Sony 1000X The Collexion review

10 years ago, Sony launched its MDR-1000X noise-canceling headphones to take on Bose and its QuietComfort collection. That’s precisely what they did with the 1000X series, which went on to become synonymous with class-leading noise canceling and audio quality.

Sony has been in the business for ten years and chose to launch a special edition of their flagship ANC headphones, Sony 1000X The Collexion. With a more premium construction, bespoke drivers and sound tuning from mastering experts, these cans are definitely meant to stand out from the conventional WH-1000XM6.

But they also come with a $200/€200 price premium over stated XM6s, which is huge. Are these leather-wrapped, stainless steel-hinge flaunting luxury headphones the genuine apex in Sony’s over-ear ANC array, or are you better off choosing the “regular” XM6s?

Designing

The “Collexion” (pronounced Collection) is a re-imagined WH-1000XM6 with a vintage-inspired look and synthetic leather earcups that nod to the MDR-1000X.

The outside of the headphones is mostly made of the same synthetic material, which is comfortable to the touch. We do have our concerns regarding scratches and how the leather will hold up after a few years of daily use though.

The XM6s have a little more space in the ear pads and the headband is a little more expansive, too, which adds to the comfort. The sides also have a more premium design, with a stainless-steel hinge wrapping around the head strap. It feels a lot more robust than the plastic frame of the XM6s.

Sony definitely got the Collexion fit right. The extra padding makes them easy to wear for extended durations. The most obvious area where the new pair beats out the XM6s is the added width of the interior of the earpads.

It’s more room inside and that helps keep the pads from rubbing on your ears. The Collexion’s earcup design is roughly 5mm thinner than the XM6s, giving it a sleeker look, but less room for internals like the battery. More on that in a moment.

The Collexion are nearly 60 grams heavier than the XM6s and that is definitely visible but not a dealbreaker in any event, as the new pair are more comfy.

The hinges fold inward when you want to carry the headphones, like the WH-1000XM5. We rather prefer the folding mechanism of the XM6s which manages to take up a smaller footprint.

On the carrying front, there’s an accompanying case that also provides a nifty incorporated handle. It is a little on the big side but feels well crafted. The case has a magnetic flap on the bottom, and a compartment inside for the included audio cord.

The 1000X has typical controls, such as a power button and ANC/ambient mode toggle, but Sony added a third button, which changes between the different listening modes. There’s a 3.5mm port for when you want an analog connection, and a USB-C port for charging.

Specifications

Collexion are virtually the same as the XM6s in terms of features for the most part. You may read our WH-1000XM6 review for the information.

There are several new bits like the V3 chip that allow for enhanced sound processing and includes native DSEE Ultimate audio upscaling capabilities. This is a way to utilize AI to recreate missing frequencies spanning bit depth and sample rate in a nutshell.

Sony also demonstrated their 360 Upmix capability that turns regular stereo audio into spatial audio. Music, movies and games each get their own dedicated profiles, which can be switched between via the dedicated upmix button on the headphones.

Another upgrade is the jump to Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity, replacing the 5.3 version in the XM6s. You still get dual device pairing and compatibility for SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3 codecs.

Performance

Sound Quality

Just like the XM6s, the Collexion has 30mm drivers on the inside, but this time, Sony went for a soft edge dome using carbon composite material. It is said to provide improved bass reproduction and superior noise-cancellation. Sony has modified the circuit board structure, so it’s able to use a thicker copper substrate with 1.5x more copper foil for richer detail and broader soundstage.

The other major aspect is sound tuning where Sony has worked with top mastering engineers to fine-tune the drivers. The marketing materials mention “smooth vocals, clear instrument balance and natural dynamics” and we did notice some slight variations compared to the XM6s.

The Collexion has a better midrange than the XM6s. The new pair is better at instrument separation, details come in a touch crisper and snappier. It’s a little change, but a change nevertheless that surely makes a difference once you get into your normal playlists. The Collexion has a more mature sound with a more subdued bass response compared to the generally warm tune of the XM6.

The highs are cleaner as well, and there’s a bit of a soundstage feel to them, making music seem livelier than on the XM6s. The extra music and game 360 Upmix profiles do a good job of giving normal stereo content a pleasing surround sound experience, but we wouldn’t call this feature a game changer.

Noise cancelling

The Collexion uses the same Q3 ANC chip as the XM6s and has 12 microphones spread across both sides. You get a bit less powerful noise cancellation in our ears, likely because of the larger internal diameter of the ear cups.

XM6s grip your ears firmly, while Collexion gives a bit more slack. This in turn results in a less effective passive seal and increased outside noise leakage. It’s a small difference yet easy to see when rotating between the two pairings. The passive isolation isn’t amazing, but the Collexion still blocks out most of the outside noise, just not as good as the XM6s.

The Collexion performs an excellent job of removing low and mid-range frequency sounds, where you’ll find the most common irritants. Think engine vibrations, airplane cabin noise, HVACs. Objectively, though, the XM6s are more powerful ANC when you compare them side by side.

Connection and Call quality

The Collexion are good at picking up your voice and filtering out background noise even in a windy area. Still, Sony’s microphone quality on its headphones doesn’t quite match competitors like Apple’s AirPods Max 2 or even Sennheiser’s HDB 630.

We tested the Collexion with an iPhone 17 Pro and a MacBook Pro 14 and connectivity was never interrupted during the testing process.

Battery life

Sony had to sacrifice some internal room for a somewhat slimmer ear cup design, and the battery department took a blow. With ANC on and streaming over AAC, we just made it past 25 hours before the headphones were fully exhausted.

That’s a really big reduction from the XM6s, which can last for almost 30 hours. That’s definitely something to watch for while deciding between the two.

Conclusion

Sony 1000X The WH-1000XM6 is the more sophisticated relative of the Collexion, clad in a leather suit with a sturdy stainless steel hinge. They definitely feel more quality than the all-plastic XM6s, and the Collexion are the most comfy pair of headphones between the two.

Between the two, you’re receiving the same core characteristics, with great noise suppression and nice sound tuning. The Collexion do sound better out of the box in some ways and also have a broader soundstage too.

The 360 Upmix support and its spatial audio profiles are welcome features, but not game changers. The same can be said for the native DSEE Ultimate audio upscaling. The battery life on the Collexion is lower than the XM6, which is a rather significant aspect when you factor in the huge price difference between the two.

At the end of the day, it’s definitely overkill to stream your Spotify playlist on your everyday commute with these $650/€630 headphones. But if you’re the kind of user that has a soft spot for premium Sony products and wants the latest and greatest audio experience, then the Collexion does just that.