Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION – The 1000X series flagship model takes the price to a new level

Sony has brought to market a new 1000X THE COLLEXION headphone model. This is a wireless noise-canceling headphone that sits at the top of Sony’s 1000X lineup and is clearly above the WH-1000XM6. In Finland, the recommended retail price for the model is 650 euros, while the price for the WH-1000XM6 Sandstone color variant, which was introduced at the same time, is 379 euros. The 1000X THE COLLEXION will be available in May 2026 in black and platinum colors.

Sony's own message emphasizes, above all, the 1000X series's 10th anniversary, materials and design. This says a lot about the model's positioning. The 1000X THE COLLEXION does not seem to be a straightforward successor to the WH-1000XM6, but a separate premium or celebration model, where the price increase is justified by a more refined design, with metallic parts, faux leather, a new carrying case, and a more luxurious overall appearance. Sony also says that the headphones' headband is made of metal, the surface is sandblasted, and the parts are hand-polished.

Technically, the 30mm speaker unit uses a dome made of unidirectional carbon composite. Sony says the element improves separation, high-frequency detail, and audio image resolution. On the audio side, DSEE Ultimate processing and 360 Reality Audio Upmix are also included. With the Listening Mode button, you can switch between different listening modes, and you can customize the settings in the Sony | Sound Connect app.

Regarding noise cancellation, Sony says it uses the same basic technology as in the WH-1000XM6. The headphones feature a 12-microphone Multi-Noise Sensor system and Adaptive NC Optimizer function. This confirms the perception that THE COLLEXION is not clearly a new generation in terms of noise cancellation; it largely uses Sony’s existing 1000X technology in different price ranges and different models.

According to the announcement, the battery life is a maximum of 24 hours with noise cancellation on and 32 hours without noise cancellation. This is an interesting detail, as with the WH-1000XM6, Sony has traditionally emphasized longer battery life. THE COLLEXION is also more of a luxury product in terms of its design than an extremely practical travel earphone, as international reviews have highlighted, for example, that the design does not fold together in the same way as in many of Sony’s previous models.

The first international reviews support the image of a special model. The Guardian’s review describes the 1000X THE COLLEXION as a more luxurious model positioned above the WH-1000XM6, with strengths in comfort, materials, and sound quality, but that the noise cancellation may not quite match that of the WH-1000XM6. In SoundGuys’ test, the model was clearly seen as a product aimed at the luxury audience, with the added cost largely related to the structure and overall features rather than to individual performance metrics. The battery life measured in the test was 26 hours and 15 minutes, which is slightly better than that reported by Sony, but still quite moderate for headphones in this price range.

In Engadget's review, the headphones received praise for their build quality, comfort, and new audio features, but criticism for the high price, less convincing sound quality, and weaker noise isolation compared to expectations. For its part, Stuff summarized the setup quite directly: these are expensive and good headphones, but not necessarily better than the alternatives already sold by Sony.

Based on this, the 1000X THE COLLEXION is, first and foremost, Sony’s way of taking the 1000X series to a new, higher-end price point. This does not mean that the product is technically homogeneous. It includes a new element structure, Bluetooth 6.0, LC3 support, DSEE Ultimate, 360 Upmix modes, and a more refined design. Still, the overall package raises the justified question of how much of the additional price is attributed to actual performance and how much to materials, the status as a luxury model, and the premium positioning.

In practice, the 1000X THE COLLEXION is a model whose purchasing criteria do not include the best price-to-performance ratio. The WH-1000XM6 still offers a large portion of Sony’s most important noise cancellation and comfort features at a significantly lower price. The 1000X THE COLLEXION, on the other hand, aims to appeal to users who want Sony’s noise cancellation technology in a more refined, more expensive, and more specialized form.

From the AVPlus perspective, the most interesting question is not just whether the 1000X THE COLLEXION is a good headphone, but whether it is different enough and better than the WH-1000XM6. Based on the initial reviews, the answer is probably not. There may be improvements in sound quality and construction, but in terms of noise cancellation, battery life, and price, the overall package looks more like a well-thought-out premium special edition than a clear technological leap forward.

Further information: Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION.