Sony celebrates 10 years of the 1000X series with The Collexion: the brand's most expensive, better materials than the XM6 but the same ANC

Sony announced on Monday, May 19, the 1000X The Collexion, a new premium line within the 1000X series celebrating ten years since the original MDR-1000X in 2016. It does not replace the WH-1000XM6: it complements it from above, with a price of US$649 (€630 / £550) placing these headphones in AirPods Max 2 and Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 territory. Interestingly, you pay US$200 more than the XM6 without getting better noise cancellation or greater autonomy. What justifies the leap are the materials, design, and a more mature tuning.

 

What is 1000X The Collexion and why it doesn't replace the WH-1000XM6

Sony was explicit in its statement: these headphones are not the successor to the WH-1000XM6 but a parallel line. The XM6 remains the reference in the lineup for those seeking the best noise cancellation in pure terms. The Collexion redirects the conversation towards design, materials, and prolonged use experience. This division is reminiscent of other brands that separate pure functionality from the status proposition: AirPods vs AirPods Max, Bose QC Ultra vs more prestige lines.

Available in Black and Platinum, they are immediately available through Sony Store, Best Buy, and Amazon. On the same day, Sony added a new Sandstone color to the WH-1000XM6, reinforcing the coexistence of both lines.

 

Design and materials: from plastic to metal and faux leather

The central change compared to the WH-1000XM6 is that plastic disappears from visible areas. The headband is now hand-polished metal with a sandblasted matte texture contrasting with gloss details. The side buttons and microphone openings are integrated into the body in metal pieces, without visible screws. The cups' exterior and headband are wrapped in a synthetic leather Sony reports was developed over two years.

A specific point: according to a report by OnLeaks picked up by MacRumors before the launch, the arms connecting the headband to the cups were redesigned as a single piece of polished metal to address durability claims carried by the XM6. It is a structural, not aesthetic change. The pads are replaceable, and the body incorporates approximately 25% recycled plastic, with plastic-free packaging except for varnishes and adhesives.

The tricky side: faux leather marks with daily use faster than the XM6's matte plastic. It's the cost of moving up to the tier of noble materials.

 

Bespoke driver, DSEE Ultimate, and 360 Reality Audio Upmix

The sonic heart is a custom-made 30 mm driver, with a high-rigidity dome made of unidirectional carbon composite and a soft edge. The tuning was fine-tuned by Grammy-winning mastering engineers at Battery Studios, according to the official statement. Above the driver, there are three technical innovations:

• First implementation of DSEE Ultimate in Sony headphones: a local AI processing (Edge-AI) that reconstructs lost detail in compressed files in real-time.
• 360 Reality Audio Upmix with three modes: Music, Cinema, and Game. Converts stereo into adjustable specialization based on content.
• Improved circuitry: 1.5 times more copper foil than the XM6, gold-content soldering, and a crystal oscillator with low phase noise. Changes oriented towards signal-to-noise ratio, not marketing.

Codecs: SBC, AAC, and LDAC, with Bluetooth 6.0 and LE Audio.

 

ANC and connectivity: the XM6 DNA, unchanged

Sony didn't move the needle here. The processing chip is the same QN3 found in the WH-1000XM6, with 12 microphones and the Adaptive NC Optimizer. The cancellation works at a reference level for the category, but —and What Hi-Fi points this out in their review— the XM6 remains slightly superior in suppressing the most challenging frequencies.

For calls, there are six beamforming microphones with structural wind noise reduction. The Speak-to-Chat function (which lowers the volume when you speak) is inherited and maintains its historical weakness: it tends to confuse voice with wind outdoors. Autonomy: 24 hours with ANC, 32 without. Below the XM6's 30 hours in that aspect.

 

Case, accessibility, and sustainability

The case changes shape compared to the XM6: it leaves the rigid, flat shell and adopts a bag-type format with a hollow handle, magnetic closure, and fabric body. The decision is functional —designed for users with limited mobility or low vision— and is accompanied by high-contrast L/R markings, tactile buttons, and setup guides accessible by QR. A notable detail: these headphones do not fold. They remain flat when stored but are not ideal for small backpacks.

 

How they stack up against premium competition

Sony places the Collexion where proposals with clear identities compete: Apple focusing on ecosystem, Sonos with a connected home proposition, Bowers & Wilkins and Focal focusing on pure HiFi. The table below compares the most direct rivals.

Three takeaways: the Collexion is the most expensive, second lightest, with nobler materials than the AirPods Max, and better direct autonomy. The Sonos Ace, at US$200 less, is the most direct rival in premium materials plus comfort. And if the priority is maximum autonomy and the best Sony cancellation, the XM6 remains the rational choice.

 

What early reviews are saying

The What Hi-Fi review rates the Collexion 4 out of 5 in sound and construction, and 5 out of 5 in functions. The conclusion is straightforward: they are "built to impress rather than to entertain." The new carbon driver gains detail, stage, and instrument separation but sacrifices some of the XM6's sonic personality. Compared to Sennheiser HDB 630 and Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, the Sony headphones are technically impressive yet more emotionally distant.

Other verifiable caveats: faux leather marks with daily use, some testers noticed cup oscillation when walking, and the XM6's cancellation remains Sony's top.

 

Price, availability, and a new Sandstone for the WH-1000XM6

The 1000X The Collexion is available from May 19, 2026, at US$649 (€630, £550) in Black and Platinum. The box includes the handle case and a 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm cable. In parallel, Sony added the Sandstone color to the WH-1000XM6, which remains at US$449 (€379, £349). It's the fifth color of the XM6 lineup.

 

Conclusion

The Collexion headphones are for those who already have the XM6 and want something different, not something better in absolute terms. The metal and faux leather feel great to the touch, and the 24-hour autonomy with ANC remains competitive. But the cancellation does not improve, the duration is lower compared to the XM6, and the leatherette finish is more susceptible to cosmetic wear. These are lateral rather than vertical changes. If you're looking for material refinement and a less generic visual proposal, there's a case for the leap. If ANC and autonomy are central, the XM6 remains the most rational choice.