Sony WF-1000XM6

Tested: 31 Bluetooth headphones, including special models such as the open-ear Soundcore Aerofit 2 Pro. It can also be used as an in-ear model with noise cancellation – we’ll tell you how well that works. Also exceptional: With the Fairphone Fairbuds XL 2025 and Beyerdynamic Aventho 200 over-ear headphones, anyone can easily replace the battery themselves...

If headphones were only about noise cancellation and sound quality, I would have given Sony's WF-1000XM6 top marks without hesitation. But in practice, wearing comfort, operation and the app also count for me.

Sony's WF-1000XM6 in-ears delivered a first-class hi-fi sound when tested: powerful bass meets silky highs and clean mids. The result is a clear, natural sound image with a deep and wide sound stage. The active noise cancellation is also powerful: it reduces low and high ambient noise very evenly...