Skip to content
Tech News
← Back to articles

I've tested Sony headphones for years, and these tweaks get me the best audio - always

read original get Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones → more articles
Why This Matters

This article highlights how Sony headphones, particularly the WH-1000XM6, can deliver optimal audio performance through specific tweaks and settings. For consumers and the tech industry, understanding these customization options enhances user experience and maximizes investment in high-end audio devices. It also underscores the importance of detailed user knowledge to fully leverage advanced features in premium headphones.

Key Takeaways

Jada Jones/ZDNET

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

Sony's headphones are among the best on the market, delivering exceptional sound, noise cancellation, and software features before entering the high-end headphone segment. What I appreciate most about Sony is that its products offer considerable customization, allowing you ample opportunities to tweak the headphones to your liking down to a granular level.

Also: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: How I'd justify spending $300 more for headphones

However, if you don't know what you're looking for, Sony's feature list can feel like a foreign language. Here are the tips and tricks I've found over the years that make the $400+ even more worth it.

Turn your headphones on before wiring

If you want to listen to your WH-1000XM6 via a wired connection, ensure your headphones are powered on before playing any music. This may sound like a no-brainer, but it's so obvious that it's easy to forget. Leaving the headphones off means their digital signal processing is inactive, which enhances sound quality, fullness, and vibrancy.

You can listen to the XM6 via wire with the headphones off, but you'll get a tinny, distant, blurred sound profile. I only recommend listening over wired -- and with your headphones powered off -- if they're low on or out of battery.

Prioritize other Bluetooth codecs (Android only)

Jada Jones/ZDNET

... continue reading