Sony has unveiled the Sony 1000X The Collexion, a new ultra-premium addition to its flagship headphone lineup designed to celebrate a decade of the company’s 1000X series.
Positioned above the Sony WH-1000XM6, the new headphones shift Sony’s focus from pure functionality towards luxury design, comfort, and higher-end audio performance. The launch marks the company’s first attempt to create a more fashion-led, audiophile-focused version of its already popular noise-cancelling range.
The Collexion introduces a redesigned build with polished metal accents, upgraded materials, and a newly developed driver system. Sony says the headphones use a bespoke carbon composite driver combined with its V3 processor and DSEE Ultimate upscaling technology to deliver wider sound separation, improved detail, and richer audio reproduction.
The company has also collaborated with mastering studios including Sterling Sound and Battery Studios to refine the tuning — something Sony has not previously highlighted so prominently within the 1000X lineup.
Noise cancellation remains a major feature. The headphones include the same QN3 chip and 12-microphone adaptive ANC system found in the XM6, although several early reviewers noted that passive isolation appears slightly weaker because of the slimmer earcup design.
Comfort appears to be one of Sony’s biggest priorities with this release. The wider headband, deeper earcups, and softer leather materials are designed for long listening sessions rather than portability. Unlike previous flagship 1000X models, however, the Collexion does not fold, a decision that has divided opinion among longtime Sony users.
Battery life also takes a small step back compared with the XM6. Sony claims up to 24 hours with active noise cancellation enabled, down from roughly 30 hours on the standard flagship model.
Online reaction has been mixed. Many users praised the premium redesign and apparent improvements to hinge durability after years of complaints surrounding cracked hinges on older 1000X models. Others questioned whether the higher price is justified given the compromises in portability, battery life, and ANC performance.
At around £550 in the UK, the Collexion becomes Sony’s most expensive mainstream wireless headphone release to date. That pricing places it closer to luxury audio brands than traditional consumer headphones, signalling Sony’s growing interest in the high-end personal audio market.
Author: George Nathan Dulnuan