QCY H6 Ultra Review: Terrific Headphones for $90?
The QCY H6 Ultra is QCY’s new flagship over-ear headphone, and at around $90, it is entering one of the toughest parts of the headphone market.
That means going up against brands such as Edifier and 1MORE, while still trying to deliver the sort of features people now expect from much more expensive headphones.
I took the H6 Ultra with me for a month in the south of France and used them every day for music, YouTube and Netflix. That gave me plenty of time to get a proper feel for their sound, comfort and everyday usability rather than judging them after just a few listening sessions.
The H6 Ultra will not be the right headphones for everyone. But for the right listener, I think this is a terrific pair of headphones — and one of QCY's most interesting products yet.
How I Tested the QCY H6 Ultra
I used the QCY H6 Ultra every day for a full month during my summer holiday in the south of France, near the Pyrenees.
Most mornings, I wore them while working before the rest of the family woke up, usually listening to music for a few hours. After lunch, I often used them for YouTube before heading back to the pool, and in the evenings they became my main headphones for watching Netflix series or more YouTube.
This meant the H6 Ultra were not something I tested for a few isolated listening sessions. I used them as part of my normal routine, across music, video and longer periods of listening, which gave me a good sense of their sound, comfort, battery life and how practical they are to live with day to day.
The QCY H6 Ultra gets a lot right for around $90. The ANC is genuinely impressive for the price, they are light and comfortable, and the sound quality competes well with more established headphones in this price range. They are not perfect, but as an affordable flagship, the H6 Ultra offers a lot for the money.
The Good
- Excellent ANC for the price
- Lovely, understated design
- Comfortable ear cups
- Lightweight
- Satisfying, clicky physical buttons
- Great sound for under $100
- Excellent battery life
Not So Good
- Does not work with the standard QCY app — you need the separate QCY Audio app
- No carrying case included
- No LDAC on iPhone — an iOS limitation rather than QCY's fault
The QCY H6 Ultra comes with an ambitious specification for a headphone around the $90 mark, including a dual-driver setup, LDAC support and a claimed battery life of up to 100 hours.
The QCY H6 Ultra is the brand’s new affordable flagship, with ANC, LDAC support and up to 100 hours of claimed battery life.
My Experience With the QCY H6 Ultra
Design, Build Quality and Comfort
One of the first things I noticed about the QCY H6 Ultra is how much more premium they feel compared with previous QCY headphones I have reviewed.
I really like the more industrial, minimalist design. There is nothing particularly flashy about them, but that works in their favour. They look clean and modern, and the overall finish feels like a noticeable step up for QCY.
The ear cups are soft and comfortable, and at around 271g the headphones never feel particularly heavy on my head. After a few hours of continuous listening, however, I do start to notice some heat building up around my ears.
For me, this isn't really a problem. I normally use headphones for around 30 minutes to an hour at a time, and during those sessions I found the H6 Ultra very comfortable.
Setup, QCY Audio App and Battery Life
Connecting the H6 Ultra to my iPhone 17 was extremely quick and straightforward.
What was less obvious was the app situation.
I initially tried connecting them to the regular QCY app that I already use with other QCY headphones and earbuds, but the H6 Ultra wouldn't appear. After a bit of investigation, I downloaded the newer QCY Audio app instead, and everything worked perfectly.
The QCY Audio app itself is actually very good. It gives you access to the equaliser, ANC and transparency controls, Spatial Audio and the other headphone settings.
My issue is simply having another app. I hope QCY doesn't follow the same path we have seen from some other audio brands, where different products gradually end up requiring different apps. It makes the experience unnecessarily confusing, particularly for existing customers.
Battery life has also been excellent during my testing. QCY claims up to 100 hours of Bluetooth playback, but I am not the sort of power user who can realistically verify a figure like that. What I can say is that after a month of normal daily use, battery life has never been something I have had to worry about. I have no complaints here.
Sound Quality
Sound is where the H6 Ultra starts to become particularly interesting.
One thing I have noticed consistently with QCY headphones is that they aren't shy when it comes to volume. The H6 Ultra can play loud and clear, and if you have been frustrated by headphones from other brands that seem unnecessarily restricted at the top end of the volume range, I don't think you will have that problem here.
