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

Sony announced on Monday, May 19, the 1000X The Collexion, a new premium line within the 1000X series celebrating the ten years since the original MDR-1000X in 2016. It does not replace the WH-1000XM6: it complements it higher up, 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 longer battery life. What justifies the leap are the materials, the 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 lineup reference for those seeking the best pure noise cancellation. The Collexion shifts the conversation toward design, materials, and prolonged usage experience. The division echoes moves by other brands that separate pure functionality from status proposition: AirPods vs AirPods Max, Bose QC Ultra vs more prestige lines.

Available in Black and Platinum, they hit the market immediately via 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 main difference compared to the WH-1000XM6 is that plastic disappears from visible areas. The headband is now polished metal, with matte sandblasted texture contrasting with gloss details. The side buttons and microphone openings are integrated into the body in metal pieces, with no visible screws. The exterior of the cups and headband is wrapped in synthetic leather that Sony reports having developed over two years.

A specific point: according to a report by OnLeaks gathered 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 complaints from the XM6. It's a structural, not aesthetic change. The cushions are replaceable and the body incorporates approximately 25% recycled plastic, with plastic-free packaging except for varnishes and adhesives.

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

Bespoke driver, DSEE Ultimate, and 360 Reality Audio Upmix

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

• First implementation of DSEE Ultimate in Sony headphones: a locally AI-powered 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 an adjustable specialization depending on content.
• Improved circuitry: 1.5 times more copper foil than the XM6, gold-content soldering, and a low phase noise crystal oscillator. Changes aimed at the signal-to-noise ratio, not marketing.

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

ANC and connectivity: the DNA of the XM6, without leaps

Here Sony didn't move the needle. The processing chip is the same QN3 used in the WH-1000XM6, with 12 microphones and the Adaptive NC Optimizer. Cancellation works at the category reference level, but —as What Hi-Fi notes in its review— the XM6 is still 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 talk) is inherited and maintains its historical weakness: it tends to confuse voice with wind outdoors. Battery life: 24 hours with ANC, 32 without. Below the XM6's 30 hours in that area.

Case, accessibility, and sustainability

The case changes form compared to the XM6: it leaves the rigid and 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 marks, touch buttons, and configuration guides accessible via QR. Notably, 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 the ecosystem, Sonos with a connected home proposal, Bowers & Wilkins and Focal focusing on pure HiFi. The table below compares the most direct rivals.

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

What the first reviews already indicate

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

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

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-equipped 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 is the fifth color of the XM6 lineup.

Conclusion

The Collexion are headphones for those who have already experienced the XM6 and want something different, not something absolutely better. The metal and faux leather have a tactile presence, and the 24-hour autonomy with ANC is still 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, not 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 bet.