Sony's $649 ColleXion headphones look great — but do they sound better?

Sony's most expensive wireless headphones yet are landing May 19 worldwide. Called the WH-1000X The ColleXion, they're priced at $649 in the US and £549 in the UK — roughly 40% more than the existing XM6. The kicker: a beta tester has already flagged no meaningful audio improvement over the XM5, suggesting the premium is almost entirely about materials and branding.

The look

First renders, published by Android Headlines alongside leaker OnLeaks, show a clean, upmarket design in black and white. The ear cups ditch plastic for high-quality faux leather, and the hinges switch from plastic to metal — a direct response to complaints about the XM6's build durability. The headband and overall silhouette stay recognisably Sony, with a USB-C port on the right cup and barely-visible microphone arrays if you look closely.

There's one practical trade-off: the ColleXion is non-foldable and weighs 312g, versus 250g for the XM6. That's a meaningful difference for commuters or frequent travelers.

The claim

Sony pitches this as a collector's edition marking 10 years of the 1000X line, not as an XM7 successor. On paper, the spec sheet is strong. The headphones carry Sony's new V3 processor, a 12-mic active noise cancellation system, a separate 6-mic AI call array, 360 Reality Audio with head-tracking, and 24-hour battery life with a 5-minute fast charge giving 90 minutes of playback. A 10-band EQ, multipoint Bluetooth, and Speak-to-Chat round out the feature list.

What's less clear is whether any of that translates to better sound. According to Notebookcheck, the internals reportedly mirror the XM6's QN3 chip and 30mm driver. A Reddit beta tester cited by SoundGuys described no major audio improvement over even the XM5.

Worth it?

At $649 / £549, the ColleXion slots above the AirPods Max 2 (£499 in the UK) and nudges into Bowers & Wilkins PX8 territory — a headphone with a stronger audiophile reputation at a similar price. For buyers chasing looks and brand heritage, the ColleXion has a clear pitch. For those prioritising sound quality per dollar, the XM6 at $449 / £400 is harder to argue against.

No US or UK retailer pre-orders are live yet. Sony is expected to make it official on or around May 19, likely alongside the Xperia 1 VIII smartphone reveal.