Sony unveils its most expensive wireless headphones yet

Sony is expanding the 1000X lineup with something it hasn’t done before: a luxury tier. The 1000X The Collexion headphones are both a spec bump over the WH-1000XM6 and a pivot towards premium materials. The ‘X’ in the name is meant to signify Sony’s 10th anniversary of the 1000X line, and their headphones for ambitious consumers. As Sony describes it, the focus here is on “luxury and elegance” rather than pure function, and the $650 asking price reflects that.

So what does an extra $200 get you over Sony’s already outstanding WH-1000XM6 headphones? First, the Collexion is built with durable, comfortable materials, with stainless steel used even on the buttons and cable jack. Notably, the hinges and stem are completely stainless steel, meaning they shouldn’t chip and break like many of the WH-1000XM5’s do. However, as a result, they only swivel to lie flat and don’t fold up like the XM6, and weigh a bit more at 320g.

The metal band now sits on top, rather than inside the cushioning, which is about 10% wider and 40% thicker than the WH-1000XM6. The earcups are also 5mm thinner but have plenty of space inside to accommodate larger ears, so the ANC microphone won’t poke you like it does on the XM6. The earpads have also been replaced with the same snap design (no magnets, unfortunately), and the carrying case now has a built-in handle and magnetic closure instead of zippers.

For sound, Sony introduced a new 30mm unidirectional carbon-composite driver, which they say improves high-frequency response and spatial range compared to the standard carbon driver in the XM6. The headphones also receive a new Integrated Processor V3, which enables DSEE ULTIMATE – Sony’s highest level AI sound enhancement – and three local upmix modes: Cinema, Music, and a new game mode. The XM6, by contrast, offers only Cinema mode and DSEE EXTREME.

The noise cancellation hardware is the same story as the XM6: QN3 processor, 12 microphones, and a variable NC amplifier. However, Sony said that because they prioritized comfort here, the Collexion has less power to force, resulting in a weak passive separation. So, if you’re looking for Sony’s best ANC, it seems the WH-1000XM6 is still the best. The same driving technology carriers have gone through as well, with AI noise reduction and AI crystal clear microphones.

The only trade-off, other than price, is battery life. The Collexion headphones are rated for up to 24 hours with ANC on, which is surprisingly lower than the XM6’s 30 hours. Fast charging also gives you only 1.5 hours of playback from a 5-minute charge, compared to 3 hours on the XM6. If I had to guess, the new V3 Integrated Processor is the likely culprit, as it uses more AI processing. The Collexion also uses Bluetooth 6.0 and supports SBC/AAC/LDAC/LC3 and LC3, as well as Auracast.

The Sony 1000X The Collexion (boy, that mouthful) comes in two colors, Platinum White and Black, and goes on sale today for $649.99 USD. Alongside the WH-1000XX, Sony is also releasing a new color for the WH-1000XM6 headphones, Sandstone. For those who love sandy hues, it might be just the thing for this summer.