This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.
Quick take
I have used two cases on my Sony WF-1000XM6: a walnut wood case from MARR, and Sony’s own case cover (HAC-1000XM6C). The walnut case looks fantastic with the silver XM6, but on my unit it fit so tightly that I could barely get it off. The official cover fits perfectly, is thinner and lighter (15.6 g on my scale), but at ¥6,710 it is expensive for a case. If you think you will ever take the case off, get the official one.
What I tested
- Sony WF-1000XM6 (silver), bought with my own money
- MARR walnut wood case for WF-1000XM6 (about ¥2,600), used for one to two months
- Sony official case cover HAC-1000XM6C in light gray (¥6,710)
- A kitchen scale and calipers for weight and size
What I found
- Weight: official cover 15.6 g, walnut case 20.8 g when new (20.5 g after I cut into it). The XM6 charging case itself weighs 58.7 g.
- With the walnut case on, the charging case measured 46.9 mm tall, 33.3 mm thick and 70.6 mm wide — noticeably bulky in a pocket.
- Both cases let me charge over USB-C. With the walnut case, wireless charging also worked.
- The official cover’s LED window and USB-C opening are centered and generous; the walnut case’s opening is off-center to clear the pairing button.
- The walnut case is held by double-sided tape on the lid and spacers on both sides. After a month or two, the lid part had locked on. Because the XM6’s port is on the side, you can’t push the case out from the bottom like you can with AirPods Pro 3, and pulling the lid stresses the hinge. I eventually pulled it off, but the case was ruined.
| Sony official cover | MARR walnut case | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Price (at the time of recording) | ¥6,710 | about ¥2,600 |
| Material | Synthetic leather, Sony logo outside | Walnut wood |
| Weight (my scale) | 15.6 g | 20.8 g (when new) |
| Charging with case on | USB-C cable plugged in fine; the opening is generous | USB-C and wireless both worked |
| Removing it | Snug, but won’t slip off in daily use | Very hard to remove (my unit) |
Who it’s for
- Official cover: you want thin, scratch protection and don’t mind paying a premium for a perfect fit.
- Walnut case: you love the natural look with the silver XM6, carry it in a bag rather than a pocket, and plan to leave the case on. Consider removing one spacer before installing it.
- Skip the walnut case if you like swapping cases or need to take it off easily.
Watch the video
The full review is on YouTube (in Japanese). Around 1:49 you can see me struggling to remove the wood case, and around 5:26 the official cover snapping into place.
Limitations
This is one person’s experience with one unit of each case. Wood cases may vary in fit from unit to unit, so yours may not be as tight as mine. I didn’t test wireless charging with the official cover. The official cover was linked from a Japanese retailer (Rakuten) in my video, and prices are in yen at the time of recording.
Products
MARR walnut wood case for Sony WF-1000XM6: on Amazon Japan
Sony WF-1000XM6 (silver): on Amazon Japan
Sony official case cover HAC-1000XM6C (light gray): on Rakuten (Japan)
The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
All Earbuds, Speakers & Audio (35) →Browse all English reviews →
This review is also available in Japanese.