Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-CH700N

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WH-1000XM6 compared with WH-CH700N
SonyWH-1000XM6SonyWH-CH700N
Overview
ReleasedMay 20252018
Sound
TypeOver-earOver-ear
Noise cancellingYesYes
Transparency modeYes–
Spatial audio with head trackingYes–
Driver size30 mm40 mm
Back–Closed
Bluetooth codecsSBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX HD
Lossless over USB-CNo–
ChipQN3–
Drivers30 mm driver unit with a high-rigidity carbon fibre composite dome and neodymium magnet; 4 Hz to 40,000 Hz (wired, switched on); sensitivity 103 dB/mW switched on, 102 dB/mW switched off; impedance 48 Ω switched on, 16 Ω switched off (1 kHz)40 mm dome drivers with neodymium magnets; wired response 7 Hz–20 kHz (JEITA), or 20 Hz–20 kHz powered on. Impedance 22 ohms powered on and 48 ohms off; sensitivity 97 dB/mW on and 98 dB/mW off at 1 kHz.
ChipHD Noise Canceling Processor QN3 (Sony says seven times faster than the WH-1000XM5's) and Integrated Processor V2–
Noise cancelling detailTwelve microphones for noise cancelling; Adaptive NC Optimizer tunes noise cancelling to the fit, surroundings and air pressure; Ambient Sound Mode with Auto Ambient Sound; Quick Attention Mode; Speak-to-Chat; Adaptive Sound ControlDigital noise cancelling; hold the NC button for AI noise cancelling to analyse surroundings and choose between three modes.
Audio featuresLDAC up to 990 kbps (Hi-Res Audio Wireless); Hi-Res Audio over the headphone cable; DSEE Extreme upscaling; 10-band EQ and Game EQ; 360 Reality Audio; 360 Upmix for Cinema; spatial sound with head tracking; BGM effect; LE Audio with a low-latency mode and Auracast broadcast audioDSEE; app equaliser and VPT surround settings.
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)Up to 30 hoursUp to 35 hours
Battery life detailUp to 40 hours with noise cancelling off (AAC, SBC or LC3); with LDAC, 26 hours with noise cancelling on or 36 hours off; talk time up to 24 hours (28 hours with noise cancelling off); up to 28 hours on the headphone cable with noise cancelling on (38 hours off); can be used while chargingBluetooth playback with aptX/aptX HD: up to 35 hours with noise cancelling, 40 without. SBC/AAC with DSEE enabled: 35/40 hours; with DSEE off: 40/45 hours. Powered wired playback with noise cancelling: up to 50 hours. Actual duration depends on settings and conditions.
Fast charging3 minutes gives about 3 hours of playback with a USB PD adaptor (9 V/2.3 A or more), or about 1 hour with a 5 V/1.5 A adaptor; full charge in about 3.5 hoursMicro-USB; approximately seven hours for a full charge; ten minutes gives about 60 minutes of music playback.
Design
Weight254 g240 g (better)
Bluetooth5.34.1
Two devices at onceYesYes
Headphone cableYesYes
ControlsTouch sensor control panel (double-tap to play, pause or answer calls; swipe forwards or backwards to skip; swipe up or down for volume; hold for the voice assistant; cover with your hand for Quick Attention Mode); power and NC/AMB buttons on the left unit (double-press NC/AMB to mute the microphones during calls, once enabled in the app); nod or shake your head to answer or reject calls; proximity sensor pauses music when the headphones are taken off and switches them off after 15 minutesPhysical power, volume, playback/call and NC buttons; phone voice assistant access. NC button can be reassigned to Google Assistant or Alexa with compatible firmware, app and phone; availability varies by region.
MicrophonesTwelve microphones for noise cancelling; six-microphone AI-based beamforming for calls; MEMS, omnidirectionalOmnidirectional electret condenser microphone, 50 Hz–8 kHz.
Fit and ear tipsClosed, over-ear; wider soft-fit headband in synthetic leather; stretchable earpads; folds flat and folds up to fit the supplied carrying case, which has a magnetic closureAdjustable headband; inward-angled drivers; earcups swivel flat; approximately 240 g excluding cable.
Water resistance detailNo water resistance rating; Sony says the headphones are not waterproofNot waterproof
Works withSony | Sound Connect app for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices; LE Audio and Auracast with compatible devices; the headphone cable also works with the headphones switched off, without noise cancellingNFC; A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and HSP. Multipoint assigns music and calls to different devices; unavailable while using Google Assistant or Alexa. Up to eight paired devices. Wired listening works with power off and disables Bluetooth; calls use the connected phone's microphone.
ColoursBlack, Platinum Silver, Midnight Blue, Sand Pink, Sandstone (Sony US; colours vary by region)Black, Grey and Blue; regional availability varies
In the boxHeadphones, USB-C cable (USB-A to USB-C), headphone cable (about 1.2 m, gold-plated L-shaped stereo mini plug), carrying case, documentsHeadphones, approximately 1.2 m detachable headphone cable and micro-USB charging cable.

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