I've worn dozens of noise-cancelling headphones on flights - this pair is the audio king

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones offer even better sound and ANC performance.
• They have the best travel case for headphones in 2025.
• I love the more comfortable, snug fit of Sony's new flagship headphones.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 were great but lacked a few features that I consider essential for travel. That's why I chose the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones as my go-to travel headphones, for their comfortable fit and foldable design. But three years after the XM5 launch, Sony has finally released a worthy successor. And it improves on the last-gen product in every way. 

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Before the Sony WH-1000XM6, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 were my travel companion, thanks to their powerful ANC performance, comfortable fit ...