These Signature Sony Headphones Are on Sale for Under $200 Ahead of Black Friday.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are the latest model in the Sony 1000X series, which has been around since 2016. They’re currently the best full-size headphones on the market for sound quality, but not everyone can (or needs) to spend nearly $500 on headphones.
The WH-1000XM5 headphones are a generation older and were the best in their class until they were supplanted by the XM6. Fortunately, thanks to their age, they’re now discounted to $198 (down from their original $399.99) as part of Amazon’s early Black Friday sale. The 50% discount brings the price to its lowest ever, according to price tracking tools , making it a great deal for premium headphones that still sound incredible, even in 2026.
I’ve been a loyal fan of the 1000X series for years; they’re my go-to headphones for most activities. The WH-1000XM5 headphones earned an “Excellent” rating from PCMag for their superior sound quality and exceptional audio performance, coupled with best-in-class active noise cancellation. They’re also well-designed for comfort during long listening sessions. The headphones are controlled by tap and swipe, which isn’t my favorite feature, but it’s what all modern headphones are striving for. There’s a companion app that lets you customize the equalizer settings, including swipe and tap controls.
These headphones also feature a 3.5mm stereo jack, making them ideal for those who want a wired connection and don’t want to worry about battery life. Speaking of battery life, Sony claims approximately 30 hours, but this may vary depending on whether you’re using active noise cancellation. They’re compatible with AAC, LDAC, and SBC codecs and feature multipoint connectivity, meaning you can pair them with multiple devices simultaneously.
Personally, I think the XM5 headphones, at $198, offer better value than the full-price XM6. If you’re looking to beat the Black Friday rush and get great headphones at a great price, these are the ones for you.