# 🔌 Can I listen to music with a cable on the Sony WH-1000XM6?

*Published: 2026-03-02 | Updated: 2026-03-02 | Source: https://shopsavvy.com/answers/can-i-listen-to-music-with-a-cable-on-the-sony-wh-1000xm6*

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## Product: Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones
**Brand:** Sony

Yes, and the included cable is actually decent quality.

**How wired mode works:**

Plug in the 3.5mm cable, and you can listen with or without battery power. If the battery is charged, noise cancellation still works. If the battery dies, you can still listen passively, but you lose ANC and sound quality drops a bit.

**The frustrating USB-C omission:**

The XM6 can't play audio over USB-C. The port is only for charging. This is annoying because some laptops and phones have better audio output through USB-C. Bose includes USB-C audio on the QC Ultra. Sony didn't.

If you need USB-C audio, you'll need a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter.

**For airplane travel:**

The headphones work with in-flight entertainment systems. Most modern planes have standard 3.5mm jacks. Some older aircraft use dual-prong adapters, which Sony doesn't include.

**The included cable:**

About 1.2 meters long with an inline remote and microphone for calls. Standard 3.5mm plug.

**When wired mode is better:**

Gaming (no latency), long flights (save battery), and devices without Bluetooth. For everything else, wireless is more convenient.

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*Where this comes from: This answer is based on ShopSavvy's product database, real-time pricing from thousands of retailers, and analysis of user reviews to give you a well-rounded picture.*