Causes
- Moisture and sweat absorption through the ear pads during workouts or extended wear in humid environments. The internal components of the left earcup (which houses the QN3 ANC processor's primary sensing circuitry) become damp, creating a short or interference that manifests as static or white noise. This is the #1 reported cause on forums.
- Condensation buildup inside the earcup from rapid temperature changes (e.g., stepping from a cold air-conditioned room into warm outdoor air). The 12-microphone array's internal feedback microphones are sensitive to humidity.
- DSEE Extreme AI upscaling set to "Auto" can amplify background noise floor artifacts during silent passages, creating a static-like hiss that is more audible in the left channel.
- Debris or ear pad foam deterioration allowing microscopic particles to contact the 30mm driver diaphragm, causing crackling on low-frequency transients.
- A firmware bug where the adaptive ANC optimizer's real-time environmental analysis enters a feedback loop, causing the QN3 processor to overcorrect and introduce audible static on one channel.
How to Fix
- Disable DSEE Extreme in the Sony Headphones Connect app (Sound tab → DSEE Extreme → set to "Off"). This is the quickest test — if the static stops, the issue is software-related. Many users have reported that DSEE Extreme on "Auto" introduces left-channel artifacts on the XM6.
- Dry the headphones thoroughly. Remove the ear pads (gently pull them off — they are held on by a ring clip) and place the headphones in a dry, well-ventilated room for 24–48 hours. Do not use a hair dryer or direct heat, as this can warp the carbon fibre driver. For faster drying, place the headphones in a sealed container with silica gel desiccant packets (at least 10g of silica per earcup) for 12 hours.
- Perform a factory reset: With the headphones powered on, press and hold the power button and the NC/AMB button simultaneously for approximately 7 seconds. The LED will flash blue twice, indicating the reset. Then repair the headphones with your devices. This clears any corrupted ANC calibration data from the QN3 processor.
- Drain and recharge the battery completely: Use the headphones until the battery is fully depleted (they auto-shutoff), then charge them to 100% via USB-C. Repeat this full drain-charge cycle 2–3 times. This can help reset the power management IC that sometimes introduces electrical noise into the audio path.
- Check and clean the ear pad foam and driver mesh: Remove the ear pads and inspect the internal foam spacer for signs of moisture or discoloration. Blot the foam with a dry, lint-free microfiber cloth. Use a soft brush (e.g., a clean makeup brush) to gently sweep any debris off the driver mesh. Reassemble after everything is bone dry.
- Update firmware via the Sony Headphones Connect app: Go to the app's Settings → System → Software Update and install any available firmware update. Sony has released firmware patches (v2.0.1 and later) that address ANC feedback loop issues on the QN3 processor. After updating, perform another factory reset to ensure the new firmware's calibration tables take effect.
- Test with ambient sound control off: In the app, set Ambient Sound Control to "Noise Cancelling On" and then toggle between NC, Ambient, and Off. If the static is present only in NC or Ambient mode but not in Off mode, the issue is likely moisture-related in the internal microphones. Continue drying for another 24 hours and retest.
- If none of the above works, contact Sony Support for a warranty replacement. Persistent static after drying and resetting is likely caused by corrosion or physical damage to the internal microphone membrane, which requires a PCB-level repair. Under warranty, Sony will replace the affected earcup assembly.