Versus Engine
Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM6
Specs, price and the one trade-off that actually decides it — Bose QuietComfort Ultra against Sony WH-1000XM6, side by side.
Cheaper to start
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Starts about $20.99 lower.
Rated higher
Sony WH-1000XM6
9.5 vs 9.0 on our design scale.
Standout
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Best sustained comfort in the category
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
The comfort benchmark for over-ears worn all day, at $429.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- Best sustained comfort in the category
- Excellent cancellation across low-frequency travel noise
- Well-judged tuning for long listening without fatigue
Cons
- Warm, smoothed tuning is wrong for critical listening or mixing
- 24 hours of battery trails Sony's 30, and Immersive Audio cuts it to 18
- Bulkier to pack than folding competitors
Specifications
- weight254 g
- AMBIENT SOUND—
- AMBIENT SOUND MODE—
- ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE OPTIMIZING—
- AUTO AMBIENT SOUND—
- battery24 hours (18 hours with Immersive Audio)
- BATTERY CHARGE METHOD—
- BATTERY CHARGE TIME—
- BATTERY LIFE (CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION TIME)—
- BATTERY LIFE (CONTINUOUS MUSIC PLAYBACK TIME)—
- battery_anc_off—
- battery_anc_on—
- bluetooth5.3
- BLUETOOTH™ VERSION—
- codecsSBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
- CORD LENGTH—
- CORD TYPE—
- Current Price is$279.00
- DIRECTION OF MICROPHONE—
- DRIVER UNIT—
- DSEE Extreme—
- EFFECTIVE RANGE—
- featuresMultipoint, Immersive Audio
- form_factor—
- FREQUENCY RANGE—
- FREQUENCY RESPONSE—
- FREQUENCY RESPONSE (BLUETOOTH™ COMMUNICATION)—
- HEADPHONE TYPE—
- IMPEDANCE (OHM)—
- INPUT(S)—
- MAGNET—
- microphones—
- MULTIPOINT CONNECTION—
- Original Price is$429.00
- PASSIVE OPERATION—
- PERSONAL NC OPTIMIZER—
- PLUG—
- processor—
- PROFILE—
- QUICK ATTENTION—
- SUPPORTED AUDIO FORMAT(S)—
- SUPPORTED CONTENT PROTECTION—
- UNIT OF MICROPHONE—
- WEARING STYLE—
Sony WH-1000XM6
Sony's flagship over-ears at $449.99, prioritising soundstage and fidelity over portability.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- Soundstage and low end no in-ear can match
- Cancellation competitive with the category leaders
- More neutral tuning than the warm alternatives
Cons
- Comfort trails Bose on very long sessions
- Bulky to pack compared with earbuds
- Premium price in a crowded tier
Specifications
- weightApprox. 8.96 oz
- AMBIENT SOUNDYes
- AMBIENT SOUND MODEYes
- ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE OPTIMIZINGYes
- AUTO AMBIENT SOUNDYes
- battery—
- BATTERY CHARGE METHODUSB
- BATTERY CHARGE TIMEApprox. 3.5 hrs
- BATTERY LIFE (CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION TIME)Max. 24 hrs (NC ON), Max. 28 hrs (NC OFF)
- BATTERY LIFE (CONTINUOUS MUSIC PLAYBACK TIME)Max. 30 hrs (NC ON), Max. 40 hrs (NC OFF)
- battery_anc_off40 hours
- battery_anc_on30 hours
- bluetooth—
- BLUETOOTH™ VERSIONBluetooth Specification Version 5.3
- codecs—
- CORD LENGTHApprox. 3.94 ft
- CORD TYPESingle-sided (detachable)
- Current Price is—
- DIRECTION OF MICROPHONEOmni directional
- DRIVER UNIT1.18 in
- DSEE ExtremeYes
- EFFECTIVE RANGEApprox. 32.81 ft
- features—
- form_factorOver-ear, closed back
- FREQUENCY RANGE2.4 GHz band (2.400 0 GHz - 2.483 5 GHz)
- FREQUENCY RESPONSE4–40,000 Hz (JEITA)
- FREQUENCY RESPONSE (BLUETOOTH™ COMMUNICATION)20–20,000 Hz (44.1 kHz sampling) 20–40,000 Hz (LDAC 96 kHz sampling 990 kbps)
- HEADPHONE TYPEClosed
- IMPEDANCE (OHM)48 ohm (1 kHz) (when connecting via the headphone cable with the unit turned on), 16 ohm (1 kHz) (when connecting via the headphone cable with the unit turned off)
- INPUT(S)Stereo Mini Jack
- MAGNETNeodymium
- microphones12
- MULTIPOINT CONNECTIONYes
- Original Price is—
- PASSIVE OPERATIONYes
- PERSONAL NC OPTIMIZERAdaptive NC Optimizer
- PLUGGold-plated L-shaped stereo mini plug
- processorQN3 HD Noise Cancelling
- PROFILEA2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP, TMAP, CSIP, MCP, VCP, CCP, PBP, GMAP, A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP, TMAP, CSIP, MCP, VCP, CCP
- QUICK ATTENTIONYes
- SUPPORTED AUDIO FORMAT(S)SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
- SUPPORTED CONTENT PROTECTIONSCMS-T
- UNIT OF MICROPHONEMEMS
- WEARING STYLEOver Ear