Sony has officially launched the 1000X The ColleXion headphones for $649.99 to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of its flagship active noise-canceling lineage. Audiophiles, frequent flyers, and luxury tech enthusiasts seeking high-end materials and superior acoustics over standard plastic builds.
Marking a decade since the original MDR-1000X debuted, Sony Electronics released the 1000X The ColleXion (model WH-1000XX) this week across the US for $649.99. Built on the foundation of the highly regarded WH-1000XM6, the new anniversary edition completely ditches the traditional plastic chassis for stainless steel arms and custom-developed vegan leather. This structural pivot firmly positions the headphones in the ultra-luxury bracket, aiming to satisfy users who want their audio gear to feel as premium as it sounds.
While the new design trims 5mm off the overall profile and adds a 40% thicker headband cushion for extended comfort, the internals received a dedicated acoustic overhaul. Sony integrated a bespoke 30mm soft-edge unidirectional carbon driver and the new Integrated Processor V3 to power real-time AI audio upscaling. However, the shift in materials and processing power means buyers will sacrifice a bit of stamina, dropping from the 30-hour battery life of the standard XM6 down to 24 hours.
What’s Actually Changing?
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Zero Plastic Exterior: The outer chassis is entirely constructed from hand-polished stainless steel and refined vegan leather that took two years to develop.
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Bespoke 30mm Carbon Driver: A highly rigid, unidirectional carbon composite dome delivers clearer instrument separation and wider high-frequency ranges.
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Integrated Processor V3: The ColleXion is the first Sony headphone to feature DSEE Ultimate, using Edge-AI to upscale compressed music files in real-time.
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Spatial Audio Upmixing: Three dedicated 360 Reality Audio upmix modes—Cinema, Music, and Game—are now easily accessible via a physical on-ear button.
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Battery Trade-Off: Battery life drops to 24 hours with ANC enabled, compared to the 30 hours offered by the standard WH-1000XM6.
If you have always loved Sony’s industry-leading noise cancellation but felt the standard plastic build didn’t reflect the steep price tag, The ColleXion is the definitive answer. It bridges the gap between highly functional travel gear and luxury fashion accessories. While you are paying a $200 premium over the standard WH-1000XM6—and losing a few hours of battery life—the superior acoustic clarity and absolute premium in-hand feel mean you no longer have to compromise on aesthetics to get Sony’s legendary sound profile.
Quick FAQ
Do the 1000X The ColleXion headphones fold up for travel?
No, similar to the XM5, they feature a robust, lie-flat metal swivel joint rather than folding hinges, though they do come with a newly redesigned premium magnetic carrying case equipped with an integrated handle.
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