# Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Sony WH-1000XM6 (Sony) and Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 (Audio-Technica) among over ear headphones.

## Side by side

| Spec | Sony WH-1000XM6 | Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | not published | not published |
| Brand | Sony | Audio-Technica |
| Released | 2025-05 | 2022-04 |
| ANC | Yes | No |
| Driver (mm) | 30 | — |
| Battery hr | 30 | 64 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Wired option | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (g) | 254 | 307 |

## Key differences

- ANC: Sony WH-1000XM6 Yes vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 No
- Battery hr: Sony WH-1000XM6 30 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 64
- Bluetooth: Sony WH-1000XM6 5.3 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 5.0
- Codecs: Sony WH-1000XM6 SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 SBC, AAC, LDAC
- Weight (g): Sony WH-1000XM6 254 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 307

## What reviewers say

**Sony WH-1000XM6** — Three whitelisted testers (SoundGuys, What Hi-Fi, Tom's Guide) rate the WH-1000XM6 a strong flagship. SoundGuys (5-day test) logged 37 hours 14 minutes of battery with ANC and a 4.8/5 MDAQS score, praising excellent ANC, sound and microphone but flagging thin pads and no USB-C audio. What Hi-Fi (Awards 2025 winner, five stars) calls it the best-sounding Sony flagship with class-leading calls and rates comfort a full 5/5. Tom's Guide's 3-months-later follow-up is the outlier, judging the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 better-sounding and the Bose QC Ultra better at blocking noise, and calling the build cheap-feeling for $449. Reviewers split on comfort, value and how much the XM6 improves on the XM5. (3 sourced reviews.)

**Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2** — Three whitelisted outlets recommend the ATH-M50xBT2 as a strong no-ANC pick. Only SoundGuys published measurements: 64 hours 51 minutes of battery at 75dB(SPL) and an Isolation / Attenuation sub-score of 3.4. What Hi-Fi and MusicRadar are listening-based reviews with no published measurements, and both praise the sound, build and value. Note the age spread: What Hi-Fi's review dates from October 2021 and MusicRadar's from August 2023, so only the SoundGuys page has been revised recently. The panel splits on isolation, on comfort, and on how heavy the bass is. (3 sourced reviews.)

## Sources

- Sony WH-1000XM6: https://www.headphonecheck.com/test/sony-wh-1000xm6 (headphonecheck.com, verified 2026-06-15)
- Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2: https://www.headphonecheck.com/test/audio-technica-ath-m50xbt2 (headphonecheck.com, verified 2026-06-15)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/over-ear-headphones/sony-wh-1000xm6-vs-audio-technica-ath-m50xbt2/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Sony WH-1000XM6 (not published) vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 (not published) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/over-ear-headphones/sony-wh-1000xm6-vs-audio-technica-ath-m50xbt2/
License: CC BY 4.0.