More importantly, they still sound good.
The overall balance between bass, mids and treble is impressive for a headphone costing under $100. Bass in particular surprised me. It has plenty of presence and impact without making everything else disappear behind it.
My usual listening doesn't require huge amounts of bass, but over the month I deliberately tried the H6 Ultra with a much wider selection of songs and genres. For a headphone in this price range, I think the bass performance is very good.
Vocals remain clear, instruments have enough separation to keep music enjoyable, and there is a sense of scale that sometimes makes the H6 Ultra sound considerably more expensive than they actually are.
That last point is important, though: sometimes.
There are moments when these feel like genuinely premium headphones, and there are other moments when you are reminded that this is still a sub-$100 product. I don't think that is a criticism so much as a realistic way of looking at them.
ANC: Very Good, But Keep Expectations Realistic
Active Noise Cancellation is one of QCY's main selling points for the H6 Ultra, and overall I think the ANC is very good.
But this is also an area where expectations matter.
The marketing around the H6 Ultra can make the ANC sound almost class-leading. In my experience, it isn't at the same level as the very best noise cancellation you get from Sony, Apple and other considerably more expensive headphones.
I wouldn't expect it to be.
What matters is how well it performs at around $90, and from that perspective I think QCY has done an excellent job. The ANC removes a substantial amount of background noise and makes music and video considerably more immersive.
As long as you approach it with realistic expectations for the price, the noise cancellation is one of the strongest parts of the H6 Ultra.
Spatial Audio Was the Surprise
Spatial Audio might actually be the biggest surprise of this review.
I can't believe I am writing that because, generally, I am not a big Spatial Audio fan. It is one of those features I often try for a while before eventually switching it off.
The H6 Ultra has made me reconsider that.
Here, Spatial Audio creates a noticeably wider and more immersive presentation without making everything sound excessively processed. With the right music and especially video content, I found myself genuinely enjoying it rather than simply testing it because the feature was there.
For me, that makes Spatial Audio one of the H6 Ultra's strongest features.
iPhone, LDAC and Wired Listening
Most of my listening was done using my iPhone 17 over Bluetooth with Apple Music.
That means I couldn't take advantage of LDAC, because Apple's iPhones do not support the codec. Android users with a compatible device will be able to use LDAC, but I wouldn't let that put you off the H6 Ultra if you use an iPhone.
Bluetooth sound quality from the iPhone is still very good, and I suspect many listeners would struggle to hear a dramatic difference in normal everyday listening anyway.
QCY also includes a 3.5mm audio cable, which I used to connect the H6 Ultra directly to my MacBook Air M1. Wired playback sounded excellent with Apple Music. The maximum volume seemed slightly lower than when listening over Bluetooth, but the overall sound quality was very good.
I also appreciate QCY including the cable. Wired listening is becoming something of a forgotten feature on wireless headphones, but it remains useful for laptops, travelling and devices where Bluetooth isn't necessarily the best option.
The H6 Ultra uses simple physical controls with a satisfying click and an understated, premium-looking finish
Controls, YouTube and Netflix
The physical controls are another small detail I really like.
The buttons have a satisfying, positive click, so you immediately know when you have pressed something. I still prefer proper physical buttons on headphones to overly sensitive touch controls, particularly when adjusting something without taking the headphones off.
I also spent plenty of time watching YouTube and Netflix with the H6 Ultra during my month in France. Both were excellent experiences, with clear dialogue, immersive sound and no noticeable audio delay.
After a month of daily use, that probably sums up my experience with the QCY H6 Ultra rather well.
Sometimes they feel like headphones that should cost considerably more than $90. Occasionally, something reminds you that they don't.
Considering the price, I think QCY has got that balance remarkably right.
QCY H6 Ultra vs Similar Headphones
The sub-$100 headphone market is incredibly competitive, and the H6 Ultra is far from the only good option. Two of the most obvious alternatives are headphones I have already spent a lot of time with: the 1MORE SonoFlow Pro HQ51 and Edifier W830NB.
QCY H6 Ultra vs 1MORE SonoFlow Pro
This is probably the closest comparison.
