Sony WH-1000XM6
Yamaha HPH-MT5W
What Buyers Say
Sony WH-1000XM6
The Sony WH-1000XM6 earns praise for its exceptional noise cancellation, clear sound quality, and comfortable fit for many users, with several calling it the best headphones they've owned. However, a significant number of reviews highlight serious drawbacks: uncomfortable clamping force and shallow earcups causing pain, buggy multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, a fingerprint-prone finish, and disappointing customer service regarding warranty repairs and promised free gifts. While the ANC and audio are top-tier, comfort and reliability issues prevent it from being a universal recommendation.
Pros
- Exceptional noise cancellation
- Clear and detailed sound quality
- Comfortable for many users
- Long battery life
- Foldable design
Cons
- Uncomfortable clamping force
- Shallow earcups causing pain
- Buggy multipoint Bluetooth
- Fingerprint-prone finish
- Poor customer service
Yamaha HPH-MT5W
The Yamaha HPH-MT5 headphones are widely praised for their exceptional sound quality, comfort, and value for money, especially for studio monitoring and mixing. Users highlight crisp, balanced audio with good noise isolation, though some note a slightly snug fit and concerns about build durability. A few reviewers mention the need for pad replacement to improve comfort and treble clarity, but overall sentiment is very positive, with many considering them a budget-friendly alternative to pricier models.
Pros
- Exceptional sound quality for the price
- Crisp, balanced audio with low distortion
- Excellent noise isolation
- Comfortable for extended wear
- Lightweight design
Cons
- Slightly snug fit for some users
- Build quality feels lightweight/less rugged
- Ear pads may need replacement for comfort
- Mids can be shouty/harsh out of the box
- Limited bass for bass-heavy listeners
Scores
Specifications
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | Yamaha HPH-MT5W | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | over-ear | over-ear |
| Open/Closed | closed | closed |
| Foldable | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.25 kg★ | 0.83 kg |
| Ear Cushion | synthetic leather | Smooth synthetic leather and low-resistance cushions |
| Headband | synthetic leather | — |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 30 mm | 40 mm★ |
| Drivers | 1★ | — |
| Freq Min | 4 Hz★ | 20 Hz |
| Freq Max | 40 kHz★ | 20 kHz |
| Impedance | 48 Ω | 51 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB★ | — |
| Hi-Res Audio | ✓★ | — |
| Codecs | LDAC | Yamaha HPH-MT5 Closed-Back Circumaural Over Ear Studio Monitor Headphones, White |
| Surround | Sony WH-1000XM6 The Best Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones, HD NC Processor QN3, 12 Microphones, Studio-Quality, New Sandstone Color | Sony WH-1000XM6 The Best Noise Cancelling Wireless | Sony | Sa | — |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓★ | ✗ |
| ANC Type | adaptive | — |
| Transparency | ✓★ | — |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Bluetooth | 5.3★ | — |
| Profiles | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP, TMAP, PBP | — |
| Multipoint | ✓★ | — |
| Wired Connector | 3.5mm | 3.5mm |
| Detachable Cable | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cable Length | 1.2000000476837158 m | 3 m |
| Range | 10 m★ | — |
| Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 30 hrs★ | — |
| Charge Time | 3 hrs★ | — |
| Fast Charging | 3 minutes for 3 hours playback | — |
| Charging | USB-C★ | — |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Mic Count | 6★ | — |
| NC Mic | ✓★ | — |
| Boom Mic | ✗ | — |
| Detachable Mic | ✗ | — |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | Siri, Google Assistant | — |
| Touch Controls | ✓★ | — |
| App | Sony | Sound Connect | — |
| Gaming Mode | ✓★ | — |
| Water Resistance | Waterproof | — |
Pros & Cons
Sony WH-1000XM6
- Strong connectivity (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong anc (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong sound (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong build (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Below average user sentiment (22nd percentile)
Yamaha HPH-MT5W
- Strong social proof (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong build (76th percentile)
- Strong sound (66th percentile)
- Below average comfort (13th percentile)13th %ile
- Below average mic (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average anc (32nd percentile)
Pricing
Yamaha HPH-MT5W offers 1.8x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 7 of 7 usage categories and 20 of 41 specs.
