Sony WH-1000XM6

The XM6 is the ANC king with elite sound, but at 699g it's also a neck workout. Buy it for the performance, not the comfort.

The ANC here is the real deal. Sony packed 12 microphones and the QN3 HD processor into these, and it shows. Our database ranks the noise cancellation in the 98th percentile, which means it's silencing airplane engines and office chatter better than almost anything else out there. The carbon-fiber 40mm drivers deliver sound in the 96th percentile, with LDAC and Hi-Res Audio support for the audiophiles. Battery life is solid at 30 hours with ANC on, and the 3-minute quick charge for 3 hours of playback is genuinely useful. But the weight is the elephant in the room. 699g is heavy for over-ears, and our comfort score is a brutal 6th percentile. That's one of the worst we've seen.

The Bose QuietComfort 884367-1100 is the obvious alternative if comfort matters more than raw ANC performance. Bose has always nailed the fit, and while their ANC is strong, it doesn't quite match Sony's 98th percentile showing. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM M5AEBT is worth a look if you want better build quality and a more premium feel, though you'll trade away some of that Sony ANC magic. The JBL Tune 670NC is the budget pick, but it's not in the same league for noise cancellation or sound.

At $463-474, these are expensive. You're paying for the best ANC and sound on the market, and you're getting it. But the comfort issue is a real problem. If you wear headphones for more than an hour at a time, the weight will wear on you. The budget score is a mediocre 59.8, so value seekers should look elsewhere. For pure performance, though, it's hard to argue with the XM6.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 is the best noise-canceling headphone on the market right now, full stop. The ANC is top of the charts, the mic array is best-in-class, and the sound is a standout. But there's a catch, and it's a big one: comfort. At 699g, these things are heavy, and our data puts comfort near the bottom of the barrel. So you're getting elite performance with a serious ergonomic asterisk.

If you're looking for all-day comfort, this isn't it. The 699g weight puts these in the bottom tier for comfort, and your neck will feel it after a few hours. Go get the Bose QuietComfort 884367-1100 instead. If you're on a budget, the JBL Tune 670NC gets you decent ANC for a fraction of the price.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 is a performance monster with a comfort problem. If you want the absolute best ANC and sound and don't mind the weight, buy these. If you wear headphones all day, the 699g heft will drive you crazy. Try them on before you commit, or go with the Bose QuietComfort for all-day comfort.