Where is the Sony WH-1000XM6?
If you are waiting for the WH-1000XM6, well you are not alone. Apart from the posts on reddit asking about the new model, I have received plenty of messages and emails asking me when we can expect the new model.
The answer I give everyone is the same. No WH-1000XM6 has been registered anywhere on any certification website yet. This does not mean that the WH-1000XM6 is delayed. Most certifications are made public anywhere from 1 to 4 months after they have been filed (on the FCC at least).
Take the new YY2982 earbuds for example. They appeared on the FCC on March 28th, yet their Short Term confidentiality document is dated March 13th. Likewise the SAR report is from early January 2024, and the Bluetooth testing was even earlier, December 2023 to February 2024.
Therefore the Sony WH-1000XM6 could be testing right now but we have no way of knowing.
But doesn't Sony release a new model every 2 years?
Yes this has been the recent trend for the WH-1000X line, but this was not always the case when looking at all of the past models.
MDR-1000X - 2016
WH-1000XM2 - 2017
WH-1000XM3 - 2018
WH-1000XM4 - 2020
WH-1000XM5 - 2022
The 2 year cycle only started with the WH-1000XM4, with previous models being replaced every year for the first 3 generations. If we look at the XB line, the WH-XB900N came out in 2019, the WH-XB910N in 2021, but the replacement, WH-ULT900N took another 3 years before the upcoming release. This suggests Sony has changed its approach to new model releases, whether this means the WH-1000XM6 will be released later is to be determined.
What if the WH-1000XM6 appeared on the FCC tomorrow, can they still be released this Summer?
Yes, the new model could still be released this Summer. The time between FCC appearance and release is not always a set amount of time and various from model to model and generation to generation even. Let us look at the 1000X line.
MDR-1000X
- FCC date - 2016-06-26
- Release date - September 2016
WH-1000XM2
- FCC date - 2017-07-04
- Release date - August 2017
WH-1000XM3
- FCC date - 2018-05-29
- Release date - August 2018
- FCC date - 2019-12-15
- Release date - August 2020
- FCC date - 2022-02-08
- Release date - May 2022
So we have anywhere between 1.5 to 7 months between the FCC and release dates. The WH-1000XM6 could appear on the FCC in April/May 2024 and we could still have August/September 2024 release. But there is nothing indicating this will happen. It all depends on the Short Term Confidentiality end date in the FCC filing. Once we have a new listing that corresponds to the WH-1000XM6, we will have an indication when we will see them released.
What will the new Sony WH-1000XM6 look like?
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| MDR-1000X, WH-1000XM2, WH-1000XM3, WH-1000XM4, WH-1000XM5 |
If we follow Sony's own pattern, then we can expect a minor design change for the WH-1000XM6. Hopefully this would include a change to the headband swivel as this area seems to be where users are experiencing breaks/failures. But Sony could do a 180 and release a completely new design. In my opinion, the design is fine, it is not perfect, but then nothing is.
Even if the design does not change much, perhaps we will see bigger changes on the inside. The WH-1000XM5 uses the Mediatek MT2822, the WF-1000XM5 and upcoming Linkbuds 2 both utilize the new Mediatek MT2833 chip, so maybe Sony will transition to the new chip with the new model? One thing I wish Sony changes is the Auto NC function. I do not really experience major change in NC, but I have noticed at times the NC performance varying and would like to have it set to max all the time.
This is also a possibility. Recall that the WH-1000XM5 was re-registered on Bluetooth SIG for LE audio and LC3 along with the LinkBuds S in April last year. The LinkBuds S already received their update, but the WH-1000XM5 has not. An LE Audio update could allow Sony to extend the lifespan of the WH-1000XM5 for another 6 months, if not more.
Regardless when the new model will arrive, what do you want Sony to change and improve with the new WH-1000XM6?
- Design?
- Features?
- Battery life?
- Materials?
Leave your thoughts below in the comments.
Btw if anyone has information about regarding the WH-1000XM6, send me an email or message me on twitter.
Will there be any major improvements?
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of the current design, wouldn't mind a dark grey colour option on top of the internal changes.
ReplyDeleteI am a producer and sound engineer since I was 14 years old, I am 40 years old, I have been loving BT's in production for years for my way of working because I don't like cables, I only use the MG focal or the 660S when I finish a prod. But I have to say that I had to return the XM5 because of the fatigue it gives and represents, if the headphone gives fatigue is a damn failure, I miss a maximum comfort in the BT's.
ReplyDeleteI am a producer and sound engineer since I was 14 years old, I am 40 years old, I have been loving BT's in production for years for my way of working because I don't like cables, I only use the MG focal or the 660S when I finish a prod. But I have to say that I had to return the XM5 because of the fatigue it gives and represents, if the headphone gives fatigue is a damn failure, I miss a maximum comfort in the BT's.
ReplyDeleteIt's possible that Sony might go for new technology, since they purchased audeze last year, WH-1000XM6 could be using planar magnetic drivers instead of dynamic drivers.
ReplyDeleteMaybe, but wasn't audeze purely a gaming oriented headset company? Maybe Sony will try to integrate it into their INZONE models?
DeleteInteresting take, but I doubt it, Planars use significantly more power to drive, I doubt it's a good judgement to include in wireless headphones, then again maybe they have cooked and they can drive the power low enough to use it.
DeleteCrossed fingers.
Maybe we are now on a three year cycle?
ReplyDeleteSo the XM6's will be released in 2025.
I would like them to bring the NFC back. It's so practical then e.g. last time you have connected the headphones to your laptop. Now if you turn on your headphones it'll instantly connect to it but not to your phone. So what you can do knowing it is just bring your phone to your left ear – that's it, it connects. So it's sad they dropped this functionality off.
ReplyDeleteXM1000-series is good already, but you can't never have enough ANC.
ReplyDeleteBasically that's the reason I buy them even if the Battery life or Bass doesn't improve. (battery life and bass being the most wanted after ANC enhancements).
I wanna see any reason why I have to change my xm4
ReplyDeleteI was excited by this, but now I don't wanna give Sony any mony after their censorship debacles on PlayStation, even if their headphones are good.
ReplyDeleteAn upgraded XM-4 would make an ideal XM-6. Something foldable, better defined headband adjustment with precise clicks, and the ability to turn off Adaptive NC. The one really good thing I liked about the XM-5 are the large ear cups, so keep those.
ReplyDeleteI want them to go back to clicky band adjustment, XM5 is too lose after long term use. The touchpad broke rly fast for me and wear detection never worked at all. The battery software and empty detection is broken so it randomly turns off sometimes. I'm disappointed in this model very much.
ReplyDeleteCloser to XM4 design for me but with XM5 features. XM5's head band feels to flimsy to me and never stays aligned/even on head especially when semi active (like in gym). XM5 not travel friendly either compared to XM4 which folded up very compactly for it's size.
ReplyDeleteAll I want is xm5 feature with xm4 body, I just still using xm2 most the time, like 99%.
ReplyDelete