I am a big fan of the 1MORE SonoFlow Pro, and they remain one of my favourite affordable over-ear headphones. Sound quality is excellent, they are comfortable, battery life is superb and, importantly, 1MORE includes a carrying case for roughly the same price as the QCY.
That last point makes the H6 Ultra's lack of a case slightly harder to forgive.
However, if I put both headphones next to each other, I prefer the design of the QCY H6 Ultra. The QCY feels more modern and has a slightly more premium, industrial look. The H6 Ultra can also play noticeably louder, which may matter if you like listening at higher volumes.
QCY H6 Ultra vs Edifier W830NB
The Edifier W830NB is usually around $10–$15 cheaper, which immediately makes it another serious alternative.
I have always liked Edifier's approach to sound. Their tuning tends to be warm, clear and balanced, and the W830NB is no exception. If sound quality is your main priority and you want to spend as little as possible, they remain excellent value.
Where the QCY pulls ahead for me is the overall product.
The W830NB looks and feels more like a budget headphone, particularly when compared directly with the H6 Ultra. The QCY's more substantial design and finish make it feel like the more expensive product.
Considering the relatively small difference in price, I think it is worth spending the extra money on the H6 Ultra. You get headphones that feel more premium while still delivering very good sound, strong ANC and excellent battery life.
That doesn't suddenly make the Edifier W830NB a bad choice — far from it. If you find them significantly discounted, they can be an excellent buy. But at their normal prices, I would personally spend a little more and choose the QCY H6 Ultra.
I really like the clean, industrial design of the QCY H6 Ultra, which feels more premium than previous QCY headphones I have tested.
Conclusion
After a month of daily use, I think the QCY H6 Ultra is one of the strongest headphones QCY has made so far.
They look more premium than previous QCY models I have tested, they are comfortable, the ANC is very good for the price, and the sound quality is genuinely impressive for a headphone costing around $90. I also ended up enjoying the Spatial Audio far more than I expected.
There are a few compromises. I would have liked a carrying case, and having to download a separate QCY Audio app is not ideal.
The H6 Ultra will not be the right headphones for everyone. If you are expecting genuinely premium sound quality, outstanding ANC and the complete package you would get from a much more expensive pair of headphones, the H6 Ultra may come up a little short.
But if you are happy to accept a few compromises in exchange for very good sound, strong ANC, excellent battery life and a more premium-looking design at around $90, the QCY H6 Ultra is a great choice.
Jerome
QCY H6 Ultra FAQ
Is the QCY H6 Ultra worth buying?
Yes, especially if you want strong ANC, good sound quality, excellent battery life and a more premium design without spending much more than $90. There are some compromises, but overall the H6 Ultra offers very good value for the price.
Does the QCY H6 Ultra have good ANC?
Yes. The ANC is very good for a headphone in this price range and removes a noticeable amount of background noise. However, I would not expect the same level of noise cancellation you get from considerably more expensive headphones from brands such as Sony or Apple.
Does the QCY H6 Ultra support LDAC?
Yes. The QCY H6 Ultra supports LDAC as well as SBC. You will need a compatible device to use LDAC, and iPhones do not support the codec.
Does the QCY H6 Ultra work well with iPhone?
Yes. I used the H6 Ultra extensively with my iPhone 17 and had no problems with the Bluetooth connection or sound quality. You cannot use LDAC with an iPhone, but the headphones still sound very good over Bluetooth.
Which app does the QCY H6 Ultra use?
The H6 Ultra uses the QCY Audio app, rather than the standard QCY app I already used with some of my other QCY products. The app works well and gives you access to features including the equaliser, ANC, transparency mode and Spatial Audio.
QCY H6 Ultra or 1MORE SonoFlow Pro: which is better?
Both are excellent choices around this price. I prefer the more premium-looking design and louder output of the QCY H6 Ultra, while the 1MORE SonoFlow Pro offers a very balanced sound and includes a carrying case for roughly the same money.
If you want the more complete package, I would lean towards the 1MORE. If you prefer the QCY design, stronger sense of energy and excellent Spatial Audio implementation, the H6 Ultra is a very compelling alternative.
QCY H6 Ultra review after one month of daily use. Great sound, strong ANC, excellent battery life and a premium design for around $90.