Short answer: the Neumann NDH20, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #408 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.6/5, at $545. The Sony WH-1000XM6 ranks #435, rated 2.3/5, at $458, $87 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 481 over-ear headphones; for better sound, the HIFIMAN Ananda Nano ranks #6 at $319.
The Neumann NDH20 is the better-sounding choice. The closed back isolates well, and bass extends to 20 Hz with about 4 dB of extra weight below 200 Hz, a good fit for warm and bassy listeners. The catch: An 11.2 dB dip near 9.8 kHz in oratory1990’s measurement and air about 3.7 dB under target leave cymbals and room ambience muted, and a 3 dB recession in the upper mids pulls vocals back.
The case for the Sony WH-1000XM6: Active noise cancelling, up to 30 hours of battery with ANC on (40 with it off) and LDAC, AAC and LC3 support cover most wireless needs, and a cable can be used too. Watch for: An 11.5 dB dip near 8.1 kHz and treble about 3 dB under target leave cymbals and detail muted, so the sound is dark and heavy rather than balanced, with a preference score of only 43.
Buy the Neumann NDH20. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $87 saving on the Sony WH-1000XM6 is not enough to make up the difference.
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The closed back isolates well, and bass extends to 20 Hz with about 4 dB of extra weight below 200 Hz, a good fit for warm and bassy listeners.
Amazon $545.00 eBay
Active noise cancelling, up to 30 hours of battery with ANC on (40 with it off) and LDAC, AAC and LC3 support cover most wireless needs, and a cable can be used too.
Amazon $458.00 Lowest Sony $459.99 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Neumann NDH20 | Sony WH-1000XM6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $545.00 | $458.00 |
| Ranked | #408 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #435 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 50 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 43 (median of 4 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.45 dB standard deviation | 3.41 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.36 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.83 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.2 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+7.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic | 1 x 30mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 150 ohms | 48 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 114 dB SPL/V | 103 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (390 g) | 0.6 lbs (254 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 4Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 30 hours (40 with ANC off, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 |
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