Is the Sony WH-1000XM6 worth the upgrade from the Audio-Technica R50x?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Sony WH-1000XM6 scores 8.1 points above the Audio-Technica R50x. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in sound (8.4 to 9.0). You do give up ground on value (8.7 to 8.2). On paper it adds active noise cancelling and usb-c. Worth checking: weight goes 207 g to 254 g and driver size goes 45 mm to 30 mm. That costs $229 more, or about $28 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. Worth doing if you're replacing anyway; harder to justify as a pure upgrade if what you have still works.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.49.0
- Value8.78.2
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | R50x | WH-1000XM6 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | No | Yes | |
| Weight | 207 g | 254 g | |
| Driver size | 45 mm | 30 mm | |
| USB-C | No | Yes | |
| Driver | 45 mm dynamic | 30 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 5 Hz - 40 kHz | 4 Hz - 40 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "R50x to WH-1000XM6". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.