TL;DR: The Bose QuietComfort (QC) Ultra second-generation headphones and the Sony WH-1000XM6 are both excellent pairs of noise-canceling headphones! However, each one has its unique strengths and weaknesses, so deciding between the two will likely depend on what you want. If you want the best active noise cancelation (ANC), it’s a tie.* See the full review for details. If you want the best phone call quality, the Sonys are the headphones to get.

Introduction

I’m a blind noise-canceling headphone enthusiast who has been testing and learning about ANC headphones since I was 17. I’ve owned all six generations of the Sony 1000X series, the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700, the QC45s, the original QC Ultras, and now the QC Ultra second gen. This review will focus exclusively on the QC Ultra second gen, and I will compare them to the WH-1000XM6s.

Build Quality

Both pairs of headphones are well-built, but the Bose feel more premium to me. The WH-1000XM6s feel more plasticky, but they still feel nice overall. The QC Ultras, however, simply feel better. The polished aluminum hinge mechanism feels particularly nice (it’s very smooth) compared to the Sonys’ plastic/metal design (which you can’t really feel due to the plastic covering almost all the metal in the hinge itself).

Comfort

The Bose are more comfortable than the Sonys, hands down. They have less clamping force on my head, and their ear cups are much deeper. The Sonys are comfortable, but they require a bit of a tighter fit to allow the ANC to reach its full potential.

Battery Life

Both headphones are rated at 30 hours of battery life, and I believe this to be accurate. I can use both for about two to three hours per day and not have to charge for around 10 days. This is one of the areas where Bose needed to improve to stay competitive, and they finally did.

Sound Quality

The Bose and Sonys each have a unique sound signature. The Bose are bass-heavy, though not quite as muddy as the original QC Ultras. Their mids and highs are sculpted in a way that makes them sound crisp and clear, though distinctly Bose. They’re definitely not the flattest (read: most accurate) sound, so don’t expect them to satisfy you if you are an audiophile. That being said, they do sound more open than the Sonys.

The Sonys sound more clinical than the Bose. They have emphasized bass, but unlike the QC Ultras, which hit you with a fairly strong wall of sub-bass, the Sonys do not. Don’t get me wrong—they have deep, powerful bass—but the sub-bass frequencies aren’t boosted as much as on the Bose. The mids and highs are clear and sound less sculpted and more natural to my ears. It should be noted, however, that the Sonys sound narrower than the Bose. This isn't a bad thing, it's just something I noticed during my listening. Whether you prefer the sound of either headphone is, of course, subjective.

Call Quality

The Sonys have the best call quality, though the second-gen QC Ultras are better than the first gen. The Bose make my voice sound clear in quiet environments, though sometimes I can sound a bit processed (as in the “s” and “t” sounds of my speech may sound muffled at times). This is especially true in loud environments. However, I do sound quite a bit clearer than I did on the original QC Ultras, and the second generation do not have the issue where my voice would fade in and out as I was speaking.

The Sonys, however, have much clearer call quality, especially in noisy environments. While my voice may sound somewhat processed at times with the 1000XM6s, it’s much clearer than with the QCs. Additionally, I find that the QCs do not block as much background noise during calls as the 1000XM6s.

Active Noise Canceling (ANC)

As is customary for my reviews, this section will have the most detail. First, I’ll start off by describing how ANC works, and how I tested these headphones.

ANC works by using microphones on the outside and inside of the headphones to capture the sound around you, which is then measured, inverted, and played back through the speakers of the headphones. In other words, ANC uses the mics to generate the opposite of what you’re hearing, and that sound is played through the speakers, resulting in a much quieter listening experience. While ANC works best against low-frequency hums (think cars, planes, etc.), it is becoming more effective against higher-frequency sounds such as speech as well.

To test the ANC performance of both headphones, I ensured that I was using both pairs in the exact same environments (several cars, an airplane, and my relatively well-controlled testing setup consisting of a Sonos speaker and subwoofer in my bedroom).

In these environments, both headphones do an excellent job of reducing ambient noise. In an environment where deep, low-frequency rumble may be traveling through your body as well as the air (think electric cars on some roadways, diesel-powered vehicles such as semis, etc.), both headphones almost match each other in terms of noise reduction. Usually with this test, I can clearly state that one is better than the other, but I was unable to hear a difference in overall performance that stood out to me.

In soundscapes consisting mostly of deep, low-frequency rumble that did not travel directly through my body (think the bedroom sound system with a subwoofer playing at around 85 dB), the Bose did a very slightly better job of reducing sounds across the entire frequency spectrum. The Sonys let in very slightly more of the low and high ends, though with music playing at 40% volume you probably won’t notice.

Bose did, however, improve the ANC in one key way. On the original QC Ultra headphones, the ANC performance would drop noticeably for about 15 seconds if you were in a vehicle and it hit a bump, or in certain other similar situations. The second-generation model completely resolves this issue—the ANC system now compensates much more quickly, maintaining a stable and consistent level of noise cancelation regardless of sudden motion or vibration.

In environments consisting of voices, the Bose take the lead. In my living room with family members talking (ambient noise levels around 70 dB according to my Apple Watch), the QC Ultras made their voices just a touch quieter than the Sonys.

In airplanes, the Sonys clearly take the lead. On a Boeing 737-700 series aircraft, I spent one to two hours testing the headphones back to back. The Bose did an excellent job of reducing engine rumble, allowing me to enjoy my music at around 30% volume. The Sonys, however, performed noticeably better across the frequency spectrum. It should be noted that the Sonys have an atmospheric pressure sensor built into the headphones, which automatically calibrates them to the cabin altitude of an aircraft while flying. I suspect this is why they are clearly better than the Bose in this specific environment. In short, both pairs block out significant amounts of noise, though the type of noise you are trying to cancel may influence which headphone you choose.

Conclusion

Both the Bose QC Ultra second generation and the Sony WH-1000XM6 represent the very best in consumer noise-canceling headphones, but they appeal to slightly different types of users.

If comfort, premium build quality, and consistent ANC performance are your top priorities, the Bose QC Ultra second gen are the better choice. They’re exceptionally comfortable for long listening sessions, and Bose has clearly refined their ANC system to be faster and more reliable than before.

If you value call quality, a more neutral and natural sound signature, and slightly better performance on airplanes, the Sony WH-1000XM6s are the way to go. Their microphone system handles noisy environments more effectively, and the adaptive ANC with pressure sensing gives them a small but noticeable edge in the air.

Ultimately, both headphones are excellent and deliver class-leading ANC performance. Your decision will come down to what you prioritize most: the Bose for all-day comfort and polished refinement, or the Sonys for their balanced sound and superior call performance.

I am not sponsored by either companies. The post has been refined with chatgpt.

Used Bose QC Ultra for a month (previously QC45), just got the Sony XM6 and used it for a day. Here are my initial impressions: • Sound Quality: XM6 is noticeably clearer, especially for older music (70s/80s). With newer tracks, the difference is minor. • ANC: XM6 wins. Tried both while vacuuming—Sony blocked more noise. • Comfort: Both are comfy, but XM6 feels like it seals around ears better. • Passive Isolation (ANC off): XM6 still blocks a huge amount which could be hazard. QC Ultra lets in more ambient noise. • Controls: XM6’s swipe gestures are better than Bose buttons, but volume changes too slowly—easier to use your phone. • Wear Detection: Inconsistent on XM6—sometimes keeps playing after taking them off.

Both are similarly priced, but XM6 feels like a solid upgrade if you care about ANC and older music clarity.

I am going to return Bose QC Ultra. Does anyone know any discount for XM6 in the U.S?