- Pro:Excellent battery life (up to 50 hours with ANC)
- Pro:Support for high-quality LDAC codec
- Pro:Comfortable fit for long listening sessions
- Con:Bass can be overly dominant and mask detail
- Con:ANC is not as strong as rivals from Sony or Bose
- Con:Sound can become congested in complex tracks
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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