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.

Hi all, I’m looking to buy new headphones and I’m stuck between two options:

Sony WH-1000XM6 – around $452.49 USD

Bose QuietComfort Ultra – currently on sale for $310.54 USD (prices are converted from australian dollars), but usually $420.77 USD

I’d love to hear your thoughts on a few things: 1. Sound quality – which one has better overall tuning for music, podcasts, movies?

2. Noise-cancelling – which is stronger in real-world use?

3. Comfort – especially for long listening sessions while wearing glasses (clamp pressure, earpad comfort).

4. Features & app support – multipoint, codecs, spatial audio, etc.

5. Price/value Is Sony worth paying the extra $100+ (USD)? If Bose wasn’t on sale, would you still go Bose or switch to Sony?

Basically: Is it worth stretching for the Sony, or is the Bose QC Ultra the smarter buy right now? Thanks in advance for your advice!

Hi guys

I'm trying to decide which headphones to get, and I have two main priorities:

1. ANC: There's someone in my apartment who plays the piano, and another person who has their TV on at a high volume. From what I’ve heard, the Sony XM6 is better at blocking noise. But is it that much better to make a real difference? I don’t always want to play music—sometimes I just want the headphones to cancel the noise on their own. Also, I don’t like too much white noise from the ANC

2. Comfort: Bose clearly wins when it comes to comfort. But since ANC is my top priority, I’d only go with the Bose if the difference in noise cancellation isn’t that big. Also I'll be putting them on for hours and I hear the XM6 sometimes heats and makes you sweat on your ears.

Thank you so much already!

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?

I want to get some new headphones but I’m really stuck on whether I should go for the xm6s or the ultras. Currently I can get the xm6 on sale for $600 AUD (396 USD) or the gen 2 ultras for $700 AUD ($462 USD). From what I’ve seen so far everything is pretty divisive, with some saying the sound and comfort (which are what I care about the most) is best on the ultras, and others saying that it’s best on the xm6s. Is there much of a difference between the two headphones, or does it just come down to personal preference and what suits your head best? And is there a big difference in sound quality between them? For reference I’m not really an audiophile or anything (but still would rather the better listening experience between the two) and I’m currently using the xm4s and would LOVE some clarity as to what some people think is the better option.

Hello everyone!

I've currently got Bose qc35 that I purchased in 2020, by the sounds of things a lot has improved over the last 5 years

That said, I'm considering both the XM6 and the new Bose cq ultra ii

https://www.bose.com/p/headphones/bose-quietcomfort-ultra-headphones-2nd-gen/QCUH2-HEADPHONEARN.html

I'm leaning toward the Bose due to the metal hinge and I really like the cushions on my current Bose.

I'm able to order the bose for $335, i don't see many deals for the XM6

I know I might get some biased answers in this subreddit, but hoping to get opinions of the sony side since Ive only used bose.

In terms of my uses, I basically wear them all day, and then hit the gym after and wear them to the gym

So needing something that's at minimum sweat resistant (not sure if that's ever been a problem with the sonys)

I’ve recently purchased and tested both the XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2, and here is my brief review:

1. Sound Quality: Slight edge to the QC Ultra 2, sound feels slightly fuller with a slightly wider soundstage, even after EQ on the XM6. Again, the difference is slight, and hard to notice.

2. ANC: Slight edge to the XM6. Blocks out noise better, and almost 0 static noise. The QC Ultra 2 static is ever so slightly louder with the static, making it a bit more noticeable when you’re really trying to listen in on the static, with no music playing.

3. Build Quality: QC Ultra 2, hands down. Feels much more premium, and the headband is significantly improved upon over the QC Ultra 1.

4. Comfort: XM6 is much lighter, and the earcups feel better around my ears. The QC Ultra 2 earcups feel like they “dig in” around the outer sides of my ear.

5. Features: QC Ultra 2 with USBC lossless audio and Cinema mode. Although, Cinema mode wasn’t really that impressive, and just felt like immersion. Also, battery life is better on the QC Ultra 2.

All in all, both are extremely good, but I’m going with the XM6, since the comfort is much better.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I also own the QC Ultra 1s if you’d like me to do a comparison there as well.

For those asking about how the microphone voice call quality is on the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), check out my very comprehensive comparison review against Sony's latest WH-1000XM6 and against the Dell WL7024 Professional Headset and against the new Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) with SpeechClarity Voice Enhancement.

Note that the current firmware of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) does not have SpeechClarity Voice Enhancement feature, but I expect Bose to release a firmware update hopefully in the next few months, similar to what Bose recently did with the QC Ultra Earbuds (1st Gen) and (2nd Gen).

In the meantime, let me know what you think about the current mic call quality.

Cheers!

The sony is retailing for $700 aud vs $450 aud for bose. What would people pick? I have heard different reviewers say different things about which is better, and cant decide if its worth paying $250 extra for the newer headphone.

I got XM6 about 20 days ago recently got Bose. I heard a lot about bose bass and clarity so had to test them out before making a big "investment" on a headphone that would preferably last me 5 years atleast.

My apersonal view briefly.

1. Looks: Bose

2. Comfort: Bose

3. Passive Noice Cancelation: Bose

4. ANC turned on: Similar if i was to put it in numbers 89-90 vice versa depending upon the scenarios used on a quiet room or a bed room Bose just fades out everything completely giving you a feeling of dead silence.

5. SOUND: 1000XM6 each day everyday quite clear and you hear the sounds you never existed in a song., the Bose sounded quite muffled up , Bass +5, Mid+8, Treble +5.

6. Build Quality: Bose - 100%, the colors look pretty, Sony looks quite BLAND and not sturdy with the hinges.

Bose wins in immersive audio when you move your head around feels like in a concert where everything is directed towards you.

Honwstly i dont have the budget to leep bothx but since i bought it for ANC and Sound quality, I think I'll stick with Sony for now, Although i will keep testing it for a longer time, My 30 day return period ends on 4th Nov on sony, will initiate a refund then and then keep testing these because it gives you additional 30 days of REM.

Ask anything till i have both of these.

I want to buy one of them. Right now I have the XM3, and i’ve been very satisfied with the noise and all that. I’m not a sound-neard or anything like that. I just want a very good day-to-day pair of headphones with good comfort and good sound quality.

The Bose are cheaper, but I’m worried about the controls and it switching between modes and stuff like that, which i’ve seen in other reviews.

Please help me - just an ordinary dude wanting some good headphones.