Sony 1000X The Collexion: $649 headphones that bet on design over noise cancelling
Sony has launched the WH-1000X The Collexion, its most expensive wireless headphones to date at $649 / £550, available from May 19, 2026. The price sits above the AirPods Max 2 ($549 / £499) and well above Sony's own WH-1000XM6, which costs around $400. These are pitched at buyers who want premium materials and refined audio — not just better noise cancelling.
The build
The Collexion marks Sony's 10th anniversary of the 1000X line, and the physical upgrade is the headline change. Plastic ear cup casing is gone, replaced by faux leather that Sony says took two years to develop. The headband and swivel joints are now metal. Total weight sits at 320g, with updated padding for longer wear. The trade-off: unlike the XM6, these don't fold — a real consideration for commuters or frequent flyers.
The touch controls have also moved. Instead of sitting on the outer face of the ear cups (keeping that surface completely smooth), they're relocated to the side and rear edges. A 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth status indicator, power button, and microphone grille are all on the lower edge of the cups.
The sound
Sony tuned the custom driver with mastering engineers from three studios: Battery Studios, Sterling Sound, and Coast Mastering — all Grammy-associated. The headline audio feature is DSEE Ultimate, an AI upscaling tool that pushes compressed audio (think Spotify streams) to 96kHz/32-bit in real time.
The ANC system runs 12 microphones alongside Sony's QN3 and V3 processors, adapting continuously to your environment. But early reviews — including a TechRadar review — confirm the noise cancelling is not a step up from the XM6. If ANC performance is your priority, the XM6 at a lower price is hard to dismiss.
Touch controls are relocated to the side and rear edges of the ear cups, keeping the outer surface smooth
Battery life is 24 hours with ANC on and 32 hours with it off. The XM6 manages 30 hours with ANC active, so The Collexion actually regresses slightly here. A five-minute quick charge adds up to 90 minutes of playback.
Other features include 360 Reality Audio with head-tracking, a 360 Upmix mode (music, film, and gaming presets), and a six-microphone AI voice pickup system. The headphones ship with a hard carry case.
Worth the premium?
At $649, The Collexion costs $200 more than the XM6 and $100 more than AirPods Max 2. The Tom's Guide hands-on found the design "more than pretty," but notes the fashion-forward approach may not appeal to pure audio buyers. The soundstage is described as spacious — competitive with AirPods Max — though some listeners prefer the punchier tuning of the XM6.
Available May 19 in Black and Platinum White via Sony.com, Best Buy, and Amazon.
