Short answer: the Sony WH-1000XM6, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #435 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.3/5, at $458. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless ranks #438, rated 2.2/5, at $299.99, $158.01 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.
What the Sony WH-1000XM6 does well: 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. The catch: 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.
The case for the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless: A gaming headset with active noise cancelling, a built in microphone, and both wireless and wired connections, so one headset covers PC, console and mobile use. The catch: A 13.0 dB dip near 4 kHz leaves presence 6.8 dB below target, so dialogue and vocals sound veiled and distant, contributing to a low preference score of 41.5 with an uneven 3.82 dB deviation.
Buy the Sony WH-1000XM6. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $158.01 saving on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is not enough to make up the difference.
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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 eBay
A gaming headset with active noise cancelling, a built in microphone, and both wireless and wired connections, so one headset covers PC, console and mobile use.
Amazon $299.99 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
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $458.00 | $299.99 |
| Ranked | #435 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #438 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 43 (median of 4 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 41 (median of 2 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.41 dB standard deviation | 3.82 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.83 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.62 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+7.1 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wireless and wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Closed | - |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | - |
| Drivers | 1 x 30mm dynamic | - |
| Impedance | 48 ohms | 38 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB/mW | 93 dB |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (254 g) | 1.1 lbs (517 g) |
| Frequency Response | 4Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 22kHz wireless, 40kHz wired (Manufacturer specified) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (40 with ANC off, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
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